The Bellflower Bunnies () is an animated series based on the Beechwood Bunny Tales book series by Geneviève Huriet. The show debuted on TF1 with four episodes airing between December 24 and December 28, 2001. It is a co-production between France's TF1 and several Canadian companies. 52 episodes were produced.
The show centers on the adventures and exploits of the Bellflower family, a clan of seven rabbits who live in Beechwood Grove, which is called Blueberry Hill in the English version. The two adults in the family, Papa Bramble and Aunt Zinnia, take care of their five children: Periwinkle, Poppy, Mistletoe, Dandelion and Violette.
Production Early on in its run, the series was produced as a package of four specials by TF1 and its subsidiary, Protécréa, along with TVA International of Montreal and Melusine of Luxembourg; Moran Caouissin, an animator from Disney's DuckTales movie, served as the director. Production of the series began in the fall of 2000, at a cost of over US$2 million, or US$600,000 per episode.
Starting in 2004, later episodes were produced by Euro Visual, Tooncan, Megafun, Bigcash, Dragon Cartoon and Disney Television France. This time, Éric Berthier directed, and Alice Willis composed.
Home video and DVD Europe At least six DVD volumes of The Bellflower Bunnies have been released by TF1, Beez Entertainment and Seven Sept in the franchise's native France, separately and in a box set. La Famille Passiflore, Vol. 1-5. Chapitre DVD. Retrieved January 8, 2008. In Germany, edelkids released the first sixteen episodes in February edelkids: Unterhaltungsspaß mit Pettersson und Findus und der Häschenbande (2008, January 17). Brandora. Retrieved March 10, 2008. and August 2008.
North America Feature Films for Families released the first two volumes of the English version on VHS (in 2001) and DVD (in 2003), as part of a marketing deal with TVA. In 2005, another four DVDs were released under the Direct Source brand. Each disc in this version consists of two episodes. Since the DVDs are now next to impossible to find in the USA; Amazon Prime Video and YouTube are currently the only known options in the USA.
Episodes
Fifty-two episodes of The Bellflower Bunnies were produced over the course of three seasons. and all of these have aired in the show's native France; although episodes 39-52 were first aired on German channel KI.KA in May 2008.
Voice cast Season 1 Tom Clarke-Hill Regine Candler Tom Eastwood - Papa Bramble Rhonda Millar - Periwinkle, Violette (Pirouette) Joanna Ruiz Rodriguez - Poppy
Seasons 2 & 3 English version Danielle DesormeauxPlatypus Theatre - Emily Saves the Orchestra . Retrieved March 22, 2008. Anik Matern - Violette Holly Gauthier-Frankel (as Holly Gauthier-Frankle) - Mistletoe Eleanor Noble - Periwinkle Matt Holland Joanna Noyes Liz MacRae - Dandelion Mark Camacho Simon Peacock - Papa Bramble Laura Teasdale - Poppy Danny Wells John Stocker Sonja Ball Susan Glover A.J. Henderson Rick Miller Rick Jones Danny Brochu
French version Flora Balzano Julie Burroughs Hugolin Chevrette Mario Desmarais Antoine Durand Marylène Gargour Annie Girard Hélène Lasnier Elisabeth Lenormand
See also Beechwood Bunny Tales Max & Ruby Watership Down Guess How Much I Love You
Notes
References
Works cited
External links
The Bellflower Bunnies at TF1.fr Episode list KI.KA's site (with a video clip from the "Room to Move" episode) Series' second theme song by Alice Willis Promo clip of the show at ZDF site (requires RealPlayer) Trailers for the first two Region 1 volumes at YouTube: "Room to Move" / "Carnival" "Balloonatic Bunnies" / "Slide On"