The Bellflower Bunnies season 1 explained

Season Number:1
Bgcolour:
  1. 87CEFA
Image Upright:1.15
Num Episodes:4
Network:TF1 (France)

The first season of The Bellflower Bunnies, a children's animated series based on the Beechwood Bunny Tales books by Geneviève Huriet and Loïc Jouannigot, aired on France's TF1 network during the week of 24 December 2001, at 7:00 a.m. Central European Time.[1] Consisting of four episodes, it was directed by French animator Moran Caouissin, produced by Patricia Robert, and written by Valérie Baranski. The music was composed by Baranski and Daniel Scott.[2] A handful of crew members from this season would be carried over for future episodes.

The episodes follow the adventures of the Bellflowers, a family of seven rabbits who live in the community of Beechwood Grove. The two adults, Papa Bramble and Aunt Zinnia, take care of their five children: Periwinkle, Poppy, Mistletoe, Dandelion and Violet.[3] "Room to Move", the first episode in the official production order, deals with the family's move to their new house at Blueberry Hill.[4]

The first season has been broadcast on TF! Jeunesse, the children's service of TF1, as well as South Korea's Educational Broadcasting System (EBS),[5] CBBC in the United Kingdom,[6] and Germany's Kinderkanal (KI.KA)[7] and ZDF[8] among others. Since early 2003,[9] it has been made available on DVD in the United States, France, Germany and South Korea.

Production

The season was a co-production of France's TF1, its subsidiaries Protécréa and Banco Production, and Canada's TVA International. It was produced in association with France's Sofica Valor 6 and Luxembourg's Melusine, and with the participation of the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC). Production began in late 2000[10] at a cost of €380,000 (C$610,000) per episode.[11] Graphics and Animation of Antwerp, Belgium,[12] a subsidiary of Luxembourg's Studio 352, designed the layouts for these episodes,[13] and North Korea's SEK Studio handled overseas animation duties.[2] Premium Sound, based in Montreal,[14] was responsible for the sound effects, design, dialogue editing, foley and mix.[15] Early during the show's production, the crew created a one-minute promotional pilot, in which a little mouse tells of the show's premise and introduces its main characters.[16] [17]

This season represented TF1 International at the conferences of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) in early 2001 and 2002,[18] [19] and MIPTV Media Market in April 2001.[20] For both events, the four episodes were promoted as "specials".[18] [20]

The first two episodes of the series were planned to air on TF1 in November 2001, with the next two to follow in December.[21] Ultimately, all four premiered in late December on TF! Jeunesse.[1]

Cast and crew

The first season's English voice cast included Rhonda Millar (who played two characters, Periwinkle and Pirouette),[22] as well as Tom Clarke Hill, Tom Eastwood, Regine Candler and Joanna Ruiz Rodriguez.[2] Their voices were recorded at Ten Pin Alley, a company based in Gloucestershire, England.[23]

The director of this season, Moran Caouissin, was previously involved in as an animator.[24] Character designer Josette Zagar previously worked in the trace and paint department for The Twelve Tasks of Asterix.[25] Co-producer Louis Fournier once served Cinar as Vice President of Sales & Co-productions; during this season's production, he was President of TVA International's Youth and Animation Unit.[26] Fournier's partner, Dominique Mendel, became Vice President of Montreal's Spectra Animation in November 2004.[27] [28] Daniel Scott, a Canadian composer who created the theme for Wimzie's House,[29] teamed up with Valérie Baranski to write the score and songs.[2] [30] Several more would return for the next season: screenwriter Baranski, producer Patricia Robert, and story editor Fabrice Ziolkowski to name a few.

Reception

José Evrard of France's DVDcritiques.com wrote of The Bellflower Bunnies' first season: "[It] combines quality entertainment with a charming style that can be found in children's books. The stories, full of tenderness, emotion and humour, develop in a magical world where everything is done to give the young viewer true moments of joy! Every event with our little heroes—so mischievous and affectionate—is a delight."[9] In the United States, Dove Foundation reviewer Linda Eagle praised the episodes as "an adorable piece of animation", and gave both Region 1 DVDs four stars out of five.[31] [32]

Episodes

This season, based entirely on books in the Beechwood Bunny Tales series, is about 92 minutes long. In each episode, the Bellflower children perform a song whose title does not appear in the credits.

