The Animals of Farthing Wood
Encyclopedia
The Animals of Farthing Wood is an animated series created by the European Broadcasting Union
between 1992 and 1995 and based on the series of books
written by Colin Dann
. It was produced by Telemagination, based in London, and La Fabrique, based in Montpellier in France, but also aired in other European countries. The first countries to air the series were Germany and the United Kingdom, in January 1993.
, and guided by Toad
, the animals left Farthing Wood on a journey to White Deer Park, a nature reserve where they would be protected.
Unlike other children's series and films, The Animals of Farthing Wood did not feature much comedic
content but rather relied on its strong storyline and plot, and multiple main characters are killed or die during the journey. The series contains mild gore in some episodes, like the 1978 film Watership Down
.
Series 1 chronicled the journey to White Deer Park, Series 2 took place in White Deer Park and chronicled the feud between the Farthing Wood animals and the hostile blue foxes, the third, and final, series chronicled the invasion of the rats into White Deer Park and the animals' attempts to fight them off.
The episodes were made in both the UK and France. Because of this, in Series 1 the motorway's carriageways have traffic driving on the right hand carriageway of the motorway. However, they are briefly seen in Series 3 driving on the left hand side.
The first two series were seen by fans as among the best animated shows on TV at the time due to its complex and intriguing plot, solid script and generally consistent animation, along with being likened for its darker and more dramatic themes for a children's show. However, the third series was seen as a disappointment. Fans claimed this was due its inferior story and script as opposed to the first two series', but the change in animation also did not help.. The change in animation style was also an attempt for the series to fit in with the 'cartoonish' appeal of other children's shows that were being aired at the time. In Series 3, the animals appear to take on more human movements, like folding their arms, or wings (though this occurred to a minor extent in the first series).
Fox, the leader of the Animals of Farthing Wood, was voiced by Rupert Farley
in the UK
version but in the U.S.
version he was played by Ralph Macchio
.
In France
, Germany
, Italy
, Norway
and Sweden
the cast included the following:
| | Character
| | German
| | Italian
| | French
| | Swedish
| | Norwegian>
Fox
Stephan Schwartz
Michele Gammino
Bernard Tiphaine
Totte Wallin
Hallvard Lydvo
Vixen
Uschi Wolff
Pinella Dragani
Badger
Franz-Josef Steffens
Bruno Alessandro
Marc de Georgi
Svante Thuresson
Harald Mæle
Mole
Ulli Philipp
Fabrizio Vidale
Serge Lhorca
Michael B Tretow
Åsleik Engmark
Owl
Tilly Lauenstein
Alina Moradei
Maaïké Jansen
Weasel
Marion Martinzen
Laurence Badie
Meta Roos
Whistler
Donald Arthur
Fabrizio Manfredi
Toad
Manfred Lehmann
Raoul Delfosse
Bo Maniette
Adder
Karin Kernke
Évelyne Grandjean
Christel Körner
Kestrel
Andrea Wildner
Rossella Acerbo/Federica De Bortoli
Mireille Audibert
Mr. Hare
Horst Sachtleben
Mr. Vole
Walter von Hauff
Mr. Shrew
Walter von Hauff
Mr. Fieldmouse
Walter von Hauff
Mrs. Fieldmouse
Isa Di Marzio
Mr. Hedgehog
Martin Semmelrogge
Vittorio Stagni
Mr. Rabbit
Michael Habeck
Baby Rabbit
Sabine Bohlmann
Mr. Pheasant
Thomas Reiner
Mrs. Pheasant
Andrea Wildner
Mr. Squirrel
Walter von Hauff
Mrs. Squirrel
Monika John
Mr. Newt
Oliver Stritzel
Mrs. Newt
Karin Kernke
Baby Newt
Sabine Bohlmann
Scarface
Benno Hoffmann
Lady Blue
Elisabeth Endriss
Ranger
Oliver Stritzel
Bounder
Oliver Stritzel
Bully
Otto Sander
Brat
Walter von Hauff
Great White Stag
Roland Hemmo
Bold
Udo Wachtveitl
Charmer
Anja Jaenicke
Stella Musy
Friendly
Axel Malzacher
Dreamer
Simone Weyrich
Plucky
Pierre Peters Arnolds
Speedy
Kathrin Ackermann
Georgia Lepore
Whisper
Karin Kernke
Measly
Pierre Franckh
Sinuous
Franz Rudnick
Dash
Madeleine Stolze
Mossy
Ulli Philipp
Rek
Jan Gebauer
Lustig
Peter Fricke
Spike
Martin Semmelrogge
Fido
Alexander Brem
Cleo
Sabine Bohlmann
Warden's Cat
Arne Elsholtz
Rollo
Michael Gahr
Donkey
Wichart von Roell
Boar
Stefan Orlac
Crow
Tommi Piper
Shadow
Angelika Bender
Hurkel
Helmut Ruge
Bruno
Benno Hoffmann
Large rat
Helmut Krauss
Chief wild cat
Ingeborg Lapsien
Tom, the cat
Arne Elsholtz
Bats
Kathrin Ackermann
Other crow
Tommi Piper
Young crows
Tommi Piper
Shrike
Benno Hoffmann
Ferkelchen
Andrea L'Arronge
the programme is known as Les Animaux du Bois de Quat'sous ("The Animals of the Wood of Quat'sous"). It first aired on France 2
in 1994, and in Switzerland
at the same time on TSR 2
. It also aired in the following countries:
It also aired in Brazil (TV Cultura
, Os animais do bosque dos viténs), featuring Élcio Sodré (Fox), Vanessa Alves (Vixen), Maximira Figueiredo (Owl), Francisco Bretas (Toad), Neuza Azevedo (Mole and Adder), Eudes Carvalho (Badger), Zaíra Zordan (Lady Blue) and Fábio Tomazine (Scarface). The series was broadcast by the ABC in Australia where it also became popular.
