then later by Guild Home Video and later by PolyGram Video. It was given a DVD release in 2001 by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and another in 2005 from Warner Home Video. In the US, Watership Down was first released on CED in 1981 and was given a VHS release in 1983 by Warner Home Video. The film was re-released a number of times on VHS in the US by Warner Home Video, including through their Warner Bros. Classic Tales label, and was released on DVD in the US in 2002 and again in 2008. The 2002 DVD release was later duplicated for Warner Bros' 2005 DVD release in the UK, with the only difference being the film being converted to PAL format. A UK Blu-ray for the film was planned to be released in 2010 but, due to a rights dispute between Euro-London Films, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros., the release was cancelled. Warner eventually put out a BD release in Germany, where it held distribution rights. The UK Blu-ray was eventually released in 2013 by Universal using the same HD master as on Warner's 2008 DVD and 2011 German Blu-ray release. In 2014, Euro-London Films acquired the remaining US rights from Warner Bros. (who had held US distribution rights since the 1980s) and licensed the film to The Criterion Collection for release on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming in 2015 and Janus Films for theatrical repertory runs. The British Film Institute planned to release the film as a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK in February 2023, but cancelled the release due to external issues beyond their control. References Notes External links Watership Down: “Take Me with You, Stream, on Your Dark Journey” an essay by Gerard Jones at the Criterion Collection Watership Down: Perspectives On and Beyond Animated Violence an open access book of academic essays about the film Watership Down 1978 films 1978 animated films 1978 drama films 1970s fantasy adventure films Animated drama films Film controversies British fantasy adventure films British drama films British animated fantasy films 1970s English-language films British independent films British epic films Films about animal rights Films about badgers Rating controversies in film Films based on fantasy novels Films set in Berkshire Films set on farms Films set in Hampshire Films directed by Martin Rosen Films scored by Malcolm Williamson Animated films about rabbits and hares Animated films about birds Animated