DVD releases

Region 2 (Europe)

France

The first season was also released by TF1 Vidéo on 23 January 2003[9] and again on 19 February 2004.[35] Its only special features were a collection of songs from the episodes and a DVD-ROM weblink to the distributor's site.[9]

Germany

On 22 February 2008, in time for Easter, released the German-dubbed version as Die Häschenbande, Folge 1.[36] [37] This came about as a result of the show's success on local television.[37] The extras were colouring pages and previews of other products.[38]

German titleEnglish title
"Ein neues Zuhause""Room to Move"
"Peppino in Gefahr""Carnival"
"Rackies Schneeabenteuer""Slide On"
"Ein gefährlicher Flug""Balloonatic Bunnies"

Netherlands

Under the series title De Knuffel Konijntjes, Dutch FilmWorks B.V. released the first four episodes individually in the mid-2000s; all of these were put together in a box set on 21 March 2006.[39] The third volume in this version, "Hoog in de Lucht" ("Balloonatic Bunnies"), was released several months before #2, "Carnaval" ("Carnival").

Dutch titleEnglish titleRelease date
"Verhuizing""Room to Move"8 March 2005[40]
"Hoog in de Lucht""Ballonatic Bunnies"30 August 2005[41]
"Carnaval""Carnival"13 January 2006[42]
"Winterpret""Slide On"20 July 2006[43]

Region 1 (North America)

As part of a marketing deal with TVA,[10] the English version of Season 1 was distributed on VHS by the Utah-based Feature Films for Families (FFF) in 2001; the Region 1 DVD versions came out on 1 October 2003.[31] [32] Extras on both discs included trailers for other FFF releases and special messages from the distributor's staff.

TitleEpisodes
The Bellflower Bunnies, Vol. 1"Room to Move" / "Carnival"
The Bellflower Bunnies, Vol. 2"Balloonatic Bunnies" / "Slide On"

Region 3 (Asia)

The first season was released on DVD and VHS by South Korea's C4U Entertainment in February 2005 as 까르르 토끼 친구들.[5] [44] There, they are titled "이사가는 날" ("Room to Move"), "축제는 즐거워" ("Carnival"), "열기구 대소동" ("Balloonatic Bunnies") and "달려라, 썰매야!" ("Slide On").[44]

