March 15th, 2019
322 comments
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Doctor Who The Macra Terror DVD
Available to order in the UK from www.amazon.co.uk
Also available to order in the UK from www.zoom.co.uk
Available to order in the USA from www.amazon.com #ad
Please note ALL formats contain both the B&W and Colour versions.
BBC Studios to release brand new animation of 1967 Doctor Who missing serial The Macra Terror
The standard and reversible covers…
The 4 x 25 min missing episodes, which were originally part of Doctor Who’s (now mostly lost) fourth season, have been animated for the first time, to be released on DVD, Blu-ray, special edition Steelbook and digital download.
Originally broadcast in four weekly parts from 11th March to 1st April 1967, and starring Patrick Troughton, Anneke Wills, Michael Craze and Frazer Hines, no full episodes of this serial are known to have survived on film.
Fortunately for fans, a complete audio recording of all four parts still exists. Now, 52 years later, the four episodes will be brought back to life through the power of animation, available on disc and digital download, in both colour and black and white, from 18th March 2019.
Anneke Wills says, ‘Back in 1967 “There’s no such thing as Macra!” was the cry; and for many years after there was no such thing as “The Macra Terror”. Now, thanks to the magic of animation, we can see the story come to life again. I can’t wait to see this adventure and how gratifying to have a little more of Ben and Polly’s time with the Doctor available to be seen by new generations.’
The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions arrive on a human colony in the far flung future. The colony appears to be a giant recreational complex – a holiday camp for rest and relaxation. Everyone looks happy and carefree but all is not as it seems. The colony has been infiltrated and brainwashed by a race of giant parasitic crab creatures called the Macra.
The Macra have only returned once since, 40 years later, coming face to face with the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) in the 2007 episode Gridlock.
Paul Hembury, Executive Producer, BBC Studios says, ‘After the success of Shada, we were very excited by the possibility of further animations. We are therefore delighted to be able to bring fans these missing episodes in a completely new form.’
Special features for the DVD and Blu-ray release include: Animation Gallery, Behind the Scenes Film and Audio Commentary.
Doctor Who: The Macra Terror will be released on digital download, DVD (RRP £20.42), Blu-ray (RRP £25.52) and special edition Steelbook (RRP £40.84) on 18th March 2019.
A special screening of Doctor Who: The Macra Terror will be held at the BFI Southbank, London on the 16th March 2019. Tickets will go on sale to BFI members on Tuesday 5th February with public sale opening on Tuesday 12th February. Further information will be available soon via the BFI website.
Doctor Who: The Macra Terror will be released on digital download, DVD (RRP £20.42), Blu-ray (RRP £25.52) and special edition Steelbook (RRP £40.84) on 18th March 2019.
A special screening of Doctor Who: The Macra Terror will be held at the BFI Southbank, London on the 16th March 2019. Tickets will go on sale to BFI members on Tuesday 5th February with public sale opening on Tuesday 12th February. Further information will be available soon via the BFI website.
Special features for the DVD and Blu-ray release include:
- Audio Commentary: Toby Hadoke presents an audio commentary track on all four episodes of ‘The Macra Terror’, featuring cast and crew from the original 1967 production – Frazer Hines (Jamie), Terence Lodge (Medok), Anthony Gardner (Alvis), Maureen Lane (Majorette) and director, John Davies. Commentary produced by John Kelly and recorded in London on 4th January 2019.
- Episode Reconstructions: Surviving film frames, fragments of existing footage and set photographs are brought together with the original unedited audio to reconstruct a presentation of the original now lost live-action production of ‘The Macra Terror’, as seen by viewers of BBC 1 in 1967. Produced by Derek Handley. Available to watch with or without an optional narration track read by Anneke Wills.
- Bonus Mini-Episode: A ten-minute animated short, built around an otherwise lost Doctor Who episode from 1968 starring Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines. Directed by AnneMarie Walsh.
- Animation Test: Prior to the project being formally commissioned, this short animation test (of a scene from episode 3 of ‘The Macra Terror’) was produced in March 2018, to investigate the feasibility of mounting the production in full.
- Animatics: A selection of scenes showing how the new animated production of ‘The Macra Terror’ went from initial storyboards to final animation. Storyboard art by Adrian Salmon.
- Animation Gallery: A gallery of artwork from the development, pre-production and animation of the new animated version of ‘The Macra Terror’, including character art from Martin Geraghty and background paintings from Graham Bleathman, Colin Howard and Lydia Butz.
