April 11th, 2024
109 comments
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Doctor Who The Celestial Toymaker Animated DVD
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk, www.hive.co.uk and HMV via www.ebay.co.uk
BBC Studios continues to offer Doctor Who fans the opportunity to extend their collection by announcing the latest release Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker on DVD and Blu-Ray. The two-disc set contains the third season story as well as special features. This classic series stars the First Doctor, William Hartnell and companions Peter Purves as Steven Taylor and Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet, with Michael Gough as the Toymaker.
Fans of Doctor Who have long lamented the loss of the original 1966 master recordings of all except one of The Celestial Toymaker. BBC Studios have carefully created an animated presentation of this lost classic story using off-air audio recordings of the missing three episodes.
The Celestial Toymaker sees the Doctor and companions separated when they come up against The Toymaker. While the Doctor plays the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play seemingly childish but ultimately dangerous games with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS.
All episodes have been animated in both colour and black and white and include original film elements which have been fully restored.
Special features include:
Disc One
- Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Black and White
- Episodes 1-3 – Reconstruction
- Episode 4 – Original 1966 Episode newly restored
- New Audio Commentaries
Disc Two
- Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Colour
- Making The Animation
- Doctor Who Escape Room – Team First Doctor
- Sylvester McCoy Introduction for episode 4 as per the original VHS release
- Photo Gallery
- PDF Material including camera scripts
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Bellal
May 23rd, 2024 - 3:39pmHave been patiently waiting for this release. Very surprised this story wasn’t animated earlier before some of the others. This range is a constant delight, filling in those gaps on the shelf
The Unlicensed Physician
May 23rd, 2024 - 11:13pmToo expensive before and available soundtrack not good enough. But tech evolves and new things are found.
Jaye
April 14th, 2024 - 2:11amAnd will this be region-locked to the UK like most of the Doctor Who Physical Media releases so far or will other Regions be getting this?
Gordon
April 14th, 2024 - 8:02amThe animations have never been region locked. Only recent release that was region locked was the 60th specials. Almost every thing else was region free. Other regions will be getting a separate release at a later date
Jaye
April 14th, 2024 - 9:47pmActually, yes it is… We didn’t get the DVD versions of Galaxy 4 or anything of the Underwater Menace. Heck, we barely get the Collections unless it’s at specialty stores like Barnes & Noble.
Gordon
April 14th, 2024 - 10:42pmEh that’s not what region locking means. Region locking means the discs only play in a specific region or regions. The animated releases and collection releases are region free and playable in any region round the world. You can import it from wherever you are and it will play. Just because it’s not released in your area it does not make it region locked. I assume you are stateside. It is getting a blu ray release in the us currently stated for 11th June but that date could change.
Sofia Fox
April 15th, 2024 - 2:44amI’m American and have Power SE and Fury and neither are region locked. We do get the Collections, they’re always in stock on Amazon and other places. Even if not in physical stores. We may have not got the DVDs for Galaxy 4, Abominable Snowmen, Underwater Menace, I prefer them releasing them on Blu-ray than not at all.
Sascha
April 13th, 2024 - 11:28am@Please respect my opinion
Misunderstanding – watched including power of the Doctor
Sascha
April 12th, 2024 - 1:18pmThanks again @ gordon
I guess my Main Problem would be time – I already watched all Classic who Episodes once on my dvd and all new who episodes on dvd/bluray once up to the 13th Doctor and was a huge time consumption;
Than I watched all 6th and 7th dr who Episodes on german as they were the First on german and than started with 1st on german (for 1-5 there only some Episodes in german) and there i‘m on the 3rd so far – would skip 6-7 – and after 5 go all Episodes from 8-13 in german too with my girlfriend…
So i guess a Blu-Ray re Watch would be a big time consumption …
Please respect my opinion
April 12th, 2024 - 5:28pmThe fact you didn’t watch the 13th Doctors era is sad. You missed some great stuff.
Sascha
April 12th, 2024 - 10:06amThanks @auton and gordon –
I guess time Warrior and ark in Space on dvd have cgi too – but probably will then be same when the respective seasons will be released
Are all These new Versions? Cgi Omnibus etc. Worth it?
