Let's Watch - Watership Down

Oh boy! A movie about happy rabbits! What can go wrong? :)
Twitch - / saberspark_
Thumbnail by Rishi - / rishicoyote

[@ernovincze2900]

I love how the non-rabbit animals speak broken English rather than fluent English. It's to show that each species have their own language, and to talk to each other they need to use some sort of pidgin.

[@marcusblackwell2372]

I think the bird originally spoke another language and learned English though. Maybe that's because he's voiced by an American and so he gave him a foreign, strange accent

[@ernovincze2900]

@@marcusblackwell2372 It's explained better in the book. Proper English represents the rabbit language. The broken English represents the "hedgerow" language different animals use to talk to each other. Birds have their own language, but they can talk to rabbits using the hedgerow language.

[@marcusblackwell2372]

​@@ernovincze2900Thanks for that

[@Nightstormshadow1]

I like how comforting death is. How he asks if your feady and is just so welcoming. It's not fearful or scary... just peaceful

[@ShadyRK9]

How it should be. The Grim Reaper isn't a villain. They're just a figure who's here to guide people to the afterlife. When it's our time to go it's our time to go. ☠️

[@SerenityM16]

Well, he did have a peaceful death, so the black rabbit of death had the ability to take it slowly

[@ntfoperative9432]

Because that's the grim reaper. He's not some evil villain who kills hundreds of people per hour. He's just there to gather the souls, and perhaps even make their transition into the land of the dead a little easier

[@blobbertmcblob4888]

The fear of death is very much...and pretty much entirely a Christian thing. Weird right?

[@xxangelthebearxx]

@@blobbertmcblob4888 not all christians think that way. my brother's a christian and he doesn't fear death at all.

[@3at_my_4sskilla_queen_squa28]

That seagull said, "NO BITCHES!! MAIDENLESS!!"

[@Prototype-357]

Honestly the psychedelic animation to tell their mythology is underated, it's so unique, I don't know why more animated movies don't display their dream/fantasy sections like this, I can remember Kung Fu Panda movies doing it and that's it.

[@sarcasticat6979]

Wolfwalkers has a really cool stylization as well, though theirs is more 'literal' to the story as opposed to dream sequences, most of the time. The wolf-vision scenes and how they use perspective with the landscape is really neat, they really take advantage of and push the unique visuals 2D animation allows as opposed to 3D or live action!

[@Awesomeflame16]

​@@sarcasticat69792d Animation is beautiful,in all honesty. But there is good reasons as to why 3d is used. Seeing 2d films is still a treat and 3d pushing more for stylization is also great.

[@Sylvie_Snow4192]

Personally, I wish we could go back to this style of animation. Call me old-fashioned, but 2d animation is where movies just kinda peaked... For me, anyways. I personally enjoy these movies over something like Pixar or DreamWorks, dunno why. Movies today just kinda feel like a husk of what was.. there are good movies today but compared to ye olde movies... That would be an interesting conversation to have.

[@wolfofnightmare2629]

Moana sort of did it with its opening

[@jascemarie33]

Didn't the old jungle book do the same thing? Or maybe I'm thinking of another similar story

[@Cometstarlight]

The daughters of the author have also said that Watership Down was based on stories the three of them would come up with on long car rides. Eventually, their dad compiled it all together while consulting them on it until we got the book that we have today!

[@F1guRas]

If you read the book, the intro says that

[@Batterykitten8]

@@F1guRas yeah but i think thats only SOME later printed versions i think (could be wrong though)

[@tonig.1546]

This is something I remember my grandpa saying about this story. “It is a fantastic story because it isn’t trying to be political, but you can interpret so many societal concepts into it.”

[@marcusblackwell2372]

That's one of the biggest ideas. Especially with Effrafa being effectively a worker camp/prison, and the fact that seemingly all owslas have law enforcement

[@tommc3622]

Efrafa is a warning not to exchange freedom for safety. ... And not all Owsla are militant. Many are compromised of great storytellers or "seers" like Fiver, or particularly clever garden raiders... Every warren is different.