- Teaser Trailer: A short teaser trailer animated by Rob Ritchie, produced to promote the announcement of a new production of ‘The Macra Terror’ in December 2018.
- Alternative Black and White presentation: The full four-part animation is also available to view in an alternative black and white format on disc 2.
- 1992 Audio Presentation: In 1992, the BBC Audio Collection released ‘The Macra Terror’ on audio cassette, in a special release narrated by Colin Baker. It was the first time that the story had been made commercially available by the BBC and that audio-only release is included here in full.
- Surviving Footage: Less than two minutes of original footage still exist from the 1967 production of ‘The Macra Terror’. These film fragments have been painstakingly restored and digitally remastered for this release, with considerable improvements made to the overall picture quality and resolution of this unique footage. Film restoration by Peter Crocker.
- Behind the scenes film: In 1967, during pre-production of ‘The Macra Terror’, film cameras visited the visual effects workshop in Uxbridge where work was underway on construction of the Macra props. Special effects props and models from other Doctor Who stories can also be seen in the workshop, including parts of a Cyberman from ‘The Tenth Planet’ (1966) and an aeroplane from ‘The Faceless Ones’ (1967). This footage is accompanied by a new audio commentary track from Doctor Who visual effects designer and BBC visual effects historian, Mike Tucker, explaining some of the effects techniques and props featured in the film.
- Censored Scene: A reconstruction of a scene from episode 2 of ‘The Macra Terror’ that was heavily re-edited by censors for the episode’s Australian television transmission in November 1967.
- Title sequences: ‘The Macra Terror’ saw the debut of a new title sequence for Doctor Who – the first time the programme had made such a change. The title sequence is presented here in full, remastered in HD and in a number of alternative versions.
- Photo gallery: A collection of 36 photographs taken during the production of ‘The Macra Terror’ in 1967, featuring original design department set photographs and Radio Times publicity images. All presented in HD.
- Production Paperwork: A full set of original camera scripts, studio schedules, floor plans and other materials are available to view by accessing disc 2 via your computer’s DVD or Blu Ray ROM drive.
Additional extras exclusive to Steelbook:
- Gridlock: The Macra returned to Doctor Who in 2007, in this episode starring David Tennant and written by Russell T. Davies
- Audio commentary: Julie Gardner, Travis Oliver and Marie Jones discuss the making of ‘Gridlock’ in this audio commentary track from 2007.
- Doctor Who Confidential – Are we there yet?: A documentary looking at the making of the 2007 story, ‘Gridlock’.
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Gordon
March 24th, 2019 - 12:57pmLoved the animation. Seen it 3 times as I wanted to see both and listen to the commentary. For me it’s probably the best 1 yet. You can tell the budget and time has been increased. It’s stunning. For me I slightly prefer it in colour but I’d happily watch it in black and white. The opening shot is simply stunning. The doctor and Jamie look great. Ben could have been done with a little bit more work but is no way terrible. There is 4 other stories that they can improve them thankfully. I think them not being schackled to trying to replicate it 100% benefits it. Think it would not have been as good if they had to make it exactly like the 1967 episodes. If I want the 1967 version the recon is there and is actually pretty good. If some stories are being ruled out for animation I do think recons of this quality would be a good substitute for animation for the blu ray sets. After the dreadful recon for uwm I don’t think people will pay about £15 for stand alone releases for a recon regardless how good the quality of it.
The wheel mini episode works but I do think they will need to rework a lot of it if they wanted to match Jamie’s costume in episodes 3 and 6. Jamie also doesn’t look quite as refined as he does in macra so they may want to start the thing from scratch when ever they decide to animate the rest of it.
Anonymous
March 24th, 2019 - 1:56pmAgree Gordon, I love the animation it makes a great special edition version of the story and the recon is a great version of the original. As I say, I would buy reconstructed stories if done like macra was, as long as they have extras I’ll happily buy a standalone DVD release
Anonymous
March 24th, 2019 - 11:17amI’ve mentioned this elsewhere but I think its appropriate here as well. I do feel that the strength of the reconstructed macra with or without narration indicates to me that that may be the way to go for those stories that can be done this way. Especially stories that have existing episodes, crusade and wheel for instance. You could have a commentary, making of, photo gallery ect I’d buy them. If animation is too expensive this is the only option (other than not bothering at all!)
