 From 1999 to 2001 , the book was also adapted as an animated television series , broadcast on CITV in the UK and on YTV in Canada . It was produced by Martin Rosen and starred several well @-@ known British actors , including Stephen Fry , Rik Mayall , Dawn French , John Hurt , and Richard Briers , running for a total of 39 episodes over three seasons . Although the story was broadly based on that of the novel and most characters and events retained , some of the story lines and characters ( especially in later episodes ) were entirely new . In 2003 , the second season was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series . 
