Editing Watership Down (section)

==Adaptations==
===Music===
In the early 1970s [[Bo Hansson]] was introduced to the book by his then girlfriend. This gave him an idea to create a new album in the same style as his ''[[Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings (Bo Hansson album)|Lord of the Rings]]'' album. In 1977 he released the all instrumental ''[[Music Inspired by Watership Down|El-Ahrairah]]''. The title was taken directly from the pages of ''Watership Down'', with El-Ahrairah being the name of a trickster, folk-hero/deity rabbit, known as ''The Prince with a Thousand Enemies''. In other countries the album was released as ''Music Inspired by Watership Down''.

===Film===
{{Main|Watership Down (film)}}

In 1978 [[Martin Rosen (director)|Martin Rosen]] wrote and directed [[Watership Down (film)|an animated film]] adaptation of ''Watership Down''. The voice cast included [[John Hurt]], [[Richard Briers]], [[Harry Andrews]], [[Simon Cadell]], [[Nigel Hawthorne]], and [[Roy Kinnear]]. The film featured the song "[[Bright Eyes (Art Garfunkel song)|Bright Eyes]]", sung by [[Art Garfunkel]]. Released as a single, the song became a UK number one hit<ref>{{cite web | last = Collings | first = Stephen |title = Watership Down (1978) | publisher = BFI Screenonline | date = 2003–2008 | url = http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1266157/ |access-date = 28 March 2008}}</ref> although Richard Adams said that he hated it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/i-hate-bright-eyes.html|title=I HATE 'Bright Eyes'!|publisher=lettersofnote.com|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=15 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115075739/http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/i-hate-bright-eyes.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although the essentials of the plot remained relatively unchanged, the film omitted several side plots. Though the Watership Down warren eventually grew to seventeen rabbits with the additions of Strawberry, Holly, Bluebell, and three hutch rabbits liberated from the farm, the movie includes a band of only eight. Rosen's adaptation was praised for "cutting through Adams' book{{nbsp}}... to get to the beating heart".<ref>{{cite news |author=Phil Villarreal |url=http://azstarnet.com/sn/review/83996.php |title=Phil Villarreal's Review: Watership Down |access-date=11 May 2008 |date=15 July 2005 |newspaper=[[Arizona Daily Star]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227010304/http://azstarnet.com/sn/review/83996.php |archive-date=27 December 2008 }}</ref>

The film has also seen some positive critical attention. In 1979 the film received a nomination for the [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/?page_id=40 |title=1979 Hugo Awards |date=26 July 2007 |access-date=11 May 2008 |publisher=[[Worldcon|World Science Fiction Society]]}}</ref> Additionally, British television station [[Channel 4]]'s 2006 documentary ''100 Greatest Cartoons'' named it the 86th greatest cartoon of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/results.html |title=100 Greatest Cartoons |publisher=Channel 4 |date=27 February 2005 |access-date=11 May 2008}}</ref> But, "lovable bunnies notwithstanding, younger children might be troubled by the more graphic scenes. Numerous rabbits die in bloody fights, while one gets choked by a snare and another is snatched by a bird of prey."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sherry |first=Kevin F. |date=June 2002 |title=Watership Down |journal=REQUEST: Replay Member Magazine |pages=46}}</ref>

===Television===
{{Main|Watership Down (1999 TV series)}}

From 1999 to 2001, the book was also adapted as an animated television series, broadcast on [[CITV]] in the UK and on [[YTV (TV channel)|YTV]] in Canada.<ref>http://www.decode.tv/index.php?sid=50. "Watership Down". Decode Entertainment. Retrieved 17 March 2008. {{page needed|date=August 2012}}</ref> Only the first two series were aired in the UK, while all three series were aired in Canada. It was produced by [[Martin Rosen (director)|Martin Rosen]] and starred several well-known British actors, including [[Stephen Fry]], [[Rik Mayall]], [[Dawn French]], [[John Hurt]], and [[Richard Briers]], running for a total of 39 episodes over three seasons. Although the story was broadly based on the novel and most characters and events retained, some of the story lines and characters (especially in later episodes) were entirely new. In 2003, the second season was nominated for a [[Gemini Award]] for Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://academy.ca/hist/history.cfm?categid=8002&shownum=18&winonly=0&awards=2&rtype=5&curstep=4 |title=Canada's Awards Database |access-date=26 April 2008 |year=2003 |publisher=[[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television]] |archive-date=17 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917083034/http://www.academy.ca/hist/history.cfm?categid=8002&shownum=18&winonly=0&awards=2&rtype=5&curstep=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2018 animated series===
{{Main|Watership Down (2018 TV series)}}