[@gourdguru]

*“It is a fantastic story because it isn’t trying to be political, but you can interpret so many societal concepts into it.”* exactly. it didn't intend to be political, but you can't write a complex society/culture like the warren and their goals and desires without inserting some fingerprint of politics/sociology/ideals, even if social commentary wasn't the intended goal. and likewise, how those fingerprints are picked up on by the readers and unpacked further. a good comparison to this i can bring up is the movie "Prince of Egypt" and the Burning Bush scene. the voice actor for Moses and the voice of God are the same person, Val Kilmer. if you have friends that like to unpack philosophical ideas, there's a lot to chew on there. is Moses really talking to God? is God speaking to Moses in his head using his own inner voice? Is Moses having a transcendental experience, experiencing a religious hallucination and speaking to his Higher Genius or Ideal Self? if you're religious, what does this say about the nature of God or of religious experience? is it an implication that his religious experience is meant for HIM specifically, almost like the christian concept of a "Personal relation" with jesus? as god speaks we hear Moses' words replay from when he killed the slavedriver, and Miriam's words to moses in the alley, which could be recollections in Moses' head, and the only material thing he hears in his head that hasn't already happened is when God tells him that he will teach him the words to say, and moses hears himself say "Let my people go". this could just as easily be god speaking to moses, or, Moses reflecting on his next steps and deciding to return to egypt, and referring to god as the "Eureka" moment when he finally realizes how he has to move forward from here. such a simple thing as a voice actor choice, gives air to this much discussion of psychology, philosophy, theology, etc., whether intended or not. same thing with politics in media. just because you didn't try to make a political statement, doesn't mean you didn't do it anyway by accident. nor that others can't find a way to make one where you didn't. the occultist Aleister Crowley once deconstructed and analyzed the nursery rhyme "The old woman who lived in a shoe" in order to show that it can be seen as a symbolic tale of magical initiation, just to prove a minor point he had made. i highly doubt Mother Goose was trying to turn your kids into Rosicrucians. but we make connections via the knowledge we personally have, and Crowley's knowledge was most focused around magical wisdom and secret societies, so he could see and make those inferrences where others would not. an economist might make some socio-economic commentary about the old woman's economic struggles as a peasant, etc., but i'm pretty sure Ma Goose would say the old woman lived in a shoe and skimps on the bread because it rhymed easily, nothing more.

[@captainkrust8609]

My favorite scene is when the bird yells at rabbits for being maidenless

[@Racc_Oon]

no mates? 🤨

[@DanGamingFan2846]

With all the horrifying imagery, blood, and death, it's hard to believe this movie was rated U in the UK, the equivalent of a G rating in the US. Fortunately, I didn't see it until I was an adult, and it's honestly a really good film with a good story, great characters, stunning visuals, and a fantastic score.

[@watershipup7101]

As a fellow rabbit, I agree. This movie is awesome.

[@rynobehnke8289]

About the same in Germany being rated as "6 and up" which the second most mild rating right after "no age restrictions". Than again maybe we do baby children a bit to much to day. Hard to say as entirely sugar coating the world aren't good ether.

[@animezilla4486]

I am curious you did you saw the Netflix version

[@moviemakr3938]

@@animezilla4486 I have. I like it, I like how it uses more material from the book, the darker, bleaker atmosphere. Good performances including James McAvoy and Ben Kingsley, but somehow it didn't feel like the original film, how it utilizes each member of the runaway group, you know their personalities right away, while there's so many to keep track of. But I like some of the tweaks they did like make Clover more important to Hazel then in the cartoon.

[@rayqazagotdatdrip]

well i sore it when i was 6/7

[@ernovincze2900]

Rishi is right, Watership Down is not an explicitly political book. It's a xenofiction story, the world from the point of view of rabbits. There are universal human themes there, of loyalty, camaraderie, friendship and courage, but nothing directly political.

[@kingofcards9516]

Exactly, people are always trying to make everything political or about politics. Just enjoy it.

[@josephschultz3301]

@@kingofcards9516 I mean, if people want a book with animals that _is_ explicitly political, then they can just go read Animal Farm. That's the entire point. To me, Watership Down was more of a message on the unfairness and severe danger of the world at large.

[@CarnivalChimera]

@@kingofcards9516 To be fair politics reaches far into everything we make, it's just a very human thing to do even if unintentional. I think it's pretty fun to do political analyses on different types of media even if they weren't made to primarily convey that

[@NeroCM]

The author swore to his grave that he did not write a single political or social theme in the book. In his words, "it's just a story about rabbits".

[@CarnivalChimera]

@@NeroCM Yes but still biases exist. We are not machines that can remove parts of our mind that affect things we do say and believe

[@kennethdennis7624]

This movie gave me a childhood fear of rabbits that took many, many years to get over.

[@viviennemorgan7217]

this comment reminds me of this video with apollo justice

[@Darin_Tomlinson]

Are you sure you're over it?

