Don Bluth’s Watership Down

This idea is based on the novel by Richard Adams. To be considered for Don Bluth Studios.

In 1940s England, on a spring day, There lived a group of rabbits, living in peace at Sandleford Warren. As Hazel, a male rabbit is looking forward to having a mate of his own. However, Fiver, Hazel's younger brother, sees a premonition of the Warren destroyed, unaware of a sign saying their home is to be turned into housing. Hazel and Fiver inform the Chief Rabbit, Rowan of the situation, but the Chief says, that moving elsewhere would take too long, So, Hazel and Fiver tell their childhood friends of the coming danger. At night, Bigwig, one of the Sandleford Owsla, spots two people near the warren and informs the chief rabbit, who refuses to listen, as He tells Bigwig and the rest of the Owsla to keep Hazel and Fiver from leaving. Later, Hazel and Fiver, along with Pipkin, Dandelion, Bluebell, Acorn, Speedwell, Silver, Hawkbit, Blackberry, and Buckthorn, proceed to escape the warren. Holly, one of the Owsla, proceeded to arrest Hazel's group for insubordination, but, Bigwig believing in Fiver's prediction, tackles Holly, who goes to tell Rowan. Hazel's group, with Bigwig, head east, away from the doomed warren.

A couple of miles later in the forest, as the sun was about to rise, Hazel’s group rest as Dandelion tells a story called “Frith’s Blessing”, featuring El-ahrairah. (Set in a black-and-white setting) The story starts with Frith (The Sun) creating the world, clouds, stars, trees, and plants. Then the animals making them all the same. Among the animals, was El-ahrairah, the Prince of Rabbits, who befriended many of the animals, including the Fox. Some time later, when El-Ahrairah got a mate of his own, He was blessed with many children. But the more children He had, the more problems arose for the other animals, since they are so much grass, despite El-ahrairah, trying to get his children to share, which fell on deaf ears. Frith caught wind of this as orders El-ahrairah to keep his children under control, or He’ll find a way to. but El-ahrairah, tired from his fatherly duties said, “What do you want me to do? They won’t listen to Me.” Frith, then gave a gift to the other animals, making them all different from the others. The animals, like Foxes, Raccoons, Cats, Rats, Dogs, Wolves, Hawks, Falcons, Stoats, Otters, and Weasels we're given a ferocious desire to hunt down and devour El-ahrairah and His children. El-ahrairah, His mate, and His surviving children went into hiding. Frith visited El-ahrairah who tearfully chastised Frith for dooming His family. Seeing El-ahrairah’s tears, Frith shined his light on the Rabbit’s family, seconds later, Their tails wagged by themselves until they turned white as clouds, then their back legs and ears grew longer, and they became faster than any animal they encountered, with Frith saying “Your people cannot cover the works, El-Ahrairah, for I won’t allow it. All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies. And whenever they catch You, They will kill you, but, first they must catch you. Digger, Listener, Runner, prince with the swift warning, be cunning like the foxes, full of tricks like the weasel, and your people will never be destroyed.”

Once the story was over, Pipkin who was almost asleep, spots a Lendri (Lapine for Badger) and the rabbits run for their lives. They come to a river, and things get worse when the rabbits hear a dog coming, the Badger hears the dog as well, and runs for his life. The Rabbits cross the lake to escape, except Pipkin and Fiver who aren’t good swimmers. Blackberry notices a piece of wood floating and asks the two to jump on it. And with Bigwig’s help, Blackberry gets Fiver and Pipkin to safety. Safe from the dog, The rabbits continue their journey and spot a bean field, and head there. On the way, however, a crow attacks Pipkin and Fiver. Bigwig who was nearby, tackles the crow, who flies away. Bigwig berates the two for lagging behind, but Hazel tells Bigwig to lay off since Fiver’s tired and a thorn was in Pipkin’s foot. After reaching the Bean field, safe from the predators, the rabbits rest as memories of their old home are in their minds. After resting, the rabbits traverse carefully through a road where the hurududu (Lapine for Car) cross. After the rabbits cross, Acorn, Speedwell, and Hawkbit start to miss home and decide to head back to Sandleford, but Bigwig forbids it, as Fiver sees a vision of a lone tree, on the big hills. and they’ll encounter some trouble. Dubious of his brother’s vision, Hazel tells the rabbits that they’ll be moving on.

