Bunnytown

Did You Know?

• Bunnytown was created by David Rudman, his brother Adam, and Todd Hannert under Spiffy Pictures.
• The show was produced at Elstree Studios.
• Disney commissioned the series before the creation of their London-based Global Original Programming hub.

Format

Each episode of Bunnytown contains between ten and twelve segments. A running gag, played out in four parts, sets up a problem such as bunnies preparing for a race; in the first episode "Hello Bunnies!" the bunnies disco dance in the first part, sleep in the second, fly in the third, and finally race in the fourth before the ending song, but a tape at the finish line sends them back to the start. Red and Fred, a silent comedy slapstick duo in Peopletown, consist of a fat ginger-haired man and a smaller thin dark-haired male, played by Ed Gaughan and Andrew Buckley, in the style of Laurel and Hardy; on the US broadcast they are called "Two Best Friends". Before each Red and Fred scene, a bunny named Bart Bunnytoes travels through an underground tunnel system to Peopletown, watches the events, and leaves. The Adventures of Super-Bunny features Little Bad Bunny stealing carrots from Bunnytown until Super-Bunny rescues them. The Bunnytown Hop is performed by a rock-and-roll band inspired by groups such as Earth, Wind and Fire, and characters from earlier segments may join. Super Silly Sports, also in Peopletown, is hosted by Pinky Pinkerton (portrayed by Polly Frame), who wears a pink Alice band in her blonde bouffant hairdo, a matching neck scarf and sports jacket over a white tennis dress, and pink and white-striped above-the-knee socks; an example is a staring contest between an 11-year-old boy and an Idaho potato. Bart travels through the underground tunnels to watch these events as well. After the running gag payoff, all bunnies gather to sing the closing song "It's a Bunnytown Life", followed by a bunny blowing a party horn. The segments Two Best Friends and Super Silly Sports were formerly shown as bumpers on Disney Junior.

Cast

The bunny rod puppets are made from foam rubber and covered in fake fur, requiring up to eight puppeteers to operate with a trigger at the bottom for mouth movement and invisible marionette strings for other parts. Characters include a king and his court, pirates, a superhero bunny, a female astronaut bunny, two cave bunnies with a pet dinosaur, an inventor, a farmer and helpers, and many more. Puppeteers include Alice Dinnean-Vernon as Space Bunny, Dino, Edna, Teacher Bunny, and Blue Pirate Bunny; Eric Jacobson as Super Bunny, Melvin, Green Cave Bunny, Royal Assistant Marvin, and Captain Dan; Mark Jefferis as Professor DoodleBunny and Farmer Gramps; Nigel Plaskitt as King Bunny, Little Bad Bunny, and Green Bunny Pirate; David Rudman as Yellow Cave Bunny, Hoppy Funtooth, and Blue Bunny Musician; Victoria Willing as Louise; Mak Wilson as Jester Bunny; Andrew Buckley as Red; Polly Frame as Pinky Pinkerton; Ed Gaughan as Fred; Keely Cat-Wells as Millie The Cheerleader; Jami Reid-Quarrell as Spot; Owen Mulhall as Chef flanders; Alanis Peart as Smart Lady; and Ian Stacey as Fingers Frederico.

Release

Bunnytown made its debut on Playhouse Disney in the UK and Canada on November 3, 2007, followed by a US premiere on November 10, 2007. In France, the show began airing on January 27, 2008, keeping its original name. The series consisted of a single season of twenty-six episodes, ending on November 8, 2008. A DVD was released on March 17, 2009, and the shorts later became available for streaming on DisneyNow and Hulu.

Reception

Mike Hale of The New York Times described the show as a fast-moving variety-show and sketch-comedy format with elaborate silly jokes and musical numbers featuring bouncy R&B-inflected power pop, noting it seemed safe and diverting for children while possibly appealing to hung-over adult hipsters. Marilyn Moss of Associated Press called Bunnytown very colorful and fast-moving for the youngest set, a musical bonanza for preschoolers with lively animation. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave it three out of five stars, praising positive messages and exposure to musical styles including disco, country, piano, and light opera, but noting that entertainment outweighed educational content. Bunnytown was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design at the 2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.