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

It pretty much made the Monty Python harmless little bunny joke land

[@Aluhcav]

Well thank god you never saw Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[@kxl309]

You should definitely fear rabbits my good man I say this as someone with a really deep rabbit bite right in the middle of my palm

[@BBBHuey]

I remember seeing this as a kid and the only scariest part to me was Holly's memory of the Warren's destruction. Those images were hauntingly terrifying.

[@arturoaguilar6002]

Nightmare-fuel! And adding the words "Runs blocked with dead bodies" to the imagery just makes it worse.

[@dreamguardian8320]

I hear you, I use to have nightmares of that scene as a kid. I'm glad I don't have them anymore.

[@spotpz]

The story isn't overtly political, but it is worth noting that the author was a veteran of World War 2. He returned to England having witnessed totalitarian government, collaborating communities, undercover spies, and death camps. The fact that his stories to his daughters were about bunnies experiencing these things may have been a safe way for him to tell them what he'd seen during the war.

[@alexeiwebb5159]

I watched this so much as a child, and oddly still love it. It has great world building, charcters and messages about humans impact on the world

[@Scrinwaipwr]

A good "kids" thing is still good when you're an adult for, like you said, enjoyable characters and compelling stories that are well told.

[@alexeiwebb5159]

​​​​@@Scrinwaipwr very true, I suppose I was meaning that despite the volience it hadn't put me off, but I put it badly. But yes good stories and animation always remain good. I think the other thing I like about Watership down, something that the BBC series expands on a little from the book, is each rabbit colonies response to humans and death. The main colony we follow responds by determination to survive and running away. Using tricks like the Prince El-ahrairah. Eerfrfa responds with fear and iron control, and the pale rabbits lead by cowslip respond by simply accepting death hense the strange poem and thier detachment from the stories of the rabbit Prince.

[@asleepyb0i400]

Watership Down is such a good series, and is actually really accurate to how territorial and vicious rabbits are towards each other. Imagine Efrafa, but without the social structure, and every rabbit Warren is identical. And then there’s my pet bunny, who pouts when he doesn’t get to eat what I’m eating when his food is RIGHT NEXT TO HIM- 🤦

[@blobbertmcblob4888]

So, the actually story behind that is, or one of them, anyway is that Napoleon liked hunting, but they wanted to make it easy for him, so instead of hunting wild rabbits, they brought a bunch of domestic rabbits, left them in cages for an entire day, by the end of the day the rabbits were so hungry that when they were released, they rushed towards the only person they saw, Napoleon, expecting to be fed. Something else I wanted to mention: on the subject of humans needing to learn to swim. Humans are primates, we're considered Great apes and swimming isn't really an "ape" thing to do and actually the other great apes (orangutans, gorillas and chimps) actually CAN'T swim, they're too dense to float, they literally sink because these animals are literally made of muscle and muscle is heavier than fat. So long story short, we need to learn to swim because it's just not there in our brains. It's not something we naturally do.

[@bashfulwolfo6499]

Glad someone else mentioned the swimming thing, I wanted to write a whole ass essay in the chat about it. Great Apes are amazing, just not amazing at swimming.

[@bastik.3011]

also our body build is not suited for energy effective swimming not like four legged bodys

[@gurun8071]

.....we don't need to learn to swim, babies can swim from birth, and most apes can swim, the ones were closest in relation to at least

[@bastik.3011]

@@gurun8071 i wouldn't call that swimming also yeah babys float they are light but once we grow older we get to heavy/dense for our body shape to stay boyant so we need to learn how to keep our head above water. Tigers are amazing swimmers while being heavier because their body Is long and tubular

[@gurun8071]

​@@bastik.3011 ...it literally classified as swimming. It's a scientific fact that infants, of any species, can swim

[@SerenityM16]

I feel so especially bad for the bunnies that tried to escape in the beginning only to be forced to turn back 😢

[@annabunovsky5628]

Fun fact about the mouse you guys mentioned- in the 90’s animated series they’re expanded into the character Hannah, who becomes a friend of all the rabbits & moves in with them. Her & Kehaar are especially close, and the warren’s association with them is emblematic of how Watership Down is different from other warrens, because they’re embracing changes that don’t actually harm rabbits.

[@jonathanwallis3300]

I had this incredible idea of one day turning Watership Down into a stage musical (the haunting “phantom of the opera” kind, NOT the contemporary pop/rock kind) that will utilize puppetry and art styles akin to “The Lion King” (musical).