Tim M
March 24th, 2019 - 2:28pmI certainly think that if the two missing episodes of ‘The Crusade’ weren’t animated, then as the telesnaps exist, a fairly decent reconstruction using photographs could be done. The least said about the pointless ‘The Underwater Menace’ effort the better. Really never understood the BBC’s decision, as the team offered to do a better more polished recon on the same money.
Anonymous
March 24th, 2019 - 3:13pmAny story that has telesnaps can have a decent reconstruction done, those without will be the problem. Those without telesnaps are…
Marco polo (1 episode missing)
Galaxy 4
Mission to the unknown
Myth makers
Daleks master plan
Massacre of st Bartholomew’s eve
Celestial toymaker
Space pirates.
Steven Taylor
March 24th, 2019 - 4:58pmI like animantion and telesnaps I would happily buy either, stories like Marco Polo with out a lot of action are great with telesnaps but stories like evil of The Daleks and celestial toymaker are very action packed so are helped more with animation
Tim M
March 24th, 2019 - 11:59pm‘The Space Pirates’ would be a good one to animate. As only 1 episode survives and there are no telesnaps for the other 5 episodes. Plus if it was done soon, then Season Six would likely be the first 1960’s Blu-ray release.
Steven Taylor
March 25th, 2019 - 6:16amI think the first should be series 1 as out of the whole of series 1 there’s only two missing from reign of terror and they have been animated so we have the complete series 1
Anonymous
March 26th, 2019 - 1:41amMarco polo is series one and it’s missing completely
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2019 - 9:08pmDoes the standard DVD release include the Wheel In Space short?
Stanely Gleed
March 23rd, 2019 - 9:31pmyes it does.
Stanely Gleed
March 23rd, 2019 - 9:32pmyes, on the 1st disk.
Stanely Gleed
March 23rd, 2019 - 8:10pmGot my DVD of The Macra Terror yesterday and have just watched. When comparing to the Shada animation and direction, it is much better which surprised me as I thought the Shada animation was already great but when comparing it to Power of the Daleks, the animation is SO much better. We went from crappy cardboard cutouts to great animation with edgy faces to something so clean and fluent. The slight redesign of the Macra is better then the original design which, even though Shawcraft Models did try, looked like an overturned coconut with bits sticking out of it and stupid looking mouth. the special features are nice and the fact that we don’t need to buy a separate DVD for it in colour is great (probably because no one would bother to buy a separate DVD for a colour version like with the Power of the Daleks DVD). The colour version is actually very nice and I am currently thinking if it’s better in colour then in black and white. The entire story reminds me of the visuals in a comic book being bright and colorful with a mix of old and new. This just proves my point that you can make some small changes to the story as I bet the actual story didn’t look as good as this and making changes can improve on some things like how The Tenth Planet and The Moonbase DVDs had new nice looking angles and direction or how Mission to the Unknowns animation has the alien ambassadors look more like aliens rather then men in costumes which weren’t in the original but made it look better. My only criticism is, like with the Power of the Daleks animation, I noticed there are a few parts which have been left out but unlike the Power of the Daleks animation, instead of small parts in the Power of the Daleks animation, for The Macra Terror, it’s an entire scene. The scene is the scene is in episode 1 where every one is being treated and the Doctor is tidied up by a machine to only reverse it and come out looking like he did before. There might be more cut scenes but that was the only one that I noticed. This annoys me as this was really close to becoming a near perfect release. However, I noticed on later viewings on the Power of the Daleks DVD, the parts not animated were suddenly animated?! I don’t know if the BBC have the power to update DVDs, but I know there is a difference! They updated some how so the same might happen with The Macra Terror. I already was a fan of The Macra Terror but watching proper visuals rather then a still re-construction by Loose Canon or narrated Audio makes this story so much better. If you like the 2nd Dr (like me) then get this DVD. If you like the missing stories, get this DVD. If you like cheesy but enjoyable stories, GET THIS DVD!!! The acting is great, the special features are neat and animation is one of the best so far if not the best with it’s only competition being The Moonbase animation and Mission to the Unknown’s fan animation. Out of 10 I give the story an 8, the DVD I give a 9 and the animation I give a 9.
