Creator / Rabbit Ears Productions

Rabbit Ears Productions was an animation company that was founded by creators Mark Sottnick and Doris Wilhousky in 1985 with their first production, The Velveteen Rabbit, which was narrated by Meryl Streep. The company was located in Palace Production Center in South Norwalk, Connecticut, where they started creating their productions. Rabbit Ears Productions was well known for having celebrity guest stars, such as Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Danny Glover, Jodie Foster, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams narrating the stories, along with famous musicians and illustrators complementing the stories.

Throughout the mid-1980's and the mid-1990's, Rabbit Ears Productions had created over 63 titles and four series that composed the titles: Storybook Classics (which consisted of re-tellings of classic children’s stories), We All Have Tales (which consisted of international tales), American Heroes and Legends (which consisted of stories that involve tall tale heroes and historical figures) and Greatest Stories Ever Told (which consisted of popular Biblical stories).

In the mid-1990's, however, Rabbit Ears had changed hands and the company stopped producing more stories. It wasn’t until 2000, when Chris Campbell, one of the company’s original partners, bought the rights to the company and, along with Mark Sottnick and Doris Wilhousky, restored the company and renamed it Rabbit Ears Entertainment, LLC. Rabbit Ears Entertainment, LLC is now re-releasing former stories on DVD and audio books and are planning on creating new titles, the first being "Tom Thumb", narrated by John Cleese in 2008.

The company’s website can be found here.

Stories Created by Rabbit Ears Productions

Storybook Classics ( 1985 - 1990):

• The Velveteen Rabbit (1985), narrated by Meryl Streep, illustrated by David Jorgenson, music by George Winston
• The Ugly Duckling (1985), narrated by Cher, illustrated by Robert Van Nutt, music by Patrick Ball
• The Elephant's Child (1986), narrated by Jack Nicholson, illustrated by Tim Raglin, music by Bobby McFerrin
• The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1986), narrated by Jeremy Irons, illustrated by David Jorgenson, music by Mark Isham
• The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher/The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1987), narrated by Meryl Streep, illustrated by David Jorgenson, music by Lyle Mays
• The Emperor and the Nightingale (1987), narrated by Glenn Close, illustrated by Robert Van Nutt, music by Mark Isham
• How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump (1987), narrated by Jack Nicholson, illustrated by Tim Raglin, music by Bobby McFerrin
• Pecos Bill (1988), narrated by Robin Williams, illustrated by Tim Raglin, music by Ry Cooder
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1988), narrated by Glenn Close, illustrated by Robert Van Nutt, music by Tim Story
• The Tailor of Gloucester, (1988) narrated by Meryl Streep, illustrated by David Jorgenson, music by The Chieftains
• The Fisherman and His Wife (1989), narrated by Jodie Foster, illustrated by Diana Bryan, music by Van Dyke Parks
• Thumbelina (1989), narrated by Kelly McGillis, illustrated by David Johnson, music by Mark Isham
• How the Leopard Got His Spots (1989), narrated by Danny Glover, illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter, music by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• Three Billy Goats Gruff/The Three Little Pigs (1989), narrated by Holly Hunter, illustrated by David Jorgenson, music by Art Lande
• The Emperor's New Clothes (1990), narrated by John Gielgud, illustrated by Robert Van Nutt, music by Mark Isham
• Paul Bunyan (1990), narrated by Jonathan Winters, illustrated by Rick Meyerowitz, music by Art Lande
• Little Red Riding Hood/Goldilocks, narrated by Meg Ryan, illustrated by Laszlo Kubinyi, music by Art Lande (1990)
• Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby (1990), narrated by Danny Glover, illustrated by Henrik Drescher, music by Taj Mahal
• The Talking Eggs (1991), narrated by Sissy Spacek, illustrated by Neil Brennan, music by Michael Doucet and BeauSoleil

We All Have Tales ( 1991 - 1994):

