'The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher' is not quite one of my favourite Beatrix Potter stories, my top two favourites being 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' and 'The Tailor of Gloucester'. It has a lot of charm, warmth and whimsy and the titular character is memorable. Enough proof of why Beatrix Potter is a long-term favourite author of mine. Anybody who hasn't been the 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends' series from the early 90s or the 1971 Frederick Ashton-choreographed ballet production must do so, they complement the stories beautifully.
Rabbit Ears Productions adapted/produced a number of children/family literature classics (fairytales and short stories namely) throughout the 80s and early 90s in animation form. All of them are well worth watching at least once, and perfect examples of how to adapt these stories for animation (all of which being ones that lend themselves well to animation). The three Beatrix Potter adaptations are no exceptions, with the best being 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. The company's adaptation 'The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher' is equally good, but to me it doesn't compare to the 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends' production which is a must, even if it is not one of that series' best.
Again, the animation in 'The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher' is lovingly done and very elegant in its simplicity. The use of pastels and images being moved throughout the scene were done very effectively, the latter doesn't look limited or cheap at all and suit the mood well without any overused gimmickery involved. Will admit though there is a personal preference for the watercolour painting/drawing animation style for the 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends' adaptation, which is truer to Potter's illustrations.
Likewise to preferring the music in that adaptation, though will say that that aspect is very well done in this one regardless as well. It's simpler, in terms of how many instruments are involved and the slightly gentler tone but is in perfect harmony with the story and the animation style and has lively moments too. The writing has every ounce of the charm that the original story's prose had. The same goes for the story, which is just as entertaining but also a little quieter. Managing to be very faithful to the story in detail and spirit.
Meryl Streep's soothing narration delivery suits the material beautifully, it is so lovingly maternal and so well suited to bedtime storytelling. Which is exactly the right approach in my view, have always gotten the impression that the bedtime story approach in the narration delivery was intended in all the Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptations (that was certainly what some of the original authors had in mind and specified, namely Rudyard Kipling with 'Just So Stories') and that was often done incredibly well. Streep was one of the series' better narrators in this regard.
Concluding, great. 9/10
Rabbit Ears Productions adapted/produced a number of children/family literature classics (fairytales and short stories namely) throughout the 80s and early 90s in animation form. All of them are well worth watching at least once, and perfect examples of how to adapt these stories for animation (all of which being ones that lend themselves well to animation). The three Beatrix Potter adaptations are no exceptions, with the best being 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. The company's adaptation 'The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher' is equally good, but to me it doesn't compare to the 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends' production which is a must, even if it is not one of that series' best.
Again, the animation in 'The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher' is lovingly done and very elegant in its simplicity. The use of pastels and images being moved throughout the scene were done very effectively, the latter doesn't look limited or cheap at all and suit the mood well without any overused gimmickery involved. Will admit though there is a personal preference for the watercolour painting/drawing animation style for the 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends' adaptation, which is truer to Potter's illustrations.
Likewise to preferring the music in that adaptation, though will say that that aspect is very well done in this one regardless as well. It's simpler, in terms of how many instruments are involved and the slightly gentler tone but is in perfect harmony with the story and the animation style and has lively moments too. The writing has every ounce of the charm that the original story's prose had. The same goes for the story, which is just as entertaining but also a little quieter. Managing to be very faithful to the story in detail and spirit.
Meryl Streep's soothing narration delivery suits the material beautifully, it is so lovingly maternal and so well suited to bedtime storytelling. Which is exactly the right approach in my view, have always gotten the impression that the bedtime story approach in the narration delivery was intended in all the Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptations (that was certainly what some of the original authors had in mind and specified, namely Rudyard Kipling with 'Just So Stories') and that was often done incredibly well. Streep was one of the series' better narrators in this regard.
Concluding, great. 9/10
