Exquisitely brought to life in this award-winning British stop-motion animated series, The Wind in the Willows is a meticulously mounted realization of Kenneth Grahame's whimsical world, introduced by a theme song warm enough to shed the cares of the day. A spin-off of the famed animation studio Cosgrove-Hall's original feature film, this 1984-1988 series continues the adventures of "silly, conceited" Mr. Toad and his long-suffering but steadfast friends, Mole, Rat, and Badger. Collecting all 13 first-season episodes in a two-disc set, The Wind in the Willows: The Complete First Series' opening episode recaps incidents from Grahame's original book, while reintroducing the characters. Toad remains maddening but ultimately lovable as he continually gets his comeuppance; in one episode, the dreaded weasels immediately regret kidnapping the loquacious amphibian and are compelled to let him go without collecting a ransom. The weasels (who growl with menacing cockney accents) cause more distress in another episode in which they plot to force Badger from his home. But for the most part, the episodes here are a winning combination of simple stories and gentle adventures. The voice work is impeccable, and the musical interludes (such as "We'll Go Boating" in the episode "The Great Steamer") are a delight. Pink Floyd fans will want to check out the episode entitled "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," which served as the title of the band's debut album. DVD extras include interviews with producer Brian Cosgrove, a short text quiz, and a photo gallery. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (D. Liebenson)
The Wind in the Willows: The Complete First Series
A&E, 2 discs, 260 min., not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 20, Issue 3
The Wind in the Willows: The Complete First Series
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