In July 2014, it was announced that the BBC would be airing a new animated series based on the book<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/news/a583284/watership-down-to-return-as-new-bbc-animated-series.html#~oS8KjGl9TocWcJ|title=Watership Down to be adapted on TV|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=10 July 2014}}</ref> and in April 2016 that the series would be a co-production between the [[BBC]] and [[Netflix]], consisting of four one-hour episodes,<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Alex Ritman|title=Netflix Bags Global Rights for 'Watership Down' Adaptation With John Boyega, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-bags-global-rights-watership-888258 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=28 April 2016|date=27 April 2016}}</ref> with a budget of £20&nbsp;million. The four-episode serial premiered on the BBC and Netflix on 23 December 2018, with the voices of [[James McAvoy]] as Hazel, [[John Boyega]] as Bigwig, and [[Ben Kingsley]] as General Woundwort.<ref>{{cite news |author1=John Plunkett|title=Netflix Bags Global Rights for 'Watership Down' Adaptation With John Boyega, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/28/bbc-and-netflix-team-up-for-new-watership-down-production|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 April 2016|date=27 April 2016}}</ref> It received generally positive reviews, with praise for the performances of its voice cast, but received criticism for its tone and the quality of the [[computer animation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Watership Down revival slammed as "tame" and "confusing" by critics – but the all-star voice cast gets glowing reviews |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-12-24/watership-down-revival-slammed-as-tame-and-confusing-by-critics-but-the-all-star-voice-cast-gets-glowing-reviews/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Prudom |first1=Laura |title=WATERSHIP DOWN REVIEW |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2018/12/23/watership-down-review-netflix-bbc |publisher=IGN |date=23 December 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/watership-down-2018|title=Watership Down (2018)|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref>

===Theatre===
In 2006, ''Watership Down'' was again adapted for the stage,<!--Does this sentence mean the book: "was adapted again, this time for the stage"? I want to respect the meaning of the text here, but this phrase made me wonder if there was a prior theatre adaptation.--> this time by [[Rona Munro]]. It ran at the [[Lyric Hammersmith]] in London. Directed by [[Melly Still]], the cast included Matthew Burgess, Joseph Traynor, and Richard Simons. The tone of the production was inspired by the tension of war: in an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Still commented, "The closest humans come to feeling like rabbits is under war conditions{{nbsp}}... We've tried to capture that anxiety."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/critic/feature/0,,1954016,00.html |title=Down the rabbit hole |date= 22 November 2006 |access-date=21 March 2008 |work=The Guardian |quote=The closest humans come to feeling like rabbits is under war conditions. Imagine what it would be like if every time we stepped out on the street, we know we could be picked off by a sniper. We've tried to capture that anxiety in the way the rabbits speak—lots of short, jerky sentences. | location=London | first=Lyn | last=Gardner}}</ref> A reviewer at ''[[The Times]]'' called the play "an exciting, often brutal tale of survival" and said that "even when it's a muddle, it's a glorious one."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article653369.ece |title=Watership Down |author=Sam Marlowe |date=29 November 2006 |access-date=21 March 2008 |work=The Times | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2011, ''Watership Down'' was adapted for the [[Lifeline Theatre]] in Chicago by John Hildreth. This production was directed by Katie McLean Hainsworth and the cast included Scott T. Barsotti, Chris Daley, Paul S. Holmquist, and Mandy Walsh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lifelinetheatre.com/performances/10-11/watership/cast_and_crew.shtml|title=Lifeline Theatre :: Watership Down: Cast & Crew|website=lifelinetheatre.com|access-date=26 May 2017}}</ref>

===Role-playing game===
{{Main|Bunnies & Burrows}}

''Watership Down'' inspired the creation of ''Bunnies & Burrows'', an early [[role-playing game]] in which the main characters are talking rabbits, published in 1976 by Fantasy Games Unlimited.<ref name="GURPS">''[[GURPS Bunnies & Burrows]]'' (1992), [[Steve Jackson Games]], {{ISBN|978-1-55634-237-0}}</ref> It introduced several innovations to role-playing game design, being the first game to allow players to have non-[[humanoid]] roles, as well as the first with detailed martial arts and skill systems. Fantasy Games Unlimited published a second edition of the game in 1982, and the game was modified and republished by [[Steve Jackson Games]] as an official [[GURPS Bunnies & Burrows|''GURPS'' supplement]] in 1992.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