So, I’m sure what everyone is thinking what is the next animation and when it will come out. Well in my opinion, with all the evidence, I think The Wheel in Space will be the next animation. I say this because they have already animated 10 minutes from episode 1 so it will be silly if they just left it at that as they have already made character designs and CGI renders. There is the fact that when The Sun made a post on the missing episodes animations saying that The Macra Terror and The Wheel in Space will be animated. We see that they were right about The Macra Terror so they were probably right about The Wheel in Space. I mean they must have gotten the news story from somewhere and it just so happens that they were right about The Macra Terror and that parts of it have already been animated. A coincidence, I don’t think so. And before someone say maybe they meant the cut down version but I would disagree as the article said 8 episodes, not 4 and a bit. Also, a Wheel in Space animation would make sense as it would mean we would have all the Cyberman stories released on DVD which would give 2-Entertain a chance to release big box sets of Cybermen stories. So yea, The Wheel in Space is the next animation 95%, I just hope that they make some alterations to what they have already animated so that Jamie’s wearing the right clothes as in the mini-sode, Jamie is wearing the clothes he wears in The Moonbase, The Macra Terror, The Faceless Ones and Evil of the Daleks instead of the neck tie and fur jacket he wears in Fury from the Deep, The Wheel in space and The Dominators. As for a proper release date, I think work on The Wheel in space animation would have happened directly after, if not during, the work on The Macra Terror and so will be released in the later half of 2019, from September to December, so we will have 2 new DVDs this year as a present by the BBC as to make up the fact we didn’t have anything in 2018.
But what about after The Wheel in Space for our animation reconstruction for 2020 and the next few years? Well we know that the animations work best with action filled and Sci-Fi stories so they will be first before the historical or slower paste atmospheric stories. So don’t expect Marco Polo, The Myth Makers, The Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve, The Smugglers, The Highlanders, The Abominable Snowmen or Fury from the Deep being animated anytime soon, not because there bad (believe me, I think Marco Polo and Fury from the Deep are two of the best stories in the entire history of the show) but they include a lot more characters, aren’t filled with as much action and have more atmospheric scenes which would be really hard to replicate into animation. I know there are some rumours that Fury form the Deep is the next animation but you already know what I think is the next animation. Expect Galaxy 4, The Celestial Toymaker, The Savages, The Underwater Menace, The Faceless Ones, The Web of Fear and The Space Pirates to be animated soon.
As for the stories I didn’t mention, The Crusade, Mission to the Unknown, The Daleks’ Master Plan and Evil of the Daleks, I’m not sure. The Crusade is a pure historical and has loads of characters and costume changes which is why it has not been animated yet, according to someone who worked on the Power of the Daleks animation, but it is only made up of only 4 episodes and it is only missing 2. Mission to the Unknown has already been animated by Ian Levine however the BBC won’t release it and they probably never will (for some reason) but if they tired to do their own, I don’t think it would be as good as Ian’s is and with it being conformed that there is a New version of Mission being filmed in a university which has a proper production and support by the BBC, an official animation by the BBC will probably never happen. The Daleks’ Master Plan is interesting as it full of action and is one of the ones which fans want animated the most, like me, but it is 12 episodes long and 9 of its episodes will have to be animated which will take a long time which might mean they could rush it like they did with Power of the Daleks which is one of the poorer animations. Finally, Evil of the Daleks is interesting as even episodes 1, 3-5 are very slow and fits in with what I was talking about the stories that won’t work with animation but episode 6-7 fits more with the stories which would work with animation and that Rob Ritchie, who worked on Power of the Daleks and The Macra Terror, is working on doing an Evil of the Daleks animation so the BBC might use some of that if they do want to do an animation of Evil.
Anyway, after all that, I’m done. Bye
Written by Stanley Gleed
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2019 - 9:44pmThere is no official mission to the unknown animation. And you must have just missed bits when watching power…
Gordon
March 24th, 2019 - 4:12amThe wheel animation as reported in the newspapers was for the 10 minute animation. Nothing more. The news report of them animating 4 episodes of wheel was an assumption that because they were animating 10 minutes for the bfi. If they were animating the whole thing they surely would have held off putting it on the wheel dvd instead of putting it on macra. You would have to redo a good chunk of the 10 minutes of animation to get Jamie in the same outfit as in the surviving episodes. If they knew it was going to be next then why animate the wrong costume deliberately? I could be wrong but I don’t think he changes his outfit in the surviving episodes so it would have to match. The constant denials by rob Ritchie and co as well makes me think they are telling the truth when they say it’s only a 10 minute thing for the bfi that was quickly cobbled together.
