Bunnytown

{{Infobox television

| image = Bunnytown.jpg

| genre = Children's television series

| creator = David Rudman
Adam Rudman
Todd Hannert

| director = David Rudman

| developer =

| presenter =

| starring = Alice Dinnean-Vernon
Eric Jacobson
Mark Jefferis
Nigel Plaskitt
David Rudman
Victoria Willing
Mak Wilson

| voices =

| narrator =

| theme_music_composer =

| open_theme = Bunnytown

| end_theme = It's a Bunnytown Life

| composer = Todd Hannert
Terry Fryer

| country = United States
United Kingdom{{cite web|title=Disney enters Bunnytown|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/disney-enters-bunnytown/|website=C21Media|first=Jonathan|last=Webdale|date=October 26, 2007}}

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 26

| executive_producer = David Rudman
Adam Rudman
Todd Hannert

| company = Spiffy Pictures
Baker Coogan Productions

| location = Elstree Studios

| camera = Multi-camera

| runtime = 24 minutes

| network = Playhouse Disney

| first_aired = {{Start date|2007|11|10}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2008|11|08}}

| related =

}}

Bunnytown is a children's television program produced as a co-production between Spiffy Pictures in the United States and Baker Coogan Productions in the United Kingdom for Playhouse Disney. It premiered in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2007 and in the United States on November 10, 2007. The series received generally positive reviews from critics.

Format

The basic format features between ten and twelve segments as follows:

A running gag setting up some sort of problem played out in four parts such as bunnies getting ready to race, drumming, etc. For example, the bunnies get ready for a race in the first episode "Hello Bunnies!" but they end up disco dancing in the first part (events with disco balls usually happen in the third part in most episodes), sleeping in the second, flying in the third and finally racing in the fourth part before the ending song but there is a tape at the finish line which flies them back to the start of the race, but they failed again.
Red and Fred, a silent comedy-slapstick pratfall team in Peopletown made up of a fat ginger haired man and a smaller, thin dark haired male, played by Ed Gaughan and Andrew Buckley. This is done in the vein of Laurel and Hardy, who have the same style as Red and Fred. On the US broadcast, they are known as "Two Best Friends". Before this scene, a bunny named Bart Bunnytoes travels through an underground tunnel system to reach Peopletown, where he watches the events before leaving.
The Adventures of Super-Bunny, created new for Bunnytown follows the format of Little Bad Bunny stealing carrots from Bunnytown, and Super-Bunny comes to the rescue.
The Bunnytown Hop, done by a rock-and-roll band inspired by mega groups such as Earth, Wind and Fire. Characters from earlier segments may take part in this song.
Super Silly Sports, also held in Peopletown, hosted by Pinky Pinkerton (portrayed by Scottish actress Polly Frame), best known for her wearing a pink Alice band in her blonde bouffant hairdo along with a matching neck scarf and sportsjacket over a white tennis dress, along with pink and white-striped above-the-knee socks. An example of this spoofing of sports contests and their telecasts within is a staring contest between an 11-year-old boy and an Idaho potato (because both of them have "eyes"). Pinky's signature exclamation is "Oh me, oh my!" done multiple times. Just like in the Red and Fred segments, Bart travels through the underground tunnels to watch the events.
After the payoff of the running gag, all of the bunnies gather to sing the closing song "It's a Bunnytown Life", followed by a bunny blowing on a party horn.
The Bunnytown segments Two Best Friends (Red and Fred) and Super Silly Sports were formerly shown in bumper segments on Disney Junior.

Cast

The bunny rod puppets (which take up to eight puppeteers to operate with a trigger at the bottom to move their mouths and invisible marionette strings to work from above on all other parts) are made from foam rubber and covered in fake fur.

Characters include the many types of characters found in pop culture and storybooks. Included are a king and his court (supposedly the leaders of Bunnytown as they live in a castle), pirates, a superhero bunny, a female bunny who is an astronaut, two cave bunnies and their pet dinosaur, an inventor, a farmer and his helpers and many more.

