Wind in the Willows 'remake' highlights shocking state of UK wildlife

Kenneth Grahame's classic book, The Wind in the Willows, has been a fixture on every kid's bookshelf since it was published over a hundred years ago.

Now, the riverbank crew of Badger, Mole, Ratty and - poop poop! - Toad are back - in what seems, at first glance, to be a gorgeously animated filmic remake, featuring the voices of acting heavyweights Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate, Alison Steadman and Asim Chaudhry. 

However, as the 'trailer' progresses, things take a darker turn, as the lives of the beloved characters are disrupted by bulldozers, pollution and intensive agriculture. Mole's tunnel has been tarmacked over; Ratty's boat floats among piles of rubbish; Toad is seen hanging a commemorative portrait of a puffin tangled in plastic netting.

It's not til a voiceover featuring the sombre tones of Sir David Attenborough, kicks in, explaining that 'since we first met Badger and friends, the UK has become one of the most nature-depleted places on the planet', that the penny drops. It's not a trailer - it's actually a campaign for The Wildlife Trusts, highlighting the threats facing UK wildlife in the 21st century and urging us all to take action before it's too late.

Created by Don’t Panic, it's a genuinely engaging piece of marketing - plus it features some of the most exquisite stop-motion animation we've seen all year, courtesy of London studio ROWDY (part of the team behind Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs). And, of course, Sir David Attenborough. Did we mention him already?

Stay tuned for our behind-the-scenes Q&A with Don't Panic's creative director Rick Dodds and ROWDY.