The Beatrix Potter Collection (3 DVD set) was just released for sale on 2/12. Ligia and I bought the set just a few days ago, and we’re very happy that we did it. The series was done very well by the BBC. Each DVD contains three animated stories, and each story has a live action introduction filmed in an idyllic English country setting. Some of the live action introductions do repeat, and we found that to be a bit annoying. It would have been ideal if a different intro was filmed for each cartoon, or if only intro was present per DVD, to keep things different.

We love the animation because it looks just like watercolor book drawings that have come to life. The lines are well defined, the colors are wonderfully chosen, and the sound effects almost too real. The movement of the characters is a bit awkward, but I like it because it reminds me once again of their book drawing origin. I can’t say it enough, so I’ll say it again: watching the DVDs is just like seeing the book drawings come to life.

The stories are wonderfully plotted and contain great lessons for the little ones. It’s a pleasure to watch and follow along with the characters. The story-telling is relaxing but won’t put you to sleep. It’s just the right tempo. Some of the stories are a little scary, like that of Pigling Bland or Samuel Whiskers, but the scary scenes are only alluded to, not shown. Still, it’s effective enough to send chills down your spine, so you might want to pick and choose which stories you show to your children based on their age and level of understanding.

Here is what’s included in the set (images of each DVD cover are included below):

1. The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends
   1. The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny
   2. The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse
   3. The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck
2. The Tale of Pigling Bland and Other Stories
   1. The Tale of Pigling Bland
   2. The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or the Roly-Poly Pudding
   3. The Tailor of Gloucester
3. The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Other Stories
   1. The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher
   2. The Tale of Mr. Tod: The Further Adventures of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny
   3. The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse

I’m trying to think what other cartoons I can compare them to, and their closest “relative” is probably Little Bear, which is a series about a bear family living in an American forest. The drawing style and movement of the characters is similar, thought the colors aren’t pastels in Little Bear.

I definitely recommend these cartoons. They’re great for children, but you don’t need to be of that age to enjoy them. Ligia and I both found them enjoyable.

Buy The Beatrix Potter Collection

• From Amazon
• From Costco