Editing Peter Rabbit

{{Short description|Fictional character}}{{About|the Beatrix Potter character|the Thornton Burgess character|Peter Cottontail}}{{Other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Peter Rabbit
| image = PeterRabbit8.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = "First, he ate some [[lettuce]]s and some [[Green bean|French bean]]s; and then, he ate some [[radish]]es."
| first = ''[[The Tale of Peter Rabbit]]'' (1902)
| last = 
| voice = Rory Carty (1992–1994)<br>Mark Lockyer (1995)<br>[[Cam Clarke]] (1995)<br>Connor Fitzgerald (2012–2014)<br>Harry Henty (2014–2016)<br>[[James Corden]] (2018–present)<br>Sienna Adams (2019)
| species = [[European rabbit]]
| gender = Male
| family = Mr. Rabbit (father, deceased)<br>Mrs. Rabbit (mother)<br>[[Benjamin Bunny]] (cousin/brother in-law)<br>[[Flopsy Rabbit]]/Flopsy Bunny (sister/cousin-in-law)<br>Mopsy and Cotton-tail (sisters)
| relatives = Bouncer (uncle)<br>Benjamin and Flopsy's children (nephews and nieces/cousins-once removed)<br>unnamed brother-in-law by Cotton-tail
| creator = [[Beatrix Potter]]
| nationality = [[England|English]]
}}

'''Peter Rabbit''' is a fictional animal character in various children's stories by English author [[Beatrix Potter]].<ref name= MacD>{{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=Ruth K. |year=1986 |title=Beatrix Potter |location=Boston |publisher=Twayne Publishers |series=Twayne's English Author Series |isbn=0-8057-6917-X |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/beatrixpotter0000macd }}
</ref> A mischievous, adventurous young rabbit who wears a blue jacket, he first appeared in ''[[The Tale of Peter Rabbit]]'' in 1902, and subsequently in five more books between 1904 and 1912. The six books by Potter featuring Peter Rabbit have [[List of best-selling books#List of best-selling book series|sold over 150&nbsp;million copies]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3014176.stm |title=Peter Rabbit in China copyright stew |work=BBC News |date=2003-06-23 |access-date=2009-08-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204200936/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3014176.stm |archive-date=2009-02-04 }}</ref> Spin-off merchandise includes dishes, wallpaper, painting books, board games and dolls. In 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented [[stuffed toy]], making him the oldest [[Brand licensing|licensed character]].<ref name="Times"/><ref name="Smithsonian">{{cite news |title=How Beatrix Potter Invented Character Merchandising |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-beatrix-potter-invented-character-merchandising-180961979/ |access-date=6 October 2022 |work=Smithsonian}}</ref> 

Peter Rabbit appears as a character in several adaptations, including the television series ''[[The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends]]'' (1992–1998) and [[Peter Rabbit (TV series)|''Peter Rabbit'']] (2012–2016), and the live-action/animated films ''[[Peter Rabbit (film)|Peter Rabbit]]'' (2018) and ''[[Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway]]'' (2021).

== Background ==
The rabbits in Potter's stories are [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] and wear human clothes: Peter wears a blue jacket with brass buttons and shoes. Peter, his widowed mother, Mrs. Rabbit, as well as his younger sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail (with Peter the eldest of the four little rabbits) live in a rabbit hole that has a human kitchen, human furniture, as well as a shop where Mrs. Rabbit sells various items. Peter's relatives are his cousin [[Benjamin Bunny]] and Benjamin's father, Mr. Benjamin Bouncer.