See also

References

General
Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Films d'animation. 23 December 2001. subscription . Le Monde. Paris. 26 September 2008. fr.
  2. Carnival . The Bellflower Bunnies . Moran Caouissin, director . TF1 . 27 December 2001 . 1 . 2.
  3. For the English version of season 2, Pirouette was renamed Violet (as she was called in Gareth Stevens' translations).
  4. In the Beechwood Bunny Tale, Family Moving Day, the house was called The Berries.
  5. Web site: http://zine.c4uent.com/product/product19.jsp . ko:까르르 토끼 친구들. 26 September 2008. C4U Media. ko.
  6. Web site: CBBC schedule. subscription . 4 May 2002. 5 October 2008. Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The Sentinel. (accessed via Google News Search)
  7. Web site: Episode list for The Bellflower Bunnies (Die Häschenbande). 5 October 2008. KI.KA (kika.de). de. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212044852/http://www.kika.de/scripts/fernsehen/a_z/index.cfm?b=d&a=4&i=1007. 12 February 2014. dead.
  8. Web site: Die Häschenbande: Sendetermine der TV-Serie (ZDF, 2006). de. 5 October 2008. imfernsehen GmbH & Co. KG. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718122359/http://www.fernsehserien.de/index.php?serie=7031&seite=7&sender=2. 18 July 2011. dead.
  9. Web site: Review of La Famille Passiflore . 26 September 2008 . Evrard . José . 23 January 2003 . DVDcritiques.com . fr . 10 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710160913/http://www.dvdcritiques.com/critiques/dvd_visu.aspx?dvd=405 . dead .
  10. Web site: Bunnies bent on broadcast (Up Next: What's developing in kids production) . 26 September 2008 . 1 May 2001 . KidScreen Magazine . Brunico Communications . 17 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210817175929/https://kidscreen.com/2001/05/01/30855-20010501/3/ . dead .
  11. Web site: Canada at the market - animation. 26 September 2008 . Staff . 1 April 2001 . . Brunico Communications.
  12. The company has since been renamed DeFamilieJanssen (DFJ).
  13. Web site: Visual development - About. 8 October 2008. 2008. Sylvie Lacroix (fourmi.info).
  14. Web site: Contact information. 2007. 17 October 2008. Premium Sound. https://web.archive.org/web/20080414035312/http://www.premiumsound.ca/web/index.asp?file=p_premium_contact.asp. 14 April 2008. dead.
  15. Web site: Television credits. 2. 2007. 17 October 2008. Premium Sound. https://web.archive.org/web/20100106102218/http://www.premiumsound.ca/web/tv_portfolio.asp?varCount=15&pageCount=2. 6 January 2010. dead.
  16. Web site: Promo clip of The Bellflower Bunnies. RealPlayer. 1999. 8 October 2008. ZDF.de. en, de.
  17. Web site: Programme 2000: List of the projects . The Bellflower Bunnies (Protecrea) . 2001 . 8 October 2008 . TV France International . https://web.archive.org/web/20010210080740/http://www.tvfi.com/anime/programming.htm . 10 February 2001 . dead .
  18. News: TF1 International. (NATPE 2001 Profiles). subscription . January 2001. 8 October 2008. Television Europe (accessed via Business Library at BNET's FindArticles).
  19. News: Natpe 2002. (National Association of Television Program Executives). Free registration required with library card. 2 January 2002. 8 October 2008. Television Asia (accessed via AccessMyLibrary).
  20. News: TF1 International. (MIP-TV 2001 Profiles). subscription . April 2001. 8 October 2008. Television Europe (accessed via Business Library at BNET's FindArticles).
  21. Web site: Product information for En ballon, les Passiflore!. fr. 8 October 2008. alapage.com. Pour mémoire, les deux premiers dessins animés de 26 minutes des aventures de la famille Passiflore seront diffusés fin novembre sur TF1. Deux autres suivront fin décembre..
  22. Web site: Profile for Rhonda Millar. 17 October 2008. Yakety Yak All Mouth Ltd.
  23. Web site: Ten Pin Alley Ltd. business information. 2008. 5 October 2008. My Local Services/Lowi Ltd.. https://archive.today/20120905104317/http://www.mylocalservices.co.uk/Gloucestershire/Recording_Studios/694340/Ten_Pin_Alley_Ltd.html. 5 September 2012. dead.
  24. Book: Beck, Jerry . Jerry Beck . The Animated Movie Guide . registration . 2005 . Chicago Reader Press . Chicago, Ill. . 1-55652-591-5 . 68 . DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.
  25. René Goscinny, Henri Gruel, Albert Uderzo and Pierre Watrin (directors) . 1976 . The Twelve Tasks of Asterix . Animated film . Dargaud Films / Les Film René Goscinny / Studios Idéfix . 6 October 2008 .
  26. News: CINAR Continues Restructuring Program, Louis Fournier Rejoins Company as Head of Distribution. ((Business Editors)). 10 January 2002. 8 October 2008. Business Wire.
  27. Web site: Profile of Dominique Mendel. 8 October 2008. Spectra Animation. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706203615/http://www.spectraanimation.ca/spip.php?article38. 6 July 2011. dead.
  28. Web site: History of Spectra. 2008. 2 November 2008. L'Équipe Spectra.
  29. Web site: Information on composer Daniel Scott (under "Credits"). Flash required. en, fr. 8 October 2008. danielscott.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20050828211454/http://www.danielscott.net/final.swf. 28 August 2005. dead.
  30. Web site: Film and Series. c. 2001. 8 October 2008. danielscott.net . https://web.archive.org/web/20010921081613/http://www.danielscott.net/production.htm . 21 September 2001.
  31. Web site: Review of The Bellflower Bunnies, Vol. 1 . 26 September 2008 . Eagle . Linda . 2003 . Dove Foundation . 24 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524195400/http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=3949 . dead .
  32. Web site: Review of The Bellflower Bunnies, Vol. 2 . 26 September 2008 . Eagle . Linda . 2003 . Dove Foundation.
  33. O = Corresponds to the official order as listed by Institut National de l'Audiovisuel (INA) and AnimezVous.com.
  34. B = Corresponds to TF1's broadcast schedule.
  35. Web site: La Famille Passiflore (2001) product information. 8 October 2008. DVDfr.com.
  36. Web site: Die Häschenbande, Folge 1 DVD information. 26 September 2008. Brandora AG. de.
  37. Web site: edelkids: Unterhaltungsspaß mit Pettersson und Findus und der Häschenbande . 26 September 2008 . 17 January 2008 . Brandora AG . de . DAS "Osterei" für Kids zum Fest: Die Häschenbande – Folge 1 und Folge 2 brandneu auf DVD!.
  38. Web site: Die Häschenbande, Folge 1 product information. 23 October 2008. Amazon.de.
  39. Web site: "Knuffel Konijntjes Avonturenbox" product information . 26 September 2008 . beslist.nl . nl.
  40. Web site: "Knuffel Konijntjes 1 - Verhuizing" product information . 26 September 2008 . beslist.nl . nl.
  41. Web site: "Knuffel Konijntjes 3" product information . 26 September 2008 . beslist.nl . nl.
  42. Web site: "Knuffel Konijntjes - Carnaval" product information . 26 September 2008 . beslist.nl . nl.
  43. Web site: "Knuffel Konijntjes 4" product listing . 26 September 2008 . VelvetMusic.nl . nl . https://web.archive.org/web/20160125111248/http://www.velvetmusic.nl/shopping/product_details.php?id=1099879&lang=nl . 25 January 2016 . dead .
  44. Web site: 까르르 토끼 친구들 product description . 26 September 2008 . Internaru (인터나루) . ko . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722134211/http://www.internaru.co.kr/video/view.asp?code=10843 . 22 July 2011 . dead .

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