• Jack and the Beanstalk (1991), narrated by Michael Palin, illustrated by Edward Sorel, music by David A. Stewart (England)
• Anansi (1991), narrated by Denzel Washington, illustrated by Steven Guaranaccia, music by UB40 (Jamaica)
• East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1991), narrated by Max von Sydow, illustrated by Vivienne Flesher, music by Lyle Mays (Norway)
• The Fool and the Flying Ship (1991), narrated by Robin Williams, illustrated by Henrik Drescher, music by Klemzer Conservatory Band (Russia/Ukraine)
• The Monkey People (1991), narrated by Raúl Juliá, illustrated by Diana Bryan, music by Lee Ritenour (Colombia)
• King Midas and the Golden Touch (1991), narrated by Michael Caine, illustrated by Rodica Prato, music by Ellis Marsalis feat. Yo-Yo Ma (Greece)
• The Boy Who Drew Cats (1991), narrated by William Hurt, illustrated by David Johnson, music by Mark Isham (Japan)
• Koi and the Kola Nuts (1991), narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, illustrated by Reynold Ruffins, music by Herbie Hancock (Nigeria)
• The Tiger and the Brahmin (1991), narrated by Ben Kingsley, illustrated by Kurt Vargo, music by Ravi Shankar (India)
• Rumpelstiltskin (1991), narrated by Kathleen Turner, illustrated by Peter Sis, music by Tangerine Dream (Germany)
• Finn McCoul (1991), narrated by Catherine O'Hara, illustrated by Peter de Sève, music by Boys on the Lough (Ireland)
• Puss in Boots (1991), narrated by Tracey Ullman, illustrated by Pierre Le-Tan, music by Jean-Luc Ponty (France)
• The Bremen Town Musicians (1991), narrated by Bob Hoskins, illustrated by David Johnson, music by Eugene Friesen (Germany)
• Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (1991), narrated by John Hurt, illustrated by Greg Couch, music by Mickey Hart (Iran)
• Pinocchio (1992), narrated by Danny Aiello, illustrated by Brian Ajhar, music by Les Misérables Brass Band (Italy)
• Peachboy (1993), narrated by Sigourney Weaver, illustrated by Jeffrey Smith, music by Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japan)
• The Five Chinese Brothers (1994), narrated by John Lone, illustrated by Kurt Vargo, music by Bill Douglass and David Austin (China)
• The Firebird (1994), narrated by Susan Sarandon, illustrated by Robert Van Nutt, music by Mark Isham (Russia)
• The White Cat (1994), narrated by Emma Thompson, illustrated by Barbara McClintock, music by Joe Jackson (France)

Greatest Stories Ever Told ( 1991 - 1993):

• The Creation (1991), narrated by Amy Grant, illustrated by Stefano Vitale, music by Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones
• Joseph and his Brothers (1991), narrated by Rubén Blades, illustrated by Garnet Henderson, music by Strunz and Farah
• Jonah and the Whale (1992), narrated by Jason Robards, illustrated by Jeffrey Smith, music by George Mgrdichian
• David and Goliath (1992), narrated by Mel Gibson, illustrated by Douglas Fraser, music by Branford Marsalis
• The Savior is Born (1992), narrated by Morgan Freeman, illustrated by Robert Van Nutt, music by The Christ Church Cathedral Choir
• Noah and the Ark (1992), narrated by Kelly McGillis, illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter, music by The Paul Winter Consort
• Moses in Egypt (1993), narrated by Danny Glover, illustrated by Phil Huling, music by The Sound of Blackness
• Moses the Lawgiver (1993), narrated by Ben Kingsley, illustrated by John Collier, music by Lyle Mays
• Parables that Jesus Told (1994), narrated by Garrison Keillor, illustrated by Stan Fellows, music by David Lindley

American Heroes and Legends ( 1992 - 1994):