[@viervonvisonar9889]

Ah yes now saber too can experience our childhood trauma~

[@JoltJackelope]

As Someone Who’s Loved Rabbits Since Birth, and has also owned a few Pet Rabbits, I Really Appreciate this movie. I mean, I’m REALLY Happy i didn’t see it as a kid because it definitely would have scarred me for life! 💀 but because I’m older now and I understand how cruel and unpredictable nature can be, I definitely respect the sense of realism in this movie. 🐇🐰

[@skootergirl22]

Didn't BBC remake this and made it too kid friendly

[@JoltJackelope]

@@skootergirl22 Yup, they made a series on tv about Watership Down. They turned it into a cutesy Disney cartoon for toddlers.

[@robertreid1579]

When Saber said Felidae at 1:42:46 I was like "Oh God." That movie is intense. If Saberspark and Rishi do watch Felidae on a live stream I wish both of them the best luck.

[@bluerabbit4010]

Yesss I've been thinking about the same thing! I want them to watch it so bad, I love that movie

[@aloneandannoyed]

the plague dogs too, if they haven't already - the "childhood Trauma Trio" as I call them.

[@eightbitfeline1415]

instantly demonetized lmao

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

@@aloneandannoyedoh god. Out of all of those films. Plague dogs is the absolute WORST of them. Like insta depression

[@CybeargPlays]

12:40 It's funny to hear them deriding gendered stereotypes of animation (brows vs eyelashes), and yet their own fursonas do the exact same thing.

[@GrrDOOM]

I'm glad you watched this version

[@iamtrash-kun3516]

I tried to give the Netflix version a shot but it was just so bad & janky imo and ruined most of the characters. Even the mini TV series of watershipdown was more palatable then the Netflix one

[@tommc3622]

​@@iamtrash-kun3516 The Netflix version was brainless trash. In an effort to make the story "inclusive" they added female rabbits to the group, completely breaking the story. Once they reach Watership, they have zero reason to go to Efrafa. So they have to find a way to twist the story to make THAT work and.... it's just soooo bad.

[@theBeastcub]

fun fact: domestic rabbits are all descendant of European rabbits and both are so genetically different from North American rabbits that they cannot interbreed, so had this story been set in America their plan to steal female rabbits from the farm would have be for not.

[@Painocus]

Chirin's Bell/Ringing Bell and One Stormy Night are even more connected than that. Not only are they also both Japanese animated films based on Japanese children's picture books of the same format. But the exact phrase that is One Stormy Night's title in Japanese ("あらしのよるに") is also a direct qoute from the last page of Chirin's Bell.

[@StateBlaze1989]

I watched this for the first time early last year. Had only passively heard of it from a few memes, and they made me think it was some gritty ww2 animated movie with anthro animals. Was surprised to be following ordinary rabbits. Was an amazing movie, though. Loved every minute of it.

[@rw3404]

This was my first time watching the full movie, and it had to be Saberspark who showed me. I don't think I could've asked for a better person to show me the movie, what an experience

[@jax-cat6485]

I don’t remember what it’s called but I remember it was on KZbin- there’s this movie I believe it’s Korean about this chicken who escapes this factory farm and goes to live in the forest? She ends up raising a duck egg and it’s kinda adorable and dark at the same time! I highly recommend it, it isn’t dubbed from what I know but if anyone can remember the name and put it here that would be super helpful I just vaguely remember the plot Edit: LEAFIE, A HEN INTO THE WILD

[@m0thpie]

God I agree! I love Leafie!! I'd love for Saber to watch it or make a video about it. He'd have to make sure to watch the uncensored ending though, of course. And it does have a dubbed version, but its not any good in my opinion, lol.

[@americaroleplayer]

I love that they call it a hrududu because that's the sound a car makes.

[@KyleAllen001]

I've never watched this, but my cousin wants to show it to me sometime after she gets me high. I'm not going to watch this reaction right now, because I want my reaction to it then to be genuine, but you'd better believe that after I do I'll come back to watch this video. Until then, catch you in the next video. (Feel free to leave any rips, oofs, and good lucks in the replies!) (Or just laugh at me for allowing myself to go through whatever this is while high, because from what little I do know about this, it'll probably turn the trip south, lol.)

[@c.phoenix3929]

You gotta tell us your experience when you get done watching it for the first time, that sounds like a trip and a half

[@KatieandTyler]

That's really for the best. They pause a ton and talk over the movie constantly with their playful banter so you wouldn't be able to get fully invested.