Going by what the missing stories they have currently animated and and what they were possibly going to do (it was either macra or the highlanders) they are quite clearly looking at completely missing stories. I do think the next likely 1 will be fury from the deep. Only 14 speaking parts and only a few minimalistic sets. It’s got a lot going for it (sonic debut, Victoria farewell, awsome reputation) It will be a lot easier to do than some 4 parters. Most of the hartnell era is pretty much ruled out due to either too many eps (Marco dmp) or too many sets or characters (crusade or massacre). I do think galaxy 4 is the easiest hartnell to animate due to how small the guest cast is and how easy it is to draw the chumblies however there is already a fairly decent recon which may knock it down the list of animations. Toymaker is another 1 that doesn’t have a big cast and would be simpler to do. Savages is a decent enough story but I don’t think it’s a well remembered enough story.(at least Macra Terror had gridlock as a connection) The only thing really going for it is Stevens farewell. The myth makers and smugglers are questionable for me. They do have a smaller cast than say crusade however I’m not certain about the number of sets they have. The Troughton era has more potential. They picked macra over highlanders due to being more practical. I do think it’s possible we will get it as they have looked into it and they didn’t dismiss it outright. I do think uwm is lower down on the list as they want to fill gaps in our dvd shelves and regardless of what we think of the recon there is a dvd out there already. Plus it’s got a horrendous reputation by most fans. The faceless ones is a possibility and there are 2 eps for reference. Evil has a small cast however there is lots of sets. As you mentioned Rob Ritchie is working on animating that however he stopped working on it 3 years back when he started working for the bbc. He’s been too busy to do anything else anyway. Abominable could get it seeing as the interior sets aren’t massive but i seem to remember the soundtrack being pretty poor quality. Web 3 may still turn up so I think they are holding back as far as possible before forming out on expensive animation. Fury and wheel I already discussed. Space pirates would probably animate well however it’s horendous reputation probably makes it less likely to happen.
Regarding Ian’s mission animation he just animated it and expected the bbc to pick it up despite not getting a blessing or the ok to do so by the nation estate or getting any legal clearances. They were less than thrilled by Ian’s actions.
Rob W
March 24th, 2019 - 9:34amThe surviving (or lack of decent) audio is also a consideration as are some aspects of the different characters clothing (tartan for example).
Anonymous
March 24th, 2019 - 11:03amI do think Gordon is right about fury, the limited characters and sets make it a strong possibility. But the fact they considered Highlanders to me means that’s also still a strong contender. Evil is an interesting one, it would sell as it’s rightly regarded as a classic. It’s a dalek story so has has that in its favour but there are quite a few characters many of whom only appear in one or two episodes, it’s divided into three time settings, 1860’s, 1960’s and skaro each with multiple sets. So a worthy but potentially very expensive story to do. The hartnell era is a problem most stories feature multiple characters and sets as well as the regulars doing costume changes within stories. Now I would love galaxy 4 done as I didn’t like the reconstructed version. Over thirty minutes missing means I normally listen to the CD and watch the episode rather than watch the reconstruction. Trouble is I don’t know how commercial the hartnell era is. Now over the years as I’ve got older my appreciation of hartnell has increased massively I think many of his stories are excellent but among younger fans (an audience needed to help sell these animated stories) he’s unfortunately not popular. Personally I’ll be grateful even if we only get one more…
Anonymous
March 24th, 2019 - 11:08amIan levene has done that several times now. If he asked first the BBC might actually use his stuff more! Thing is although I like planet of giants reconstructed I do think it has some problems. The new audio is very tinny and doesn’t really match the episodes and the constant use of the same bits of film grates after a while. A shame in a way the didn’t animate the missing sequences and get big finish to re-record the dialogue.
TARDIS Traveller
March 23rd, 2019 - 7:20pmGot mine today and really enjoyed it. Can’t complain with having more Troughton but the only thing that bugged me was the omission of Polly’s hair cut especially having just watched the moonbase it just jarred the first 10 minutes. Other than that i loved it and will be watching it again tomorrow
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2019 - 9:48pmMost of the animations have those kind of ‘errors’. They are not errors but money saving choices. It’s cheaper to animate polly with short hair and in the same costume for the first ten minutes than to have to do separate animations for her. The same was done with zoe’s outfit in the very first animation the invasion. I agree it’s a bit irritating continuity wise but I understand the financial reasons behind it.
