Alright, so I just re-watched “Watership Down” and wow, this film still packs a punch. It’s one of those animated films that lodges itself into your psyche, you know what I mean? Even after all these years, its mix of beauty and brutality is nothing short of astounding.
First off, I gotta say, the animation is mesmerizing. Sure, it’s from 1978, so it’s not super polished by today’s standards, but there’s something timeless about it. Those hand-drawn rabbits hopping around the lush English countryside – it pulls you right in. And then BAM, it hits you with scenes that make you go, “Wait, this is for kids?”. Nah, it’s for everyone, but not in that happy-go-lucky Disney way. It’s more like watching a Studio Ghibli film where nature is majestic and terrifying all at once.
The story itself is… well, it’s intense. It follows a group of rabbits trying to find a new home after one of them, Fiver (who’s basically got the sight – think of him as the rabbit version of Lill-Babs if she were predicting the weather), has a vision of doom. It’s a survival story, full of danger, camaraderie, and a bit of the old ultraviolence. General Woundwort, man, he’s the stuff of nightmares. I still get chills like I did as a kid!
One specific memory I gotta share – I remember watching this with my kusin when we were like 10. We were at our grandparent’s house in Gotland, and it was raining cats and dogs outside. We thought, “Hey, an animated film about bunnies, why not?”. About halfway through, during one of the more gruesome scenes, we’re gripping our pillows so hard I thought they’d tear. My cousin even said, “Are you sure this isn’t a horror film?”
What makes “Watership Down” so compelling is also its deeper themes. It’s not just a rabbit odyssey, it’s a meditation on freedom, tyranny, and survival. It’s oddly relevant today too, considering our global climate and all the talk about migration and safe havens.
Honestly, if you’ve never seen it, do it. And if you have, well, maybe it’s time for a rewatch. It’s like that old Larz-Kristerz song you haven’t heard in ages but still know every word to.