[@americaroleplayer]

If you can get your hands on it Jim Henson's The Storyteller is also a great watch while high.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

Loved the film and the books...there was also a tv series produced in 1999 which took some liberties but was pretty good and interesting, with John Hurt coming back to the series this time as the voice of General Woundwort and Ian Shaw the son of Robert Shaw as the voice of Hazel, and Stephan Mangan as BigWig... Tis series is also on KZbin. This was also before the Netflix special series in 2019.

[@bearerofbadnews1375]

I forgot there was an animated series in 1999. I remember the 2019 remake though.

[@denisegiry7759]

I grew up watching that show and re-watched now from time to time. It's so good, used to have a big crush on Campion lol

[@mckenzie.latham91]

​@@denisegiry7759My crush was Hazel, Ian Shaw just voiced him so well And Stephen Mangan as Bigwig was good too

[@Alucard15423]

If you need another disturbing animal animated movie from the 90s watch Felidae. People always say Watership Down messed them up as a Kid but for me it was definitely Felidae.

[@drink_soup]

My favourite childhood film

[@griffcrit9905]

Mine was The Secret of NIHM but that's because I didn't see this

[@amayocan]

😨

[@DirectorOfChaos9292]

​@@griffcrit9905 Love Secret of NIMH

[@bananawallpaper]

please please watch plague dogs after this. animated by the same company and somehow even more depressing. one of my favourites

[@sakurakitsunestar]

Saber already said on the animal farm stream he's not going to do a plague dogs stream because it's too depressing

[@ALCvideoprofile]

I adore Watership Down! When I was a kid it frightened me, but I re-watched it as a teen and loved it ever since. Also Rishi your fursona is soooo cute! Every facial expression she makes causes me to smile!

[@charlierosesmith3807]

I love this movie now that I'm an adult. it's an absolute marvel. however the first time I saw it was with my sister when we were 11 and 9, because my parents saw the box and thought "oh cute animated kids movie about bunnies", and it mentally scarred me for years.

[@jlzombiecat]

This was one of the very first movies I ever saw. I grew up watching a VHS recorded from TV in England when I was a baby. I've probably seen it a couple dozen times. Always love it.

[@Psykroids]

Actually coming from the medical field....newborn babies actually know how to swim. It's instinct mostly. Also muscle mass and bone density play a role in the sink or float category. As a newborn you have fragile almost hollow like bones. The reason why we as humans cannot learn certain innate skills, is because we often times forego our natural instincts and needs. We gorge and horde while seeking luxury above necessity. It's a big part of why humans are different from animals.

[@BlackParadeMarcher1]

Honestly I also really enjoy the Netflix rendition. This one holds up for sure. As a bunny owner I love that they did realistic rabbits. Some cartoons add paw pads like dogs and cats and they don't have those and it bugs me every time.

[@ouijacorn]

Watership Down is one of my favorite books; I love its portrayal of death. I want a tattoo inspired by it, but I haven't landed on a design yet.

[@MacabreMole]

I'm also getting an Inle tattoo. Going to make sure I have the 'My heart has joined The Thousand for my friend stopped running today' line.

[@Hack_Man_VII]

Napoleon Bonaparte: Whip the Rabbits! Bugs Bunny: Of course you realize this means war!

[@aaronhulsey1135]

This was a movie that my family decided that, since I only watched animated films, it was time to scar me with the death of rabbits at a very young age, before 10 for sure. The key scenes of the blood from the trees, Bigwig getting trapped, Captain Holly's retelling of the landscaping, and The Dog TM, those all terrified me as a kid. Gave me nightmares. But that opening and ending gave me wonderous chills, as well as the scene where Fiver and the Black Rabbit are off to find Hazel after he was shot. Hope in the dread. I will sometimes get the urge to watch JUST the beginning, it's so gorgeous, I love the art style. I admittedly hadn't sat down and rewatched it for... at least 10+ years, until now with you two. I loved the insight from the book from Rishi! Additionally, this is the first time I've fully understood Kehaar. Subtitles are an absolute blessing, I'm so glad you pulled a video with those! Thank you! Looking forward to seeing the videos of the the two sheep movies! I was going to add the recommendation of Leafie, a Hen into the Wild, but that's not available on KZbin.