=Puppeteers=

Alice Dinnean-Vernon{{Cite web |last= |date=November 1, 2007 |title=Bunnytown |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bunnytown/210589.article |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Broadcast |language=en}} as Space Bunny, Dino, Edna, Teacher Bunny, Blue Pirate Bunny
Eric Jacobson as Super Bunny, Melvin, Green Cave Bunny, Royal Assistant Marvin, Captain Dan
Mark Jefferis as Professor DoodleBunny, Farmer Gramps
Nigel Plaskitt as King Bunny, Little Bad Bunny, Green Bunny Pirate
David Rudman as Yellow Cave Bunny, Hoppy Funtooth, Blue Bunny Musician
Victoria Willing as Louise
Mak Wilson as Jester Bunny

=Live-action cast=

Andrew Buckley as Red{{Cite web |title=Bunnytown (2007) |url=https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/bunnytown-2007 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}
Polly Frame as Pinky Pinkerton{{Cite news |last=Rinaldi |first=Giancarlo |date=November 6, 2007 |title=Actress lands dream Disney role |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7079096.stm |access-date=2023-09-06}}
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
Ian Stacey as Fingers Frederico

Episodes

{{Episode table

|background=#2299FF

|overall=

|title=

|airdate=

|airdateR={{cite web|url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/bunnytown-season-1/id266203436|title = Bunnytown – Episode list |date = 10 November 2007 |publisher = iTunes |access-date = 2015-07-18}}

|prodcode=

|prodcodeR={{cite web |url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First |title=Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Bunnytown"] |publisher=United States Copyright Office |access-date=}}

|viewers=

|country=US

|episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Hello Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|10}}

|ProdCode = 101

|Viewers =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Bunny Funnies

|Segment =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|11}}

|ProdCode = 102

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = *Running Gag: Artistic Bunny trying to start painting an apple, but ends up with a worm going inside an apple as a spaceship in the first part, a fruit dancing bunny in the second

The Adventures of Super-Bunny: Bunnytown Carrot Festival

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Bunny Giggles

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|17}}

|ProdCode = 103

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Barrel Full of Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|18}}

|ProdCode = 104

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Bunny Shenanigans

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|24}}

|ProdCode = 105

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Wintertime In Bunnytown

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|12|01}}

|ProdCode = 116

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Bunny Ha-Ha's

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|12|08}}

|ProdCode = 106

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Hiya Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|12|15}}

|ProdCode = 108

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = Bunny-A-Go-Go

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|01|05}}

|ProdCode = 109

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|Title = G'Day Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|01|19}}

|ProdCode = 107

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|Title = Carrot Giving Day

|Running Gag = Melvin gives a carrot to Louise (1) Jungle Bunny (2) Football Athletes (3) Mother Carrot (4) Nobody

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|02|09}}

|ProdCode = 113

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|Title = Bonkers for Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|02|23}}

|ProdCode = 112

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|Title = Bunnytown Pets

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|03|01}}

|ProdCode = 114

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 14

|Title = Bunnytown Fun

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|03|24}}

|ProdCode = 110

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 15

|Title = King Bunny's Birthday

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|03|25}}

|ProdCode = 115

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 16

|Title = Those Wacky Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|03|26}}

|ProdCode = 117

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 17

|Title = Bunny Blankie Blues

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|03|27}}

|ProdCode = 118

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 18

|Title = Bunnytown Follies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|03|28}}

|ProdCode = 111

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 19

|Title = Bunnytown Babbles

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|04|05}}

|ProdCode = 120

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 20

|Title = Bumbling Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|05|24}}

|ProdCode = 121

|Viewers =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 21

|Title = Bunnies Bunnies Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|06|21}}

|ProdCode = 119

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 22

|Title = Groovy Bunnies

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|07|05}}

|ProdCode = 122

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 23

|Title = Bunny-A-Rama

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|08|16}}

|ProdCode = 125

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 24

|Title = What a Bunnytown Hoot

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|09|27}}

|ProdCode = 124

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 25

|Title = Bunnytown Chuckles

|Running Gag = Norbert's Birthday (1) Birthday cake as a racecar (4) Birthday cake as normally

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|10|18}}

|ProdCode = 123

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 26

|Title = Get Fit, Bunnytown

|Running Gag = Repeat of "Hello Bunnies!"