26 episodes were also broadcasted in Japan by Shizuoka Asahi Television.
, Pingu
, Spider
, William's Wish Wellingtons
, Clangers
, Nursery Rhyme Time, Noddy's Toyland Adventures
, Funnybones
, Hairy Jeremy and The Little Polar Bear
. It has clips from the following episodes:
for children entitled "Farthing Wood Friends" was also developed. Audio tapes recapping the first two seasons were released, with the story being told to young fox cubs by several of the cast who would also debate the events and mimic some of the other characters.
There are also three TV tie-in books available, one to accompany each of the TV series:
These follow the same storylines, but are presented in a comic-strip style.
Watered-down versions of episode storylines were also featured as a running story in 'Farthing Wood Friends', illustrated using photographic stills from the series. Between magazine coverages of second and third series episodes, abridgements of Colin Dann's original stories were used to fill the void, entitled 'Tales From Farthing Wood'. Another book adaptation of the running story employed for series one was released by Ted Smart Publishing, with illustrations by Stuart Trotter.
Episode stories were also abridged for Buzz Books, Reed Children's Books' range of storybooks based on popular children's characters. The Farthing Wood stories in this range started with five books to begin with, then steadily expanded to cover the remainder of series one and series two. Illustrations were produced by William Heinemann in favour of using stills from the series.
Hornby
, known mainly for its model railways, produced collectable figurines of the series ensemble, released in batches or 'presentation packs'. They were as follows:
1st Series: Fox, Badger, Mole, Weasel, Toad & Owl
2nd Series: White Stag, Scarface, Kestrel, Adder, Whistler & Rabbit
3rd Series: Bully, Vixen, Plucky, Fido, Cleo, Rollo, Measly, Speedy, Hollow, Hurkel, Dash & Sinuous
The characters were also released in twin packs and later in the run, Hornby produced compatible play-scenes. Early in the run, almost simultaneous with the first series being shown in the UK, they released plush toys of Badger, Fox and Mole. Although these were rare finds in toyshops, they were the subject of a running promotion in 'Farthing Wood Friends', enabling readers to win them.
Despite the show being very popular, the series did not see any form of DVD release until 2009, with the episodes on VHS hard to find up to then (in particular the last two collections). However, there had been an increase in unofficial DVDs available on ebay.
Series 1 came out in France in February 2009 http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B001LV5P2A.
Series 1 was released in Germany on September 25, 2009 http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00297YGS4/, and Series 2 will be released in Germany on May 27, 2011 http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004O5N3LU/. The German DVD releases offer both English and German audio options.
Minor plot changes also exist, such as the order of the pheasant's deaths, the deaths of Badger and Moley, and the motives of certain characters. Scarface has a different reason for attacking the Farthing Animals and Bold leaves the Park after an argument with his father, rather than to find a mate as he does in the books. In contrast to Badger's death, Toad and Mossy survive the television series, the former befriending the rat who killed him in the books. The cause of Sinuous death was also changed. Of the rats, Brat originally returned to the sewers instead of being killed by Sinuous, while Bully had his tail bitten off by Cleo rather than being killed by Vixen.
Scarface and his tribe were rival red foxes in the books. His mate was not also named in the books and her personality is not so developed. Too many red foxes would have been confusing for viewers, so the animators made Scarface and his family distinguishable by making them "blue foxes" (actually "silver foxes", a species with a greyish coat which is normally found only in fur farmings). Speedy was also unnamed. There are also one episode characters that didn't appear in the books such as The Red Squirrels, Stoat and Scragg the Rat who is killed on his one time appearance.
The only main plotline that is left out of the series is the plot of The Siege of White Deer Park
, in which the character known as 'The Beast' (a big wild cat) attacks the park causing further trouble for the animals' survival. The storyline of this book is presumbly removed because of too much horror and peril themes and the sub-plots that occur in the book (such as Badger mistaking Mossy for Mole) are broken down into small plot changes in the other book storylines for the series.
