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'Watership Down' Remake Animation Style Divides Viewers

What did you think?
Rachel McGrath
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Reporter

The BBC's new 'Watership Down'
The BBC's new 'Watership Down'
BBC

Remaking a classic is never easy and it seems the BBC may have come unstuck with their new adaptation of ‘Watership Down’.

The first episode of the two-part remake aired last night (Saturday 22 December) and despite the all-star voice cast, many viewers were not impressed.

Posting their thoughts shortly after the show aired on BBC One, numerous Twitter users were specifically unhappy with the animation:

Oh dear, #WatershipDown!

The unemotive video-game animation is killing the whole film

I fear what is a goosebump moment as Bigwig strikes fear into Woundwort's heart when he says he's waiting on *his* chief rabbit, will have zero impact.

And I doubt anyone will cry at the end.

— Ken McColl (@kenmccoll) December 23, 2018

Who on earth thought a remake of Watership Down using what looks like pre 2000 computer game animation was mad.

All the animals legs move at sam time as if just copied and pasted.

Background may aswell not be there. #WatershipDown @bbcone

— Lina (@LinaHatchington) December 22, 2018

To anyone who has not seen the original #WatershipDown. I am so sorry and please don't think that because the original was made in 1978 that this 2018 version is an improvement on the animation because it's not. As a matter of fact, I'd say this new version is a step backwards.

— Alexander Jones (@BigAlexJones) December 22, 2018

Clearly the reported budget for @BBCOne's new #WatershipDown adaptation of £20 Million went to the cast, not the animation.

— Matthew Smith (@msmith251100v2) December 22, 2018

#WatershipDown Terrible animation and horrible, flat, emotionless voice acting. Only goes to show you shouldn’t mess with the original.

— Jesus the Bobblehead (@JesustheBobble1) December 22, 2018

Not a patch on the original which was produced during a time when you didn't need to know the rabbits by name, but you knew them by voice and character. This remake is cold, poorly put together and the budget went to pay for the actors rather than the animation. #WatershipDown

— Dean Shaw (@AVGeek1701) December 22, 2018

One thing bugging me more than the god awful animation is the fact the makers don’t appear to know the difference between rabbits and hares. #WatershipDown

— Dominic Leslie (@DomDom1919) December 22, 2018

But naturally, not everyone agreed:

I thought the animation was excellent on #watershipdown. So many things ruined with CGI these day's. But this had great DOF and a 3d worldness to it. Was modern and nostalgic at the same time. Good job.

— Anthony Goodall (@AntGoodall71) December 22, 2018

Watching the new #WatershipDown , beautiful animation.

— Danielle (@unicorn_mama06) December 22, 2018

And thankfully, there’s always someone willing to bring some perspective, as one Twitter user pointed out just how expensive animation can be:

I don’t think people know how expensive animation for films actually is. People are moaning because #WatershipDown cost £20 million and are claiming it looks cheap. In comparison Pixar’s Coco cost allegedly $175 million. It was never going to look as fancy as Pixar or something

— Sam Sprague (@spragueyboy) December 23, 2018

The star-studded cast lncludes James McAvoy, John Boyega, Nicholas Hoult, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Colman and Gemma Arterton.

The second part airs tonight at 7.20pm on BBC One.

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