Peter Rabbit was named after a pet rabbit whom Beatrix Potter had as a child, and whom she called Peter Piper.<ref name="V&A"/> The first Peter Rabbit story, ''[[The Tale of Peter Rabbit]]'', was created in 1893 initially as a letter to Noel Moore, the five-year-old son of Potter's former governess, Annie Moore.<ref name="V&A"/> The boy was ill, and Potter wrote him a picture and story letter to help him pass the time and to cheer him up. The letter included sketches illustrating the narrative.<ref name="V&A">{{cite news |title=Peter Rabbit: the tale of 'The Tale' |url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/peter-rabbit-the-tale-of-the-tale |access-date=10 May 2023 |agency=V&A}}</ref>

In June 1903, a trade edition of the tale was published by [[Frederick Warne & Co.|Frederick Warne & Co]], and by the end of the year, 28,000 copies were in print. Over the years, ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit'' has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and as of 2008, the Peter Rabbit series of six books has sold more than 150 million copies in 35 languages.<ref name="BBC"/><ref>{{cite web | title= Peter Rabbit | url= http://www.unitedmedialicensing.com/b2b/html/peter_rabbit.html | publisher=United Media Licensing | access-date=23 June 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060324113634/http://www.unitedmedialicensing.com/b2b/html/peter_rabbit.html |archive-date = 24 March 2006}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" caption="''The Tale of Peter Rabbit''—initial history as a letter to Noel Moore">
File:The Tale of Peter Rabbit - letter to Noel Moore part 1.jpg
File:The Tale of Peter Rabbit - letter to Noel Moore part 2.jpg
File:The Tale of Peter Rabbit - letter to Noel Moore part 3.jpg
File:The Tale of Peter Rabbit - letter to Noel Moore part 4.jpg
</gallery>

== Books ==
[[File:Peter rabbit flopsy bunnies.jpg|thumb|Grown up Peter in his nursery garden, from ''[[The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies]]'']]

Peter Rabbit made his first appearance in 1902 in ''[[The Tale of Peter Rabbit]]'' where Peter disobeys his mother's orders and sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden (where his father had once had "an accident" involving his being put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor). He eats as many vegetables as he can before Mr. McGregor spots and chases him. Peter manages to escape, but not before losing his jacket and shoes, which Mr. McGregor uses to dress a [[scarecrow]]. Peter returns home weary, ill, and naked and is put to bed with a dose of [[chamomile]] tea.

In ''[[The Tale of Benjamin Bunny]]'', first published in 1904, Peter's cousin Benjamin Bunny brings him back to Mr. McGregor's garden and they retrieve the clothes Peter lost in ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit''. However, after they gather onions to give to Peter's mother, they are captured by Mr. McGregor's cat. Bouncer arrives and rescues them, but also punishes Peter and Benjamin for going into the garden by whipping them with a [[Switch (corporal punishment)|switch]]. In this tale, Peter displays some trepidation about returning to the garden.

In ''[[The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies]]'', first published in 1909, Peter has a small role and appears only briefly. He is grown up and his sister Flopsy is now married to their cousin Benjamin. The two are the parents of six little Flopsy Bunnies. Peter and his mother keep a nursery garden,{{efn|In the original [[Book frontispiece|frontispiece]], a sign at the garden read, "Peter Rabbit & Mother-Florists-Gardens neatly razed. Borders devastated by the night or year."<ref name= MacD />{{rp|40}}}} and the bunnies come by asking him for spare [[cabbage]].

In ''[[The Tale of Mr. Tod]]'', first published in 1912, Benjamin and Flopsy's children are kidnapped by notorious [[badger]] Tommy Brock. Peter helps Benjamin chase after Brock, who hides out in the house of the fox, Mr. Tod. Mr. Tod finds Brock sleeping in his bed, and as the two get into a scuffle, Peter and Benjamin rescue the children.

Peter makes [[cameo appearance]]s in two other tales. In ''[[The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle]]'', first published in 1905, Peter and Benjamin are customers of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a [[hedgehog]] washerwoman. The two rabbits are depicted in one illustration peeping from the forest foliage. In ''[[The Tale of Ginger and Pickles]]'', first published in 1909, Peter and other characters from Potter's previous stories make cameo appearances in the artwork, patronising the shop of Ginger and Pickles.