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
between 1992 and 1995 and based on the series of books
The Animals of Farthing Wood (book series)
The Animals of Farthing Wood is a series of eight books written by British author Colin Dann. The books tell the story of a group of woodland animals whose home has been paved over by developers. They learn of a nature reserve, White Deer Park, where they will be safe, and undertake to make the...
written by Colin Dann
Colin Dann
Colin Dann is an English author. He is best known for his The Animals of Farthing Wood series of books, which was subsequently made into an animated series....
. It was produced by Telemagination, based in London, and La Fabrique, based in Montpellier in France, but also aired in other European countries. The first countries to air the series were Germany and the United Kingdom, in January 1993.
Synopsis
The television series followed the basic plots of the series of books, although certain elements were changed. It followed the animals of Farthing Wood, who were forced to flee their homes after humans started destroying the wood in order to build houses. Led by FoxFox (Farthing Wood)
Fox is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann....
, and guided by Toad
Toad (Farthing Wood)
Toad is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann....
, the animals left Farthing Wood on a journey to White Deer Park, a nature reserve where they would be protected.
Unlike other children's series and films, The Animals of Farthing Wood did not feature much comedic
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
content but rather relied on its strong storyline and plot, and multiple main characters are killed or die during the journey. The series contains mild gore in some episodes, like the 1978 film Watership Down
Watership Down
Watership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
.
Series 1 chronicled the journey to White Deer Park, Series 2 took place in White Deer Park and chronicled the feud between the Farthing Wood animals and the hostile blue foxes, the third, and final, series chronicled the invasion of the rats into White Deer Park and the animals' attempts to fight them off.
The episodes were made in both the UK and France. Because of this, in Series 1 the motorway's carriageways have traffic driving on the right hand carriageway of the motorway. However, they are briefly seen in Series 3 driving on the left hand side.
Series
Three series of the show were produced, each based on one or more of the Farthing Wood books.- Series 1 (1992–1993)
- The Animals of Farthing Wood
- Series 2 (1994)
- In the Grip of WinterIn the Grip of WinterIn the Grip of Winter is the second book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1981, and later republished as part one of the first "Omnibus".-Plot summary:...
- Fox's FeudFox's FeudFox's Feud is the third book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1982 and has since been included in a single book with both The Fox Cub Bold and In the Grip of Winter and in the "Omnibus" edition .-Summary:...
- The Fox Cub BoldThe Fox Cub BoldThe Fox Cub Bold is the fourth book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1983 and has since been included in a single book with Fox's Feud and in the "Omnibus" edition with Fox's Feud and In the Grip of Winter.-Plot summary:Following the defeat of Scarface, Fox's son...
- In the Grip of Winter
- Series 3 (1995)
- In the Path of the StormIn the Path of the StormIn the Path of the Storm is the sixth book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1989 and has since been included in a single book with The Siege of White Deer Park and Battle for the Park in the "Second Omnibus" edition .-Plot summary:The death of the Great Stag, leader...
- Battle for the ParkBattle for the ParkBattle for the Park is the seventh book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1992 and has since been included with The Siege of White Deer Park and In the Path of the Storm in the "Second Omnibus" edition .-Plot summary:The inhabitants of White Deer Park face a new...
- In the Path of the Storm
The first two series were seen by fans as among the best animated shows on TV at the time due to its complex and intriguing plot, solid script and generally consistent animation, along with being likened for its darker and more dramatic themes for a children's show. However, the third series was seen as a disappointment. Fans claimed this was due its inferior story and script as opposed to the first two series', but the change in animation also did not help.. The change in animation style was also an attempt for the series to fit in with the 'cartoonish' appeal of other children's shows that were being aired at the time. In Series 3, the animals appear to take on more human movements, like folding their arms, or wings (though this occurred to a minor extent in the first series).
Cast
- Jeremy Barrett: Mr Rabbit, MoleMole (Farthing Wood)Mole is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood, based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann.-Character:...
, Mr Shrew, Hollow, Mossy, MeasleyMeasley (Farthing Wood)Measley is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann. He is a male weasel, who becomes the mate of Weasel...
and others. - Rupert FarleyRupert FarleyRupert Farley is an actor from the UK. He has had various bit roles in Movies such as From Hell and Mrs. Brown. He is probably best known for his voice acting work, which includes voice over work for TV advertisements and animation. His name is well known amongst the fans of "The Animals of...
: FoxFox (Farthing Wood)Fox is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann....
, Hare, Mr Pheasant, Friendly, Bold, Plucky, Trey and others. - Jon GloverJon GloverJon Glover is a British actor. He has appeared in various television programmes including Play School, Survivors, the Management consultant in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Casualty, Bodger and Badger and Peak Practice....
:Scarface, Ranger, The Warden and others. - Sally GraceSally GraceSally Grace is a British actress who has worked extensively in radio and animation.She was a long-standing member of the team on Week Ending, the long-running BBC Radio 4 topical satirical sketch show, where she was the voice of Margaret Thatcher from 1983 onwards, and her work with Ken Bruce on...