Gordon
April 12th, 2024 - 10:32amOh yeah I forgot about those 2 having alternative effects. Ark in space is already on the season 12 blu ray set with the alternative effects being ported over. Time warrior will be on the season 11 set whenever it comes out and the alternative effects will be ported over. The quality does vary but I would say most of them are worth tracking down. It really does come down to personal preference
Auton
April 12th, 2024 - 8:01pmTerror of the Vervoids is certainly worth watching without the trial sequences. All the new stuff has been worth watching.
Sascha
April 12th, 2024 - 9:12amThanks @ Auton
Are there still Cgi/enhanced Versions only available on the dvd version of the Episode?
Auton
April 12th, 2024 - 9:21amGordon’s comment under mine lists all the DVD ones, all of which so far has been included on the collection sets that have released
Sascha
April 12th, 2024 - 6:06amHi there,
I already have all Classic Who on dvd and new Who on dvd/bluray – including the classic who animations – I watched every Thing in the Original transmission Version – and recently i was thinking that some of the Classic who DVDs hat Versions with added Cgi and the Blu-Ray Box Sets yet another new Version – as i already have all Classic who on dvd or when the german mediabook where available i Switched them out – i was searching for a list or someone who knows a) which classic who dvd have altered cgi and/or new cuts
B) which Episodes on Blu-Ray have altered cgi/and or new cuts thats are Not on dvd
Auton
April 12th, 2024 - 7:52amThe stories with new updated effects on the blu-ray collection range:
Terror of the Auton (Season 8)
Planet of the Daleks (Season 10)
Revenge of the Cybermen (Season 12)
The Talons of Weng-Chiang (Season 14)
Horror of Fang Rock (Season 15)
Nightmare of Eden (Season 17)
Logopolis (Season 18)
Castravalva (Season 19)
Snakedance, Enlightenment and The Five Doctors (Season 20)
Timelash (Season 22)
Terror of the Vervoids (Season 23)
Auton
April 12th, 2024 - 8:07amExtended or omnibus cuts:
The Claws of Axos Episode 1 Extended and The Daemons Omnibus Movie (Season 8)
Day of the Daleks and The Sea Devils Omnibus Movies (Season 9)
The Green Death Omnibus Movie (Season 10)
Genesis of the Daleks Omnibus Movie (Season 12)
Shada episodic 6 part version, Extended Episode 3 of Creature from the Pit, Genesis of the Daleks audio version (Season 17)
Black Orchid Extended Part 1 (Season 19)
Extended Parts of Vengeance on Varos, Part 1 of The Two Doctors and Part 1 of Revelation of the Daleks (Season 22)
Extended parts of all Trial of the Timelord (Season 23)
Extended Parts of Time and the Rani, Paradise Towers, Delta and the Bannermen and Dragonfire (Season 24)
Extended parts of Ghostlight, VHS versions of Battlefield and The Curse of Fenric (Season 26)
Gordon
April 12th, 2024 - 9:10amOn dvd. All are also included on the collection blu ray sets
The dalek invasion of earth (alternative effects)
The day of the daleks (alternative effects)
The terror of the zygons (episode 1 director’s cut)
The invisible enemy (alternative effects)
The invasion of time (alternative effects)
The destiny of the daleks (alternative effects)
Kinda (alternative effects)
Earthshock (alternative effects)
Arc of infinity (alternative effects)
Maudren undead (alternative effects)
Terminus (alternative effects)
Enlightenment (special edition cut down 75 minute edit in 16:9)
The five doctors (extended 100 minute edit)
The resurrection of the daleks (4 part edit)
Planet of fire (special edition cut down 68 minute edit in 16:9)
The revelation of the daleks (alternative effects)
Delta and the bannermen (early edit minus effects and sound)
Battlefield (feature length special edition edit)
The curse of fenric (feature length special edition edit)
As for blu ray only
Season 8:
Terror of the autons (alternative effects)
The claws of Axos (alternative early edit of episode 1)
The colony in space (alternative early edit for episode 2)
Season 10:
The planet of the daleks (alternative effects)
Season 12:
The revenge of the cybermen (alternative effects)
Season 14:
Talons of weing chiang (alternative effects)
Season 15:
Horror of fang rock (alternative effects)
Season 17:
The creature from the pit (alternative episode 3 edit)
Nightmare in Eden (special effects)
Shada (6 part version)
Season 18:
Logopolis (alternative effects)
Season 19:
Castrovalva (alternative effects)
Season 20:
Snakedance (alternative effects)
Enlightenment (alternative effects)
The five doctors (alternative effects)
Season 22
Vengeance on varos (extended versions of both parts)
The two doctors (extended version of ep 1)
Timelash (alternative effects)
A fix with sontarans (alternative ending)
Revelation of the daleks (extended version of episode 1)
Season 23
All 14 episodes extended plus also a trial less version of episodes 9-12 with new effects
Season 24
All 14 episodes extended plus alternative reneration effects in time in the rani
Season 26
Battlefield (vhs edit)
Ghostlight (workprint extended edit)
Curse of fenric (vhs edit)
Think that’s it. I may have forgotten something so if I have feel free to add
Pete X
April 11th, 2024 - 11:03amRelease 10th of June according to HMV.
