User Reviews

This cartoon adaption of The Wind in the Willows is something rare: a perfect (or at least near-perfect) version of the novel it's based on. Forget the Disney version; this is the one to see. It leaves out only a few parts of the novel, and is very faithful to the tone of the story. Each character is perfectly realized as they were in the novel. The visual style is excellent too; it is what might be called "delightfully grotesque." If you love The Wind in the Willows, and want to see a version that does not ruin it, this is the version you want. Alas, it is unavailable on video or DVD (it was once available on video, but is no longer), and is only rarely (if ever) shown on T.V. I am fortunate that I have a copy taped from T.V. many years, a copy which is, sadly, slowly biting the dust. This movie is hard to find, but if you can find, watch it without delay.

Some of the writers in this thread disparaging the animation quality of this 1987 made-for-TV television version of 'The Wind in the Willows' thought it was made by Disney Productions, but of course it was produced by Rankin-Bass, who brought us 'Frosty the Snowman' in the '60s, and so much more. I'd have to say their animation quality in '87 has come a long way since 'Frosty'! Especially in the lush background illustrations and depth of texture and color mixtures.

This is clearly the truest-to-the-book, the intent-of-the-themes, and the animals' characterizations production of this title to date. I can't believe I was 27 years old when this came out and I presumably first watched it that year or possibly a little later, but I might as well have been 10 years old, for this version has really stuck with me (I'm now 45)! A large part of it was the great songs which have stayed in my head over the years, and, yes, especially the (someone said) 'wistful' theme song. Very soothing in sound and lyrics! Roddy McDowall was perfect as the voice of Ratty and Charles Nelson Reilly as Toad was a masterstroke of casting. For me, it really doesn't get any better than this version because I found that the animation and background settings so often matched a lot of the imagery I already had in my head from reading the book when I was about 13.

I believe I saw it twice more in ensuing years, but unfortunately did not make a tape off of TV, so I am now hoping to find it again by chance in some flea market 'bargain bin'. But I would like nothing better than to be able to see it again!

This version of "Wind in the Willows" is superior, by leaps and bounds, to the 1949 Disney version. Not only is it much more faithful to the novel as an adaptation, the animation actually looks better, and closer to many of the illustrations I've seen in different versions of "Wind in the Willows." Roddy McDowall, who you might remember from "Return of the King," is back as the water rat. Jose Ferrer is great as the gruff Badger. Best of all is the looney Charles Nelson Reilly as Toad. This guy has a great voice for cartoons, and his voice fits perfectly for the energetic and crazed personality of Toad, certainly more than the British actor used in the Disney version. I watched this as a little kid and enjoyed it. Watch it with your children, for it is one of Rankin-Bass's greatest TV specials, and a classic of made-for-TV children's animation.

"Wind in the Willows" is one of the all-time classic children's books, no doubt about it. And this is quite a good production, made (I believe) for Saturday morning television. I was about 4 or 5 when this was first aired, we've taped it and had it for the ensuing 15 or 16 years. Even aside from the hilarious 80's commercials (remember how popular claymation was back then?), it's still a treat to pull out the old tape and run it through the VCR again. One of the keys to the cartoon's success was the excellent musical score, with some truly memorable songs (particularly the wistful title tune which perfectly captures the yearning spirit of Rattie). And there's a great sequence with the Seafaring Rat seducing Rattie with tales of the far-off wonders of the world...it gets right to the soul of every adventurous Englishman, divided between the serene comforts of home and the wide world beyond (it's almost a David Lean moment here). The animation is admittedly not up to Disney's caliber, but then neither was Disney at the time this was made (it would be a few years before "Little Mermaid" signified their renewal). Sometimes the drawings are a bit flat, but other times they're wonderfully evocative. All in all, I recommend this if you can find it--I really don't know if it's on video or not although it probably says so on this site. Oh, and one last thing: the voices are dead-on perfect, especially Roddy McDowell as the Rat (just found out it was him recently, but it makes perfect sense in retrospect. There have been many versions of "Wind in the Willows"--a stop-motion production done for PBS in the 90's, a lushly drawn cartoon introduced by Vanessa Redgrave, even a live action version starring the Monty Python crew, which is worth watching...and of course the Disney cartoon which is a big departure from the spirit and story of the book in many ways, but contains that irrestible Disney charm and enthusiasm. Still, in some ways, this remains my favorite production, both for personal reasons (it evokes as much nostalgia for me as Teddy Ruxpin and Mr. Potato Head) and because it is the movie which most lives up to the spiritual undertones in Graham's story.