: OwlOwl (Farthing Wood)Tawny Owl is a fictional character in The Animals of Farthing Wood and its many sequels, written by Colin Dann. Tawny Owl also appeared in the animated children's television series of the same name based upon the books...
, WeaselWeasel (Farthing Wood)Weasel is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann. She is, as her name suggests, a Weasel.-In the TV Series:...
and others. - Stacy JeffersonStacy JeffersonStacy Jefferson is an actress who was the voice of Vixen and Adder in the acclaimed TV series The Animals of Farthing Wood. She was also the voice of Rosa in the Japanese cartoon Makyu Senjo and provided voices for the Moomintroll TV series....
: VixenVixen (Farthing Wood)Vixen is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann.-Introduction:Vixen is the mate of Fox and is voiced by Stacy Jefferson....
, AdderAdder (Farthing Wood)Adder is a fictional character from the novel series The Animals of Farthing Wood, written by Colin Dann. He appeared in all of the sequels in the series. Adder also made appearances in the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books. Adder is, as her...
, CharmerCharmer (Farthing Wood)Charmer is a resident of White Deer Park and the daughter of Fox and Vixen.Charmer is a very attractive young vixen. She had a sister, Dreamer, who was killed at a young age by Scarface, an enemy of the family, and two brothers, Friendly and Bold....
, Mrs Hare, Mrs Rabbit and others. - Pamela KeevilkralPamela KeevilkralPamela Keevilkral is a British actress who did voice work for the animated series The Animals of Farthing Wood.She also played Debbie in the comedy TV film Incident on The Line. She was also the narrator for The Essential Lover's Guide...
: Dash, Cleo, Fido, Speedy, Whisper, Mrs Squirrel, Mrs Hedgehog and others. - Ron MoodyRon MoodyRon Moody is an English actor.- Personal life :Moody was born in Tottenham, North London, England, the son of Kate and Bernard Moodnick, a studio executive. His father was of Russian Jewish descent and his mother was a Lithuanian Jew. He is a cousin of director Laurence Moody and actress Clare...
: BadgerBadger (Farthing Wood)Badger is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood, based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann....
, ToadToad (Farthing Wood)Toad is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann....
, WhistlerWhistler (Farthing Wood)Whistler is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann. In the TV series he was voiced by Ron Moody but in the audio tapes he was voiced by Peter Woodthorpe. His name comes from the...
, Bully, Spike, Rollo, Mr Hedgehog, Mr Vole, Mr Mouse, Great White Stag and others. - Maria Warburg: Whisper (Audio Book Only)
Fox, the leader of the Animals of Farthing Wood, was voiced by Rupert Farley
Rupert Farley
Rupert Farley is an actor from the UK. He has had various bit roles in Movies such as From Hell and Mrs. Brown. He is probably best known for his voice acting work, which includes voice over work for TV advertisements and animation. His name is well known amongst the fans of "The Animals of...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
version but in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
version he was played by Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio
Ralph George Macchio is an American actor, best known for his roles as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Bill Gambini in My Cousin Vinny, and Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He is also known to American television audiences for his season five recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the...
.
In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
the cast included the following:
| | German
| | Italian
| | French
| | Swedish
| | Norwegian>
Bernard Tiphaine
-Filmography:*Spin City *Futurama *NYPD Blue *The Inside *Friends *Prison Break *Frasier...
Svante Thuresson
Svante Thuresson is a Swedish jazz music musician and singer. He started his career as a drummer, before joining the band Gals and Pals in 1963...
Harald Mæle
Harald Mæle is a Norwegian television presenter and voice actor. He made a name in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, where he gave the Norwegian voice to the US sitcom Soap , and presented the popular science show Magnus. He has later worked as a voice actor on numerous animated films, such...
Åsleik Engmark
Åsleik Engmark is a Norwegian comedian, actor and director, living in Nesodden outside Oslo.Engmark was one of the co-founders of the Norwegian cabaret group Lompelandslaget in 1987...
Horst Sachtleben
Horst Sachtleben is a German television actor and director.After studying theory of drama, Germanic philology and history of art in Berlin he concentrated on his acting career. He had various engagements at the Hebbel-Theater in Berlin, Schauspielhaus in Zürich, Bayerischen Staatsschauspiel in...
Walter von Hauff
Walter von Hauff is a German actor and voice actor.-Television animation:*Buzz Lightyear of Star Command *Family Guy *Hey Arnold! *One Piece...
Martin Semmelrogge
Martin Semmelrogge is a German actor, best known for his role as the comical 2WO in the film Das Boot...
Sabine Bohlmann
Sabine Bohlmann is a German actress and dub voice actor, perhaps most famous as the German voice of Lisa and Maggie Simpson on The Simpsons....
Oliver Stritzel
Oliver Stritzel is a German voice actor from Berlin.-Acting Roles:*Das Boot *Der Untergang -Television animation:*Hellsing -Theater animation:...
