Toonhound - Brambly Hedge: Winter Story (1996)

"It was the middle of Winter, the sun
    had just set and it was very, very cold..."

    So begins the first of HIT Entertainment's "Brambly Hedge" films, adapted from
    Jill Barklem's glorious picture books. The hedge in question is a rioutous tangle
    of trees, shrubs and brambles that hosts a rustic mouse community who appear
    to have scampered straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel.

    Here then, in our first tale, night is drawing in and the Winter wind carries with it a
    message. The mice must take heed, snow is on its way. The more seasoned take
    to their houses, mindful of its intent. But that same snow can't come quick enough
    for young Wilfred Toadflax. He's polishing his toboggan, he's excited and raring to
    go. But there's still time for one more errand. Mother wants him to visit the Store
    Stump and collect some honey and clover flower from Mr Apple. En route midst
    the fresh-falling snow Wilfred bumps into Lord Woodmouse and Lady Eyebright,
    who remind him of the most famous Winter round these parts, when the snow got
    so deep it topped the third notch on the Oak Palace. If (and only if) it gets that deep
    again it will be deep enough for a magical Snow Ball.

    Well, of course, it snows heavily overnight. And of course, it's deep enough for
    a Snow Ball and a magnificent, sparkling Ice Palace is soon under construction.
    Then a little jeopardy is introduced. Wilfred gets trapped in a snow tunnel with
    his pal Primrose and the old gentlemouse Basil and it looks like they all might
    miss the whole event...

    But we're not here for clever storytelling, we're here to kick back with a hot
    chocolate and a crackling fire whilst we marvel at this magical stop-motion film.
    The mice are quite real. They are voiced by a veritable troop of famous British
    thespians. The critters wear beautifully tailored clothes and move around picture
    book sets, embellished with intricate decoupage. The lighting is to die for too.
    There's a chilled blue glow everywhere as the night closes in and tiny micey lamps
    dot the hedgerow - invitational warmth, drawing us in from the cold. There's some
    cgi here to bring us falling snow too, but it's used quite sparingly so that it never
    detracts from the handcrafted feel. And - oh - the climax brings us a whole
    host of mousey wonders in that palace, as the hedgerow inhabitants make
    merry music and dance. You know, people band about the word "timeless"
    far too casually nowadays. But this film, and indeed, all eight films in the
    "Brambly Hedge" collection are just that.



    Awards & Nominations

    1997 - Bafta Nomination - Best Children's Animation

    See also

    Series overview
    Brambly Hedge: Spring Story
    Brambly Hedge: The Secret Staircase
    Brambly Hedge: The High Hills
    Brambly Hedge: Sea Story
    Brambly Hedge: Poppy's Babies


     Further reading

    Brambly Hedge books at Amazon.co.uk

     Brambly Hedge on DVD

     Sadly, the "Brambly Hedge" films haven't had a co-ordinated UK release.
     Here's what currently available:

   Christmas Children's Favourites
                This compilation DVD includes "Winter Story"
                Region 2 / HIT Entertainment / December 2005

     Brambly Hedge: Spring Story
                 Region 2 / HIT Entertainment / April 2007

     Brambly Hedge: The Classic Collection
                Region 2 / "The Secret Staircase", "The High Hills", "Sea Story"
                and "Poppy's Babies" / HIT Entertainment / January 2004

