The Velveteen Rabbit Parent Guide

Change can be painful when you’re shy. William (Phoenis Laroche) and his family have just moved to a new home in the country and the withdrawn boy is hesitant to befriend neighboring children or his schoolmates. His only confidante is the Velveteen Rabbit (voiced by Alex Lawther), a glossy brown bunny found in his Christmas stocking.

As his loneliness grows, William increasingly devotes his time and affection to his toy rabbit. The two go on imaginary (animated) adventures, burrowing in tunnels and following a treasure map. The Velveteen Rabbit soon becomes the favorite toy, and wholeheartedly returns the devotion he receives. There’s only one problem – kids are more vulnerable than toys, and when disease strikes, the bunny will have to decide how deeply he loves his dearest friend.

Fans of Margery Williams will note that the screenwriters of this adaptation have made some significant changes to the beloved book, but I don’t think they are much of a problem. It’s always hard to push a picture book to fill movie runtime requirements, even for as short a film as this. What matters is whether or not the adaptation captures the spirit of the book, and this movie has done so to an impressive extent, delivering tenderness, empathy, and imagination in spades.

One of the major preoccupations of the book and the movie is what it means to be real. The sage of the nursery is the Wise Horse, thankfully no longer referred to by the book’s creepy name of the Skin Horse. Voiced by Helena Bonham Carter, the Wise Horse protects the Velveteen Rabbit from bullying toys and teaches him about the process of becoming real. “When a child really loves you,” the horse says, “then you become real.” Thus the rabbit’s journey to becoming real is an exploration of love, selflessness, courage, loyalty, and growth. It’s a touching story, well told.

At 44 minutes, this is a short film but the production values are solid. The animated sequences aren’t impressive, but the locations are enchanting, the 1920s setting is convincing, and the casting is better-than-average for a children’s Christmas movie. Young Phoenix Laroche does a fine job as the sensitive, wistful young William. Alex Lawther’s vocal talents also bring the beloved rabbit to life.

The Velveteen Rabbit is a sweet Christmas gift from Apple TV+ to family audiences. The film is filled with compassion for the challenges of childhood, particularly shyness, loneliness, and adapting to change. It manages to see the world from a child’s perspective, putting William’s emotions and perspectives center screen. This is a gentle story, one that will speak to children while giving their parents a hit of nostalgia. It’s not perfect, but it still delivers a touch of magic – and isn’t that what we want in a family film?