No offense to songwriters Maury Laws and Jules Bass, but the songs in this 1987 tv version of The Wind in the Willows are the worst parts. The melodies are both forgettable and irritating, and the lyrics are appallingly awful. You won't believe how bad the "rhymes" are unless you actually hear them for yourself - but you don't have to. There have been other cartoon adaptations of the beloved story that you can rent.

If you do rent it, it's probably because you love the cast and want to hear them as the little animals. Charles Nelson Reilly plays the irresistible Mr. Toad, and he has a lot of energy along with his classic giggles. Roddy McDowell plays Ratty, adding a no-nonsense approach to one of the animals who tries to straighten Toad out. Eddie Bracken is Moley, and José Ferrer voices Badger. While I appreciate the playful, high spirited voice of Reilly, my favorite is Ferrer. His delivery is so sweet, you can imagine him reading the story aloud to his grandchildren.

Another reason to rent this version is if The Wind in the Willows is your favorite story ever and you want to watch every version. I'm that way with A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. No matter how bad the movie is, I can't resist watching any adaptation. This version is very 1980s, from the animation style to the music. It is surprisingly faithful to the book, however, which is nice.

DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During the song Mr. Toad sings in his car, there are some spinning visuals, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

"Wind in the Willows," a 1987 tv movie was brilliantly made, brilliantly casted, and was a departure from more commercialistic cartoons of its day.

This film starred Roddy McDowell and Jose Ferrer in the roles of Ratty and Badger, respectively in this children's classic. Whereas other cartoons of the '80's promoted products like action games (Q-bert) or toys (GI Joe) this cartoon movie does none of the above and is as well done as a Disney film.

The great performances from the actors are given an assist from a memorable score with a classic "Wind in the Willows" theme song: "Soon, soon you will forget," it goes, "The wind in the willow turns frolic to fret." There's also a song on Mr.Toad that's pretty catchy.

But what's best about this film is that it stay pretty true to the book "Wind in the Willows." Often times, a movie made from a book, especially a cartoon eschews the book to a degree that renders the translation unrecognizable from its original form.

But this version, enjoyable for kids or adults does not. It shows off the characters of Badger, Mole, Ratty, and Toad as representative of certain virtues or failings, much to the author's original intent. Toad is rich but wasteful as well as boastful; Ratty is full of wanderlust; Badger is unsociable but brave and smart; Mole is industrious and friendly. And the Wildwood is forever scary, forboding, mysterious-- everything a forest of fiction is supposed to be.

But together, the characters find they are inseparable-- in some way or another each character needs the others-- and this cartoon movie brings that out. There is a sense of community there among them, to the point that we non-animated humans could learn a little something from these characters!

True, the quality of animation isn't exactly Disney's finest, and some of the human cartoon characters are annoying to watch--especially when up against the animals, but viewers will ignore that in a heartbeat.

I saw this first when I was ten years old, I watched it again when I was 14, and if I still had it on video I would watch it again today. One of the best-- including Disney-- cartoons I have ever seen.

...Well maybe I am a bit biased because I have such a ton of nostalgia for this movie. But I remember being six years old and constantly borrowing this film off my aunt, until she just let me keep it one day. I'm 25 now and all the songs and dialogue have stuck with me vividly ever since. The title song is beautiful, and the rest of the soundtrack is witty and catchy. The animation is perfectly acceptable and has a charm to it, but the main strength of this film is the great voice cast. Whenever I think of Toad, this is the one that comes to mind, wonderfully voiced by Charles Reilly. I thought he was hilarious and lively in his arrogance. Everyone else is just as wonderfully cast in their roles; special mention to Roddy Mcdowall, who is so heartwarming as Ratty. Badger is also a standout, though he is helped by his own song; "I hate company" which is a riot! I honestly can't say enough good things about this film! IMO it captures the spirit of the book best of all the adaptations I've seen. It has a real whimsy to it, and as I said before the theme song by Judy Collins is just beautiful and probably contributes a great deal of it's nostalgic charm for me. You could do far worse than watch this...I highly recommend it if you can get your hands on it. Definitely needs a DVD release pronto. And a soundtrack while they're at it!!

The 1987 Rankin/Bass version of Wind in the Willows is simply the best version of the story that I have seen today. The film remains very true to the story with only some minor variations (Portly becomes Badger's nephew instead of Otter's son), has some catchy songs (my very favorite is the one sung by the weasels and stoats as they have overrun Toad Hall), and does a wonderful job of characterization (Moley is insecure but loyal, Ratty is dreamy, Badger is gruff yet compassionate, and Toad is, well, Toad)! More importantly, I think the film better than any other has captured the true essence of Grahame's original work, something most film versions have just not been able to do. This was always one of my favorite movies as a child, and I long for it to be released on DVD! It is a truly great movie!