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|11|08}}

|ProdCode = 126

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary =

}}

Production

Bunnytown was created by David Rudman, his brother Adam, and Todd Hannert, under their Spiffy Pictures television production-channel company.{{Cite web |last=Calder |first=Kate |date=January 1, 2008 |title=Spiffy gets on the map with Bunnytown |url=https://kidscreen.com/2008/01/01/hottalent-20080101/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Kidscreen}} The show was produced at Elstree Studios.{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Bridget |date=December 28, 2007 |title='Bunnytown' mixes learning, laughs |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-28-et-bunnytown28-story.html |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The series was commissioned by Disney in an attempt to produce more shows outside the United States following the opening of their London-based Global Original Programming hub, but Bunnytown was commissioned before the creation of the hub.{{Cite news |last=Fitzsimmons |first=Caitlin |date=November 21, 2007 |title=Disney Channel invests in UK talent |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/nov/21/television |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0261-3077}}

Release

=Broadcast=

Bunnytown first premiered in the United Kingdom on Playhouse Disney on November 3, 2007 and in Canada on the same day. It premiered in the United States on November 10, 2007.{{Cite web |title=Bunnytown Season 1 Episodes |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/bunnytown/episodes-season-1/1030431079/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=TVGuide |language=en}} In France, it began airing on January 27, 2008, and kept its original title Bunnytown.

The series ran for one season, comprising twenty-six episodes, which concluded on November 8, 2008.

=Home media=

The show was released in DVD on March 17, 2009.{{Cite web |title=Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies |url=https://www.amazon.com/Bunnytown-Hello-Bunnies-Bunny-Town/dp/B001NRY6MC |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=Amazon.com}} The Bunnytown shorts were made available to stream on DisneyNow.{{Cite web |title=Watch Bunnytown TV Show {{!}} Disney Junior on DisneyNOW |url=https://disneynow.go.com/shows/bunnytown |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=DisneyNow |language=en}} Disney-ABC Television Group later released the series on Hulu.{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=Tom |date=March 3, 2015 |title=Hulu Nets SVOD Exclusive for Disney's 'Doc', 'Bunnytown' |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2015/03/hulu-nets-svod-exclusive-for-disneys-doc-bunnytown/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Animation Magazine}}{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=March 3, 2015 |title=Hulu Adds 'Doc McStuffins' in Exclusive Disney Junior Deal |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hulu-adds-doc-mcstuffins-disney-778876/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Reception

=Critical response=

Mike Hale of The New York Times wrote, "What you do get on screen is a fast-moving variety-show and sketch-comedy format that alternates elaborate silly jokes with musical numbers in which the bunnies grab guitars and crank out generic but bouncy R&B-inflected power pop. (If you had access to those press notes, you too could say, “Ah, they are trying to sound like Earth, Wind & Fire.”) It all seems sufficiently safe and diverting to serve as a surrogate baby sitter, while perhaps just strange enough to appeal to hung-over adult hipsters."{{Cite news |last=Hale |first=Mike |date=November 9, 2007 |title=Bunnies Who Not Only Hop but Are Also Hip (Alas, the Humans Are Hapless) |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/arts/television/09bunn.html |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0362-4331}} Marilyn Moss of Associated Press described Bunnytown as "very colorful and fast-moving for the youngest set," writing, "Bunnytown is a musical bonanza for preschoolers. If the music is not original (its sound resembles the jingles of many other preschooler shows), that's not a problem for this venture. The animation is lively enough to overcome anything else."{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Marilyn |last2=Press |first2=Associated |date=November 8, 2007 |title=Bunnytown |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bunnytown-158621/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave Bunnytown a grade of three out of five stars and complimented the depiction of positive messages, asserting, "The energetic series promotes animation and exposes preschoolers to a range of musical styles, including disco, country, piano, and light opera. Lyrics or dialogue very occasionally include repetitive counting or other simple skills, but on the whole, entertainment outweighs educational content."{{Cite web |last=Ashby |first=Emily |title=Bunnytown TV Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/bunnytown |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Common Sense Media |language=en}}

=Accolades=

Bunnytown was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design at the 2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=April 30, 2008 |title=Daytime Emmys nominations |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/daytime-emmys-nominations-1117984862/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=BWW News Desk |date=April 30, 2008 |title=Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced! |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Daytime-Emmy-Nominations-Announced-20080430 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=BroadwayWorld |language=en}}