December 12th, 2024
35 comments
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Doctor Who The Savages Blu-ray
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk and www.zavvi.com
The Savages, a four-part series from the Whoniverse, first broadcast between May and June 1966 on the BBC, will return as an animated series to be released on DVD, Blu-ray and a limited-edition Blu-ray Steelbook next spring.
With the original master recording lost, as many of these television episodes where historically wiped after transmission, the BBC Studios Home Entertainment teams worked with original audio recordings and soundtracks of all four episodes and a team of animators to bring back to fans this long-lost story arc.
In this early story, the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his travelling companions, Steven (Peter Purves) and Dodo (Jackie Lane), arrive on an unnamed planet where they encounter two distinct people – the Elders and the Savages. They soon discover the Elders are the evil ones, draining the primitive Savages for their life source to remain young and powerful forever. This story marks the final appearance of Purves as Steven.
This three-discs release will include all four 25-minutes animated episodes in colour and black and white, as well as exclusive bonus features.
Paul Hembury, Executive Producer commented: “We have a wonderful team of creators who work together to bring these lost Doctor Who stories back to life through animation. It’s always an exciting time when a story nears completion, and we prepare to share it with the fans, for whom it has been made. “
In addition, BBC Studios Home Entertainment will also be releasing the new colourisation of The War Games. Originally aired in 1969, The War Games marked the end of an era for the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), following him and his companions Zoe and Jamie as they land in a battlefield that appears to be a World War I military zone – but all is not as it seems. They soon discover that soldiers from different historical periods have been abducted and are being manipulated in a cruel game. As they work to uncover the mystery behind the War Lord and his twisted experiments, the Doctor faces one of his most difficult challenges.
For the first time, these original episodes have been meticulously colourised and enhanced with updated visual effects edited into a new, 90-minute feature-length experience to appeal to today’s modern audiences. With updated sound and a new score, this newly updated version of The War Games offers both fans and newcomers even more ways to watch the much-loved classic story. This title will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and limited-edition Blu-ray Steelbook and will air on BBC will air on 23 December 2024 on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.
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Walter Hardback
December 12th, 2024 - 4:40pmAt first glance, one of those PR images made it look like Steven was dressing to the right whilst suffering a worrying UTI… (See also: 1980s Fifth Doctor Easter Egg.)
Prowl1701
December 12th, 2024 - 3:00pmGot my pre order for the Steelbook. Be nice to see this story for the first time. One of three classic who stories I haven’t seen yet.
James
December 12th, 2024 - 2:56pmThis version looks alot better then the 3d celestial toymaker release. Finally the BBC did listen. maybe they could work with the lady who did wheel and do it the same.
Fans know what they want. Uniclan version of Mission was fantastic. Get them to redo 9 EPs of DMP and do a mix of live and animation to add the key characters in (the doctor and companions)
Missyrules
December 12th, 2024 - 3:22pmOnce again James, they can’t just remake 9 episodes. It’s been explained before. The costs would be beyond any budget for it. And it’s not a case of listening to fans, this is being done by a separate animation team to toymaker and was probably commissioned long before toymaker came out
Gordon
December 12th, 2024 - 4:56pmThis is nothing to suggest they “listened”. This has been in the works for ages. Potentially before toymaker was even announced. It’s not even the same animation team as web 3/toymaker. It’s far too early to say.
I can guarantee you that if the bbc did announce tardis time girl’s wheel in space there would be a lot more negativity. It’s a fine free fan project and I most certainly would buy it but it certainly needs a bit of polish for a retail release. The second you add a monetary value to it is the second people look more critically at it.
As I’ve said before it would need a broadcast budget to remount masterplan especially with a cast that has about 50 speaking parts
James
December 12th, 2024 - 5:32pmMissyrules
I know it’s a different team. this is BBC whereas other was shapeshifter. They said they didn’t want the ladies version of wheel as they know fans don’t like 3d. Thought this was referring to web3 and toymaker.
Do we know when this was commissioned and production started.
Uniclan did it as a uni project. Could do the same again with a budget from the BBC with a deal to give royalties to physical media sales. Would be great to continue it as mission works asa prequel to DMP. Maybe could crowdfund it for them to do it. Bet fans would jump at the chance to play parts even if not payed.
Bookcollector
December 12th, 2024 - 2:31pmOrdered on h m v. Had all three available for order. Date of release is down as 24.3.25 but naturally is subject to change.
David
December 12th, 2024 - 2:25pmThis is one of a very few Doctor Who stories I haven’t seen and have no clue what happens. I hope the next story animated is The Highlanders.
The DR.
December 12th, 2024 - 5:23pmWell David let me Explain to you the Story. LOL Only Joking.
Bookcollector
December 12th, 2024 - 2:14pmPleased this is getting done, it’s one that will benefit greatly from having visuals.
F D R
December 12th, 2024 - 1:45pmhappy about this and the new war games coming out on dvd only 10 more missing stories to go but the master plan is a big ask
F D R
December 12th, 2024 - 1:55pmny the way anyone know when the new war games dvd is out?
The DR.
December 12th, 2024 - 2:02pmI don’t think there is a date yet as it still has to Air. I think dates are usually announced later when the Story as been shown on TV.
Snowman
December 12th, 2024 - 1:28pmOh WOW, Excellent. I should imagine a Steelbook won’t be too far behind.
Snowman
December 12th, 2024 - 1:38pmI wonder why they aren’t all up for Pre-Order (DVD, Steelbook) at the same time?