    a Cosgrove Hall film for HIT Entertainment PLC
   in association with the BBC

    based on the books by Jill Barklem

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				Brambly Hedge: Winter Story (1996) producers: Cosgrove Hall for HIT Entertainment in association with the BBC animation: stop-motion animation run time: 25mins
		"It was the middle of Winter, the sun had just set and it was very, very cold..." So begins the first of HIT Entertainment's "Brambly Hedge" films, adapted from Jill Barklem's glorious picture books. The hedge in question is a rioutous tangle of trees, shrubs and brambles that hosts a rustic mouse community who appear to have scampered straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel. Here then, in our first tale, night is drawing in and the Winter wind carries with it a message. The mice must take heed, snow is on its way. The more seasoned take to their houses, mindful of its intent. But that same snow can't come quick enough for young Wilfred Toadflax. He's polishing his toboggan, he's excited and raring to go. But there's still time for one more errand. Mother wants him to visit the Store Stump and collect some honey and clover flower from Mr Apple. En route midst the fresh-falling snow Wilfred bumps into Lord Woodmouse and Lady Eyebright, who remind him of the most famous Winter round these parts, when the snow got so deep it topped the third notch on the Oak Palace. If (and only if) it gets that deep again it will be deep enough for a magical Snow Ball. Well, of course, it snows heavily overnight. And of course, it's deep enough for a Snow Ball and a magnificent, sparkling Ice Palace is soon under construction. Then a little jeopardy is introduced. Wilfred gets trapped in a snow tunnel with his pal Primrose and the old gentlemouse Basil and it looks like they all might miss the whole event... But we're not here for clever storytelling, we're here to kick back with a hot chocolate and a crackling fire whilst we marvel at this magical stop-motion film. The mice are quite real. They are voiced by a veritable troop of famous British thespians. The critters wear beautifully tailored clothes and move around picture book sets, embellished with intricate decoupage. The lighting is to die for too. There's a chilled blue glow everywhere as the night closes in and tiny micey lamps dot the hedgerow - invitational warmth, drawing us in from the cold. There's some cgi here to bring us falling snow too, but it's used quite sparingly so that it never detracts from the handcrafted feel. And - oh - the climax brings us a whole host of mousey wonders in that palace, as the hedgerow inhabitants make merry music and dance. You know, people band about the word "timeless" far too casually nowadays. But this film, and indeed, all eight films in the "Brambly Hedge" collection are just that. Awards & Nominations 1997 - Bafta Nomination - Best Children's Animation See also Series overview Brambly Hedge: Spring Story Brambly Hedge: The Secret Staircase Brambly Hedge: The High Hills Brambly Hedge: Sea Story Brambly Hedge: Poppy's Babies Further reading Brambly Hedge books at Amazon.co.uk Brambly Hedge on DVD Sadly, the "Brambly Hedge" films haven't had a co-ordinated UK release. Here's what currently available: Christmas Children's Favourites This compilation DVD includes "Winter Story" Region 2 / HIT Entertainment / December 2005 Brambly Hedge: Spring Story Region 2 / HIT Entertainment / April 2007 Brambly Hedge: The Classic Collection Region 2 / "The Secret Staircase", "The High Hills", "Sea Story" and "Poppy's Babies" / HIT Entertainment / January 2004 a Cosgrove Hall film for HIT Entertainment PLC in association with the BBC based on the books by Jill Barklem
			exec producers: director: producer & supervising director: screenplay: music: supervising animator: animators: production design & art director: puppets: costumes: props: sets & decoupage: miniature decoupage: additional production illustration: model lighting camera: additional lighting camera: editor: dubbing editors: dubbing mixer: post-production: production consultant: editorial consultant:		Theresa Plummer-Andrews (for the BBC) Mark Hall (for Cosgrove Hall) Kate Fawkes, Peter Orton (for HIT) Brian Little Jackie Cockle Jocelyn Stevenson Ernie Wood Sue Pugh Paul Couvela, Barry JC Purves, Philip Dale, Monica McCartney Bridget Appleby Mackinnon and Saunders Noel Baker, Emma Boyson, Nathalie Evans, Lucy Gell Georgina Hayns, Stephen Gannon, Bethan Jones, Gavin Jones, Allison Lloyd, Robbie Manning, Stephen Mearbeck, Shannon O'Neill, Michell Scattergood, Haydn Secker, Bridget Smith, Jason Theaker, Mark Thompson, Christine Walker, Caroline Wallace, Simon White Geraldine Corrigan, Karen Betty, Clare Elliott Owen Ballhatchet Richard Sykes, Jeff Spain, Rick Kent, Paul Jones, Fiona Randall, Samantha Hanks Matti 3D Pictures Barbara Biddulph, Avril Mockett-Turner Joe Dembinski Tim Harper Zyggy Markiewicz Hullabaloo Studios Aad Wirtz Shane Warden, Alan Bishop Mike Robinson Jane Fior
		voices: Robert Lindsay (narrator) Neil Morrisey (Wilfred Toadflax) Charlotte Coleman (Primrose Woodmouse) Jim Broadbent (Basil) June Whitfield (Mrs Apple) Michael Williams (Mr Appple) Rosemary Leach (Lady Daisy Woodmouse / Old Mrs Eyebright) Anton Rodgers (Lord Woodmouse) Alun Lewis (Mr Toadflax) Noreen Kershaw (Mrs Toadflax / Mrs Crustybread) Kate Harbour (additional voices) David Holt (additional voices) On the web The World of Brambly Hedge The official site including some handy details on the development of the films... Mackinnon & Saunders They made the mousey models and props... index » previous » next »
© HIT Entertainment Ltd & Jill Barklem / F2013