The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo is a favourite children’s tale. This short dramatisation is based on the best-selling children's book of the same name by Julia Donaldson and features a voice cast including James Corden, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, and Rob Brydon, with Helena Bonham Carter narrating the story.

The casting is spot on: James Corden is cheeky enough for mouse, Tom Wilkinson sneery enough for Fox, John Hurt wise enough for Owl and Rob Brydon a fantastic welsh snake (surely a first). The icing on the cake is Robbie Coltrane as a perfect Gruffalo.

The animation stays very close to the look and feel of the original illustrations and the squirrel storytelling is a nice conceit to retain the wonderful rhymes. Small children across the country have been delighted by this rendering of their favourite book.

The story is that of a clever mouse who avoids being eaten by various woodland creatures by inventing a mysterious and scary monster called the Gruffalo. However, the twist is that the Gruffalo exists and mice are his favourite treat between two slices of bread.

Lovers of the original book will also love the sequel called ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’ written by the same author.

First aired on UK TV 2009

Certificate Universal

Available on DVD and Blue Ray