Peter Rabbit is an animated comedy television series that debuted on the Nick Jr. Channel and iTunes on 14 December 2012, in the United States and on CBeebies and BBC One on 25 December 2012, in the United Kingdom, with the pilot episode debuting as a Christmas holiday special, titled "Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale". It is based on the character of the same name from Beatrix Potter's children’s books. The show became a regular series on 19 February 2013, in the USA. The first official DVD of Peter Rabbit was released on 28 May 2013, as a Walmart exclusive. It contains the programme's first eight episodes on a single disc. On 11 October 2013, Nickelodeon ordered a second series of 26 episodes. In Wales, the series is known as Guto Gwningen and is dubbed into Welsh on S4C. A springtime holiday special episode, titled "The Tale of the Start of Spring", aired on 29 March 2013, on iTunes and in the USA.
Series 1 concluded on 7 October 2014. The programme ran for a total of two series before concluding on 6 May 2016. It was produced for Nickelodeon in the US by Brown Bag Films, Penguin Books and Silvergate Media. The programme still airs reruns on CBeebies in the UK.
The programme features educational goals that encourage preschoolers to learn problem-solving, interpersonal skills, awareness, self-efficacy, resilience, positive re-framing and fostering an interest in and respect for nature.
Contents
Synopsis
The programme features and revolves around the titular character Peter Rabbit as he overcomes obstacles, outwits predators and avoids danger. Peter wants to grow up to be just like his late father and carries his journal (a guide on how to be a good rabbit) on his adventures with his friends, cousin Benjamin Bunny, along with the new character of Lily Bobtail, in the Lake District of northern England.
Characters
Main
Peter Rabbit (voiced by Colin DePaula and L. Parker Lucas in the US version, and Charlie George and Harry Henty in the UK version) – The main protagonist of the series. A mischievous, curious, quick-witted, street smart, charming, imaginative and adventurous young rabbit. He is also the eldest of his siblings. Unlike the character from the books, this version of Peter Rabbit lacks shoes. He also can be very hot-headed. Peter's catchphrases are "a good rabbit never gives up!", and "let's hop to it!" He also speaks a British accent.
Benjamin Bunny (voiced by Peter Steve Harris in the US version and Jay Ruckley in the UK version) – Peter's cousin who joins him on his adventures. Unlike the character from the books, Benjamin is shorter and younger than Peter in this adaptation. He is portrayed as being cowardly, wimpy, clumsy, hungry and clueless but also good-natured, loyal, and kind. Benjamin's catchphrase is "rabbits are brave, rabbits are brave...", which he says when he is scared.
Lily Bobtail (voiced by Michaela Dean in the US version and Grace Lissenden and Imogen Bailey in the UK version) – Peter and Benjamin's quick-witted female best friend, who carries many useful objects in her pocket. Unlike Peter and Benjamin, who were based on the books by Beatrix Potter, Lily is a new character who was created by the production team for the series. She carries many objects in a pocket on her dress. Lily's catchphrases are "I know that for a fact!", and "just in case pocket, just in case!"
Recurring
Mr. Tod – The main antagonist of the series. A red fox who consistently fails to hunt down, capture, and devour the protagonists and other supporting characters.
Squirrel Nutkin – A short-tailed squirrel and the leader of the squirrels' tribe. He is Peter's friend, who saves Peter whenever he gets captured by Mr. Tod. His tail was cut off by Old Brown.
Felix – Squirrel Nutkin's right-hand man.
Josephine Rabbit – The widow of Mr. Rabbit, mother of Peter, Cotton-tail, Flopsy and Mopsy, aunt of Benjamin, and sister of Mr. Bouncer.
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail – Flopsy and Mopsy are Peter's older, ignorant, arrogant, bossy and smug twin sisters. Cotton-Tail is his sweet baby sister.
Mr. Bouncer – Benjamin's single father. He is the uncle of Peter, Cotton-tail, Flopsy and Mopsy, the brother of Josephine, and brother-in-law of Mr. Rabbit. He likes to invent many things, which often go wrong.
Jeremy Fisher – A frog that Peter, Benjamin and Lily accidentally cause trouble for on occasion. He enjoys fishing and was friends with Peter's father. He has a passion for music, but cannot really sing.
Jemima Puddle-Duck – A kind yet very simple-minded duck that knows Peter and his friends well. She has three ducklings.
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle – A hedgehog, washerwoman and one of the many townspeople Peter interacts with. She speaks with an Irish accent.
Ginger and Pickles – A cat and dog who run the village shop. Pickles is quite gruff while Ginger is more respectful of their customers.
Mr. McGregor – A human farmer whose vegetables are the target of Peter. His face is kept hidden. He is portrayed as an old man who gets winded often. He speaks with a Scottish accent.