F D R
April 11th, 2024 - 5:15pmi am so glad i pre ordered it way back in January
simonhanlon77
April 7th, 2024 - 8:31pmyes i was wondering when the release date is! just looked at the wiki – oddly it says that it has been released! i can’t find anywhere that says it has? strange kind of animation – much the same as ‘the web of fear’. still looking forward too seeing though.
anon
March 27th, 2024 - 9:06pmDo we actually have a release date for this yet?
SV7
March 30th, 2024 - 2:58pmSadly not yet, but surely it can’t be far away. I’m rather eager to get my hands on this release!
Callum Eales
December 9th, 2023 - 12:37pmLooks very ps3 style, but i only watch in b&w which doesnt look too bad at all, just happy to add to the collection.
SV7
December 8th, 2023 - 12:11pmI have to say that bizarrely, I quite like the ‘alternative’ animation style. (Though I will admit, my first reaction to the video thumbnail was “oh, that’s going provoke an interesting response”…) It will be interesting to see how the animated episodes 1-3 stand up next to the original episode 4.
This morning though, according to Amazon UK, 1K+ people have pre-ordered the steelbook, so not too bad for a listing that’s less then a day old. It was certainly an instant pre-order for me.
D84
December 8th, 2023 - 12:40pmSame for me
Same thoughts re animation style – but also an instant pre order on the Steelbook
Bookcollector
December 8th, 2023 - 2:53pmI’ve stopped watching the original episodes with the animation now. I find it works better now as a full animation or as a full reconstruction rather than mixing them.
D84
December 8th, 2023 - 3:38pmI usually just watch the full colour animation first off and go for B&W animation plus surviving footage afterwards but i don’t always get there
I agree – in full colour animation it works very well all consistently
Erato
December 8th, 2023 - 8:15amWhatever people think of 3d v. 2d animation, this looks a much more polished and professional production than the Web 3 animation (which I still think is abysmal) so I hope that we might see that episode reanimated in this style for the inevitable season 5 collection.
Robert Sienicki
December 8th, 2023 - 11:47amWeb 3 animation is terrible, but I feel the 3D style is much more closer to the feel of watching the episode than flat 2D (which I like).
ChrisP
December 7th, 2023 - 9:40pmI like the look of the weird animation.
Great to see more animations coming.
Lee D
December 7th, 2023 - 8:39pmI can’t wait for this and the Animation looks fine for a very strange story.
David Minter
December 7th, 2023 - 6:47pmYes! This was one of my top most desired reconstructions! Since Mission To The Unknown and The Daleks’ Master Plan seem to still be mooted by BBC for animation, this just leaves The Wheel In Space as my most desired animated reconstruction.
Robert Sienicki
December 8th, 2023 - 12:00pmI think I’ve read somewhere that the 3D animation is a bit cheaper, so there might be hope yet. Especially that in an interview someone related to the animations said that obviously the end goal is to animate all the missing episodes.
David Minter
December 8th, 2023 - 10:21pmI’ve always held out hope that once they’ve animated everything else, the BBC might relent and animate Mission To The Unknown and The Daleks’ Master Plan. It may be a cynical view, but I would hope they’d do it since they would not want the revenue stream to run dry.
I’ve seen what could happen is all the non-historicals with missing episodes would get preferential order. Then, with those all completed, the historicals would be done. Historicals aren’t generally well liked or sell well, but they would probably take precedence over Mission and Master Plan because of the fewer episodes.
Another problem with Mission/Master Plan is a marketing one. I wouldn’t mind paying more for that story, but it would be a lot of discs in a set. 13 episodes would be 6 episodes on one disc and 7 on the other. So, the story itself needs 2 discs. Then, you have to double that because one set would be in color and the other in black and white. Then, you may need at least 1 more disc for the 3 surviving episodes, although they might be included on the discs containing the corresponding animated version. Depending on what extras they include, they might fit on one disc or may require 1 more disc. So, that’s a lot of discs to try and sell for just one story. Thus, the production costs would be higher than normal for a story release. And that doesn’t factor in the animation costs.
