Perhaps one of the oldest and most widely-used literary devices has to be the anthropomorphism of animals. Sure, making animals walk, talk, and reason like people can be adorable and aimed at children, but at times they can speak to a broader audience while saying a lot more. Stuff alike George Orwell’s Animal Farm will probably be taught to high school students for as long as kids are being taught about literature. When it comes to children’s books, things can get a bit more dicey, but British author Richard Adams has transcended boundaries with his 1972 classic Watership Down.
Watership Down is about rabbits who have their own society, along with language, literature, art and of course, struggles. The story has been able to pass the test of time for its themes and literary allusions while also traumatizing children, which is why a four-part animated miniseries being produced by BBC and Netflix is so exciting. Deadline reports that an adaptation of Watership Down will air on BBC in the UK and Netflix internationally, with a cast of heavy hitters including Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ John Boyega, Mad Max: Fury Road’s Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Ben Kingsley, and Gemma Arterton.
This won’t be the first adaptation of Watership Down, as there was a 1978 animated feature, a brief television series, and even a stage play of the beloved novel. The caliber of talent involved, in addition to the partnership between Netflix and BBC has people excited for a faithful adaptation of the novel for a new generation.
(Via Deadline)