[@brynne7738]

I think you should watch The Last Unicorn. It's a beautiful movie that apparently helped to spawn Studio Ghibli. There was also a big debacle between the author and the movie studio that had to be fought over, a decade back, now, I think. It would make for a really cool movie watch, here, or a great "What the hell..." video.

[@taplaos]

Gonna be showing my Father Watership Down this weekend. Cause earlier this week he mentioned Watership Down and told me he read it in 4th grade. I asked him "What do you remember about the book?" My dad: "Rabbits"

[@rexyplexy95]

I absolutely adore this movie and it’s one of my favorite books! I even have “if they catch you, they will kill you, but first they much catch you” tattooed onto my leg along with the black rabbit.

[@lovelessuponthewall]

I can't stand films where animals get hurt, I've always been like that (as a child I watched Bambi and The Fox and the Hound once AND NEVER AGAIN). But this film in particular fascinated me and I'm so glad I got to watch it with you, you made it bearable ❤

[@joecope9935]

59:20 What's the point of a farmer shooting a rabbit? They eat your crops and taste like chicken. For a farmer, shooting a rabbit is a win-win situation!

[@vilmublues752]

Yeah, in the book, Woundwort's backstory includes a farmer shooting his father and trying to kill him, his siblings and his mother for this reason (they eat his crops.)

[@thesupershinymegagengar2034]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Black Rabbit is supposed to be their version of the Grim Reaper, right? Ever since the folklore at the beginning, the way he's depicted made him seem like an ill omen. A spirit to be dreaded. But at the ending he seemed pretty kind and gentle.

[@vilmublues752]

Yes, the Black Rabbit of Inle is their grim reaper. He isn't evil as he is only doing his job, but he causes terror with his mere presence. The movie actually did the ending a little differently from the book. In the movie, it's the Black Rabbit, but in the book it's El-ahrairah himself who comes to ask Hazel to join his Owsla, as thanks and to show respect for all the good he did in life. So that's why he is so kind and gentle in the movie: the original scene was made with El-ahrairah in mind. There was also a kids' cartoon version of Watership Down which was often its own thing story-wise, where the Black Rabbit also appeared, angered because General Woundwort claimed to build an empire of destruction in the Black Rabbit's name (and the Black Rabbit does not approve because his empire is not one of the living world and no creature should use his name for their own purposes.) He strives to make sure Woundwort will fail. So while creepy, he isn't really a bad guy.

[@Painocus]

@@vilmublues752 I kinda prefer it being the Inlé I think. Having it be his Owsla serves the same purpose as having it be El-ahrairah's, but it also adds more dimentions to the rabbits' view of death. I also like the thematic dichotomy of El-ahrairah representing rabbits as they are when alive, allways running from danger, and that most of the story takes place in "his" realm as that's what we see them do throughout, but they are always at the edge of passing over to the realm of Inlé and in the end he comes for everyone. And when he comes then they are no longer like El-ahrairah. No longer running from danger.

[@nathangamble125]

@@vilmublues752 " In the movie, it's the Black Rabbit" No it isn't. The floating head at the end is El Ahrairah. It's not black, and looks completely different to the black rabbit (who Fiver followed earlier in the film).

[@nathangamble125]

@@Painocus It's not Inle.

[@Purplesubmariner]

Dangit...I always loved the ending of this movie, but seeing Hazel laying down and breathing his last breath really hit me hard...I had to put down a beloved cat recently due to Lymphoma, and this just brought back all those memories of being in the room with her in her last moments...

[@n64central]

Is Saber no longer denying he’s a furry?

[@MatchTerm]

I don't think so. I think he's embraced it, but keeping the denying as a joke x3

[@LvXGameMaster]

I'm only 55 minutes in and I love that bird. He's dumb, but he's got determination.

[@alyssabullock6421]

When they showed One Stormy Night at the end, I almost freaked out!! Aaa, we probably wont get a vid of them watching that, but I'm so happy he was looking at it!!! It's such a good one, and deserves way more commentaries on it!

[@Geth-Who]

The composer for this movie was trans. Angela Morley used to be known as Wally Stott, and was the orchestra conductor for legendary Brit radio comedy The Goon Show. The book of this remains my favourite book of all time. I got it when I was seven, and read it so much the covers fell off. Then the same with the replacement my parents got me. I'm on my fourth copy now.

