In a review of the DVD edition, Film Freak Central 's Walter Chaw praised the film for offering an "unusually thoughtful" alternative to Disney animated films of the era: " Watership Down arose in that extended lull between Disney's heyday and its late-Eighties resurrection. ... Watership Down points to the dwindled potential for American animation to evolve into what anime has become: a mature medium for artistic expression of serious issues." Chaw commended the film's frankness, honesty, and themes of friendship and loyalty, concluding that, in spite of the film's violent elements, "the picture may be more appropriate for young children than a legion of condescendingly sugarcoated Disney fare." [28] Effects on children and BBFC classification [ edit ]

Plunkett, John (27 April 2016). "BBC and Netflix team up for new Watership Down production". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017 . Retrieved 28 January 2018– via www.theguardian.com.

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Watership Down was first released to the UK on 19 October 1978, and was later released in the United States on 1 November 1978, where the movie was distributed by AVCO Embassy Pictures. In British cinemas the film was preceded by the 1974 live-action short film Tahere Tikitiki: The Making of a Māori Canoe. [15] Box office [ edit ] Alexander Walker, Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984–2000, Orion Books, 2005 p6

But more than anything else, it's the film's strong story that ultimately holds everything together. The relatively dark atmosphere of the book is kept generally intact---and unlike the later Watership Down animated series, an almost continuous sense of dread can be felt as danger draws near. Like nature documentaries seen on The Discovery Channel and elsewhere, violence is almost inevitable; here, the characters have names and personalities, so the loss of a character often feels more powerful. For obvious reasons, Watership Down is not a film to pop in as a virtual baby-sitter. This is a sophisticated film with a clear message, so those unsure of their child's ability to handle such delicate subject matter are encouraged to view it beforehand. Ultimately, though, Watership Down will provide a rewarding experience to those who can handle it: this is animation at a deeper level than what some may be used to, so those unfamiliar with it should expect a few surprises along the way. To make a long story short: this is a film to be shared and admired, as affecting now as it was almost 30 years ago. Watership Down (1978)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017 . Retrieved 28 December 2017. On the plus side, if you know the 1978 film inside out, then this will have more to add (but of course, it was originally a book by Richard Adams), but on the downside… ooh, nooooo… that CGI… Jafaar, Ali (27 April 2016). " 'Watership Down': BBC & Netflix Team On Miniseries With James McAvoy, Nic Hoult And John Boyega". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016 . Retrieved 28 April 2016. Though it's gradually slipped under the radar in today's Disney-dominated world of animation, Watership Down remains a compelling and mature film that continues to captivate fans of all ages. Featuring terrific artwork, strong music and a stellar lineup of voice actors (all of which completely defy the film's extremely modest budget), it's still the poignant story that propels everything forward. Warner Bros.' long-awaited Deluxe Edition marks a notable improvement over the out-of-print original release---and while the bonus features aren't quite as extensive as we'd like, these quality supplements are certainly worth watching. Those completely new to the film (and parents unsure if their children may be ready for it) are encouraged to rent this one first, but there's more than enough here to consider Watership Down a worthy addition to any respectable animation library. Firmly Recommended.

Ingmar Bergman: Volume 4

The rabbits discover Nuthanger Farm, which contains a hutch of domesticated does. Before they can free the females, the farm cat and dog chase them away. Later, they are found by Captain Holly, who recounts the destruction of Sandleford by humans as well as an encounter with vicious rabbits called the "Efrafans". Fiver finally finds the hill he envisioned, Watership Down, where the group settles in with Hazel as their new chief. A picture book adaptation was also produced, titled The Watership Down Film Picture Book. Two editions of the book were published, one a hardcover, the other a reinforced cloth-bound edition. The contents include film stills linked with a combination of narration and extracts from the script, as well as a preface by Adams and a foreword by Rosen. [38] Home media releases [ edit ] White, Peter (1 November 2018). " 'Watership Down': Rosamund Pike, Peter Capaldi, Gemma Chan & Taron Egerton Join Cast As First Images Revealed". Deadline. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 . Retrieved 29 November 2018.