The Rabbit Called Cuddles

Not to be confused with A Rabbit Called Basil: A Hare’s Story.

The Rabbit Called Cuddles is an Australian-Czechia animated series based on the characters created by both of Tony Bazell, Lubomír Beneš, and Vladimír Jiránek. It was originally aired on Fox as part of Fox Kids in United States, it was also aired on YTV in Canada.

The series is all about the rabbit named Cuddles go on the journey to see his rabbit friends, but they may have to stop the bad guys from trying to get them. Cuddles has exact friends and family where he had owner, neighbors, and others.

Premise
Cuddles goes on a journey to see his friends, his friends such as Randy, Jerry A. Cottontail, Billie Q. Hare, and Hopper J. Bunnie. they will stop the bad guys, and find their way home. Cuddles has an owner, a friend, and a family where he lived in houses.

Voice cast

 * John Hurt as Cuddles, a rabbit who goes on the journey.
 * Tom Kenny as Pat, Cuddles’ owner.
 * Jim Cummings as Mat, Pat’s neighbor and friend.
 * June Foray as Grandma Lucy, Cuddles’ co-owner and a grandmother of Pat.
 * Richard Kind as Karl Mirova and Shadow
 * Kind also voiced Daniel, a Checkered Giant Rabbit appeared in season two to seven.
 * Michael Bell as Randy, a blue-grey rabbit who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * Rick Jones as Jerry A. Cottontail, a brown and white rabbit who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * Patrick Fraley as Kit, a tabby cat who is a tritagonist.
 * Tara Strong as Betsy, Cuddles’ love interest. (Season 3-11)
 * Frank Welker as Sat, Pat’s pet dog and a friend of Cuddles.
 * Ken Sansom as Karel Domova and Bugsy the Czech Spot Rabbit
 * Kath Soucie as Priscilla, an English Spot rabbit who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * Long John Baldry as Billie Q. Hare, a Belgian Hare who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * Russi Taylor as Lucky, a friendly black cat who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * Brian Cummings as Hopper J. Bunnie, a Tan Rabbit who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * Carolyn Lawrence as Sweetie, a charming Holland Lop who is a friend of Cuddles.
 * John Goodman as Bear, a happy Saint Bernard who is a friend of Cuddles and Sat.
 * Goodman also voiced Grandpa, which is a husband to Lucy and a grandfather of Pat.

Recurring characters

 * Beau Weaver as Hugh (season 2-11) a highland maltie.
 * Rob Rackstraw as Sparky, a main antagonist who is a grey tabby cat which is a rival to Lilac.
 * Anne Reid as Mimi the Czech Spot and Toodles (early onscreen scenes in each episodes only)
 * Paul Winchell as Marek Miler (Season 2-6)
 * Bill Fagerbakke as Pavel Dietách
 * Jeff Bergman as The Mouse, The Mole, Tomáš Eben, Kipper Rabbit (both of seasons 3-10 only)
 * Kees Prins as Rufus, a Dutch Rabbit who speaks Dutch and a sister of Betsy.
 * Ron Moody as Neil, a giant hare appeared in season 2-5.
 * Rik Mayall as Henry, a Silver Fox rabbit appeared in the season 3-8.
 * Alan Bennett as Wilbur, a harlequin rabbit appearing in season 5-9.
 * Enn Reitel as Rocky, a New Zealand rabbit appeared in season 7-11.
 * Mel Gibson as Thomas, a Slovenian Rabbit appearing in season 8-11.
 * Julia Sawalha as Rebecca, a Czech spot rabbit appearing in season 8-11.
 * Tony Haygarth as Jake, an English Sheepdog appearing in season 7-10.
 * Timothy Spall as Cookie, which is from Randy and His Friends but appeared in season 6-11.
 * Jane Horrocks as Michelle the English Lop, appearing in season 6-10.
 * Horrocks also voiced Mat’s aunt Marie in season 5-11.
 * David Nykl as Fluffy Rabbit, Kipper the Grey Rabbit, and Benny the Hulstlander Rabbit
 * Peter Alton as Mark the German Lop and Xander the Czech Red Rabbit
 * Peter Sallis as Rex Bremé (season 1-10)
 * Sally Grace as Mrs. Beneš (season 1 episode 16 only)
 * Various children voice actors voiced Michal, Elisa, Vera, Lubomír, Snuggles, and Dallas in their baby and younger forms. somehow that they don’t have a speaking role until season 8 episode 6 where Bill Kopp, Julia Sawalha (which same voice actress as before), Imelda Staunton, Phil Daniels, Charlie Adler, and Lynn Ferguson voiced their adult forms of Michal, Elisa, Vera, Lubomír, Snuggles, and Dallas.
 * Lynn Ferguson also voiced the lionhead rabbit character Venuše who is a Scottish born-Czech rabbit in the season 5-11
 * Imelda Staunton also voiced the Angora rabbit character Anička who is a scared rabbit in the season 4-10.
 * Phil Daniels also voiced the Blanc de Bouscat character Matouš who is a rabbit named after a character Mat, but with different name which he is appearing in season 3-11.
 * Sally Field as Edwina, a French Lop appearing in season 1-10 only, she is only Matouš’ love interest.