[@ChainsawBunny92]

I'm pretty sure this and Plague dogs were about animal rights. Adams was a well-known animal rights activist. It's a story about rabbits to make you feel something about animal rights. Whatever other meanings you want to put into it is up to you. :3

[@jacquelynnhernandez6358]

O no this version took out my favorite song in the movie 😭 I love when he goes out to find Hazel and the song Bright eyes plays. It's so moving 😩

[@jacquelynnhernandez6358]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2bTqWZ7aquqgtk

[@thend4427]

Wonder why it was removed

[@theendisthebeginningistheend]

@@thend4427 Probably due to copyright if I had to guess.

[@vilmublues752]

If you watch Ringing Bell, please watch it in Japanese with subs. The English dub is _very_ old and is the type where there's constant additional noise and characters randomly mumbling stuff in scenes that are meant to be silent.

[@harleylaufeyson6136]

This movie is literally underrated but really shows a movie dealing with death in a literals way. I remembered watching this to my little bro and he can't survive the first minutes. Now I want Razzle to Drunk watch this movie

[@KingOfGaymes]

This movie feels like the equivalent of an adult going *“Hey kids wanna see a dead body?!”*

[@sugarnova5522]

Another movie made by this group was called “Plague Dogs”, which is also an animal based drama that is a beautiful watch. As an American-English speaker, I did need to turn on subtitles in order to understand the border collie and fox characters (dummy thicc accents).

[@IVEmeritus]

53:21 Yes, rabbits do this. They also dramatically flop over, or throw themselves to the floor.

[@themeekwarrior]

I never got to watch this movie before. I really love the exploration of rabbit culture, kindof like how in Happy Feet the penguins have their own culture and religion, though much less explored. It's very down-to-earth fantasy and makes me sad that people thought of this movie as a "disturbing kids' film" when watching it as an adult, it's profound and interesting in a way only mature people could really understand.

[@SerenityM16]

I only saw this movie recently :) it is beautifully dark, and handles its darkness so matter of factly

[@theramdomchannel8329]

10:37 its "a stormy night" (arashi no yoru) and it is much better and less traumatic than Ringing Bell

[@Jgaldragon]

The 'Warriors' book series does kinda feel like 'Watership Down' but with cats.

[@vilmublues752]

Yep, but I'd say the cats are even more humanized, while the rabbits still follow a lot of their natural behavior and instincts. For example, warrior cats sleep and are active around the same time as humans.

[@meister7672]

They now need to watch Plague Dogs and Felidae!!

[@IVEmeritus]

Ah, Watership Down. My favorite animated film. I loved it since I was little. I already had a big thing for rabbits, and this, plus the animated series made me love them more. I've memorized the entire speech at 3:13. I agree. I've had a pet rabbit for the last 10yrs (he's still going strong), and as much as I love them, I wouldn't want to be one if I was an animal. Everything wants to hunt you.

[@m1ntyuu]

I watched this when I was 5- my Christian mother thought it would be a cute bunny family on an adventure 😭😭😭😭

[@dimitrimessier]

Im honestly just here for her giggle. Its addicting how adorable her giggle is.

[@autumnnightshade1204]

I actually really like this movie; I didn't think i'll like a movie about um rabbits fighting but it really is a good movie and the animation and backgrounds are really nice.

[@RocksAndStuffAndGeology]

Dude I just love this film, purely nostalgic

[@moosecannibal8224]

Thank you so much, this is an amazingly important film to me from my childhood and it was sweet watching your two's reaction to it

[@FailSafe161]

Yooo I'm the same way with buzzing flying insects tho. 💀 Something about them sets me off and sends me running

[@vilmublues752]

I think that's just human instinct.

[@XxShadowxX158]

This is why I'm scared of dragonflies and trying to explain it to people is hard because they just laugh at me 😔😔

[@shopdog831]

Richard Adams stories are something special

[@ravenschippers8267]

Oh Saberspark you should read the novel, its gets ALOT darker and deeper in the rabbit's lore.

[@jacquelynnhernandez6358]

Omg you guys make me so happy ❤️ I love this movie so much and so many people don't even know about it

[@iron-mage]

used to watch this one on vhs on repeat as a child, mostly the opening scenes tho

[@garethalford682]

This is probably one of the most disturbing kids films ever made

[@shopdog831]

There was the whole story arc of prince rainbow and stories of frith and the fuzzy wog dog that didn’t make it into the film

[@lilbbgrinchiepoo2429]

If rabbits have their own creation myths and culture, think about every other animal species's myths and culture...

[@vilmublues752]

Yeah, I really like that because rabbits are quite vulnerable prey animals, they value and consider trickiness heroic.