Otto Sander
Otto Sander is a German film, theater, and voice actor.Sander grew up in Kassel, where he graduated in 1961 from the Friedrichgymnasium. After leaving school he spent his military service as a navy reserve officer and then studied theatre science, history of art and philosophy. In 1965 he made his...
Roland Hemmo
Roland Hemmo is a German actor and voice actor. Roland Hemmo is one of the most successful voice actors in the history of German cinema...
Anja Jaenicke
Anja Jaenicke is a German actress working mostly for German television and film.She is C.E.O. of her own company HIQ-MEDIA-POOL INC...
Pierre Franckh
Pierre Franckh is a German television actor, director and writer.- Filmography :*1962: Peter Pan *1963: Südfrüchte *1963: Das Haus in Montevideo...
Jan Gebauer
Jan Gebauer was a significant Czech expert on Czech studies and one of the most renowned Czech scientists of all times. His scientific work was influenced by the methods of positivism.-Biography:...
Peter Fricke
Peter Fricke is a German television actor.-Selected filmography:* Derrick - Season 5, Episode 6: "Klavierkonzert" * Derrick - Season 6, Episode 11: "Die Versuchung"...
Sabine Bohlmann
Sabine Bohlmann is a German actress and dub voice actor, perhaps most famous as the German voice of Lisa and Maggie Simpson on The Simpsons....
Helmut Krauss
Helmut Krauss is a German synchronis speaker and actor. He provides the German dub voices for Marlon Brando, John Goodman, Yaphet Kotto, Jean Reno, and Samuel L. Jackson....
Buzz Books
These are based upon the Characters in the Television series. Some parts had happened differently.- Farewell to the Wood (Based upon The Wood in Danger)
- The Adventure Begins (Based upon The Journey Begins)
- Fire (Based upon Through the Fire and Water)
- A New Friend (Based upon Friend in Need)
- Heroes (Based upon Whistler's Quarry)
- The Silent Field (Based upon A Deathly Calm)
- The Storm Shelter (Based upon Pandemonium)
- Journey's End (Based upon So Near And Yet So Far)
- A New Home (Based upon A Hero's Welcome, Winter and Survival)
- Badger in Danger (Based upon Winter and Survival)
- Unwelcome Visitors (Based upon New Enemies)
- Spring Awakening (Based upon Home is Where the Heart Is)
- Bold (Based upon The Feud Begins)
- Trouble in the Park (Based upon Like Father, Like Son, Narrow Escapes and Shadows)
- Showdown (Based upon Blood is Thicker Than Water)
- Peace (Based upon Reconciliation)
- Strangers in the Park (Based upon Comings and Goings)
- The Weasels' Adventure (Based upon The Missing Fox's Friend, Tiffs and Tempers and The Long Tailed Visitor)
- To the Rescue (Based upon The Missing Fox's Friend, Adventure for the Birds and Scared by Silly Snakes)
- The Rat Spy (Based upon The Long Tailed Visitor and The Mole Game)
- What is Buzz Book 21 called? (Based upon The Worst Kind of Hurricane, Homeward Bound and Bully, Bully, Bully)
Broadcasts and releases
In FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
the programme is known as Les Animaux du Bois de Quat'sous ("The Animals of the Wood of Quat'sous"). It first aired on France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
in 1994, and in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
at the same time on TSR 2
TSR 2
TSR 2 is a Swiss public television channel owned by Télévision Suisse Romande, launched on 1 September 1997, showing documentary, culture and sport programmes...
. It also aired in the following countries:
- Germany (ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
) and Austria (ORFORF (broadcaster)Österreichischer Rundfunk, ORF, is the Austrian national public service broadcaster.Funded from a combination of a television licence fees and revenue from limited on-air advertising, ORF is the dominant player in the Austrian broadcast media...
), as Als die Tiere den Wald verließen - Belgium (BRTN and RTBFRTBFRadio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
), as Beestenbos is boos (for BRTN) and Les Animaux du Bois de Quat'Sous (for RTBF) - Bulgaria (Канал 1Bulgarian National TelevisionThe Bulgarian National Television or BNT is the public broadcaster of Bulgaria. The company was founded in 1959 and began broadcasting on December 26 of the same year. It began broadcasting in color in 1970...
), as Животните от старата гора - Croatia (HRTCroatian RadiotelevisionCroatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
), as Pustolovine šumske družine - The Netherlands (NOSNederlandse Omroep StichtingThe Nederlandse Omroep Stichting , English: Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation, is one of the broadcasters in the Netherlands Public Broadcasting system...