As night fell, The Rabbits start to get tired, but, they see a field, and in it is Cowslip, an elderly rabbit. The rabbits request to stay for the night, and Cowslip accepts and says they can stay as long as they like. The Rabbits, except for Fiver are ecstatic as they enter. On the rabbits’ first day, Hazel meets a sorrowful rabbit named Strawberry, saying the warren needn’t worry about the Elil, because the humans nearby shoot them if spotted. However, Strawberry and the other rabbits in the warren won’t ask questions that start with “Where”. Fiver, who is outside the warren, continues to worry about Hazel and the others as it started to rain. Hazel and the others decide to go outside to find some food, but Cowslip says to stay, as there will be plenty of food tomorrow. The next morning, The rabbits see plenty of food, including carrots and cabbage.

Dandelion then tells a story about El-ahrairah and the King’s Lettuce (In Sepia color). The tale starts with El-ahrairah and his descendants are suffering from lack of food and living in the marshlands. Once the story was over, the Rabbits of Cowslip’s warren were not impressed, since they only need dignity, not cunning to survive. Silverweed, a young poet told a tale of accepting death. Hazel and Bigwig go search for Fiver, who still refused to enter. Bigwig, furious at Fiver’s stubborn refusal to enter, goes to get food but a snare grabs him by the throat. Fiver goes to get help, the rest of Hazel’s group comes while Cowslip and the others stay where they are. Blackberry gets the snare’s peg out, but Bigwig doesn’t move. Fiver explains that Cowslip and the other rabbits refused to help. Bigwig barely gets up, and swears that He’ll kill Cowslip. As Hazel’s group go to kill Cowslip and take over his warren. But, Fiver opposes since the warren is a death trap, so, Hazel’s group move on to their journey, as Strawberry asks to come along, since His mate was killed, because She told a wandering rabbit about the snares. Hazel’s group agreed as Strawberry came along. That night, The Rabbits rested in a dilapidated barn, as Bigwig, Silver, and Buckthorn kept watch for any Elil. And kept watch, they did, fighting off the rats, and an owl.

Morning came, and the rabbits arrive at what Fiver foresaw, a lone tree on the high hills. The rabbits after reaching the top were awestruck of the environment below, including a farm. Under the tree, they see a rabbit hole, but the warren is empty. Seeing that the warn is too small, Hazel, Blackberry, and Strawberry dig to expand the warren, but stop when they hear a ghastly voice calling for Bigwig. The voice, turned out to be Holly, who is deeply injured carried by Bluebell. Fearing that the smell of blood would attract predators, Bigwig demanded Holly to leave, but the other rabbits allow the injured rabbits to enter. As Hazel brings the injudpred to one of the holes, He spots a mouse catching her breath after being chased by a Hawk and Hazel lets the mouse rest. After two days of resting Holly explains to the rabbits about what happened back at Sandleford. Minutes after Hazel’s group left, He saw people near the warren and told the chief. Knowing Rowan won’t listen, Holly told the Owsla and the other rabbits as the humans arrived in construction vehicles. As the construction people began to fill the burrows and shoot any animals, another group of humans opposed to the destruction of nature, slashed the tires of the construction vehicles, and blocking the hunters from shooting the rabbits. The rabbits had some time to escape with their lives, but not everyone escaped with their lives. After hearing about the fate of Sandleford Warren, Hazel then told that the journey wasn’t easy, but are determined to make the warren their new home.

Days later, after the warren is done, Hawkbit asks why a mouse is in the warren, Hazel explains the situation as Bluebell tells the story of The Trial of El-ahrairah (In a realistic style). Once Bluebell’s story is done, Bigwig and Silver inform the others of an injured bird, a seagull named Keehar, who doesn’t trust them. Hazel asks Acorn to gets as many bugs to feed Keehar. After being fed, Keehar thanks the rabbits for what they did, as the Gull asks why there are hardly any does. To repay their kindness Keehar flies off to find some does for the warren. Days later, Keehar returned and that there are two places. One is Nuthanger Farm, which the journey will take less than an hour. The other is a warren, which would take a few days by foot. Holly, Silver, Buckthorn, and Strawberry travel to the other warren at dawn, as Hazel brings Pipkin to the farm. Arriving at the farm, Hazel goes in one of the barns as Pipkin keeps watch. One of the hutch rabbits, Boxwood tells Hazel that there’s two bucks and two does, as Pipkin says that a cat is approaching. Hazel and Pipkin escape with their lives.

Sandleford Rabbits

 * Hazel - The Chief of Watership Down, and mate of Primrose (Real Name, Hyzenthlay)