TARDIS Traveller
March 24th, 2019 - 12:04amTotally understand and would rather have 10 minutes of continuity error than nothing at all and what we have is pretty good as well
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 8:29pmGot mine from galaxy four yesterday. All watched now! Very good. Enjoyed the animation but it’s not the original story. 2 mins 19 sec missing from refreshment centre scene, very different take on many scenes and an edited ending. Think special edition rather than original story. Still enjoyed it though.
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 8:34pmExtras are a bit odd, most of them are just versions of what’s in the animation or reconstruction, the behind the scenes film was previously on another story minus commentary. The wheel in space is nice but unfortunately a bit pointless really! Have to say the unnarrated reconstruction is very good. I’d be very happy with crusade or wheel done like that with the existing episodes.
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 8:36pmMissed off this… I’d prefer animation but if that’s off the table for certain stories reconstructed episodes like macra or power is probably the way forward. Stick a load of extras on and I’ll buy them.
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 8:37pmGalaxy 4 sent it on the 18th and it arrived on the 21st. So pleased!
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 8:49pmOh and the reconstruction is split over both discs.
Gordon
March 22nd, 2019 - 9:30pmThey would have struggled to fit 8 episodes on 1 disc without compression effecting the picture quality so splitting it over 2 discs makes sense.
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 9:48pmYeah it’s absolutely fine.
Tim M
March 23rd, 2019 - 10:47amDo you have the DVD version? If so, what does the reverse cover look like, and does it match in well with the other classic ‘WHO’ DVD releases. Plus, how does the spine look on the reverse? Any PG logos on the spine (hopefully not), and 2 Entertain logo?
booboo
March 23rd, 2019 - 11:42amjust added the reversible cover
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2019 - 12:13pmYes DVD, did reverse it. I don’t mind the new logo but it just stands out to much. Boo boo has put the image on now
Tim M
March 23rd, 2019 - 12:27pmThanks booboo for showing the reverse DVD cover. That’s the side I will be using for my collection.
booboo
March 23rd, 2019 - 12:30pmsame
Dean Wells
March 22nd, 2019 - 4:58pmAny Zoom despatches going on yet???
booboo
March 22nd, 2019 - 5:00pmnot me, looks like it may have been quicker from Amazon this time
Gordon
March 22nd, 2019 - 5:05pmA rare misfire for a Friday delivery from them. Still could be sent away this evening.
Gordon
March 22nd, 2019 - 7:15pmAnd mine now says despatched. Didn’t get an email through
booboo
March 22nd, 2019 - 7:33pmjust had an email dispatch for the DVD and steelbook
Dean Wells
March 22nd, 2019 - 8:01pmYay mine have been despatched too. Just got email.
Hopefully chance of delivery tomorrow!!!!
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2019 - 9:19pmMine dispatched from Zoom!
Tim M
March 23rd, 2019 - 11:16amMy copy has been ordered from Amazon. So I will likely get it Monday. I’m at work the next two days and off Tuesday, so not too bothered if it arrives after others get their copies. I haven’t got the time to watch it until Tuesday anyway.
Steven Taylor
March 21st, 2019 - 7:47pmThe two I hope they do is the celestial toymaker and fury from the deep both great stories in my opinion, also if they do fury I hope they don’t try and change the sonic screwdriver prop they used, because they used the whistle from Victoria’s life jacket, because I can just see them putting the penlight design seen in the war game in it place instead, I know it’s a small thing but it would make me happy
Peter
March 21st, 2019 - 9:09amHope the next animation is a Hartnell, really underrated Doctor.
Rob W
March 21st, 2019 - 11:27amDepends not only on how many charecters/backgrounds etc need animating but the quality of (any) existing audio too…
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a26824309/doctor-who-animated-episodes-reconstructions/
Tim M
March 21st, 2019 - 10:43pmI’d like to see ‘The Savages’ animated. Underrated Hartnell story which is completely missing. Also, it’s another Ian Stuart Black story.
James
March 18th, 2019 - 11:38pmOnly a tiny thing but I noticed at the BFI that the animation has a small error in episode 2. During the section where the Doctor is in the Pilot’s office, he dismantles a circuit in the wall but a minute later the circuit is undamaged. Only a small error and not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
Tim M
March 20th, 2019 - 12:48pmWhat did you think of the overall animation James. Sounds like an improvement on ‘The Power of the Daleks’. In hindsight it would have been better if Charles Norton and the team had started by animating episodes 1 and 4 of ‘The Underwater Menace’ first as a sort of test run before a bigger project like ‘The Power of the Daleks’.