), as Beestenbos is boos - Denmark (DR), as Dyrene Fra Lilleskoven
- Finland (YLE), both in Finnish and Swedish, as Kaukametsän pakolaiset and De Vilda Djurens Flykt respectively
- Sweden (SVTSveriges TelevisionSveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
), as above - Ireland (RTERTERTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
), both in English and Irish, the latter as Cairde Na Coile - Italy (RAIRAIRAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
), as Le avventure del bosco piccolo/Volpe, Tasso e compagnia - Norway (NRK), as Flukten frå dyreskogen (in NynorskNynorskNynorsk or New Norwegian is one of two official written standards for the Norwegian language, the other being Bokmål. The standard language was created by Ivar Aasen during the mid-19th century, to provide a Norwegian alternative to the Danish language which was commonly written in Norway at the...
) - Hungary (MTVMagyar TelevízióMagyar Televízió is the Hungarian national public service television company, with three TV channels, called m1 , m2 and m3....
), as A Gyűszűnyi Erdő Lakói - Poland (WOTWOTWot or WOT may refer to:* Wot , a circular panpipe used in the morlam music of Laos and Thailand* Wot, Nepal* WOT: Web of Trust, a community-based safe Web-surfing tool* Wat or wot, an Eritrean and Ethiopian spicy meat stew...
), as Zwierzęta z ginącego lasu, later (PolsatPolsatPolsat is Poland's second biggest television channel, founded on December 5, 1992 and owned by Zygmunt Solorz-Żak.Polsat belongs to the Polsat Group , which also owns other channels:*Polsat HD*Polsat 2 International*Polsat News*TV Biznes...
), as Zwierzęta z Zielonego Lasu - Portugal (RTP2), as Animais do Bosque
- Spain (TVE), as Los animales del bosque
- Turkey (TRTTurkish Radio and Television CorporationThe Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, also known as TRT , is the national public broadcaster of Turkey and was founded in 1964. Around 70% of TRT's funding comes from a tax levied on electricity bills and a sales tax on television and radio receivers...
), as Gürültülü Ormanin Hayvanlari - Canada (Télé-QuébecTélé-QuébecTélé-Québec is a French language public educational television network in the Canadian province of Quebec. Known legally as Société de télédiffusion du Québec , it is a provincial crown corporation owned by the Government of Quebec...
) as Les Animaux du bois de Quat'sous
It also aired in Brazil (TV Cultura
TV Cultura
TV Cultura is Brazilian television network headquartered in São Paulo and a part of Fundação Padre Anchieta. It focuses on cultural subjects but also has sports as entertainment options.- History :...
, Os animais do bosque dos viténs), featuring Élcio Sodré (Fox), Vanessa Alves (Vixen), Maximira Figueiredo (Owl), Francisco Bretas (Toad), Neuza Azevedo (Mole and Adder), Eudes Carvalho (Badger), Zaíra Zordan (Lady Blue) and Fábio Tomazine (Scarface). The series was broadcast by the ABC in Australia where it also became popular.
26 episodes were also broadcasted in Japan by Shizuoka Asahi Television.
Adventures of Fox
Comes last on the Greatest BBC Children's Video ever along with Fireman SamFireman Sam
Fireman Sam is a Welsh animated children's television series about a fireman called Sam, his fellow firefighters, and other townspeople in the Welsh town of Pontypandy . The original idea for the show came from two ex-firemen from Kent...
, Pingu
Pingu
Pingu is a British-Swiss stop-motion claymated television series created by Otmar Gutmann. The series was produced by The Pygos Group and Trickfilmstudio for Swiss television. The show is about a family of anthropomorphic penguins at the South Pole. The main character is the family's son and title...
, Spider
Spider (TV series)
Spider! is a musical children's television series made by Hibbert Ralph Entertainment for the BBC that originally aired in 1991. It follows the adventures of a spider, the protagonist, and a young boy. The stories are told through song, performed by Jeff Stevenson with his children, Casey and Holly...
, William's Wish Wellingtons
William's Wish Wellingtons
William's Wish Wellingtons is an animated BBC children's television series made by Hibbert Ralph Entertainment that was first aired from 25 October 1994 to 28 November 1997. It was narrated by Andrew Sachs of Fawlty Towers fame. It was also translated into Gaelic and aired as on BBC Two Scotland...
, Clangers
Clangers
Clangers is a popular British stop-motion animated children's television series of short stories about a family of mouse-like creatures who live on, and in, a small blue planet . They speak in whistles, and eat green soup supplied by the Soup Dragon...
, Nursery Rhyme Time, Noddy's Toyland Adventures
Noddy's Toyland Adventures
Noddy's Toyland Adventures was a children's television programme that was broadcast from September 1992 until December 1994 and again from 1999 to 2001 on the BBC...
, Funnybones
Funnybones
Funnybones was a Welsh children's television series that was first aired in Welsh on S4C and in English on the BBC in 1992. It was based on the eponymous series of books by Janet and Allan Ahlberg which were illustrated by Andre Amstutz and focused on the adventures of a gang of skeletons...
, Hairy Jeremy and The Little Polar Bear
The Little Polar Bear
The Little Polar Bear is a franchise about a Polar Bear cub named Lars who first starred in a number of books written by Dutch author, Hans de Beer. It later became an animated TV series, Lars, der Kleine Eisbär, in the early 1990s. The show proved to be popular in Germany, but its English-dubbed...
