Watership Down - (Animation: Key Films/Filmmakers) by Catherine Lester (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Watership Down(Martin Rosen, 1978) is as controversial as it is beloved. Whether due to the tear-jerking hit song 'Bright Eyes' or its notorious representation of violence inflicted by and upon animated rabbits, the film retains the ability to move and shock audiences of all ages, remaining an important cultural touchstone decades after its original release.

This open access collection unites scholars and practitioners from a diversity of perspectives to consider the ongoing legacy of this landmark of British cinema and animation history. The authors provide nuanced discussions of Watership Down's infamous animated depictions of violence, death and its contentious relationship with child audiences, as well as examinations of understudied aspects of the film including its musical score, use of language, its increasingly relevant political and environmental themes and its difficult journey to the screen, complete with behind-the-scenes photographs, documents and production artwork. As the first substantial work on Watership Down, this book is a valuable companion on the film for scholars, students and fans alike.

The eBook editions of this book are available open access under aCC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com.

Review Quotes

Watership Down is a seminal and influential British feature animation. Catherine Lester's varied and insightful collection of essays finally offers proper appraisal of the film's social impact, emotional affect and political challenges. Drawing on archival sources and closely researched aspects of the film's production, the readings that follow are refreshingly assured in discussing the power of animation itself to represent complex adult themes and challenging emotive imagery. This is not a book for those wishing to read about 'funny bunnies'. These essays go down the rabbit hole and emerge from the warren with a revealing and penetrative gaze. Bright guys, burning like fire....
Paul Wells, Professor of Animation, Loughborough University, UK

Watership Down is an enduring classic, but to date the 1978 film has not received scholarly attention. This volume is well-positioned to fill this gap, exploring the multifaceted nature of this beloved film across and organized by four thematic groupings and includes access to never-before-seen archival material. Groundbreaking and thorough, Watership Down: Perspectives On and Beyond Animated Violence is an essential text for undergraduate courses, graduate students and fans of the film alike.
Amy Ratelle, Research Officer and Independent Scholar, Jackman Humanities Institute, University of Toronto, Canada

Strange, controversial, beguiling: Watership Down is an uncommon film that cries out for this excellent collection of essays, providing much needed context and thoughtful analysis of unforgettable animation. Whether readers are rediscovering the film for the first time since childhood or hoping to gain new insight into a lingering obsession, they will find new information and understanding of what makes this film unique. This book offers fresh research into the troubled production and adaptation process, wide-ranging readings of the film's story and aesthetics, and consideration of its reception and long influence. Essential reading for anyone interested in animation, horror, children's cinema, environmentalism, or British film.
Malcolm Cook, Associate Professor in Film Studies, University of Southampton, UK

About the Author

Catherine Lester is Associate Professor in Film and Television at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her research centres on the intersections between the horror genre and children's culture. She is the author of the monograph Horror Films for Children: Fear and Pleasure in American Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2021), as well as chapters and articles on Disney Princess films, animated horror and children's horror television.