Episode image for The Gruffalo

Duration: 25 minutes

An animated film based on the classic children's picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo tells the magical tale of a mouse who takes a walk though the woods in search of a nut.

Encountering three predators who all wish to eat him - a fox, an owl and a snake - the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive. He announces that he is meeting a monster with terrible features, a 'Gruffalo', and the three predators are each panicked into running away.

Mouse is now increasingly confident; there is nothing that can touch him, or so he thinks. That is, until he rounds a corner and comes face-to-face with the terrible creature of his imagination: the Gruffalo itself. Once again, Mouse has to dig deep to escape the danger. He convinces the monster that he is the scariest creature in the wood, and the Gruffalo flees in fear. As quiet returns to the deep, dark wood, Mouse finally finds a nut, and can eat it in peace.

Last on

Fri 30 Dec 2011 19:00 BBC Three

  • Character profile: Gruffalo (Voiced by Robbie Coltrane)

    Character profile: Gruffalo (Voiced by Robbie Coltrane)

    Gruffalo is big and strong, but simple-minded and direct. In contrast to all the predators, he always speaks the truth and has a hard time imagining that others wouldn't. He's not manipulative or evil – he's just very big and very hungry. And mice happen to be his favourite food.

  • Character profile: Mouse (Voiced by James Corden)

    Character profile: Mouse (Voiced by James Corden)

    Mouse is new to this forest world – a fledgling. He's clever and a fast learner and an incorrigible optimist. At first, he has to rely on pure instinct. Cornered by a predatorial Fox, Mouse is kissed by inspiration and invents the imaginary Gruffalo. To his great surprise, however, the story gets him out of trouble and he then uses it with increasing confidence in the following encounters with Owl and Snake.

  • Character profile: Mother Squirrel (Voiced by Helena Bonham Carter)

    Character profile:  Mother Squirrel (Voiced by Helena Bonham Carter)

    A nurturing mother, Mother Squirrel (left) is at ease with the woods and accustomed to skilfully avoiding dangers from predators on her daily mission to collect nuts. She loves telling stories to her children, while drawing on her rich imagination to conjure up a magical world.

  • Character profile: Owl (Voiced by John Hurt)

    Character profile: Owl (Voiced by John Hurt)

    Owl is visibly past his prime, but he's in denial of that. A big-headed, rather self-absorbed schlump, he is still a tougher, more complete predator than Fox. Frail to look at, Owl is still murderous by nature. Mouse's refusal to have tea with him, however, is a major insult to one so vain.

  • Character profile: Fox (Voiced by Tom Wilkinson)

    Character profile: Fox (Voiced by Tom Wilkinson)

    Fox thinks of himself as a charmer. He's not the brightest but is perfectly capable of seducing his prey and he's used to success – that is until he meets Mouse. Outwitted in their first encounter, Fox reveals his inner coward and leaves in a panic. Fox's sneezing, due to a pollen allergy, is a recurring feature of the film.

  • Character profile: Snake (Voiced by Rob Brydon)

    Character profile: Snake (Voiced by Rob Brydon)

    Snake is a cold-hearted eating machine. While one victim is in his mouth, his mind is already on his next prey. His invitation to Mouse to come to feast with him is entirely rhetorical – Mouse has no choice whatsoever and Snake already knows the answer.

Credits

Illustrator
Axel Scheffler
Squirrel
Helena Bonham Carter
Snake
Rob Brydon
The Gruffalo
Robbie Coltrane
Mouse
James Corden
Owl
John Hurt
Fox
Tom Wilkinson
First Small Squirrel
Sam Lewis
Second Small Squirrel
Phoebe Givron-Taylor
Director
Jakob Schuh
Director
Max Lang
Producer
Michael Rose
Producer
Martin Pope
Writer
Julia Donaldson

Broadcasts

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