Voice cast
UK version
Charlie George (Season 1) and Harry Henty (Season 2) as Peter Rabbit
Grace Lissenden (Season 1) and Imogen Bailey (Season 2) as Lily Bobtail
Jay Ruckley as Benjamin Bunny
Nigel Pilkington as Squirrel Nutkin and Squirrels
Mark A. Huckerby as Mr. Tod
JB Blanc as Tommy Brock
Dave B. Mitchell as Mr. McGregor
Joshua Colley as Pig Robinson
Gwenfair Vaughan as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
Justin P.G. Trefgarne as The Shrew, Dr. Warren Bobtail, Felix (Season 2), Albert Mouse (Season 2) and Stanley Mouse (Season 2)
Roger May as Mr. Bouncer
Gemma Harvey as Jemima Puddle-Duck
Gina Mellotte as Mrs. Bobtail, Mrs. Rabbit (Season 2), Flopsy (Season 2) and Mopsy (Season 2)
Emma Weaver as Cottontail (Season 2) and Louisa Mouse (Season 2)
Joanna Ruiz as Mrs. Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton Tail (Season 1)
Dan Chambers as Jeremy Fisher, Ginger and Pickles, Mr. Tolly (Season 2) and Jack Sharp (Season 2)
Laurence Kennedy as Sammy Whiskers and Old Brown
Sophia Waterton as Mittens (Season 2)
US version
Colin DePaula as Peter Rabbit (Season 1)
L. Parker Lucas as Peter Rabbit (Season 2)
Peter Steve Harris as Benjamin Bunny
Michaela Dean as Lily Bobtail
Kyle Dean Massey as Squirrel Nutkin
Stephanie Sheh as Josephine Rabbit (Season 1)
Megan Taylor Harvey as Flopsy, Mopsy (Season 1)
Brittany Harms as Flopsy (Season 2)
Sawyer Niehaus as Mittens and Mopsy (Season 2)
Jenna Iacono (Season 1) and Aviella Kibel (Season 2) as Cottontail Rabbit
JB Blanc (54 episodes, 2012–2016) as Tommy Brock, Mr. Bouncer, Ginger and Jack Sharp
Mark A. Huckerby as Mr. Tod
Dave B. Mitchell as Mr. McGregor and Old Brown
Gwenfair Vaughan as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
Sarah Bolt as Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs. Bobtail (Season 1)
Katie Koslowski as Josephine Rabbit (Season 2) and Mrs. Bobtail (Season 2)
Kirk Thornton as Jeremy Fisher and Pickles
Shawn Curran as Sammy Whiskers and Dr. Warren Bobtail
Episodes
Broadcast
Peter Rabbit airs in Canada on Treehouse TV. In the United Kingdom, it airs on CBeebies and streaming services Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Distribution rights were held globally by Silvergate Media, except in North America and India, where Nickelodeon/Viacom Media Networks secured them under license. The series was available for streaming on Paramount+ until being removed in June 2023.
Home media
North America
Home media releases in North America were handled by Paramount Home Entertainment.
Peter Rabbit (28 May 2013)
Christmas Tale (12 November 2013)
Spring Into Adventure (18 February 2014)
Peter Rabbit: Season One was released on 9 October 2015, exclusively at Amazon.com. This release contains 4 discs. It is published on demand onto DVD-Rs.
Reception
The series was met with mostly positive reviews.
"Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale" (14 December, at 7 p.m. ET/PT), drew 3 million total viewers and ranked as the number-one program with K2-5 and K2-11 across all TV in its time period. It was also the top-rated and most-watched preschool telecast for the week, posting double and triple-digit gains over last year with K2-5 (6.7/891,000, +196%) and K2-11 (4.7/1.6 million, +22%); and A18-49 (.9/940,000, +73%), making it the week's top preschool telecast.
According to 'By The Numbers', Nickelodeon's brand-new animated series Peter Rabbit rose to the top of the charts, with its Tuesday, 19 February premiere, which delivered 1.7 million total viewers. The new CG-animated series was also basic cable's top telecast in its time period (12-12:30 p.m. ET/PT) with K2-5, A18-49, W18-49 and total viewers, posting double-digit gains for the net with K2-5 (5.7/760,000, +21%), A18-49 (+47%), W18-49 (+43%) and total viewers (+31%).
CBeebies broadcasts of the programme have been equally successful with the broadcast on Christmas morning 2012 on BBC1 earning it the highest ratings on any channel in that timeslot.
At the 2014 Emmy Awards, the programme earned three daytime Emmys and scored another five nominations, earning the most nominations for an animated programme that year.