. It has clips from the following episodes:
- Beginning and end of The Wood in Danger (Loggers attack the Wood, Owl informed about the pond filled in, Assembly)
- Beginning of The Journey Begins (Leaving the Wood)
- End of Snare for the Unwary (Kestrel spots river, Animals cross River, Fox and Badger hit by driftwood)
- Beginning of Who Shall Wear the Crown? (Badger found in reeds, Kestrel loses Fox, Animals move on)
- Some beginning and Middle of New Friends, Old Enemies (Fox arrives at Town, Fox put onto truck, Fox meets Vixen)
- Some parts of Friend in Need (parts with Hunting, Meeting Big Owl, Searching, Fox Hunt and the ending)
Merchandise
Apart from books and videos, there was also a Farthing Wood CD and in the mid-1990s, a 130-part magazineMagazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
for children entitled "Farthing Wood Friends" was also developed. Audio tapes recapping the first two seasons were released, with the story being told to young fox cubs by several of the cast who would also debate the events and mimic some of the other characters.
There are also three TV tie-in books available, one to accompany each of the TV series:
- The Animals of Farthing Wood links with Series 1.
- The Further Adventures of The Animals of Farthing Wood links with Series 2.
- The Animals of Farthing Wood - Spirit of Survival links with Series 3.
These follow the same storylines, but are presented in a comic-strip style.
Watered-down versions of episode storylines were also featured as a running story in 'Farthing Wood Friends', illustrated using photographic stills from the series. Between magazine coverages of second and third series episodes, abridgements of Colin Dann's original stories were used to fill the void, entitled 'Tales From Farthing Wood'. Another book adaptation of the running story employed for series one was released by Ted Smart Publishing, with illustrations by Stuart Trotter.
Episode stories were also abridged for Buzz Books, Reed Children's Books' range of storybooks based on popular children's characters. The Farthing Wood stories in this range started with five books to begin with, then steadily expanded to cover the remainder of series one and series two. Illustrations were produced by William Heinemann in favour of using stills from the series.
Hornby
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
, known mainly for its model railways, produced collectable figurines of the series ensemble, released in batches or 'presentation packs'. They were as follows:
1st Series: Fox, Badger, Mole, Weasel, Toad & Owl
2nd Series: White Stag, Scarface, Kestrel, Adder, Whistler & Rabbit
3rd Series: Bully, Vixen, Plucky, Fido, Cleo, Rollo, Measly, Speedy, Hollow, Hurkel, Dash & Sinuous
The characters were also released in twin packs and later in the run, Hornby produced compatible play-scenes. Early in the run, almost simultaneous with the first series being shown in the UK, they released plush toys of Badger, Fox and Mole. Although these were rare finds in toyshops, they were the subject of a running promotion in 'Farthing Wood Friends', enabling readers to win them.
Despite the show being very popular, the series did not see any form of DVD release until 2009, with the episodes on VHS hard to find up to then (in particular the last two collections). However, there had been an increase in unofficial DVDs available on ebay.
Series 1 came out in France in February 2009 http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B001LV5P2A.
Series 1 was released in Germany on September 25, 2009 http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00297YGS4/, and Series 2 will be released in Germany on May 27, 2011 http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004O5N3LU/. The German DVD releases offer both English and German audio options.
Differences between the books and the series
There are a number of differences between the books and the television series, most notably the changing of a number of characters from male to female. This included Adder, Weasel, Owl and Kestrel, who retained the markings of a male kestrel. Owl had also been known as Tawny Owl in the books. In addition to this, the books featured a family of lizards who became the newts of the television series. New characters like the Shrews, Hurkel and Measley were introduced. Plucky is also changed from being Bold's grandson to his son. There are females that are Males now. They are Sinuous, The Big Owl and Hollow. The Fieldmice are now known as the Mice. Holly is now known as Hollow.Minor plot changes also exist, such as the order of the pheasant's deaths, the deaths of Badger and Moley, and the motives of certain characters. Scarface has a different reason for attacking the Farthing Animals and Bold leaves the Park after an argument with his father, rather than to find a mate as he does in the books. In contrast to Badger's death, Toad and Mossy survive the television series, the former befriending the rat who killed him in the books. The cause of Sinuous death was also changed. Of the rats, Brat originally returned to the sewers instead of being killed by Sinuous, while Bully had his tail bitten off by Cleo rather than being killed by Vixen.
Scarface and his tribe were rival red foxes in the books. His mate was not also named in the books and her personality is not so developed. Too many red foxes would have been confusing for viewers, so the animators made Scarface and his family distinguishable by making them "blue foxes" (actually "silver foxes", a species with a greyish coat which is normally found only in fur farmings). Speedy was also unnamed. There are also one episode characters that didn't appear in the books such as The Red Squirrels, Stoat and Scragg the Rat who is killed on his one time appearance.
