#hawkbit

I’m not kidding these two instantly became my favorite designs lol and I’m in lovvee

AFTER ~40 HOURS ITS FINALLY DONE AAAAAAAAA

THIS PIECE HAS BEEN IN WIP LIMBO DEVELOPMENT HELL SINCE THE FIRST OF JUNE! I THOUGHT ID NEVER ESCAPE IT

Time breakdown: Initial sketch to final sketch: ~13,5 hours (this was mostly redrawing, adding and rearranging rabbits a bunch of times) Finalised Sketch to flat colors and textured rabbits: 21+hours Importing it to clipstudio paint on my laptop and adding the rendering and final touches: ??? im guessing like 5 hours. Not sure tho since clipstudio doesnt record time spent I hope the watership down community will enjoy the fruits of my hard labor :) This is the first time ive drawn so many fullbody bunnies so i hope i did alright with the anatomy, i tried using references but it was still really hard.

I tried my best to make the designs somewhat believable/naturally colored but still making them varied and distinct from eachother

A season 3 Watership Down quick comic, Inspired by this post with @caliberpackr and @shinelikedew! What if Woundwort had ordered Spartina to Assassinate Fiver? To me, once she was around long enough to be trusted to wonder the warren alone, I don't think she'd be able to kill him anymore, especially if the rabbits of Watership Down's kindness was enough to turn her against Woundwort in the show. As for what Fiver is thinking... I'll leave that up to interpretation.

Lately, I've been thinking about Hawkbit himself, planning exactly how I could adapt him into my hypothetical adaptation.

Certainly, Hawkbit is one of those rabbits whose presence is quite less noticeable than the main group. I had seen him mentioned as part of the “band of irrelevant boys” alongside Acorn and Speedwell, but I hadn't really seen him that way.

And I really think it was an idea that Hawkbit was actually more important than he seems, simply because he was added in two adaptations, even compared to other rabbits who are probably more “important” like Silver, Bluebell, or even Buckthorn (by the way, Buckthorn is terribly underrated). In comparison, both Silver and Bluebell only appear in a single animated adaptation. Hawkbit is only absent from the movie.

Still, it's not like they've been well adapted. Hawkbit isn't exactly complex enough to require a major change in personality. I've been thinking about things a bit.

Silver appears in the movie, yes. But his role and personality couldn't be more different. Silver is portrayed as very “tired”; his expression is always bored and sleepy. Not to mention that the detail that he was a member of the Owsla alongside Bigwig is absent. In almost all the fight scenes, only Bigwig does the important work. Silver is... uninteresting.

Although this could be taken as an exaggeration of his more gentle and calm personality. Another thing to consider is that he is the one (along with Dandelion and Pipkin) who questions Hazel about whether he knows what he is doing. Along with being given away by Bigwig.

Something that originally belonged to Hawkbit along with Acorn and Speedwell.

And if, in fact, this is not Silver himself. If it is Hawkbit, his personality fits better with how Hawkbit is described in the book. Slow and “stupid,” who doesn't do much for himself, but does complain about Hazel's leadership.

I guess Silver was chosen over Hawkbit simply because his appearance was easier to adapt into a “unique and remarkable” design (even if his character really contributes little to the story). But the personality was made to ocuppy Hawkbit's role

And here's what I've been thinking about.

What is Hawkbit's role really?

Why did the other adaptations choose him over other rabbits who could probably be more useful or interesting to use?

Lets talk about Hawkbit.

If someone told you that Hawkbit is their favorite character, they were probably referring to his counterpart in the TV series (or miniseries). In the novel itself, Hawkbit doesn't do much; he is always recognized as a “common” rabbit with nothing remarkable about him, a soldier who will do as he is told as long as his abilities are not abused.

Acorn and Speedwell suffer the same fate, yet something about Hawkbit made him stand out. He is certainly the only one with a “characterization,” albeit a very vague one, but one that opens up a couple of ideas.

As mentioned before, it was Hawkbit who directly questioned Hazel about his idea of leaving. He believes they have made a mistake, wanting to return, even believing that they could probably be forgiven. In a way, Hawkbit never had any idea why he left; we don't know why he did it or what led him to follow them. But it certainly wasn't something important enough to reconsider returning, as if this were just a risky fool's errand or a game. Or maybe it's just desperation talking, comparing an empty area to a “comfortable” burrow. Hawkbit is then reprimanded and abused by Bigwig, who injures him, and he doesn't question it anymore. However, it's obvious that he does so out of fear and obligation rather than because he really believes he was wrong.