Rob W
March 20th, 2019 - 5:34pmThere’s some interesting details here regarding which stories may be animated:-
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a26824309/doctor-who-animated-episodes-reconstructions/
James
March 21st, 2019 - 1:46pmTim, the animation is an improvement on Power definitely. But saying that, Power is still watchable and I would rather have more animated episodes (even if the style is nearer to that of Power than Macra) in the long run, than more that have no visuals at all.
James
March 21st, 2019 - 1:55pmAlso I can understand why they chose to do Power. It was the 50th anniversary, completely missing and has the Daleks, while also introducing Patrick Troughton. So there were many good reasons for choosing that story over the Underwater Menace which they had already released on DVD. I think we’ll possibly get those episodes animated but not for a few years yet. I think the focus of the BBC atm is purely on the completely missing stories so I think Highlanders and Fury from the Deep are likely to be the next ones as that would mean that none Troughton’s completely missing serials remain to be released on DVD/bluray.
Tim M
March 23rd, 2019 - 11:12amI suppose what I’m trying to say was that in hindsight it’s a pity Charles Norton wasn’t involved a year or so earlier. Then ‘The Underwater Menace’ could have had 2 animated episodes, then ‘The Power of the Daleks’ would have followed in time for it’s 50th.
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2019 - 2:39pmMind continuity errors occur in everything so I don’t think it really matters.
Gordon
March 18th, 2019 - 7:46pmhttps://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a26852966/doctor-who-macra-terror-watch/
It looks a step up over power and shada.
Gordon
March 20th, 2019 - 9:58amhttps://youtu.be/zuiWG9gC3Tg
And here is the same scene but in black and white
Tim M
March 20th, 2019 - 12:38pmThanks for the links Gordon. The animation looks excellent. ‘The Macra Terror’ is shaping up to be a very good release indeed. Question is…what story should be animated next? I’d like to see a Hartnell story next. How about ‘The Celestial Toymaker’? It only needs 3 episodes animated, and would work really well partly animated as it’s a suitable cartoon type story. Failing that, I’d suggest all 4 episodes of ‘The Savages’. An underrated little gem in my view.
the 14th doctor
March 20th, 2019 - 1:09pmoh deer, sorry but that looks nothing like patrick troughton!
i will probably get it for the story but the animation does not look good.
sorry just my opinion.
J45ON96
March 21st, 2019 - 10:41amI mean, you’re entitled to your opinion.
But it’s clearly Pat Troughton. It’s not like it looks like anyone else.
Anonymous
March 17th, 2019 - 2:16amTROUGHTONS COLOUR TITLES
Steven taylor
March 17th, 2019 - 8:02amWait are saying they did a colour version of his titles
Anonymous
March 17th, 2019 - 10:31amWell of course they did for the animated colour episodes
Anonymous
March 17th, 2019 - 12:33pmITS TROUGHTONS TITLES WITH PERTWEE COULOR
Steven taylor
March 17th, 2019 - 7:05pmOMG THATS AMAZING I CANT WAIT
Tim M
March 15th, 2019 - 1:20pmSounds like the animated ‘Macra Terror’ has gone down very well with it’s press screening. It sounds like as well that it was between either ‘The Macra Terror’ or ‘The Highlanders’ that was to be animated last year. And of course they went for ‘Macra’. I’ve also read that the chances of most historical stories being animated is very slim. Due to the amount of characters and different costumes. Also four part stories are the ideal length if one story is to be animated over a year apparently. So, judging by that criteria, the next story to be animated could be either ‘Galaxy Four’, ‘The Celestial Toymaker’, ‘The Savages’ , ‘The Underwater Menace’, ‘The Faceless Ones’, ‘The Web of Fear’ or ‘The Wheel in Space’. All of the above require 4 or less episodes to be animated for completion.
Anonymous
March 15th, 2019 - 5:08pmWould be the same budget to do the crusade
Gordon
March 15th, 2019 - 5:46pmNo it wouldn’t be the same. It would actually be a lot more. There are more sets characters and costumes than most 6 parters and would take well over a year to do. Charles norton said at the press screening that the crusade would be extremely unlikely at present
Anonymous
March 16th, 2019 - 10:12amTo be honest I think it’s unlikely that we will get all the missing episodes animated. There are stories that just wouldn’t have the commercial pull of say the power or macra. I’ve just listened to Marco polo a few months ago and I have to say that as a story it’s very weak. Overlong, repetitive and dull. When you consider that it’s best remembered for its sets and costumes that is not the basis of a classic story. Now I would love it to found I would love it to be animated just because I find it dull doesn’t mean I don’t want to be able to watch it rather than just hear it but I don’t know how commercial viable a seven part historical story would be. I think we have to accept as fans that from a logical practical standpoint not all stories will be animated or redone in any form.