The only main plotline that is left out of the series is the plot of The Siege of White Deer Park
The Siege of White Deer Park
The Siege of White Deer Park is the fifth book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1985 and has since been included in a single book with In the Path of the Storm and Battle for the Park in the "Second Omnibus" edition .-Plot summary:The animals of White Deer Park face...
, in which the character known as 'The Beast' (a big wild cat) attacks the park causing further trouble for the animals' survival. The storyline of this book is presumbly removed because of too much horror and peril themes and the sub-plots that occur in the book (such as Badger mistaking Mossy for Mole) are broken down into small plot changes in the other book storylines for the series.
Credits
- Based on the Books by: Colin Dann
- Written by: Alan Case, Steve Walker, Sue Butterworth, Jenny McDade, Gordon Harrison, Elphin Lloyd-Jones, Valerie Georgeson
- Adapted by: Steve Walker
- Music Composed by: Detlev Kuhne
- Theme Music Composed and Arranged by: Dennis Cooper
- Recorded by: WDR Orchestra, KRO Cologne
- Directors: Elphin Lloyd-Jones, Philippe LeClerc
- Assistant Director: Emile Bourget
- Animation Director: Alan Simpson
- Character Designs: Elphin Lloyd-Jones, Philippe LeClerc, Patrick Michel
- Storyboard: Gordon Harrison, Jean Francois Laguionie, Claude Aufrere
- Backgrounds: Ian Henderson, Richard Mithonard, Valerie Carmona
- Layouts: Sue Butterworth, Gordon Harrison, Ted Pettengell, Trevor Ricketts, Patrick Michel, Gerard Kiszel, Christian Ragoust
- Animation: Thomas Barker, Monica Brutton, Alison De Vere, Andy Eraclerus, Christopher Evans, Joan Freestone, Tony Guy, Peter Hale, Arthur Humberstone, Simon Loxton, Fraser MacLean, Charlie MacRae, Janet Nunn, John Perkins, Mike Pocock, Paul Stone, Rosemary Welch, José Xavier
- Key Animators: Chris Clarke, Gary Hender, Nathalie Biston, Marian Brooks, Valerie Pouyanne, Jean Francois Galataud, Monica Moinar, Lea Movement
- Assistant Animators: Philippe Archer, Jean-Yves Regnault, Laurence Commeyras, Isabelle Pouyanne, Didier Chenu, Catherine Halvic, Muriel Chevallier, Sega Favre, Sylvia Bottiau, Sim Lignon
- Trace & Paint: Audrey Hammond, Pat Arthy, Pete Arthy, Lynda Marmont, Chris Jones, Ross Marks, Sharon Martin, Becky New, Vivienne Redmond, Jenni Steers, Dominique Lenoble, Clarie Dame, Nancy Rey, Frederic Jaubert, Suzy Kopp, Sophie Beltran, Brigitte Boursereau, Rodney Crofton, Carole Dorange, Nathalie Finiels, Cathy Gentric, Isabelle Landmann, Claire Larnelle, Cathy Rigall, Maria Stockman, Mireille Valentin
- Checking: Ann Kotch, Janine Arthy, Isabelle Perrichon
- Rostrum Camera: Chris Williams, Anthony Hagen, Jacques Armand, Yves Francon, Jean Paul Rossard
- Software: Animo Cambridge Animation Systems
- Production Supervisor: Jean-Paul Gaspari
- Production Coordinator: Dominique Edmond-Marlette
- Production Accountants: Helmut Breuer, Philippe Marteaux
- Editing: Theresa Plummer-Andrews, John Daniels, Ken Morgan, Tom Oliver
- Special Effects: Stephan Hartl, Malcolm Beattie
- Picture Editor: Fiona Keene
- Videotape Services: Video Time
- Line Test Camera: Plaza Synchron
- Dialogue Editor: John Daniels, Hilary Daniels, Hans-Peter Kaufman
- Track Readers: Otto Sander, Ulli Philipp, Tilly Lauenstein, Martin Semmelrogge, Helmut Ruge, Wichart V. Roell, Karin Kernke, Franz-Josef Steffens, Stephan Schwartz, Marion Martinzen, Manfred Lehmann, Peter Fricke, Benno Hoffmann, Thomas Reiner, Horst Sachtleben, Michael Habeck, Tommy Piper, Arne Elsholtz, Ingeborg Lapsien, Stefan Orlac
- Associate Producer: Wolfgang Wegmann
- Producer: John M. Mills
- Production: Telemagination (London), Praxinos (Montpeller)
- EBU Coordinator: Marie-Claire Vionnet
- Executive Producers: Siegmund Grewenig, Theresa Plummer-Andrews
- Film Laboratories: European Cineman, Television Year
External links
- The Animals of Farthing Wood at Toonhound
- The Animals of Farthing Wood at the European Broadcasting UnionEuropean Broadcasting UnionThe European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
- The Animals of Farthing Wood Fanlisting
- Telemagination