Nevertheless, he still becomes loyal to Hazel in the end. Then he truly forgives Hazel once he realizes that his leadership isn't bad. And he certainly knows that Hazel wouldn't hurt or insult him like Bigwig did. But that's not all.

Despite everything, it is Hawkbit who later accompanies Hazel on his first visit to Watership Down with Dandelion. And then, considering Acorn's advice about having somewhere to sleep, it is he who insists on looking for an area and finds the abandoned burrows that allowed the group to take refuge until they could build a better one.

The novel itself acknowledges how “one of the least prominent members” managed to do something important.

Later, he considers talking to other animals and, together with Speedwell, informs Hazel that the mice told him about places with good grass.

Then, it is he, along with Dandelion, Bigwig, Blackberry, and Speedwell, who accompany Hazel to rescue the female rabbits from the farm, search the courtyard area, and encourage Hazel when they all play together.

Finally, after this, Hawkbit's role is reduced more and more until he is no longer mentioned for much of the book until the end. Except for slight mentions or tasks such as keeping watch.

Now, let's talk a little bit about Hawkbit in the series. I'll mention them in both adaptations in a single part since their personalities and roles are not that different from each other.

In both, Hawkbit is a slightly grumpy, sarcastic rabbit who is constantly confused and unsure about what Hazel is doing or thinking. This is an exaggeration of his character in the book. He also complements Dandelion, as his closest friend.

Again, Hawkbit is not an “essential” rabbit; there is nothing that uniquely characterizes him in the group.

However, Hawkbit's character changes and evolves over time. Although still grumpy, he is loyal to Hazel and his friends. His doubts dissipate and, willingly or not, he obeys when Hazel asks him to do things. He is just another member of the Owsla, fighting when he must, digging when he has to and participating in battles.

Still, Hawkbit strives to do what he can, even if he wants to avoid work, even if he risks things like trying to cheer up a confused and hurt Fiver after Silverweed's possession. And he stays until the end.

We could mention more things from the TV series, but let's keep these examples simple to get to the main point.

Why Hawkbit? What does he represent?

Something very simple. Hawkbit is “the people.”

Hawkbit is an ordinary rabbit, and he doesn't seem to have any idea why he left Sandleford. But we understand that he was also a victim of the abusive system there, a rabbit who would never be a member of the Owsla, just another inhabitant who was there.

If Hawkbit left, it was like, “Why not? If I can have a better life?” Eventually, however, his doubts are not strong. And now he questions whether he should continue with it or not. He doesn't know, he has no way of knowing if what he is doing is safe or not. However, he is forced to do it anyway.

He needs a “push” to wake up. He follows the others because he is aware of his position as “just another guy,” but even so, he strives not only to obey, but also to contribute, to show that he can help.

And here's the thing.

Hawkbit is not a talented or special rabbit. He doesn't have visions, he's not the smartest, nor the strongest, nor the fastest runner, nor does he seem to know how to tell jokes or stories. He is, however, valued under Hazel's leadership in the way that Hazel brings out the “best” in everyone.

We don't have to be born talented and special to stand out.

Instead, we must make ourselves valuable by doing our best. If we weren't born special, we can turn our lack of talent into something we “create.”

Like Hawkbit, we need the support of others. We need them to remind us to keep going, to take us into consideration when helping others, and to know that we too can be part of “something.” And that's how Hawkbit strives to help, because Hazel let him know that even as he is, he can still help and contribute. Even small things, like finding holes to sleep in, can make a big difference in saving lives. That's what Hawkbit does.

Things are built when we can all be a cornerstone that forms the foundation.

Hawkbit embodies that; he is a character the viewer can relate to. He also represents the doubt that a viewer feels: “Is Fiver really not crazy?” His personality is so simple, it is open to many interpretations and is like “clay” that can be molded, allowing the viewer to understand themselves as part of this story. He is just another rabbit who feels things and is therefore part of the whole.

Maybe or maybe not. Maybe he's just a character who's there for comic relief and to be a clown alongside Dandelion, but even that matters. Because he represents tranquility and happiness in the midst of “tragedy,” and remember that despite everything, there is peace and joy in the midst of the storm. Rabbits also argue about love, work, doubts. But despite everything, they can laugh, play, and have heartbreaks in their lives.

It's something that matters in WD.

And well, that's my whole analysis, which I'm sure even the writers didn't take into account when they added it to the series, but I wanted to say it anyway.

Hawkbit is so me. And now I appreciate him more.