===Radio===
In 2002, a two-part, two-hour dramatisation of ''Watership Down'' by Neville Teller was broadcast by [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0a3cda3cba6e49dda0934046c7d2eb34|title=Classic Serial: Watership Down|date=3 October 2002|work=Radio Times|access-date=1 May 2019|issue=4100|pages=129|issn=0033-8060}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nevilleteller.co.uk/page_1|title=nevilleteller.co.uk|last=Teller|first=Neville|website=nevilleteller.co.uk|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fygym|title=Richard Adams – Watership Down – BBC Radio 4 Extra|website=BBC|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>

In November 2016, a new two-part two-hour dramatisation, written by [[Brian Sibley]], was broadcast on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08298xw|title = BBC Radio 4 - Drama, Richard Adams - Watership Down}}</ref>

===Audiobooks===
In the 1970s, the book was released by [[Argo Records (UK)|Argo Records]] read by [[Roy Dotrice]], with musical background—music by [[George Butterworth]] performed by [[Academy of St Martin in the Fields]] under the direction of [[Neville Marriner]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZwkAngEACAAJ|title=Watership Down: Read by Roy Dotrice. Talking Book|last=Adams|first=Richard|date=1 January 1976|language=en|asin=B01IW6MGAU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/George-Butterworth-Scenes-From-Watership-Down/release/5694537|title=George Butterworth – Scenes From Watership Down|date=1978 |publisher=discogs|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>

[[Alexander Scourby]] narrated an unabridged edition, originally published on LP in the 1970s by the Talking Books program of the American Foundation for the Blind ([[National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled|NLSB]]).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1017729665 |title=Watership Down |author1=Richard Adams |author2=Alexander Scourby |via=WorldCat |oclc=1017729665 |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> The LPs have been destroyed by NLSB and are very rare.

In 1984, ''Watership Down'' was adapted into a four-cassette [[audiobook]] by John Maher in association with the [[Australian Broadcasting Company]]'s Renaissance Players. Produced by John Hannaford and narrated by Kerry Francis, the audiobook was distributed by [[The Mind's Eye (radio company)|The Mind's Eye]].<ref>''Watership Down''. The Mind's Eye. 1984. {{ISBN|0-88142-559-1}}.</ref>

In 1990, a 16-hour, 11-cassette recording read by John MacDonald was published by Books on Tape, Inc. of Santa Ana, CA.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Watership Down|last=Adams|first=Richard |location=Newport Beach, Calif. |publisher=Books on Tape|year=1990|isbn=9780736617000|oclc=21266537}}</ref>

[[Andrew Sachs]] recorded a five and a half-hour abridged version of the story for Puffin Audiobooks.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.bookdepository.com/Watership-Down-Richard-Adams/9780140866926|title=Watership Down read by Andrew Sachs|last=Adams|first=Richard|via=bookdepository.com|publisher=Penguin Books Ltd|language=en|date=27 November 1997|isbn=9780140866926|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Audible.com]] released an unabridged digital download of the book, narrated by the multiple award-winning [[Ralph Cosham]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Watership-Down-Audiobook/B003NAKQPI|title=Watership Down, narrated by Ralph Cosham|last=Adams|first=Richard|publisher=Blackstone Audio, Inc.|date=21 May 2010|asin=B003NGXOSI}}</ref>

In 2019, Blackstone Audio Inc. released an unabridged version of ''Watership Down'' with a foreword by the author, Richard Adams. [[Peter Capaldi]] narrated the 17-hour, 31-minute book.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.audible.com/pd/Watership-Down-Audiobook/1982562706|title=Watership Down, narrated by Peter Capaldi|last=Adams|first=Richard|publisher=Blackstone Audio, Inc.|date=7 May 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}}</ref>

=== Graphic novel ===
A new graphic novel version of ''Watership Down'' was released in 2023, adapted by award-winning author [[James Sturm]] and illustrated by bestselling artist Joe Sutphin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-22 |title=A new graphic novel version of 'Watership Down' aims to temper darkness with hope |url=https://www.wsiu.org/2023-10-22/a-new-graphic-novel-version-of-watership-down-aims-to-temper-darkness-with-hope |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=WSIU |language=en}}</ref>