To mark the 110th anniversary of the publication of ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit'', Frederick Warne & Co. commissioned British actress [[Emma Thompson]] to write ''The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit'', in which Peter ends up in [[Scotland]] after accidentally hitching a ride on Mr. and Mrs. McGregor's wagon. The book was released on September 18, 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/emma-thompson-to-give-peter-rabbit-a-new-tale/| title= Emma Thompson to Give Peter Rabbit a New 'Tale'| first= Dave| last= Itzkoff| date= September 16, 2011 |department=ArtsBeat blog |work=The New York Times | access-date= August 29, 2017}}</ref> In autumn 2012, it was reported that Thompson would write more Peter Rabbit books.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.npr.org/2012/10/11/161708397/emma-thompson-revives-anarchist-peter-rabbit |title= Emma Thompson Revives Anarchist 'Peter Rabbit'| date= October 11, 2012| work= [[Morning Edition]]| publisher= NPR| access-date= August 29, 2017}}</ref> Her next tale, ''The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit'', was released in 2013, followed by ''The Spectacular Tale of Peter Rabbit'' in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit |url=http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/emma+thompson/the+christmas+tale+of+peter+rabbit/9759802/ |publisher=Waterstones |access-date=1 February 2014 |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202145919/http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/emma+thompson/the+christmas+tale+of+peter+rabbit/9759802/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=An Evening With Emma Thompson and Peter Rabbit  |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/10/emma-thompson-spectacular-peter-rabbit-interview.html |access-date=8 October 2022 |work=Vulture}}</ref>

On 27 May 2021, a reboot of Peter Rabbit was released, entitled ''Peter Rabbit Head Over Tail'', written by [[Rachel Bright (author)|Rachel Bright]] and illustrated by Nicola Kinnear, followed by ''Peter Rabbit Hide and Seek'' in 2022, then is ''Peter Rabbit Up and Away'' in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peter Rabbit: Head Over Tail : inspired by Beatrix Potter's iconic character |url=https://books.telegraph.co.uk/Product/Rachel-Bright/Peter-Rabbit-Head-Over-Tail--inspired-by-Beatrix-Potters-iconic-character/25101523 |access-date=8 October 2022 |work=Telegraph}}</ref>

== Merchandising ==

Potter created a soft doll depicting Peter Rabbit and a Peter Rabbit board game shortly after the tale's first publication.<ref name="Times">{{cite news |last=Wagner |first=Erica |title=Peter Rabbit blazed a trail still well trod |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/peter-rabbit-blazed-a-trail-still-well-trod-c9zdfx2c6nk |date=23 December 2009 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Game of Peter Rabbit |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1346761/the-game-of-peter-rabbit-board-game-the-traditional-games/ |access-date=30 October 2022 |agency=V&A|quote=On 7th December 1904 she submitted her idea for a board game 'The Game of Peter Rabbit' to her publishers, Frederick Warne and Co, who brought out their own version in 1919}}</ref> The character has been depicted in a multitude of spinoff merchandise such as porcelain figurines, painting books and dishes.<ref name="Times"/> 

Peter Rabbit was the first soft toy to be [[Intellectual Property Office (United Kingdom)|patented]], in 1903, making Peter the oldest [[Brand licensing|licensed character]].<ref name="Times"/><ref name="Smithsonian"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peterrabbit.com/potters-world-life.asp |title=Beatrix Potter's Life |publisher=Peter Rabbit |access-date=8 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117072323/http://www.peterrabbit.com/potters-world-life.asp |archive-date=17 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The following year they went on sale and were mass-produced by [[Steiff]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Steiff Peter Rabbit 1904 Replica |url=https://www.steiffteddybears.co.uk/steiff-limited-edition-teddy-bears-range/steiff-peter-rabbit-1904-replica--402142.htm |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Steiffteddybears.co.uk}}</ref> [[Harrods]] department store in London has been selling it since at least 1910, when toys of Potter characters first appeared in their catalogues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peter Rabbit hops into Harrods in film affiliation |url=https://www.luxurydaily.com/peter-rabbit-hops-into-harrods-in-film-affiliation/ |date=March 13, 2018 |first1=Sarah |last1=Jones |access-date=11 May 2023 |work=Luxury Daily}}</ref> The British publisher [[Frederick Warne & Co.|Frederick Warne & Co]] owns the trademark rights of the Beatrix Potter characters.<ref>{{cite press release| url= http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=107283 |publisher= Frederick Warne & Co |title= Frederick Warne applauds the Beijing Xicheng District Administration of Industry and Commerce's commitment to the protection of international intellectual property rights |website=PR Newswire UK |place= London |date=30 August 2003 |access-date=8 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120523125526/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=107283 |archive-date= May 23, 2012 }}</ref> <!--However, most of the stories are in the US [[public domain]], as they were published before 1923.--><!--All the stories are now out of copyright, as Potter died in 1943.-->