Perhaps you wouldn't immediately consider The Wind in The Willows a particularly difficult book to adapt for the silver screen, as it could be mistaken as a children's book, a simplistic animal fable. But that would truly under-appreciate a book, that in my opinion, is vastly underrated and incorrectly sold purely as children's reading.

The numerous attempts at filming Willows all seem to fail by varying degrees because they misinterpret the book's wonderful character nuances, the relationship between them, and a tale so beautifully written the story manages to be timeless, poignant, intelligent and relevant.

Most television or film attempts (either live action or animated) come across as simplistic, twee, saccharine-sickly or merely dull. This version, however, rises head and shoulders above the rest.

The Python version with its hideously conceived "dog-food" element, the Disney cartoon, the ITV animated version, and the Cosgrove Hall versions all, while competent, manage to somehow miss the essence of the book. This 1983 animated work of genius, however, is easily the finest.

The casting is truly inspired, the script superb, the songs perfectly judged, the spiritual, ethereal Piper scenes superbly done, and the animation, while a little simplistic, perfectly captures the atmosphere and tone of the British countryside.

The film manages to show the book almost complete, and whilst the songs are witty, and rousing for children, they also entertain adults, and the parts of the book that are a little more mature in scope (the religious/Christ vision of the Piper, the themes of greed and goodwill) are all left intact, and never condescend the younger viewer.

All in all, a magnificent achievement, and 90 minutes of the finest animated entertainment you could want. Shrek who...?

While it is good, it just seems too American. The laziness of spring beside the riverbank is never captured as it is in the 1996 Vanessa Redgrave version. The whole thing is just too cartoonish for the story, and not enough time was spent with Mole and Rat. 6/10

I first saw this film as fourth grader. The songs and voices of the characters have never left my memories. I showed it to my son, currently a third grader, and he was equally enraptured throughout the entire presentation. Very few theatrical presentations can withstand that test of time. Children today are not as easy to entertain as my generation was. It is a tribute to this production that it still packs a punch. The production, as does the book, teaches children invaluable life lessons in the entertaining manner they need to be taught to hold their attention. My only complaint about this release is that it is not offered on DVD.

If I could give this movie a twenty out of ten, it still wouldn't be enough. I've seen several versions of this movie, and except for this one, I didn't think they delivered. It may be that I'm biased because this is the first one I ever saw, but I really do love it. My mom taped it for me when I was three or four, and we've had the tape ever since. (I'm twenty one now.) It was always one of the items that we made sure we had all of the fifteen or so times we moved. Over the years, the quality has become slightly poor, but it is still the one thing guaranteed to make me smile. And things are looking up for my favorite tape, since a friend of mine just transferred it to DVD for me.

I know I'm redundant here, but I just can't say enough what a good movie this is. Everyone learns important lessons, that resonate with real life, and yet, it manages not to be preachy. The songs and dialogue are great, and when I'm not feeling so I hot, I often catch myself singing the title song. Add to that, that my mom calls me Badger, because I hate company, and the fact that we often say, when we're hungry that we'll eat anything but an anchovy, and you have a tiny part of the impact it's had on me for over fifteen years.

A must see if you are lucky enough to find it.

I love the book, it is beautifully written with an enchanting story, memorable characters and homely imagery. This 1987 animated adaptation is wonderful, and along with the 1995 film and the 1983 stop-motion film it is one of my personal favourite adaptation of this great story.

A vast majority of the time, the animation is great. It is very colourful and smooth, with lovely landscapes and all the animals are drawn very nicely. Plus the atmosphere in the scenes in the wood is wonderfully evocative, the Piper sequence is wonderfully ethereal and the scene on the river has a gracefully whimsical feel to it. The animation of the humans aren't quite up to scratch, but with so much good I ignored that minor discrepancy.

I also loved the music. The title song is really beautiful, while the other songs are charming with playful lyrics and fine melodies, I Hate Company especially is a riot. The incidental music is also memorable, and does add a lot to every scene.

The writing is excellent, especially with Toad, whose lines are witty and funny, while the story is remarkably true to the essence of the book and full of charm. The characters are still engaging, Toad is always great fun, Badger is gruff yet very smart, Ratty is clever, idealistic and friendly and Moley is timid yet somewhat adorable and loyal. These memorable characters are brought to life by a terrific vocal cast with Charles Nelson Reilly and Jose Ferrer the standouts.