Snowman
December 12th, 2024 - 1:45pmGlad there’s finally a Mention of all the Formats the War Games is coming out on. I’m looking forward to the Steelbook the most.
D84
December 12th, 2024 - 1:21pmI’ll take them all of course but I’d love to see Wheel in Space completed
Prowl 1701
December 12th, 2024 - 1:36pmIt has been, check out the fan animation of tardis timegirl’s youtube channel. I totally want that on DVD
Gordon
December 12th, 2024 - 2:25pmIt really is fantastic and I would love to see it get an official release but if the bbc were to do their own version I wouldn’t dismiss it even if it wasn’t as good as tardis timegirl’s version. Can’t say I’m in a rush to get it done officially even if it does complete season 5. There are other stories I’d like to give them focus on.
Snowman
December 12th, 2024 - 5:52pmHas TARDIS Timegirl made all of a Wheel in space. (I can only find a Couple of Parts that makes up Episode One)?
bob hellier
December 12th, 2024 - 1:20pmAny William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton Doctor Who stories that are missing animated for me
Moodbeam
December 12th, 2024 - 12:54pm‘The Savages, a four-part series from the Whoniverse’
It’s like they forgot to mention that it’s actually a Doctor Who serial until halfway through the article.
DPHill
December 12th, 2024 - 12:44pmIt’s always fun to see the age update with all the information whilst you’re looking! This will be yet another fun release! Also, does anyone know how far they space out their releases say one a month? They’ll have the colourisation, this animation, a probable S7 collection, as well as the new christmas special (and new series). Just that it’s a rarity and a pipe dream but does anyone think they won’t have two releases in a month? I do remember s18 collection coming out only a week before macra terror in the same month [march 2019]…
Andy Dodds
December 12th, 2024 - 8:26amAnd there it is guys WOW am just so excited for this that it’s another William Hartnell story and fills a another gap in season 3. So just maybe they are more in the pipeline for this year as some of the recent rumours. But again no mention of this was ever happening so it was a real surprise to me. 1 down 1O to go.
So what’s next? Out of these?
Marco Polo Season 1
The Crusade Season 2
Mission To The Unknown Season 3
The Myth Makers Season 3
The Daleks Master Plan Season 3
The Massacre Season 3
The Smugglers Season 4
The Highlanders Season 4
The Wheel In Space Season 5
The Space Pirates Season 6
Matt
December 12th, 2024 - 12:15pmObviously The Daleks’ Master Plan is a dream. I think if they do that one, they’ll do it in two releases. My personal hope is the Crusade because that one of my favorite historicals. I just love the heck out of the pure historicals. Out of all these though, I think we’ll most likely see the Space Pirates or the Smugglers.
Whofan44
December 12th, 2024 - 12:24pmI want either The Myth Makers or The Massacre as once those are done I think season 3 is Collection worthy.
DPHill
December 12th, 2024 - 12:36pmIt’s so amazing to see it come out, and thankfully another Hartnell and even better it is a season 3 one to get us closer to that pretty looking collection boxset! Really can’t believ that from ten years ago when the Crusade and Underwater Menace fell through that we would have this few left to go!? Just had a thought though as the 2016-2022 range was about eight or, if this next phase is seven, then we could see all of the non-historicals leaving a final batch of historicals o finish it off – even though i really want a historical! This is fun because I have never watched a recon or listened to the soundtrack of this story! I think they definitely should do Master Plan as two – i wonder how they will do mission to the unknown as there’s myth maker in between it?
Gordon
December 12th, 2024 - 12:46pmI think it’s one of these four based upon the number of characters costumes and locations.
The myth makers
The smugglers
The wheel in space
The space pirates
If I’m going to guess I’d say smugglers as I always thought if it wasn’t smugglers it would be savages next.
Moodbeam
December 12th, 2024 - 12:55pmThe Wheel in Space for me. Love the Cybermen.
Snowman
December 12th, 2024 - 1:59pmI’ve Never been one for the Historical Episodes, at Heart I’ve always been a Sci-Fi Guy. But I will take them all in animation to have the Full set of Storys with no Gaps in the Collection.
David Minter
December 12th, 2024 - 2:40pmMy dream is, of course, Mission To The Unknown/The Daleks’ Master Plan, but that still seems out of the question. BBC said years ago that that story was off the table for animated reconstruction. And Mission, while it could be released as its own standalone package, seems tied at the hip to Master Plan and wouldn’t get its own release.
So, with that said, I’d most want to see The Wheel In Space released next.
James
December 12th, 2024 - 2:49pmI know S5 and s6 each have partially 1 story to animate but think they next 3 after smuggler’s will be S3 stories. Has the most missing and for them to have S3 box set filled ready and worth buying will have to be smuggler’s, myth and massacre. DMP has to much and will cost alot to do. Mission can use uniclan version for a gap filler as it’s a one off episode and no major characters. Sure to get The Collection sets out all 60s sets will have q story short. animations will come later.
S1 Marco Polo
S2 crusade
S4 Highlanders
S5 Wheel
S6 pirates
Unearthly child not affected by physical releases.
Unless the BBC decide to work alongside Ian on his ai versions and polish them up with a proper budget which I highly doubt.
Wonder was his view on today’s announcement animation is
Missyrules
December 12th, 2024 - 3:25pmNo doubt Ian will apocalypticly (and pointlessly) angry about it!
James
December 12th, 2024 - 5:24pmAsoon as I logged onto his page he said hated it. Nothing like his ai version and not authentic