Watership Down

Gr 5 Up—In this animated adaptation of Richard Adams's novel, Hazel and his fellow rabbits flee their warren after being warned of impending doom. As the group struggles to survive, they must evade traps and enemies to reach a perfect, sacred hill to call their home, only to have to defend it from a group of warring rabbits. Originally released in 1978, the film is now considered a classic for its groundbreaking, and at times, graphic depictions of violence in a medium that, until that time, had been reserved largely for children. Modern audiences will take note of some of the technical flaws, as Watership has not aged as well as animated Disney films from the same era. The color is faded or looks odd in parts, and the animated movement is slower than in other animated features, and there's noticeable dirt on some of the cells. But its use as a teaching tool has certainly not been diminished over time, as the film remains very true to its source material. Especially impressive is the opening scene, a colorful and expressive interpretation of the story of El-ahrairah, the trickster hero of rabbit folklore. Some producers would have left out such a sequence, but the filmmakers had enough foresight and love for the book to know that it was pivotal to the story's representation. Included on the disc are several extras, including a short commentary by Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro that provides an honest and intimate overview of the film and its historic impact.