39786
The animals of Farthing Wood are in peril. Day by day men and machines are
encroaching upon their woodland habitat. When at last their only source of water
is bled dry they are left with no option but to abandon their homes. But where are
Badger, Fox, Owl, Mole, the Pheasants, the Rabbits, Weasel, Adder, Kestrel
and the rest to go? - Toad knows of a place called White Deer Park, a nature
reserve where there'll be safe. The assembly of animals swear to an ancient
woodland oath - The Oath Of Mutual Protection - which forbids them to frighten,
bully or eat one another even though it may be a natural instinct, and once
bonded, they embark upon their great journey to a new, uncharted, home
and habitat...
The 'Farthing Wood' series was adapted from the award-winning novels by author
Colin Dann. Titles include:
The Animals Of Farthing Wood
In The Grip Of Winter
The Fox's Feud
The Fox Cub Bold
The Siege Of White Deer Park
In the Path Of The Storm
Battle For The Park
Toad has a cunning plan...
The show condensed six of the original titles into three 13 x 30mins seasons.
The first series dealt with the animals departure from Farthing Wood and their
journey to White Deer Park. Series two followed their progress at the new reserve,
their battle with the domineering Blue Fox and the icy grip of a harsh Winter.
The final series featured an ongoing feud with an invading tribe of rats, another
feud with an aggressive leader of the White Deer herd, and adventures beyond the
fringes of the park with Owl and Weasel.
The Siege Of White Deer Park was not adapted, its content being deemed
just too distressing for the series' target audience. In 1994, Dann's eighth
Farthing Wood novel Farthing Wood: The Adventure Begins was published.
This was a prequel to the events of the other books and the tv series and
again, was not adapted into animated form...
The series was produced by Telemagination and Montpellier Studio and
packaged and sold via EBU - The European Broadcasting Union - which meant
tailoring the production to suit the individual needs of all the different broadcasters
involved. Viewers will note a distinct change in style between the the first two
seasons and the third. As the fan sites listed below will agree, the final series was
more 'cartoony' in its style and approach and veered away from some of the harsher
details of the books, like the death of Toad who in the TV series, was too popular
a character to lose...
Shades of Watership Down here, of course, in the naturalistic perspective of
the series and in the realities of life on display. Animals get hurt, and some
are killed or perish - although we see no blood or thunder, this being a pan-
European production to suit a particular brand of viewer. Having said that,
whilst the animation itself may be uninspired for some tastes, there's no
denying the appeal of the premise and its strong themes of conservation and
preservation. Ten years on and the three Farthing Wood series are as popular
as they ever were. A number of splendid, dedicated fan sites have appeared
online and there's a very busy and talkative Yahoo! group too...
Trivia Hounds will note that the series was edited together and repackaged into
a home video special in America entitled Journey Home: The Animals Of Farthing
Wood with the lead character of Brave Fox now voiced by Ralph Macchio -
that's right, the self-same Ralph Macchio from The Karate Kid movies!
Mind you, the British voice-over ensemble wasn't bad either, with Mr Fagin
himself, Ron Moody topping the cast list...
Man enters the Farthing Wood habitat...
encroaching upon their woodland habitat. When at last their only source of water
is bled dry they are left with no option but to abandon their homes. But where are
Badger, Fox, Owl, Mole, the Pheasants, the Rabbits, Weasel, Adder, Kestrel
and the rest to go? - Toad knows of a place called White Deer Park, a nature
reserve where there'll be safe. The assembly of animals swear to an ancient
woodland oath - The Oath Of Mutual Protection - which forbids them to frighten,
bully or eat one another even though it may be a natural instinct, and once
bonded, they embark upon their great journey to a new, uncharted, home
and habitat...
The 'Farthing Wood' series was adapted from the award-winning novels by author
Colin Dann. Titles include:
The Animals Of Farthing Wood
In The Grip Of Winter
The Fox's Feud
The Fox Cub Bold
The Siege Of White Deer Park
In the Path Of The Storm
Battle For The Park
Toad has a cunning plan...
The show condensed six of the original titles into three 13 x 30mins seasons.
The first series dealt with the animals departure from Farthing Wood and their
journey to White Deer Park. Series two followed their progress at the new reserve,
their battle with the domineering Blue Fox and the icy grip of a harsh Winter.
The final series featured an ongoing feud with an invading tribe of rats, another
feud with an aggressive leader of the White Deer herd, and adventures beyond the
fringes of the park with Owl and Weasel.
The Siege Of White Deer Park was not adapted, its content being deemed
just too distressing for the series' target audience. In 1994, Dann's eighth
Farthing Wood novel Farthing Wood: The Adventure Begins was published.
This was a prequel to the events of the other books and the tv series and
again, was not adapted into animated form...
The series was produced by Telemagination and Montpellier Studio and
packaged and sold via EBU - The European Broadcasting Union - which meant
tailoring the production to suit the individual needs of all the different broadcasters
involved. Viewers will note a distinct change in style between the the first two
seasons and the third. As the fan sites listed below will agree, the final series was
more 'cartoony' in its style and approach and veered away from some of the harsher
details of the books, like the death of Toad who in the TV series, was too popular
a character to lose...
Shades of Watership Down here, of course, in the naturalistic perspective of
the series and in the realities of life on display. Animals get hurt, and some
are killed or perish - although we see no blood or thunder, this being a pan-
European production to suit a particular brand of viewer. Having said that,
whilst the animation itself may be uninspired for some tastes, there's no
denying the appeal of the premise and its strong themes of conservation and
preservation. Ten years on and the three Farthing Wood series are as popular
as they ever were. A number of splendid, dedicated fan sites have appeared
online and there's a very busy and talkative Yahoo! group too...
Trivia Hounds will note that the series was edited together and repackaged into
a home video special in America entitled Journey Home: The Animals Of Farthing
Wood with the lead character of Brave Fox now voiced by Ralph Macchio -
that's right, the self-same Ralph Macchio from The Karate Kid movies!
Mind you, the British voice-over ensemble wasn't bad either, with Mr Fagin
himself, Ron Moody topping the cast list...
Man enters the Farthing Wood habitat...
