The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse brought some lovely feelgood emotions for us when it arrived on BBC1 and Apple TV+ for Christmas 2022. And now in 2023 this super cute animation has won the Short Film Oscar at the 2023 Academy Awards which was announced at the glitzy Oscars ceremony on Sunday March 12.
This charming wintry cartoon is based Charlie Mackesy’s international bestselling illustrated book of the same name and boasts a voice cast that includes Idris Elba, Tom Hollander and Gabriel Byrne. It tells a beautiful story of friendship...
Author Charlie Mackesy says: "The journey of making the film of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse with my ridiculously talented and kind animation team has been a magical one. It’s so great to think the story will be in the nation's homes this Christmas — and I really hope it helps bring comfort, love and laughter.”
Tom Hollander, who provides the voice of the mole, says: “ It just seemed like one of those very special opportunities to be part of some magical little film that might be eternally on at Christmas time.”
So here's everything you need to know about The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on BBC1, which was a Christmas TV highlight in 2022 and won the Short Film Academy Award in 2023...
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse release date
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse launched in the UK on BBC1 on Christmas Eve 2022 (Saturday December 24) at 4.55pm and then launched on BBCiPlayer. In the US The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse was shown on streaming service Apple TV+ from Christmas Day.
* The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse gets a repeat showing for 2023 on BBC1 on Easter Monday April 10 at 6pm (not Scotland).
* A documentary Charlie Mackesy: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse and Me was also shown on BBC2 and is now available on BBCiPlayer.
Is there a trailer for The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse?
Yes. A trailer for The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse was released by the BBC. It's so cute and wintry, set to lovely music. Do take a look below...
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse plot
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a poignant yet heartfelt journey following the unlikely friendship between a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse as they journey together in the boy’s search for home...
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked the mole.
“Kind,” said the boy.
Kindness, hope and not being afraid to ask for help are at the heart of the best-selling picture book created by illustrator Charlie Mackesey in 2019. Newcomer Jude Coward Nicholl is the voice of the boy who meets a kind mole (voiced by Tom Hollander), a wise horse (Gabriel Byrne) and a wary fox (Idris Elba) who all share their experiences of life as they try and help the boy find his way back home.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse voice cast
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse boasts an award-winning cast of actors among its voice cast including Tom Hollander (Us, The Ipcress File) as ‘the mole’, Luther star Idris Elba as ‘the fox’, Gabriel Byrne (War of The Worlds, The Usual Suspects) as ‘the horse’. Newcomer Jude Coward Nicoll is ‘the boy’.
Have a read of some of their interviews below...
Interview: Idris Elba on voicing the Fox
Idris Elba reveals everything about his experience of voicing the Fox in the animation...
What made you want to get involved with The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse?
Idris says: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Charlie’s work. I feel like ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ is such a unique story that really transcends ages and genres. The idea came about just as we were going into the pandemic and it felt like a perfect opportunity to get stuck in something meaningful and inspiring, working with some truly talented people.”
How did you find the process of recording the voice? Was it a very collaborative experience?
Idris says: "Charlie had a very clear vision in his mind of how each of the characters sounded. All very distinct voices that each captured the essence of its character. It was a really tight team, and we were doing this throughout the pandemic remember, so it was very much a case of all getting our heads together when we could and slowly bringing the fox to life – creating his spirit through his, maybe few but, thought-provoking words.”
How did you interpret the Fox? He's the most solo of the group?
Idris says: “The fox is an outsider, somewhat untrusting of the world and takes his time to open up to the group and be vulnerable. I definitely connected with the fox on a level, and it was amazing to see the character’s journey throughout the story. I think there’s a part in all of us that feels like the fox. That’s also the beauty of Charlie’s work, we see ourselves in each of the characters and can relate to their journeys.”
Do you feel adults and children alike will respond to this?
Idris says: “This definitely feels to me like a story for all ages. With adults it really resonates on a deeper level. It reminds you about the important things in life, it’s like a level setting and a return to the core of what makes us human. I think kids will still be able to sense this message but on a lighter level. They’ll be connecting with each of the characters, their journey, the snowy scenery at Christmas, and still feel the warmth and importance of being kind.”
Interview: Jude Coward Nicoll on voicing the Boy
The voice of the boy in this animation was provided by a complete newcomer Jude Coward Nicholl...
What made you want to get involved with The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse?
Jude says: “I had seen the book and, to be honest, I just loved the beautiful illustrations. When my agent offered me the chance of auditioning for the role of The Boy I was extremely interested. It all happened during lockdown, so I did the auditions by Zoom from my Mum and Dad’s bedroom.”
How did you find going into the voice booth and recording your lines?
Jude says: “I don’t have that much experience of voice recording but it was a really fun day. Apart from me, my Dad, and the engineer, everyone was on screen and they did a good job of relaxing me and helping me understand how to deliver the script. Lots of drinks and snacks helped quite a bit too!”
How did you set about becoming The Boy? Anything you drew from?
Jude says “The illustrations and text in the book gave me a clear understanding of the Boy’s character. It is obvious to anyone who has read it that the Boy is gentle, kind and a little bit frightened. Who wouldn’t be when they are lost outside in the deep snow!”
Can you describe working with Charlie Mackesy and Peter Boynton?
Jude says: “Working with Charlie and Peter was a really great experience. They both have great energy and were so helpful in suggesting different ways to deliver my lines. Charlie was in his house, which looks amazing, and he took every opportunity to involve his lovely dog in the action. He used his infectious enthusiasm to help me to deliver my lines in the way that he wanted and to give the whole production lots of energy. Peter gave me lots of helpful tips and suggestions and kept the whole recording on track. He really made sure that we had several different versions of each line and always spotted when I had delivered my best take.”
What do you feel the main themes of The Boy... are about? Is it mostly about friendship?
Jude says: “The book is definitely about friendship and how real friends are not afraid to ask each other for help. But for me, the most important theme is kindness and about the need to be kind to others and ourselves. I think this is a very important message when so many people in the world have problems and worries in their lives right now. It especially helped with people struggling to get through the challenges of Covid.”
More on The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer says: “Charlie Mackesy’s heart-warming and inspirational story brought to life through NoneMore Productions’ and Bad Robot Productions’ beautiful animation, is about the importance of love, kindness and friendship. It’s the perfect fit for Christmas on the BBC and a reminder to us all about what really matters in this world."
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse — Charlie Mackesy and the illustrated book
British illustrator Charlie Mackesy tells a modern fable for all ages that explores life’s universal lessons, featuring 100 color and black-and-white drawings. Based on his famous quartet of characters. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse explores their unlikely friendship and the poignant, universal lessons they learn together. The book has been given a Scottish adaptation too called The Laddie, the Mowdie, the Tod and the Cuddie.
