The Heartbreaking Deaths of Farthing Wood: The Childhood Traumas That Haunt '90s Kids Forever

Summary

The Animals of Farthing Wood is a children's show with shockingly traumatizing deaths, including characters being run over, eaten, impaled, mauled, and shot.

Each animal death is not only brutal but also typically involves an endearing character, intensifying the emotional impact on the youthful viewers. The show addresses profound subjects related to the environment and mortality, further enhancing its capacity to traumatize children.

The British animated children's show, The Animals of Farthing Wood, based on Colin Dann's book series, features deeply distressing deaths of its characters. The story revolves around a group of woodland animals that are compelled to flee their home, Farthing Wood, due to it being destroyed. Together, they disregard their natural instincts and past conflicts, embarking on a journey to White Deer Park, a nature reserve. Premiering in 1993 and spanning three seasons, The Animals of Farthing Wood is a beloved classic of children's television, addressing mature themes concerning the environment, life, and mortality.

The Animals of Farthing Wood can be genuinely terrifying for young viewers, presenting graphic animal deaths in an unflinching manner. The animated show does not shy away from illustrating bloodshed, gunfire, and the horrified reactions of animals witnessing their friends meet shocking ends. Comparable to the naturalistic violence in Watership Down, this series, however, is explicitly intended for children, making it all the more traumatising. Each animal death is not only brutal but also features a lovable character that the young audience has grown fond of.

The Badger Dies Of Old Age

Mr. & Mrs. Hedgehog Are Run Over By A Truck

Badger, the esteemed secondary protagonist of the series, embodies both age and wisdom among the animal characters, consistently bridging conflicts with his remarkable peacemaking skills. Regrettably, in season 2, Badger's advanced years eventually catch up to him, leading to his peaceful demise due to natural causes. The animals are engulfed in a melancholic atmosphere as they join together to create a burial site befitting their cherished elder. As an unwavering member of the clan from its inception, Badger's passing particularly impacts Fox, who now must shoulder the responsibility of leadership without the sagacious guidance of his loyal companion.

In The Animals of Farthing Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Hedgehog's journey is tragically cut short. As they reach a vast roadway, Mr. Hedgehog's instincts overwhelm him, causing him to freeze. Sensing his distress, Mrs. Hedgehog rushes to his side, comforting him with reassurance. With a sense of impending doom, they huddle together, forming protective balls just moments before a mammoth truck thunders past, ending their lives. The other animals watch in horror as this heart-wrenching scene unfolds. This devastating moment in children's TV showcases the courage of the Hedgehogs as they bravely face their ultimate fate.

The Pheasants Are Killed & Eaten By A Farmer

Once the animals leave the confines of suburbia, they believe they are free from the perils of human intervention. However, their sense of security is shattered when they arrive at a farm, only to become the target of the farmer's hunt. Tragically, the farmer takes aim at one of the pheasants, devouring her for his evening meal. In a heart-wrenching twist, the pheasant's grieving husband witnesses the cruel fate that befell his beloved spouse just moments before meeting a similar demise at the hands of the farmer. Unlike the animals who fall victim to hunters and poachers, it is the pheasants themselves who unknowingly put themselves in harm's way by seeking refuge in the farmer's yard.

The Baby Mice Are Impaled By The Shrike

Farthing Wood's journey to the new reservation witnesses the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Fieldmouse, who bring along their three newborn mice. Shockingly, their path is marred by a heart-wrenching scene where a shrike swoops down and seizes all three helpless infants, impaling them on a thorn bush. Each tiny mouse, tragically displayed with blood-stained bodies pierced by a thorn, depicts the unsettling reality of the shrike's natural behavior (according to Audubon).

Dreamer Fox, Mrs. Rabbit, Mrs. Hare, & Mrs. Vole Are Mauled By Scarface

Even though the animals seek shelter from human and industrial presence in White Deer Park, their safety is not guaranteed. Scarface, a blue fox distinguished by a scar across his eye, presides over the existing fox population when the Farthing Wood animals arrive. This villainous fox viciously attacks Dreamer Fox, Mrs. Rabbit, Mrs. Hare, and Mrs. Vole in an attempt to expel the newcomers from the woods. On occasion, other animals witness his acts of violence, while at other times, the animals stumble upon the lifeless bodies of their friends. The ferocity of Scarface's attacks is comparable only to those perpetrated by humans and domesticated animals, making his killings all the more alarming.