[@pascaleelliott63]

I've noticed just now that Cowslip is the only rabbit who expresses more anthropomorpic/human physical mannerisms, like twirling or pointing his paws like a human would during a conversation, spending most of his screen time on his hind legs rather than all fours, except for when he has to walk, and even then he moves on four legs so unnaturally. I think it adds a bit more to his unnerving uncanninness, and really separates him from the other rabbits in the movie, not just as a character, but even as a species of rabbit in a way. Practically would be the same as comparing a primate who's spent their whole life in human captivity being brought food and living in a predator-free environment, and a primate who's grown and survived their whole life in their natural environment in the wild.

[@Duelkitten]

I watched this movie so much my sister had to hide it because it annoyed her. I lost my mind when I got the book for Christmas (I thought it was just a movie). Had to hold myself back from reading it all in one day. Heck I even watched the cartoon (not the Netflix one).

[@CelticMagician]

Fricking love this movie. So glad you got to experience it, Saber. Also, yes, Richard Adams wrote Plague Dogs. Great and heart-wrenching story that one is as well.

[@sfmwolfproductions]

One of my favorite movies of all time

[@bluerabbit4010]

I'm soo happy you loved this movie 😊 This is one of my all time favorites since I was little. The visuals are just amazing, along with the voice acting. And I absolutely agree, this is a very beautiful movie.

[@kirajoker.3508]

"I just wanted a movie about cute bunnies!"

[@Wolfnado]

Damn, Kehaar really said: “No bitches?” 😭

[@Iheartdrumzz]

This video was so peaceful to listen to and catch glances at as I sit outside after work

[@ZombossLordOfDoom]

My 5th grade English teacher put this on for lunchtime movies. My greatest teacher of all time.

[@fredthurbin5795]

Between this and The Animals of Farthing Wood, my childhood scared me 😅

[@cheshirewolf1574]

i like how bigwig at the end doesnt call himself the chief, but instead refers to Hazel as chief. its a nice touch

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

The way that happened in the book was so honorable and heartwarming. The films just do not capture the respect he gains for hazel.

[@wildguy4773]

Dandelion also calls hazel as "hazel-rah" when they came to the farm, wich in them is probably the title of a chief

[@BingBongFairy]

I have a cel from this film, and it is one of my favorites of many years, thank you for bringing it up, it's beautiful, and despite its disturbing nature, I am glad I watched it when I was young. It all felt so raw, and scary.

[@BingBongFairy]

Saber joking the whole time was a bit much though(actually it gets kind of grading buddy pleaseeee dont overgoof a good movie)

[@atomsea03]

YES! I’ve been waiting for Saber to do a video on Watership Down. Even if the book is WAY better, the movie’s still pretty excellent

[@Herowebcomics]

OMG! I never knew that Watership down had such a crazy beginning! Sure it's gonna be tough and violent, but also amazing! [After watching the movie] And it WAS! It went DEEP! The themes of life and death and good and evil were amazing!

[@2_lynbovoid_490]

Yes! I love Watership down so much :'D

[@hotpotatoeshotpotatoes6221]

Whenever I'd go on vacation to my families summer home as a child I'd watch this, which was a tradition passed down to me from my father who did the same thing when he was a kid visiting the summer home. Not until a few years ago did my dad finally acquire the book and we both were able to read it. It's up there as a favourite for me now. I can't even begin to describe how big of a traditional impact this one book and movie has had in my life strangely enough.

[@lost_in_arkansas242]

Ahh yes, my childhood (80's kid here) . The fight scene with bigwig and the general had this one perfect pause moment where he hits his head on the tunnel and for some reason my friends loved to time it just right. This is one of the best musical tracks when I need to relax. I can't wait for the day my kids will be old enough to watch it and read the book, seriously I've been reading it since 5th grade yearly and I catch something new every read. (kids will be older then 3 yr old me who called the movie killer rabbit)

[@JoesAnimationHub]

Fun Fact: Frith and Pipkin are played by the late Sir Michael Hordern and the late Roy Kinnear respectively, both whom were actors in the 1966 black comedy film "How I Won the War" as Grapple and Clapper respectively alongside one John Lennon as Gripweed.

[@josephmask3705]

I like Saber's reaction (20:00) with the kingfisher, it's cute :3

[@derekstein6193]

"Whip the rabbit" sounds like a very suspect euphemism...

[@amaturartistry3241]

Their artworks for their characters are so cute who did them they make me so happy and fit each of their aesthetics perfectly!