What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWatership Down
Martin Rosen · Film · 1978
If you loved Watership Down, start with Watership Down (Richard Adams, 1972) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Watership Down across media.
What hooked you in Watership Down was the way vulnerable creatures must navigate dangerous, expansive worlds to build a legacy of survival.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
Explores: Imagination, Anger Management, Adventure.
Just as the rabbits in Watership Down seek a safe haven, Max ventures into a wild land, reflecting the same journey through turbulent life transitions and emotional discovery.
Redwall
Brian Jacques · Book · 1986
Shares a thread with Watership Down: Animal Fantasy.
If you appreciated the communal defense and leadership struggles in Watership Down, you will find a familiar spirit in the heroic resistance of the mice at Redwall Abbey.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Beatrix Potter · Book · 1902
Explores: Disobedience, Consequences, Nature.
The peril faced by Peter Rabbit mirrors the constant threat of predators in Watership Down, emphasizing how small creatures must use their wits to navigate a dangerous environment.
Charlotte's Web
E.B. White · Book · 1952
Explores: Friendship, Mortality, Sacrifice.
The profound bond between characters facing mortality in Watership Down is echoed here, as Wilbur and Charlotte rely on deep loyalty to survive in a fragile, often uncaring world.
Series on the same thread
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Michael Dante DiMartino · Series · 2005
Explores: Elemental Powers, Destiny, Balance of Power.
Much like the migration in Watership Down, this quest for balance in a war-torn world forces young protagonists to embrace their destinies while navigating immense, world-altering external dangers.
Future Boy Conan
Series · 1978
Shares 2 threads with Watership Down: Environmentalism, Loss of Innocence.
This story shares the environmental stakes and loss of innocence found in Watership Down, as characters struggle to maintain hope and survival after their original home is destroyed.
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Explores: Friendship, Coming of Age, Existentialism.
The deep reliance on friendship during perilous journeys in Watership Down is mirrored in this series, where two companions traverse a surreal landscape while facing existential threats together.
Redwall
Brian Jacques · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with Watership Down: Animal Fantasy.
The underdog struggle against overwhelming odds seen in Watership Down continues here, as a novice hero must step up to protect his community from an encroaching, militant force.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
While more comedic, the group dynamics of this high-stakes campaign mirror the collaborative problem-solving and strategic planning required by the protagonists to survive throughout Watership Down.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
The focus on rural community dynamics and the daily pressures of survival in Watership Down finds a grounded, contemporary parallel in the serialized relationships of this farming drama.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Watership Down based on a book?
Yes, the 1978 movie Watership Down is an adaptation of the 1972 novel of the same name. Both versions follow the same narrative arc concerning a group of rabbits led by Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Blackberry as they search for a safe new haven after their warren is threatened.
What is the plot of Watership Down?
The story of Watership Down centers on a group of rabbits who are forced to flee their homeland because their warren is under threat. Led by characters including Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Blackberry, the group embarks on a perilous journey to find a new, safe place to live.
Who are the main characters in Watership Down?
The central characters in Watership Down are a brave group of rabbits who leave their home to find a new warren. This group is led by Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Blackberry, who work together to navigate the dangers they encounter during their search for a safe haven.
Should I read the book or watch the Watership Down movie first?
Both versions of Watership Down tell the same story about a group of rabbits led by Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Blackberry. You can choose to start with either the 1972 book or the 1978 movie, as both explore the group's search for a safe new home.