Mrs. Fieldmouse Is Mistakenly Killed By Kestrel

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Mrs. Fieldmouse meets a tragic end, compounded by the fact that she has already witnessed her three precious children being snatched away by the cunning shrike. Upon embarking on their solemn pact to reach White Deer Park, the diverse animals of Farthing Wood make a solemn vow to cease hunting one another. Kestrel, a resolute member of this united front, strives tirelessly to suppress his innate predatory instincts. Regrettably, once they finally arrive at the sanctuary of White Deer Park, Kestrel succumbs to his primal nature and descends upon Mrs. Fieldmouse, mistakenly perceiving her as an ordinary mouse, oblivious to their shared group. The sudden loss of Mrs. Fieldmouse deeply traumatises both Kestrel and the audience alike.

Sinuous Is Strangled By A Rat

Bold Is Shot & Attacked By Dogs & Dies From His Wounds

: Sinuous, a male snake with a mustache-like pattern on his snout, embodies one of the virtuous creatures residing in the vast expanse of Farthing Wood. During the relentless battle against the rat population in White Deer Park, Sinuous displays his formidable prowess, successfully dispatching numerous opponents. However, his relentless endeavors gradually take a toll on his weary form, ultimately leading to a tragic demise when an imposing brown rat ruthlessly suffocates him in his sleep. Sinuous' lifeless body lies motionless, his tail wildly thrashing before finally collapsing. This brutal conclusion, albeit not wholly unexpected given Sinuous' inclination towards violence, serves as a chilling reminder of the unyielding consequences of one's actions.

Bold, the offspring of Fox and Vixen from The Animals of Farthing Wood, embarks on his own journey in season 2 when he ventures outside of White Deer Park in search of a companion. However, his time away from the sanctuary proves to be perilous as he faces various threats. His adventures include surviving a gunshot wound to his leg inflicted by a farmer and being viciously attacked by two greyhounds. Despite his weakened state, Bold manages to make his way back home. Sadly, he succumbs to his injuries but not before successfully finding a mate, thus fulfilling his ultimate objective.

A Rabbit, A Deer & Two Foxes Are Killed By Hunters

In the vicinity of Farthing Wood and White Deer Park, a campsite attracts both hunters and poachers. Throughout the series, appalling acts occur as they mercilessly shoot down a deer, a rabbit, and two foxes. Each animal's demise is depicted with distressing detail, displaying a close-up of a firearm taking aim and firing, soon followed by the lifeless body of the creature being callously seized like a macabre trophy, hauntingly witnessed by other animals in utter horror. Notably brutal is the deer's unfortunate fate, as the actual wound inflicted is vividly portrayed. The deer convulses in pain, its head recoiling backward while blood dramatically splatters across the screen, ultimately causing the animal to convulsively flip and collapse onto the unforgiving ground.

Scarface & Bounder Are Bitten By Adder And Die From Her Poison

The violent escapades of Scarface and his son Bounder are not spared in The Animals of Farthing Woods. The tale unfolds when Adder, a venomous snake who has ventured from Farthing Woods, is mistakenly ordered to exterminate Scarface's dear son, Bounder. Without hesitation, Adder delivers a lethal bite to Bounder's leg. Seeking retribution, Scarface retaliates by mercilessly severing the tip of Adder's tail, thus sparking an enduring animosity between the two adversaries. As season 2 nears its conclusion, Adder stealthily witnesses Scarface quenching his thirst by the stream, seizing the opportunity to sink her fangs into Scarface's paw. Overwhelmed by the venom, Scarface collapses while vowing that his offspring will avenge him. This vicious cycle of violence serves as a poignant reflection of the profound themes that permeate The Animals of the Farthing Wood​​​​​​.