In conclusion, a complete delight to watch not only as an adaptation but on its own terms too. 10/10 Bethany Cox

We had this on Lazer disc! Our kids were young and we all loved watching this from Judy Collins' opening title song (can't believe she hasn't released this on iTunes!) to the 'less boastful' Toad of the final scene. Roddy McDowall's Ratty was a perfect foil for Eddie Bracken's Mosley and everyone loved Jose Ferrer's stern Badger. The line 'In there, I'd have said anything in there!',has been a 'get-out-of-it' line in our family ever since! Someone PLEASE put this on DVD so I can share it with my grandkids!

This magical little film doesn't have flashy production values or Disney-quality animation, and yet it blows anything Disney has to offer right out of the water. Against all odds, this adaptation succeeds in perfectly capturing the winsome, nostalgic tone of Kenneth Grahame's classic novel. It features humor and surprisingly well-done musical sequences, but the producers have carefully preserved the spiritual dimensions of the book, notably the material about the Piper. Children will love it, but adults will appreciate its unexpectedly mature approach and may be caught off guard to find it moving. The result is a film that works on multiple levels and that everyone can enjoy. I've loved this film since I was 9, and at the age of 35 it still has the power to enchant.

You know, I vaguely remember the Disney cartoon version of this story. I had read the book a while ago, and I loved it. This film version of the story is a film I had never seen from one of my favorite animation studios, Rankin/Bass, but I had watched it online, and I thought it was excellent-the music and animation style.

I love it. When Ratty commands Toad to come down from the tree that Toad was thrown into after the motor car crashed into the cart, "Toad, come down here!" I just thought it was funny! I also love what Badger says about the piper. I just like the sound of Jose Ferrer's voice. I am like that, loving the sound of an actor's or actress' voice.

And one last thing I would like to comment on is the studio's take on the chapter "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn." They definitely captured the magic of it the best. And the Portly-as-Badger's-nephew bit works surprisingly well (and keeps the characters and storytelling somewhat stream-lined). Also, I thought little Portly was so cute! He squeaks almost like a kitten. And overall, I love this film, and it's a must-see for a Rankin/Bass fan like me.

This has got to be one of the strangest, most twisted movies ever made for children. The songs in this movie are nothing like those obnoxious, repetitive songs from every disney movie. These songs are WARPED. They're twisted and bizarre, but the kids will never notice it. I have more fun watching this movie now than I ever did as a child. Badger's anthem, "I Hate Company!" is hysterical. The weasel's song is the most twisted thing I have ever seen in a children's movie.

Poor Rankin-Bass............they never could equal their "Rudolph" success from the early 60s. It was apparently their personal drive to continually apply a buzz- saw to every children's book on the shelf. For the less discriminating viewer. And, since IMDb requires ten lines per review, I must fill up the remaining space. If only most of the posters on this web site could learn restraint. Why are we required to post a minimum of ten lines?

Yes this is by far the best wind in the willows, The 1983 version was not even close a lot of people claim that's better it's not this hands down head and shoulders above any other, It's funny its far more interesting, It's writing is far better, overall this is a pure classic, The acting is fantastic, CNR is an amazing Mr Toad no one has came close to the CNR version, So overall if you can only see one, Version of the wind in the willows make it this version forget the rest the 95/96 version was great but this is hands down better go past 83version I thought that was really really boring and slow paced.

I have enjoyed a lot of Rankin/Bass productions in the past, so when I stumbled upon a copy of it - and saw that it was written by Romeo Muller, one of the best writers for Rankin/Bass - I plunked down my money and took it home to watch.

Unfortunately, I was severely let down by this movie. While I have not read the original Kenneth Grahame novel this is based on, I think Grahame would be appalled by this production. While I know this was made for TV in the '80s, and the animation quality wouldn't be top grade, the animation left a lot to be desired. (Not just that the design of the human characters was downright grotesque.) The character of Toad was extremely annoying and hard to warm up to. And the songs are not only horrible, they bring the overlong story to a screeching halt for several minutes whenever they play.

Not everything about this movie is bad. I found the relationship and dialogue between the characters of Ratty, Badger, and Moley warm and compelling. Unfortunately, there is only a few minutes of this in the entire movie. Had there been more of this, I am sure I would have liked this movie a lot better.

While I only paid 25 cents for this movie, I still feel ripped-off.