Gordon
December 11th, 2023 - 12:54pmThink mission/masterplan would need a 7-8 disc set to honest. Mission should get its own disc including both black and colour animations. The uclan remake with option of colour/b and w a recon plus potentially the option of watching the uclan remake with the original 1965 sound fitted to match the remake best as possible. Add on some extras (YouTube uclan making of, any news articles etc) and that disc is pretty full.
Masterplan would need 6 discs potentially 7 depending on how much extras they can get out of it. 2 for colour animation, 2 for black and white and 2 for the reconstruction
Bookcollector
December 7th, 2023 - 6:11pmI liked the um animation but was very disappointed by the avoidable errors in it. Hopefully this one will at least assign the dialogue to the correct actors! Have to admit I don’t really rate this story much. The plot is okay but flawed and Michael gough fluffs his lines regularly. I know it’s highly regarded but it’s one that I just don’t see why it’s highly regarded! Still very happy it’s being animated though. The animation will hopefully help sell the story to me.
Bookcollector
December 7th, 2023 - 6:14pmNot sure what happened there, this is meant to be linked to a comment below…
Rex F
December 8th, 2023 - 4:59amApparently it’s not highly regarded anymore, the “official” view since the 90s is that it’s a turkey, being polite. (“Fandom” speaking with one voice, as usual. But I won’t go there… In any sense!)
Mike
December 7th, 2023 - 5:59pmI am not a fan of the computer game style of animation and would rather that they tried as best they can to emulate how it would have looked in the original episodes, BUT I would rather have this type of animation than nothing at all, especially for episodes where there are no Telesnaps existing.
Gordon
December 7th, 2023 - 3:30pmDisc One
Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Black and White
Episodes 1-3 – Reconstruction
Episode 4 – Original 1966 Episode newly restored
New Audio Commentaries
Disc Two
Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Colour
Making The Animation
Doctor Who Escape Room – Team First Doctor
Sylvester McCoy Introduction for episode 4 as per the original VHS release
Photo Gallery
PDF Material including camera scripts
The animation style looks like fun. Much improved over web of fear. I know the purists aren’t going to like it but I think it’s a story that benefits from not doing a 1:1 recreation. The original is so cheap looking. It’s a 2023 production. Go wild
Auton
December 7th, 2023 - 4:34pmWhat’s the Doctor Who Escape Room – Team First Doctor?
Bookcollector
December 7th, 2023 - 5:52pmI found the more I watched web the more I liked it so I’m not concerned with the animation.
Neil
December 7th, 2023 - 3:06pmNot really sure I am gonna like this style of animation, it looks like an old computer game. There is a guy on YouTube who has done an animated version of one of the episodes of this, and it looks far far better, with far better likenesses of the characters. Still, it’s another title to tick off the list, and I am just grateful the animations are continuing,
Mac
December 7th, 2023 - 2:39pmNo recon?
Mac
December 7th, 2023 - 5:13pmThere it is
Kenny
December 7th, 2023 - 2:37pmHope we don’t have to wait too long for this.
Robert Sienicki
December 7th, 2023 - 2:26pmPerfect. And the 3D animation really improved from “Web of Fear”. I think this will work really good and make the feel much closer to the episode than the flat style of previous animations. Not that I didn’t like those, but even though Web of Fear had absolutely awful visuals the overall look felt more in line with the surviving episodes.
I am game. And if this is really cheaper (I’ve read somewhere that it is) then it’s fine for me.
Alex Oswin
December 7th, 2023 - 2:10pmNot a surprising choice given The Giggle. I wonder if the rumoured colourised clips will be incorporated into this.
Anyone curious what they’ll do about a certain word that’s used in this story?
Mac
December 7th, 2023 - 2:21pmLike animations in the past, there not afraid to cut things
DPHill
December 7th, 2023 - 3:00pmi wonder if it is at all possible to catch a ‘t’ and an ‘i’ as in ‘sky’ to replace the first two sounds? Surely as common sounds there would be several instances of this during the story
Gordon
December 7th, 2023 - 3:14pmMark ayres said a couple of years back that if it was ever animated that it would be an easy fix to alter it to something less offensive.
