Watership Down

Watership Down, directed by Martin Rosen and released in 1978, is a unique and visionary adaptation of Richard Adams' novel of the same name. Noteworthy for its philosophical themes and intense action sequences, this animated tale is far from the innocent children's fare, telling a story heavily imbued with a mature tone and lyrical, poetic feel. Featuring top-notch voice performances from British acting luminaries John Hurt, Richard Briers, and Ralph Richardson, Watership Down manages to deliver an emotional and thought-provoking allegory weaved into an adventure of epic proportions.

Watership Down centres around a small group of rabbits that embark on a perilous and arduous journey, escaping from their warren into the unknown wilderness due to an imminent destruction foreseen by Fiver, a gifted seer rabbit. Fiver, voiced by Richard Briers, forms the emotional core of the story with his quiet strength and spiritual instincts. Leading this group is the strong and sensible Hazel, voiced by John Hurt, whose considerable leadership skills are tested at every turn. Their destination: an idyllic hill known as Watership Down, which exists only in Fiver's vision.

The film's narrative does not flinch from the brutal truths of nature, with its portrayal of survival, the cycle of life and death, and the inherent violence in the animal kingdom. Yet, there is poetry in such realism here, expressed through haunting animation techniques and an evocative music score that only seems to accentuate the film's contrasting themes of dread and hope.

One of Watership Down’s key strengths lies in its rich character work. Even within the limited scope of interaction introduced, the rabbits are portrayed with distinctly human traits such as courage, fear, trepidation, and hope, giving them an emotional quality that resonates with audiences. These believable characters are brought to life by a talented voice cast that includes Hurt’s rustic charisma, Briers’ nuanced vulnerability, and Richardson’s aristocratic gravitas.

Adding to the film’s unique layers is its use of the mythic and the mystic. A series of flashbacks and stories within the tale presents an entire folklore system and cosmology centered on the rabbit culture conceived by Adams. The film’s narrative is often interspersed with these dreamy, primitive-looking sequences, depicting their god, Frith, and the trickster, El-ahrairah. These serve to reinforce the spiritual undertones of the film while also giving insight into the rabbits’ perception of their world.

Watership Down's animation style stands out significantly from the generic, colourful aesthetic associated with most animated films. Utilising a muted colour palette, the film reflects on the authenticity of the natural world, and the rough, sketch-like design of characters further stamps a signature, realistic feel to it. The character movements are full of detail, capturing the essence of the setting effectively.

Equally impressive is Angela Morley's musical score, which crafts a poignant tone that underscores the narrative's raw emotion and sense of adventure. The film also features the iconic song "Bright Eyes," performed by Art Garfunkel, which beautifully captures the emotional journey undertaken by the characters and has since become synonymous with the film.

Despite being marked as an animated feature, Watership Down is arguably not for younger viewers. Its gritty realism, stark depiction of survival, and philosophical undertones may be challenging for a young audience to process. Nevertheless, for mature viewers, the film serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of life amidst adversity, wrapped in an unusual but compelling story of survival, leadership, and homecoming.

Watership Down is a richly textured film that blurs the line between animation and art-house cinema. Despite being primarily a tale of survival among rabbits, it raises universal themes pertinent to human existence and spoofs the political and social constructs that govern societies. Its realistic portrayal of a world as seen through the eyes of its charismatic Lapine protagonists, underscored with fear, courage, resilience, and hope, make it so much more than a mere anthropomorphised animal tale.

In its own right, Watership Down is a cinematic gem, fulfilling the promise of animation’s potential as a storytelling medium. It's a standout movie that embraces its harsh realities with a blend of poetry and sensitivity. For those who fancy an animated tale with depths to dive into, Watership Down makes for a fascinating, albeit intense journey. Despite the film's visuals coming across as somber and at times disturbing, they echo the reality of life's struggles, making Watership Down an evocative and moving masterpiece that will resonate long after viewing.