Awesome Adaptations is a weekly bookish meme, hosted at Alisa Selene’s books blog, Picturemereading. Anyone can play along! Each week there is a new category of adaptation to blog about. Any format (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. If you’re playing along on your own blog, just mention Picturemereading in your post and include the banner above. Let them know which film you’d pick and why it is an awesome adaptation worth watching. Oh, and don’t forget to share the link to your own post in the comments for that week’s challenge so that everyone can read your thoughts!
An Awesome Adaptation of an Animal Tale
Adapted from: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
This short animated film from 1985 adapts a children's story I have always held dear. I was very attached to my stuffed toys when I was young, and harbored a secret hope they would become real, or at least cared that I loved it. This story helped with my delusion. :)
This cartoon makes a few changes to the story. There are some scenes of the bumbling toy soldiers as comic relief, because they wish to oust the Velveteen Rabbit from the Boy's attentions and they are always thwarted. And this adaptation makes the interesting decision to not have the Rabbit move or speak even while the other toys can and that changes the dynamic of the scene where the real rabbits talk to the Velveteen Rabbit. It definitely makes the real rabbits less malicious this way. Of course then in the end when the Rabbit becomes real and can move, it is all the more touching.
I've always thought this story was pretty sad, even though it has a happy ending. The Rabbit goes from being the favorite to being thrown out, with the message that love makes things real. Though it seems more like a blue fairy is what makes things real. Well, at least in the cartoon, the fairy makes it clearer that the fact that the Rabbit was loved was what made it possible for her to make him real, while the book made it seem like all old well-used playthings get to be transformed.
This is a lovely story and a very cute cartoon that has the added appeal of being narrated by Christopher Plummer. Watching this cartoon brings me such a sense of nostalgia which made me enjoy it even more. Although some might think this adaptation does not fit 'an animal tale' because it is a toy, I beg to differ. The Velveteen Rabbit is REAL. :)
An Awesome Adaptation of an Animal Tale
Title: The Velveteen Rabbit
This short animated film from 1985 adapts a children's story I have always held dear. I was very attached to my stuffed toys when I was young, and harbored a secret hope they would become real, or at least cared that I loved it. This story helped with my delusion. :)
This cartoon makes a few changes to the story. There are some scenes of the bumbling toy soldiers as comic relief, because they wish to oust the Velveteen Rabbit from the Boy's attentions and they are always thwarted. And this adaptation makes the interesting decision to not have the Rabbit move or speak even while the other toys can and that changes the dynamic of the scene where the real rabbits talk to the Velveteen Rabbit. It definitely makes the real rabbits less malicious this way. Of course then in the end when the Rabbit becomes real and can move, it is all the more touching.
I've always thought this story was pretty sad, even though it has a happy ending. The Rabbit goes from being the favorite to being thrown out, with the message that love makes things real. Though it seems more like a blue fairy is what makes things real. Well, at least in the cartoon, the fairy makes it clearer that the fact that the Rabbit was loved was what made it possible for her to make him real, while the book made it seem like all old well-used playthings get to be transformed.
This is a lovely story and a very cute cartoon that has the added appeal of being narrated by Christopher Plummer. Watching this cartoon brings me such a sense of nostalgia which made me enjoy it even more. Although some might think this adaptation does not fit 'an animal tale' because it is a toy, I beg to differ. The Velveteen Rabbit is REAL. :)
Great choice! This story really breaks my heart as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm glad it had the same effect on you - so I'm not so weird. :D
DeleteGlad to know more people feel the same way! I came to read it when I bought this book for a cousin, but I didn't know there was a cartoon adaptation!
ReplyDeleteLove the look of your blog and thanks for stopping by mine :) . Following back!
I'd only seen the cartoon recently actually - when I was young, I was just into the book. And thank you for commenting and for the follow back! I look forward to visiting your blog!
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