Anonymouse
December 7th, 2023 - 4:23pm“Pixie” surely? Which was the version I was brought up with.
I wasn’t even aware of the racial version until I was much older.
DPHill
December 7th, 2023 - 5:33pmpixie or tiger, tiger is used a lot now i believe, or at least when i was at school and what my little cousins say when they sing it
Prowl 1701
December 7th, 2023 - 11:05pmYeah tiger was the word we used when I was growing up, I never know there was another way of saying it until I was much older.
Rex F
December 8th, 2023 - 7:11amThe version I grew up with used “baby”. It’s one of those things where pages could be written about the US/UK divide, both in culture and language. Not that certain colorful (sic) fans who like to slate the story bother to think about that of course…
Bearing in mind how craven Auntie can be, I’m actually quite pleased that the different departments (and Disney) have embraced the return of the Toymaker and also commissioned the animation. They must be aware of the Internet controversies/conspiracy theories about the story, so presumably have the ammunition to debunk them. (Others already have done, but their facts are less exciting and don’t seem to pick up the same traction as the wacky stuff.)
Rex F
December 9th, 2023 - 11:31pmDW Unleashed explained it quite well – no conspiracy theories, just facts. (For those who didn’t see it they noted that the reasons/intentions for the Chinese outfit aren’t actually clear, and that people of the time just weren’t aware of how stereotypes such as a villain looking foreign could be potentially harmful – which is a fair point for a kids’ show – but now we do.)
Gordon
December 7th, 2023 - 10:52amSeems like Amazon jumped the gun with this.
Anita
December 7th, 2023 - 10:57amThe listing has just been removed so I’d say you’re right!
KORSAIR
January 10th, 2024 - 12:54amI reckon so, I have pre ordered it anyway.
SV7
December 7th, 2023 - 10:39amThis has made my day!
Also, we are now officially over half way to having all the missing episodes animated! 49/97. Amazing, KEEP ‘EM COMING!!! 😀
Anon
December 7th, 2023 - 10:22amI just prey their is an improvement in quality after all those long armed scooby do efforts, of more recent animations.
James
December 7th, 2023 - 10:25amTheir arms are too long. Lol
Anon
December 7th, 2023 - 10:38amI wish that was all. The underwater menace was dire. I dont like this Hanna Barbera like approach and expanding where it isnt necessary. The animation style of The invasion and The Reign of Terror were much better.
Gordon
December 7th, 2023 - 10:50amI liked the underwater menace animation. Not the best far from the worst. Reign of terror may have a better style but it sold abysmally. One of the worst selling dvds of the entire range
anon
December 7th, 2023 - 10:58amReign was never the most popular of stories though was it Gordon, but each to his own.
Duncan
December 7th, 2023 - 2:32pmI thought UM was flaky as well. With the last few animations I can’t see me rewatching the actual animations again, but sticking to the telesnap reconstructions. My favourite ones have been all the cybermen stories and episodes Since Fury Ive not enjoyed the releases anywhere near as much. Although, of course, Im grateful that we’ve got them.
Prof Horner
December 7th, 2023 - 10:21amWell this is great news. Let’s hope the animation turns it into a classic. It’s a strange tale, with The Doctor missing from the middle two episodes.
Let’s hope we get it within next six months.
Anon
December 7th, 2023 - 4:47pmIts what would later be referred to as a doctor lite episode. There was always someone taking a holiday mid production back then.
Dave
December 7th, 2023 - 10:08amis it just dvd or bluray steelbook also
booboo
December 7th, 2023 - 10:10ambound to be just not listed yet
Steve_w1972
December 7th, 2023 - 2:33pmAccording to Amazon, not released until December 2024
booboo
December 7th, 2023 - 2:57pmholding date as always
Duncan
December 7th, 2023 - 10:01amNice to have some “new” Hartnell. Rather looking forward to this. Not been watching the specials but I’ve heard the rumours so this makes sense releasing this.
My aunt was a huge Who fan in the 60s. I often think she was one of the first hardcore fans. She used to visit and tell me stories about her favourites. She raved about DMP but her favourite story was this one ! So, when this is released ill take it round and watch it with her. She enjoyed the Galaxy 4 animation so she should be all over this 🙂
Anyway, Merry Christmas to all x
D84
December 7th, 2023 - 2:23pmDuncan – I have that same experience with my Mum. great to know it isn’t just me that enjoys watching Who with other elder family members