• Rip Van Winkle (1992), narrated by Anjelica Huston, illustrated by Rick Meyerowitz, music by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
• Annie Oakley (1992), narrated by Keith Carradine, illustrated by Fred Warter, music by Los Lobos
• Follow the Drinking Gourd (1992), narrated by Morgan Freeman, illustrated by Yvonne Buchanan, music by Taj Mahal
• Brer Rabbit and Boss Lion (1992), narrated by Danny Glover, illustrated by Bill Mayer, music by Dr. John
• Stormalong (1992), narrated by John Candy, illustrated by Don Vanderbeek, music by NRBQ
• Johnny Appleseed (1993), narrated by Garrison Keillor, illustrated by Stan Olson, music by Mark O'Connor
• Princess Scargo and the Birthday Pumpkin (1993), narrated by Geena Davis, illustrated by Karen Barbour, music by Michael Hedges
• The Song of Sacajawea (1993), narrated by Laura Dern, illustrated by Jack Molloy, music by David Lindley
• John Henry (1993), narrated by Denzel Washington, illustrated by Barry Jackson, music by B.B. King
• Mose the Fireman (1994), narrated by Michael Keaton, illustrated by Everett Peck, music by John Beasley and Walter Becker

Holiday Classics ( 1986 - 1994):

• Santabear's First Christmas (1986), narrated by Kelly McGillis, illustrated by Buck Lewis, music by Michael Hedges
• A Gingerbread Christmas (1991), narrated by Susan Saint James, illustrated by John Spiers, music by Van Dyke Parks
• Squanto and the First Thanksgiving (1991), narrated by Graham Greene, illustrated by Michael Donato, music by Paul McCandless
• The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat (1991), narrated by Amy Grant, illustrated by Laszlo Kubinyi, music by Chet Atkins
• The Night Before Christmas (1992), narrated by Meryl Streep
• The Lion and the Lamb (1994), narrated by Amy Grant and Christopher Reeve, illustrated by Bill Kroyer, music by Lyle Mays

This company and its works contain examples of:

• All-Star Cast: All the stories were narrated by well-known Hollywood actors and actresses including, Danny Glover, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons and Robin Williams.
• Christmas Special: "A Gingerbread Christmas", "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Lion and the Lamb."
• Darker and Edgier: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "The Boy Who Drew Cats" are considered Rabbit Ears’ darkest stories in the entire series. The Bible stories from "Greatest Stories Ever Told" are more serious in tone than the majority of the other stories.
• Deranged Animation: Due to the art styles of these stories, "The Fool and the Flying Ship", "The Bremen Town Musicians" and to a lesser extent, "Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby", are considered this.
• Fairy Tale: Many stories are this way including "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp", "The Firebird", "Jack and the Beanstalk", and "Puss in Boots".
• Family-Unfriendly Death: The death of the Rat Demon in "The Boy Who Drew Cats".
• Gender Flip: In "The Three Little Pigs", all three pigs are female.
• Green Aesop: At the end of "Paul Bunyan," Paul has finally cleared the forests of the Dakotas, but realizes he went too far and that now there aren't enough trees. He quits logging and decides to plant new trees from now on.
• Halloween Special: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
• Lighter and Softer: Both "Pecos Bill" and "The Fool and the Flying Ship" were lighter and softer than their original stories. In "Pecos Bill", the mood was much more cheerful and in the end, Slue-Foot Sue doesn't get knocked to the moon by Widowmaker. Pecos Bill does end up being hauled to the sky by the tornado in the end, though. In "The Fool and the Flying Ship", the more intense parts are either removed or changed such as in the end the Puffer brings in an army of penguins instead of a real army to the Tsar's palace.
• Limited Animation: The Company uses iconographic animation for their stories.
• The Movie: Keeping the Promise
• Precision F-Strike: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Jonah and the Whale" uttered the word "hell", while "Pinocchio" and "Joseph and His Brothers" uttered the word "ass" or "jackass".
• Religious Edutainment: "The Greatest Stories Ever Told" series
• Russian Literature: "The Fool and the Flying Ship" and "The Firebird" are folktales that originated from Russia.
• Spin-Off: The We All Have Tales series was a spin-off from the Storybook Classics series, while the The Greatest Stories Ever Told series was a spin off from the We All Have Tales series and the American Heroes and Legends series was a spin off from the Greatest Stories Ever Told series.

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