Australia
The series was premiered on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) on June 6, 1992 (same day as United States and Canada), the series was celebrated and honored to the aiF era episodes of “Pat & Mat” in Czech Republic.

On May 25, 2002, the series was ended as the episode was called “Consider Me Gone, All the Water” which the ending served with Cuddles passes out after drinking the contaminated water from the river before the events of “Pat & Mat: Journey Into Space”, the series was considered to be ended for series finale.

United States
The series was first premiered on Fox on June 6, 1992 which is a part of Fox Kids. it later ended on May 25, 2002 when the series finale episode was named Consider Me Gone, All the Water was aired.

The series was aired on reruns which it’s on different American channels, the series was also aired on Disney XD and Disney Channel which it’s aired on May 23, 2021.

Canada
The series was first aired on YTV on June 6, 1992 in the same day as the American premiere on Fox. It was aired reruns on other Canadian channels (especially TeleToon)

New Zealand
The series was premiered on TVNZ 2 on May 11, 1996 as the title was called Pat & Mat Tales: A Rabbit Called Cuddles, it ended on June 27, 2007 as the series was over. the reruns continued as of 2021.

Czech Republic
The series was premiered in Czech Republic on June 1993 on ČT1, it was ended on April 2003 as the reruns are still going until 2010.

The series ran on ČT Decko, Fox Kids, and Jetix in Czech Republic.

International
The series was premiered on European and Southeast Asian television networks in 1992-moreover in 1990s. meanwhile, South American premiered the series on the same days as Australia, United States and Canada as well. South Korean television channel Tooniverse and KBS both premiered the series on May 2, 1994, as before Pat & Mat was aired. it ended on June 28, 2004, but it started to air reruns on different networks (like EBS, same channels, Disney Channel Korea, and Cartoon Network).

Scandinavian TV networks started to air this series on April 13, 1994 (probably to known for Pat’s birthday), the series became popular in Scandinavia with markets including doll versions of Cuddles and other characters. it was ended on January 22, 2004, while the reruns began to air as well. as of 2015, the series is yet still airing on different Scandinavian television channels.

Switzerland
Similar to Pat & Mat, Randy and His Friends, and A Rabbit Called Basil: A Hare’s Story episodes that got banned before, The German-language station Schweizer Fernsehen has banned these episodes (like Cuddles the Flying Rabbit, The Return of Sparky the Bad Cat, The Mystery of Chew Toy Thief: Sparky’s Revenge, The Vampire Rabbit Chase, and other episodes) because of high amount of slapstick violence and dark subject matters that deemed both too dangerous and disturbing. some episodes are passed in some Switzerland networks.