The Peter Rabbit (rather than other Beatrix Potter characters) stories and merchandise are very popular in Japan: many Japanese tourists visit the [[Lake District]] after becoming familiar with Potter's work at an early age at school. There is an accurate [[Hill Top, Cumbria#Replica|replica of Potter's house]] and a theme park in Japan, and a series of Mr. McGregor's gardens in one of the largest banks. Merchandisers in Japan estimate that 80% of the population have heard of Peter Rabbit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Francesca |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-24625202 |title=Peter Rabbit: Why the Japanese love Beatrix Potter, Francesca Williams| publisher= BBC News  |date=13 November 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref>

== Commemoration ==
[[File:Peter Rabbit Statue at Lingholm (geograph 5930258).jpg|thumb|upright|Peter Rabbit statue at [[Lingholm]] country house in the English [[Lake District]]]]

A statue of Peter Rabbit is located on the grounds of [[Lingholm]] country house just outside the village of [[Portinscale]] in the [[Lake District]], north west England, where Potter spent her summer holidays (between 1885 and 1907) and where she drew inspiration for her Peter Rabbit books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thelingholmestate.co.uk/|title=The Lingholm Estate|website=The Lingholm Estate|language=en-GB|access-date=10 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214033215/http://www.thelingholmestate.co.uk/|archive-date=2014-02-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> She credited the Lingholm kitchen garden as her original inspiration for Mr. McGregor's garden in ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lake District estate that inspired Beatrix Potter is the perfect half term activity for families |url=https://www.lancs.live/whats-on/whats-on-news/lake-district-estate-inspired-beatrix-22954680 |access-date=10 May 2023 |work=Lancs Live}}</ref> Lingholm was [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed Grade II]] on the [[National Heritage List for England]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lingholm given grade II historic listing by English Heritage |url=https://thelingholmestate.co.uk/house |publisher=The Lingholm Estate |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105183220/https://thelingholmestate.co.uk/house |archivedate=2013-11-05 }}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1413920|desc=Lingholm|access-date=10 May 2023|mode=cs2}}</ref>

In 2016, Peter Rabbit and other Potter characters featured on a [[Great Britain commemorative stamps 2010–2019#2016|series of UK postage stamps]] issued by the [[Royal Mail]] to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter's birth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36903865|title=Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbitt and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle on anniversary stamps |date=28 July 2016|access-date=4 September 2016|work=BBC News}}</ref> The same year, Peter Rabbit and other Potter characters appeared on a small number of collectors' [[Fifty pence (British coin)|50p British coins]].<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35684900| title= Royal Mint: Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit on new 50p coin |quote= Four coins will be made featuring different characters from her stories, and a special collector's 50p coin showing a colour image of Peter Rabbit will also be released.| date= 29 February 2016| publisher= BBC News| access-date= August 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108105058/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-35684900 |archive-date= Nov 8, 2020 }}</ref>

== Adaptations ==
In 1936, [[Walt Disney]] expressed interest in making a ''Peter Rabbit'' film. He proposed his idea of a feature-length film to Beatrix Potter, but she refused and did not give him the rights.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eccleshare |first=Julia |title=Peter Rabbit Turns 100 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20020422/30115-peter-rabbit-turns-100.html |access-date=11 May 2023 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=22 April 2002}}</ref>

