The Wind in the Willows (TV series)
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The Wind in the Willows is a 52-episode TV series that aired between 1984 and 1990, based on characters from Kenneth Grahame's classic story The Wind in the Willows and following the 1983 film The Wind in the Willows.
The series stars David Jason as Toad, Sir Michael Hordern as Badger, Peter Sallis as Rat (replacing Ian Carmichael who voiced Rat in the original 1983 film), and Richard Pearson as Mole. Ian Carmichael remained in the series, re-cast as the narrator.
The series is sometimes misidentified as being filmed in claymation, which is incorrect. The method used by Cosgrove Hall is a stop-motion animation process using scale model sets and poseable character figurines. The figurines are composed of an articulate metal skeleton (armature) covered in latex rubber, providing the flexibility and the detail which distinguishes the series.
Stone Roses guitarist John Squire worked on this series for Cosgrove Hall.
The popular theme song - based on the original instrumental theme to the original film - was sung by British singer-songwriter Ralph McTell.
Contents |
[edit] Episode titles
Movie (1983)
Series One (1984)
- The Further Adventures of Toad
- The Kidnapping of Toad
- The Ghost at Mole End
- The Great Steamer
- Buried Treasure
- Mole's Cousin
- The Grand Annual Show
- The Open Road Again
- Wayfarer's All
- The Weasel's Trap
- Burglary at Toad Hall
- The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
- The Yuletide Entertainment
Series Two (1985)
- Winter Sports
- Toad - Photographer
- The Rescue
- Bankruptcy
- The Storm
- Patient Toad
- The Labyrinth
- Harvest
- Auberon's Return
- The Great Golfing Gamble
- Gadget Mad
- May Day
- Fancy Dress
Series Three (1986)
- Paperchase
- Mercury of the Motorcycle
- Mr Toad's Telephone
- Toad - Astronomer
- Caught in a Maze
- School Days
- Badger's Remedy
- Masterchef
- Fire at Toad Hall
- Unlikely Allies
- A Producer's Lot
- Champion of the Green Baize
- Winter Haunts
Series Four (1987)
- Auld Lang Syne
- Bricks and Mortar
- The Lost River
- The Tournament
- Lord Toad
- Hot Air
- Fighting Fit
- Hall for Sale
- Toad's Harvest
- Monster of the Wild Wood
- Remember, Remember
- Tunnels and Tremors
- Happy New Year
A Tale Of Two Toads (1987)
Series Five (1990)
- The Chief's Return
- Oarsman Toad
- Midsummer Night's Disaster
- The Compleat Bungler
- Mr. Toad of 'The Times'
- Toad in Motion
- Piano-Roll Toad
- Gypsy Toad
- Hip-Hip Soirée!
- Happy Birthday!
- A Toad in Time
- Toad in Love
- Toad: Film Maker
[edit] Credits
- From the Book by: Kenneth Grahame
- Written by: Brian Trueman, Rosemary Anne Sisson
- Voices: Richard Pearson, Peter Sallis, Sir Michael Hordern, David Jason
- Narrated by: Ian Carmichael
- Other Voices: Delia Corrie, Daphne Oxenford, Brian Southwood, Kate Lee, Brian Trueman, Jimmy Hibbert
- Animators: Andrea Lord, Paul Berry, Barry Purvis, Stewart Sutcliffe, Sue Pugh
- Model Characters Designed and Sculpted by: Brian Cosgrove, Bridget Appleby
- Model Characters Constructed by: Peter Saunders, Noel Baker, Colin Batty, Peter Bentley, Clare Elliott, Marcia Pidgeon, Bridget Smith, Ian Mackinnon
- Models, Sets and Props: Chris Walker, Graham G. Malden, Jim Bridge, Pippa Greenwood, Rick Kent, Paul Simpson, Jeff Spain, Rowena Watson, Jerry Andrews
- Costume Design: Nigel Cornford
- Costume Assistant: Helen Plaumer
- Illustration: Beverley Bush
- Stills Photography: Richard Smiles
- Music Composed by: Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe
- Arranged by: Brian Ibbetson
- Wind in the Willows Sung by: Ralph McTell
- Lighting Camera: Jerry Andrews, Joe Dembinski
- Model Camera and Firework Effects: Bryan Parsley
- Rostrum Camera: Frank Hardie
- Dubbing Mixer: Ted Spooner
- Film Editor: Nibs Senior
- Assistant Editor: Leo Casserly
- Associate Producer: Chris Taylor
- Executive Producer: John Hambley
- Produced by: Mark Hall, Brian Cosgrove
- Directed by: Jackie Cockle, Francis Vose
- © Cosgrove Hall Productions Ltd MCMLXXXVII
[edit] DVD releases
[edit] DVD (Region 2)
- The Movie (1983)
- The Four Seasons - A 4-disc boxset, split into the four seasons, with three episodes for each season, selected from the first four series of the show.
- Spring - The Great Steamer, The Lost River, Paper Chase
- Summer - Grand Annual Show, Toad: Photographer, The Great Golfing Gamble
- Autumn - The Harvest, Monster of the Wild Wood, Remember, Remember
- Winter - Winter Sports, The Rescue, The Yuletide Entertainment
- The Complete Series 1 - released on 26th March 2007
[edit] DVD (Region 1)
- The Movie (1983)
- A Tale of Two Toads (1987)
- The Feature Films Collection - A compendium of The Movie and A Tale of Two Toads.
- The Complete First Series
- The Complete Second Series
- The Wind in the Willows Four-Pack - Includes both feature films, and the complete first and second series.
