Watership Down

Watership Down

Year: 1978

Runtime: 91 min

Language: English

Director: Martin Rosen

AdventureDramaThrillerAnimation

Faced with the destruction of their warren, a young rabbit named Fiver foresees danger and leads a group of seven companions on a dangerous journey to find a new home. They must travel through challenging terrain, evade predators, and overcome numerous obstacles. Their quest leads them to Watership Down, but they soon discover that establishing a safe haven and ensuring the survival of their community presents a further, significant test.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Watership Down (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Watership Down (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The story is set in the present day, where urban expansion threatens the natural habitats of wildlife. This time is marked by the clash between human development and the instinctual needs of animals to find safety and freedom. The film reflects contemporary environmental concerns, illustrating a world where nature struggles against encroachment.

Location

Watership Down, Sandleford, Nuthanger Farm, Efrafa

Watership Down is a tranquil hill regarded as a new home for the rabbits, symbolizing hope and refuge. Sandleford is initially known as their warren that faces urban development, leading to their search for safety. Nuthanger Farm is a place of danger but also a source of potential allies, housing domesticated does. Efrafa, in contrast, is a sinister place controlled by a tyrannical regime, highlighting the theme of oppression.

🏞️ Nature 🚜 Farm 🏡 Community

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:01

Main Characters – Watership Down (1978)

Meet the key characters of Watership Down (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

El-Ahrairah

El-Ahrairah, the rabbit prince, embodies cleverness and protectiveness over his fellow rabbits. His pride initially leads to divine consequences, but he is ultimately a symbol of hope and resilience. His character serves as a guiding force throughout the mythology, reminding the rabbits of their heritage.

🐇 Mythical 👑 Heroic

Fiver

Fiver is a prophetic rabbit whose visions drive the narrative forward. His sensitivity and foresight enable the group to evade danger, though he often faces skepticism from others. Fiver's deep instincts and connection to the world around him highlight the theme of intuition.

🔮 Visionary 🐇 Sensitive

Hazel

Hazel is a perceptive and courageous leader who emerges as the group's stabilizing force. He balances wisdom and compassion, guiding his fellow rabbits through trials. His evolution from follower to leader encapsulates the theme of empowerment and responsibility.

🐇 Leader 🌟 Inspirational

Bigwig

Bigwig is a strong and loyal warrior who often confronts danger head-on. His bravery shines through when he infiltrates Efrafa, showcasing his determination to fight for freedom. His character arc demonstrates the importance of strength, both physical and moral.

💪 Warrior 🐇 Loyal

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:01

Major Themes – Watership Down (1978)

Explore the central themes of Watership Down (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌍 Survival

At its core, the movie 'Watership Down' explores the theme of survival. The rabbits face numerous challenges as they navigate perilous territories and threats from predators and humans. Their journey emphasizes resilience and the instinctual drive to survive against overwhelming odds.

⚔️ Courage

The theme of courage is woven throughout the narrative, particularly exemplified by Hazel and Bigwig. Their determination to protect their warren and rescue others displays heroism in the face of fear. The story illustrates that true bravery comes from protecting loved ones and standing against tyranny.

🌱 Community

Community plays a vital role in the rabbits' journey, as they band together to create a safe haven. The relationships formed within the group highlight the importance of unity and collaboration in overcoming challenges. Their shared experiences foster strong bonds, reinforcing the idea that together, they can withstand adversity.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:01

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Grim animated epics like Watership Down

Mature animated films where the stakes are survival and the tone is stark.Explore movies like Watership Down that use animation to tell serious, often dark stories. If you liked the mature themes and perilous journey in Watership Down, this thread features similar animated films with heavy emotional weight, stark tones, and high-stakes survival narratives.

grimmythicperilousmelancholicdesperatetensebrutalepic

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a group or individual on a perilous quest for safety or meaning. The journey is fraught with tangible danger and moral challenges, often set against a harsh and unforgiving world. The narrative structure is often an epic, linear journey where the characters are tested both physically and spiritually, culminating in a hard-won and often bittersweet resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a unique combination: the expressive potential of animation with a distinctly adult, somber, and intense tone. They prove that animated features can be vehicles for exploring complex themes like tyranny, community, and sacrifice with a visual language that enhances the emotional impact.

Bleak survival quests similar to Watership Down

Stories where a group's fight for survival is a desperate, bittersweet struggle.Find movies like Watership Down that feature a desperate struggle for survival against overwhelming odds. This thread is for viewers who appreciated the high-stakes exodus, community dynamics, and bittersweet ending of Watership Down, showcasing stories with heavy emotional weight and a tense, perilous atmosphere.

desperatetenseanxiousperilousgrimmelancholichopeful strugglecommunity

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is an exodus or migration from a destroyed or oppressive home, leading to a arduous journey towards a promised sanctuary. The central conflict is often against a hostile environment and a tyrannical opposing force. Character arcs are defined by resilience, cunning, and leadership under pressure, with the cost of survival being a core theme. The endings are rarely purely victorious, instead reflecting the scars and losses endured.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their unflinching portrayal of survival as a brutal, community-driven effort. They share a high-intensity, dark tone where the emotional weight comes from the constant threat of annihilation and the moral cost of perseverance. The pacing is steady, driven by a clear goal, but the mood is consistently anxious and desperate.

Unlock the Full Story of Watership Down

Don't stop at just watching — explore Watership Down in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Watership Down is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Watership Down Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Watership Down, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Watership Down Summary

Watership Down Timeline

Track the full timeline of Watership Down with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Watership Down Timeline

Watership Down Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Watership Down that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Watership Down Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Watership Down

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Watership Down: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Watership Down