Peter Rabbit appears in the 1971 ballet film, ''[[The Tales of Beatrix Potter]]''. He also was featured in [[HBO]]'s 1991 ''[[HBO Storybook Musicals|Storybook Musical]]'' adaptation of ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit'', narrated by [[Carol Burnett]]. Several of the stories featuring Peter Rabbit were also animated for the 1992 [[BBC]] [[anthology series]], ''[[The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends]]'' and two edutainment titles published by [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]] ''The Adventures of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny'' in 1995<ref>{{cite web| website= museumofplay.org| url= http://www.museumofplay.org/online-collections/22/66/109.9469| title= The Adventures of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny video game| publisher= The Strong| access-date= August 30, 2017}}</ref> and ''Beatrix Potter: Peter Rabbit's Math Garden'' in 1996.<ref>{{cite web| website= museumofplay.org| url= http://www.museumofplay.org/online-collections/22/66/109.13711 |title= Beatrix Potter: Peter Rabbit's Math Garden video game | publisher= The Strong| access-date= August 30, 2017}}</ref> An animated children's TV series ''[[Peter Rabbit (TV series)|Peter Rabbit]]'' premiered on [[Nickelodeon]] and [[CBeebies]] in December 2012, with Colin DePaula voicing Peter in its first season (American version) and L. Parker Lucas taking over the role for the second season, respectively.<ref name="People Magazine">{{cite web |url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/12/13/nickelodeon-premieres-peter-rabbit-with-holiday-special/ |title=Nickelodeon Premieres Peter Rabbit with Holiday Special |work=People Magazine |date= 12 December 2012 |access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>

An animated/live-action adaptation, ''[[Peter Rabbit (film)|Peter Rabbit]]'' produced by [[Sony Pictures Animation]], was released on 8 February 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perry|first1=Spencer|title=Sony sets release dates for The Emoji Movie and Animated Spider-Man|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/642987-sony-animation-dates-the-emoji-movie-delays-animated-spider-man|publisher=ComingSoon.net|access-date=24 December 2015|date=22 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Collinson|first1=Gary|title=Sony working on a live-action/animation hybrid Peter Rabbit movie|url=http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/10/sony-working-on-a-live-actionanimation-hybrid-peter-rabbit-movie.html|publisher=Flickering Myth|access-date=24 December 2015|date=18 October 2015}}</ref> [[James Corden]] voices Peter Rabbit with [[Domhnall Gleeson]] and [[Rose Byrne]] starring in the live-action role of the lead female named Bea (based on Potter herself).<ref name=VarietyRidleyDebicki /> Other cast members include [[Margot Robbie]],<ref name="VarietyRobbieJoins">{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Margot Robbie Joins 'Peter Rabbit' Adaptation|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/margot-robbie-peter-rabbit-movie-1201898717/|access-date=18 February 2017|work=Variety|date=24 October 2016}}</ref> [[Daisy Ridley]] and [[Elizabeth Debicki]].<ref name=VarietyRidleyDebicki>{{cite web|last=Doty|first=Meriah|title=Daisy Ridley, Elizabeth Debicki Join 'Peter Rabbit' Live-Action/Animated Hybrid |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/daisy-ridley-elizabeth-debicki-peter-rabbit-1201869183/|work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=26 September 2016|date=26 September 2016}}</ref> [[Will Gluck]] directed and produced the film, and Zareh Nalbandian also produced, while Lauren Abrahams oversaw the project for Sony Pictures Animation.<ref name=VarietyRidleyDebicki /> A sequel ''[[Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway]]'' (2021) reunited most of the cast of the previous film.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2019-02-22|title=David Oyelowo Joins the Cast of Sony's 'Peter Rabbit' Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/david-oyelowo-peter-rabbit-sequel-1203146201/|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Children's literature}}
* ''[[The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends]]'' (TV series)
* [[Peter Rabbit (TV series)|''Peter Rabbit'' (TV series)]]
* [[Peter Rabbit (film)|''Peter Rabbit'' (film)]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

{{refbegin}}

* {{Cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Lucy |title=Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit story originated in African folktales, expert argues |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2023-05-19 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/19/origin-of-beatrix-potter-tales-african-folklore-brer-rabbit |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |df=mdy-all }}

{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://peterrabbit.com/ Official website]

{{Beatrix Potter}}
{{The Tale of Peter Rabbit}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Peter Rabbit| ]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic animals]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic rabbits and hares]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1902]]
[[Category:Rabbits and hares in literature]]
[[Category:Fiction about talking animals]]