- "Hazel, I don't like this story. I know I'm not brave..."
- — Pipkin about a story involving the Black Rabbit of Inlé
Pipkin is a survivor of Sandleford Warren and one of the original members of Watership Down.
Appearance[]
Pipkin is a chubby, smaller male rabbit. Because of the fact he's young and slightly obese, he's the slowest rabbit and has the tendency to fall behind and also be seen panting heavily, out of breath when done traveling for a long distance. He's dark brown and is around the same size as Fiver. In the TV series, Pipkin is very similar in design to his movie version, but he has more reddish fur than most of the characters and his eyes change from olive to gold in between seasons two and three.
History[]
Watership Down (book)[]
In the book, Pipkin is a very small rabbit who is very timid. He is quite attached to Hazel and trusts him. He was originally a friend of Fiver. Perhaps as a result of his shy nature, he is quite perceptive about the behaviour of other rabbits; he is the first to identify that the rabbits of Cowslip's Warren appear sad and that they seem to be very poor fighters.
Tales from Watership Down[]
To be written.
Film[]
Pipkin is one of the rabbits who escaped from the doomed Warren. He made it to Watership Down with Hazel and the rest, and also survived the last battle against General Woundwort. Pipkin is seen as innocent, cowardly and also rather cute. He shows a great fear of dogs, cats and anything dangerous. When Hazel asked Pipkin to go with him to look around the farm for hutch rabbits, Pipkin was hesitant. He also seems to walk sideways when scared and trying to back out.
Pipkin’s climactic moment occurs at the end of the first third of the film. He correctly expresses his suspicion of the rabbits in Cowslip's Warren. When Bigwig is captured by the snare outside Cowslips Warren, Pipkin nearly frees him from the snare before the slightly smaller Fiver finishes chewing through the small peg. Immediately After this scene, Hazel calls on Pipkin to accompany him on a sortie into the farm where they meet the farmer's does, including Clover, and easily escape the farmer's cat.
When the rabbits talked of going to Efrafa, Pipkin was seen hiding behind Silver. Despite his timid nature, he seemed interested in Kehaar flying. Pipkin stayed at the Warren during the final battle with Woundwort, but seemed to stay hidden protected by Bigwig.
TV Series[]
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Pipkin in the TV series
Pipkin's fate and character remains the same along with his position, however he is changed to being a young rabbit in the series. Pipkin is less cowardly in the series and a bit more on the brave side although his slow part remains. In the series, Pipkin seems to really look up to Bigwig. Pipkin also does things in the series that contrasts his portrayal in other media, such as successfully lie to the other rabbits and beat others in combat.
Near the end of Season 1, Pipkin is abducted by Woundwort and held hostage. He even was brave enough to ask Woundwort questions about his life and even protect General Woundwort. In the same episode Pipkin tells General Woundwort that he lost both of his parents to a weasel. He is eventually rescued by the Watership Down rabbits.
In Season 2, The Orchard, Pipkin accidentally leaves Fiver behind after Fiver is captured by Bark. Suspecting Fiver may be dead, Pipkin becomes quite distraught. Pipkin learns a lesson about the importance of not withholding important upsetting information.
Pipkin in season 3 of the TV series
He's one of the worst students in Bigwig's class in the first two seasons until season 3, when the Junior Owsla is established and he becomes more skilled, which even Bigwig praises. Pipkin also keeps a huge secret from the warren, which was that he had been nursing an injured Campion back to health, which was revealed when he told Blackberry of it.
Trivia[]
- Pipkin is absent in the 2018 miniseries, though the character of Bluebell fulfills Pipkin's capacity as the small, somewhat timid member with an innocent personality.
- Pipkin's voice actor, Roy Kinnear, had a son, Rory Kinnear, who voiced Cowslip in the 2018 miniseries.
- Pipkin’s primary fur color is similar to Benny the Rabbit from Golden Films’ New Adventures of Peter Rabbit.
Gallery[]
Main page: Pipkin/Image Gallery