Iran
Similar to “Vinári” (an episode of Pat & Mat), in May 22, 2009, on IRIB TV2, an accidental broadcast of the banned episode “Betsy and the Forest Flowers” where two characters (Cuddles and Betsy) were seen together and later consuming it (by nuzzling and hugging). it had led to dismissal of two employees of Iranian television. in July 2020, the same day had happened once again on the Qom provincial network where “Vinári” and “Betsy and the Forest Flowers” were both aired on same channel was aired uncensored and unbanned. In a statement, unlike the episode that aired that the public relations of the Qom Central Radio and Television has been apologized for this broadcast of these two animations and had announced that they had to be in order to compensate for this two mistakes, the agents who inadvertently did so were actually reprimanded by the director general of the center. the episode “Consider Me, All the Water” was banned from this country due to dark matter subject that is not for the audiences, the episodes was censored and banned when it was aired on Iranian networks.

Middle East
The television airing has banned Betsy and the Forest Flowers, some Christmas episodes, Sweetie and Jerry’s Cruise Tales, The New Rabbit Family in Prague, and other episodes because of high amounts of dark matter subjects and other contents. the Saudi Arabia has the edited versions of the said series on VHS, which removes music to replace with different music. they have removed scenes because of its controversies, it also has different sounds to feature the characters making sounds for running, walking, and falling.

Syndicated airings
In 1997, PBS Kids has aired television series episodes as a syndication. which the slapstick has toned down from TV airings, which the scenes to have controversies (like Cuddles slipping off the porch when he goes outside, Cuddles jumps out of the tree then falling down, the two rabbits getting hit with the rock while running, etc.) were cut due to high slapstick which deemed too dangerous.

Fox Kids Europe airings
Much like Pat & Mat (the original series), The Rabbit Called Cuddles has been aired around 1-10 seasons in 2000 before it was bought the rights from Ateliéry Bonton Zlín to air episodes 2–26 in 2003. some slapstick violence has been toned down (including Cuddles slipping off the front porch, two rabbits being hit with the rock while running, Cuddles falling off the tree, Hopper gets hit with the mousetrap, etc.) includes that the scenes has been cut.

NBC syndication airings
Just like PBS Kids, the slapstick has toned down from TV airings, which the scenes to have slapstick violences and disturbing images (like Cuddles slipping off the porch when he goes outside, Cuddles jumps out of the tree then falling down, the two rabbits getting hit with the rock while running, etc.) were cut due to high slapstick which deemed too dangerous.

Italy
Most of the songs from season 7 and 8 were removed from the Italian broadcast due to copyright issues, but the songs were appeared on DVD release.

United States
The series was first released on VHS in 1993-1997 by Video Treasures and Strand Home Video, the seventeen volumes of the said series were released on VHS by two home video distributors at the time.

In 2003, the series was released on DVD by Mill Creek Entertainment as each volumes and compilations of the main characters. Echo Bridge Entertainment released the complete seasons on DVDs in 2012-2017. The complete series were later released on DVD on June 8, 2021 by Shout! Factory.

On May 2, 2021, the series became available on all streaming services.

Australia
In 1993, the series was first released on VHS by ABC Video (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) which it was lasted in 2005 when the last volume first came out.

In 2002, the series came first on DVD by ABC DVD, the volumes and complete seasons were released throughout the years between 2002 to 2012. The complete series was released on DVD in 2019 by ABC DVD, and it was digitally remastered.

United Kingdom
In November of 1993, the said series was released on VHS by Video Collection International, there are seven video releases by The Video Collection between 1993-1995. Video Collection International released the ten video releases around 1996 to 2004 which were released on VHS and DVDs.

In 2000s, the said series, Randy and His Friends, and A Rabbit Called Basil: A Hare’s Story (three TV shows) were both released on DVDs by Acorn Media International, HiT Entertainment, Delta Entertainment, Clear Vision, and other home entertainment distributors in the UK. the three series were later both streamed on all streaming services in platforms in 2021.

