The Wind in the Willows (1995 film)

The Wind in the Willows
DVD Cover of The Wind in the Willows and the sequel
Based on	The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Screenplay by	Ted Walker
Directed by	Dave Unwin
Starring	Alan Bennett Michael Gambon Rik Mayall Michael Palin
Narrated by	Vanessa Redgrave
Theme music composer	Colin Towns
Country of origin	UK
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	John Coates
Running time	73 min.
Distributor	HIT Entertainment
Release
Original release	1995

The Wind in the Willows is a 1995 British animation film directed by Dave Unwin and written by Ted Walker, based on the 1908 novel of the same name, a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame. It was produced by the now defunct TVC (Television Cartoons) in London.

The films include live action starting and ending segments with Vanessa Redgrave as the grandmother (who acts as the narrator), Jemima Ffyne as Alexandra, Jordan Hollywood as Emma, Tom Stourton as Edward, and Barry Foster as the boatman, which changes into an animated setting as soon as the grandmother opens the book.

Tired from spring cleaning, Mole ventures out of his hole for the first time and stumbles across a river and a new-found friend Ratty. The two friends enjoy themselves then call on Mr. Toad, who takes them for a trip on the open road by gypsy caravan until a passing motor car causes the caravan to crash and Toad to develop a mania for driving motor cars. Back at the riverbank Ratty gets a temporary phase of a desire to emigrate but Mole snaps him out of it.

By Winter, Mole ventures and gets lost in the Wild Wood where he had hoped to make an acquaintance with Mr. Badger. Ratty finds Mole and the two friends come across Mr. Badger's house and he invites them in. After their enjoyed stay, the two friends head for home and Mole gets homesick from leaving his hole for too long, but Ratty comforts him with a visit to the place.

When Springtime approaches, Mr. Badger confronts Toad to get him out of his obsession of motor cars which is squandering his father's inheritance money, but to no avail. Toad escapes his house, forcing Ratty, Mole, and Badger to go after him, and gets himself in trouble for stealing and crashing a motor car, and is sentenced 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, Mole and Ratty row in the river at night in search of Portly, who they later find with Pan.