Rabbit Ears Productions Explained

Runtime:30 minutes per episode
Executive Producer:Mark Sottnick and Mike Pogue
Narrator:Various
Composer:Various
Country:United States
Num Seasons:4
Num Episodes:65
Network:Direct-to-video
Showtime

Rabbit Ears Productions is a production company best known for producing three television series that feature individual episodes adapting popular pieces of children's literature. Rabbit Ears episodes have been released on home video, broadcast on Showtime, and rerun on PBS. The series features actors, such as Robin Williams, Raul Julia, Laura Dern, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, John Hurt, Danny Glover and others narrating children's books that are either well known in the United States or around the world. The series made use of a limited animation technique whereby still images are moved throughout the scene, similar to modern motion comics. Rabbit Ears Productions has also won numerous awards, including Parents' Choice Awards and Grammy Awards.

The stories were released on CDs, VHS, and DVD by several distributors, including Random House Home Video (1985 to 1986), Sony Video Software (1987 to 1990), and Uni Distribution Corp.

Rabbit Ears Productions was acquired by Vanguard Animation in early 2024; the studio then began uploading full episodes of its programs onto its official YouTube channel.

Stories

Storybook Classics

From 1984 to 1990, Rabbit Ears Productions created a set of storybook classics that were well known around the world. Probably the most popular storybook classic from Rabbit Ears Productions was The Velveteen Rabbit, the first story that Rabbit Ears Productions had created. The Velveteen Rabbit also received many awards, such as a Parents' Choice Award and a nomination for a Grammy Award. Showtime acquired the broadcast rights to Storybook Classics in 1987.

We All Have Tales

From 1991 to 1995, Rabbit Ears Productions created the next set of stories that were collected from around the world,[1] including the countries of Russia, France, Jamaica, England, Germany, Colombia, Scandinavia, Japan and India.

American Heroes and Legends

From 1992 to 1993, Rabbit Ears Productions made another set of stories that originated in the U.S., about great American heroes, such as John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, and many other heroes and heroines who made a great impact on American society.

The Greatest Stories Ever Told

From 1991 to 1993, Rabbit Ears Productions created its final installments, relating to stories from the Bible.

The Bible stories are:

Of the 13 Bible stories, the first 11 focus on stories from the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Ruth, Samuel, Esther, Daniel and Jonah), and the final 2 focus on stories from the New Testament.

This series was not shown on television. Of the 13 Bible stories, 9 were released on VHS and DVD. None were in the order found in the Bible, except The Creation (which was first) and Parables That Jesus Told (which was last).

In The Creation video, the narrator concludes that Adam and Eve ventured into the world. They "went out into the world until they returned to the ground from which they were made".

Holiday Classics

Holiday Classics are stories that are found throughout all the Rabbit Ears Productions series, whether they are Christmas, Halloween or Easter-themed.

Cast and Stories

Cast

Crew

Episodes

The Greatest Stories Ever Told: 1991–1994

TitleYear releasedSummaryNarratorIllustratorMusic
1The Creation1991Tells the story of how God created the world, while also telling the story of Adam and Eve.Amy GrantStefano VitaleBela Fleck and the Flecktones
2Joseph and his Brothers1991Tells the story of how Joseph was abused, but later became second in command of the Pharaoh of Egypt.Rubén BladesGarnet HendersonStrunz and Farah
3Jonah and the Whale1992Jonah, a prophet, must escape God after being tasked to go to the city of Nineveh.Jason RobardsJeffrey SmithGeorge Mgrdichian
4David and Goliath1992David, a young shepherd boy must defeat a giant Philistine warrior named Goliath.Mel GibsonDouglas FraserBranford Marsalis
5The Savior is Born1992Tells the Story of the Birth of JesusMorgan FreemanRobert Van NuttThe Christ Church Cathedral Choir
6Noah and The Ark1992God tells a man named Noah that he will flood the world for 40 days and 40 nights, so Noah and his family must build a giant ark with two of every animal in it.Kelly McGillisLori LohstoeterThe Paul Winter Consort
7Moses in Egypt1993Tells the story of Moses, and his journey to free his fellow Israelites from Slavery.Danny GloverPhil HulingThe Sounds of Blackness
8Moses The Lawgiver1993Tells the story of how Moses created The Ten Commandments.Ben KingsleyJohn CollierLyle Mays
9Parables That Jesus Told1994Jesus Tells the stories of The Sower, The Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son.Garrison KeillorStan FellowsDavid Lindley

Holiday Classics: 1986–1994

TitleYear releasedSummaryNarratorIllustratorMusicHoliday
1Santabear's First Christmas (ABC)A young bear cub is appointed by Santa Claus to deliver toys on Christmas.Kelly McGillisBuck LewisMichael HedgesChristmas
2The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat (Showtime)A puppy and a kitten fall out of Santa's bag and now must journey to their new home.Amy GrantLaszlo KubinyiChet AtkinsChristmas
3A Gingerbread Christmas1991The Prince and Princess of Gingerbread must save Christmas from being cancelled.Susan Saint JamesJohn SpiersVan Dyke ParksChristmas
4Squanto and The First Thanksgiving1991Tells the story of Squanto, and how he helped the Pilgrims.Graham GreeneMichael A. DonatoPaul McCandlessThanksgiving
5The Night Before Christmas (Showtime)A retelling of the classic poem of the same name.Meryl StreepWilliam Cone, Greg Couch, Vivienne Flesher, Robert Van Nutt, Bill James, and Tom ChristopherMark O'Connor, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Van Dyke Parks, Sarah W. Neill and Meryl StreepChristmas
6The Lion and the Lamb1994A story based on European Legends.Amy Grant and Christopher ReeveBill KroyerLyle MaysChristmas

Audiobooks

Many of the stories have been made available as audiobooks through Listening Library.

References

  1. Book: Erickson . Hal . Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 . 2005 . 2nd . McFarland & Co . 978-1476665993 . 898–899.

External links