Czech Republic
In 1995, Bonton released the three home video releases on VHS which sampled on the said series, including Randy and His Friends, A Rabbit Called Basil: A Hare’s Story, and The Rabbit Called Cuddles. in 2002, when aiF era of Pat & Mat were not available, the series was released on DVD by Ateliéry Bonton Zlín (like ALF, The Rabbit Called Cuddles, a Saban adaptation series, and some other two Randy shows).

The DVDs were released by Magic Box in 2019, and it was digitally remastered.

South Korea
Elite Productions released the series on VHS and DVDs in 1998, it was presented in both Korean and English versions of the show containing segments of “listen again” and other stuff. the versions were remastered and released on DVD in 2005, KBS Media released the complete seasons and the complete series in 2010-current as in both English and Korean.

Related products
The sets of plush dolls from United States & Canada, South Korea, Australia, United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, and other countries were sold in any markets in Europe and America along with Asia. some plush dolls were recalled due many risks that can be serious or some other risk levels, but the redesigned dolls were available in the markets. In 2007, the play sets were released by Mattel but it was recalled due to toxic lead. plush items are still available in the markets in other countries (like South Korea, United States, Australia, etc.), there is some plush items being released by MORAVSKÁ ÚSTREDNA BRNO in later 2022.

There were other stuff like toys, keepsakes, puzzles, posters, and other items.

Books that were released in any year:
 * Michl, Jiří (1993).  Cuddles’ New Day. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1993).  The Adventure Begins. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1994).  Detective Cuddles’ Mysteries. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1995).  Cuddles Wants to Fly. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1996).  Cuddles the Super-Rabbit. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1996).  New Rabbit Family for Cuddles and Betsy. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1997).  Tales of Cuddles and Friends. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1997).  Winter Adventurers of Cuddles. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1997).  Cuddles’ Lost Mystery Mission. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1997).  Cuddles’ Spring Tales. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.
 * Michl, Jiří (1997).  Cuddles’ Further Adventures. United Kingdom and Czech Republic: Egmont.

Spin-offs
The spin-off series was called A Hopper’s Tale: The Rabbit Friends Adventure was aired on PBS stations on May 22, 2005, the series was produced by WNET Thirteen (The WNET Group), 20th Television, and HiT Entertainment. the series was streamed on Tubi as well with the logos that was owned.

2023 Reboot
On July 23, 2022, Darrell Van Citters announced that there will be a reboot of the said series which it’s coming on January 22, 2023. however the different voice cast will appear which reprising roles of Tom Kenny and Jim Cummings would allow to voice them again, the new characters and backgrounds will appear to be same as the 2018-2020’s Pat & Mat entertain us, Pat & Mat winter adventure, and Pat & Mat adventures.

Trivia

 * This is the first Australian series based on Pat & Mat which in the 1990s.
 * Betsy was later appeared in the 2007 TV series called Pat & Mat.
 * The music scored by Petr Skoumal will play the same music as previous Pat & Mat soundtracks as it was credited.
 * It was first series by aiF Studio and Egmont Imagination, however it was scored out when aiF Studio left out in 1998 due to bankruptcy.
 * The other characters (like Lilac, Rex the Dog, Dex the Cat, and Berry the Cat) were silent, they only make noises (like Rex barking, Dex, Lilac, and Berry meowing).
 * the two dogs BowWow (male character), and Luna (female character) both do not speak in the series.
 * In The Netherlands, Cuddles and Pat are both voiced by Kees Prins which voices two characters. It was followed that Mat, Bear, and Billie Q. Hare being voiced by Siem van Leeuwen when he voiced three of the characters.
 * It spawned “How Do We Supposed to Get to the Different River?” meme, it also spawned Cuddles’ sad face meme.
 * The series has been aired in Middle East and Iran as the episodes were removed from broadcasting channels.
 * It was based upon the 1974 “Randy and His Friends” series which had added more characters’ details.
 * The series was more based on Pat & Mat (a Czech and Slovakian TV series), but it was more additions to the characters in the show.
 * The Chicken Run voice actors voiced the characters that are rabbits in some seasons.