Wind in the Willows The Complete Collection [DVD]

After getting tired of trying to find my favourite episodes, i finally got round to making my own index and decided to add it here.

Hope it is of use

Disc 1
Series 1

1. The further adventures of Toad.
2. The kidnapping of Toad
3. The ghost at Mole End
4. The great steamer
5. Buried treasure
6. Moles cousin
7. The grand annual show
8. The open road again

Disc 2
Series 1

9. Wayfarers all
10. The weasels trap
11. Burglary at Toad Hall
12. The piper at the gates of dawn
13. The Yuletide entertainment.

Disc 3
Series 2

1. Winter sports
2. Toad, Photographer
3. The rescue
4. Bankruptcy
5. The storm
6. Patient: Toad
7. The labyrinth
8. Harvest

Disc 4
Series 2

9. Auberon's return
10. The great golfing gamble
11. Gadget mad
12. May day
13. Fancy dress

Disc 5
Series 3

1. Paperchase
2. Mercury of the Motor Bicycle
3. Mr Toad's telephone
4. Toad, Astronomer
5. Caught in a maze
6. School days
7. Badgers remedy
8. Masterchef

Disc 6
Series 3

9. Fire at Toad Hall
10. Unlikely allies
11. A producer's lot
12. Champion of the green baize
13. Winter haunts

Disc 7
Series 4

1. Auld Lang Syne
2. Bricks and morter
3. The lost river
4. The Tournament
5. Lord Toad
6. Hot Air
7. Fighting fit
8. Hall for sale

Disc 8
Series 4

9. Toad's Harvest
10. Monsters of the wild wood
11. Remember, remember
12. Tunnels and tremors
13. Happy new year

Disc 9
Series 5

1. The Chief's return
2. Mister Toad of the Times
3. The compleat bungler
4. Toad in motion
5. Midsummer nights disaster
6. Gypsy Toad
7. Hip Hip Soiree
8. Piano roll Toad

Disc 10
Series 5

9. Happy Birthday
10. A Toad in time
11. Oarsman Toad
12. Toad in love
13. Film maker

Disc 11

Pilot episode
A tale of two Toads

Cosgrove Hall's 'The Wind in the Willows' is a true classic of British animation, and in this long-awaited box set you get all 65 20-minute episodes plus both films, spread across 11 discs! I would recommend this to...ANYONE and EVERYONE! Anyone who loves great stop-motion animation would love this, and equally anyone who loves the peace and tranqulity of the English countryside that Kenneth Grahame so brilliantly captured in his original book would love this too. Released in the month of the novel's 100th anniversary (and, coincidentally, the year of the original film's 25th anniversary), this box set is beautifully presented, and you will find that the episodes just get better and better as you watch them. I would always give 'The Wind in the Willows' 5 stars for its sheer quality in storytelling, animation, humour, and craftmanship in every detail! Thankyou, Fremantle, for finally releasing the entire collection! Wonderful!

I had already written reviews three times for the dvd's of the original 'The Wind in the Willows' film adaptation and series 1 and 2 produced by Cosgrove Hall, but I never tire of revisiting its wonderful universe. Allow me to focus a bit on the background of the film special for a while.
The original adaptation of 'The Wind in the Willows' cost £400.000 to make, spent 18 months in production due to all the minute details that went into the recreation of the novel by Kenneth Grahame in intricate, brilliant stop-motion animation. And that's what accounts for the added ingredient that separates this from previous and later adaptations: it brought along plenty of atmosphere! Indeed, the riverfront world of the novel was splendidly captured, the models were exquisitely tailored and dressed - the characters themselves cost £5,000 each to produce, consisting of 9" high figures containing a brass ball and socket skeleton with a latex exterior -, the homes were filled with implements, artworks and paraphernalia scaled down to minute proportions, and the country side rich with a variety of flora and fauna. Just for added curiosity concerning the details, Mole's Willow pattern crockery was minutely scaled down to a half inch diameter, whilst Ratty's jumpers were sewn together from real men's socks, and there were even miniature copies of Tatler magazine to be spied around the houses!
The film was first broadcast in December 27, 1983, and it truly recreated that Edwardian spirit of joie-de-vivre, merriment and melancholy from the original book thanks to the extraordinary and impeccable crafstmanship on display. The success of Cosgrove Hall's achievement garnered the company several international awards, and led to the production of all the series now compiled in this gorgeous box set. All the actors rendered marvellous vocal performances to their respective characters, with David Jason's Mr. Toad practically stealing every scene in which he appeared, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I will finish by mentioning that, as the previous reviewer pointed out, all 65 episodes from the five series and both films are included here and, being the timeless classics that they deservedly became, no one can miss this box set.