Anonymous
March 16th, 2019 - 11:56pmIt wasn’t that long ago people were questioning the commercial viability of The Macra Terror as well. Difficulty in producing them will be the nail in the coffin before lack of interest gets them.
The audio quality of a lot of the Hartnell episodes is ruling out a lot of releases apparently.
Rob W
March 17th, 2019 - 4:14pmI think the nail in the coffin is that physical media sales are declining, except it seems for vinyl. Steelbooks/VHS style, edition limited packaging is a good way to boast interest in these type of releases…
skonnos
March 14th, 2019 - 10:31amseems the release date has been pushed back a week on this. I have tickets to the BFI screening this weekend a d we were promised a copy on DVD at the screening. This seems unlikely now the release date is a week later. Perhaps they will now have to post out 300+ DVDs now….
Rob W
March 14th, 2019 - 11:15amCould be you will receive the DVD, popular thinking says this release was put back a week so it would not clash with the forthcoming Tom Baker Season 18 blu-ray boxset.
Gordon
March 14th, 2019 - 12:07pmThey officially stopped working on the dvd on friday so it’s quite possible that the dvds aren’t quite ready by saturday
Skonnos
March 16th, 2019 - 10:57pmUpdate: DVDs were available after the screening. They said urgent stocks from the warehouse were shipped in especially. Great animation and the DVD has some great extras. Amazing gonna be this on DVD 9 days before the release, I’m stoked.
Tim M
March 13th, 2019 - 1:05pmWith a shortened animated version of episode 1 of ‘The Wheel in Space’ in colour on this DVD, how (if all missing episodes were animated in colour) would it sit alongside surviving episodes 3 and 6 in black and white. Maybe like ‘The Macra Terror’ there could be two versions. One completely in black and white, and one completely in colour. I’m thinking that maybe episodes 3 and 6 could have added colour. Someone like Stuart Humphreys (who added colour to ‘The Mind of Evil’ part 1) could perhaps be involved in colourising episodes 3 and 6 of ‘The Wheel in Space’?…it’s just a thought.
Anonymous
March 13th, 2019 - 2:08pmThink wheel would have to black and white. Personally I don’t think we need the original episodes colourised. They weren’t made in colour so don’t ruin them. It’s a waste of money doing colour animations of existing episodes. Just do a black and white animation. Colourised original back and white always looks awful. Just leave it alone!
Rob W
March 13th, 2019 - 2:32pmJust b/w animatin Invasion DVD release (in widescreen)..?
Steven taylor
March 14th, 2019 - 7:56amYeah I prefer them In black and white anyway so it would be a waste colourising black and white episodes
Ollie
March 11th, 2019 - 1:18pmI’ve been reading on the Missing Episodes forum that it was disclosed in the recent DWM that the scene from Ep.1 in which the Doctor has his ‘makeover’ has been edited out due to time constraints on the production. If that’s the case, then in my opinion that’s pretty awful…
Duncan Parsons
March 11th, 2019 - 4:00pmIt’s not ideal. But 98% of a story is better than none.
Anonymous
March 11th, 2019 - 4:26pmMore like 99.9% but it’s a bit naff. Surely all they had to do is show the spruced up doctor entering a machine cut to the other characters while the noises are going on and then show the crumpled doctor exiting the machine. Yes, the scene will be in the reconstructed version and yes it’s not a scene that effects the story but it’s still a bit naff!
Gordon
March 12th, 2019 - 11:14amIt’s a shame but however the scene doesn’t take away from the plot and would work just as well without it as it does with it. The plot doesn’t fall apart from its absence. I would have liked to have seen it. It’s such a shame that the time and money creating a spruced up doctor for a 30 second shot that would never be used again would have pushed things way over budget and deadlines. Not the animators fault. Rob Ritchie worked 48 hours straight to get it done on time. Charles norton has described it as a reimaging rather than a reconstruction so I think those expecting it to be a straight up reconstruction of the 1967 production maybe disappointed. As well regarded as the invasion animation was it has bits edited and sound effects added so that wasn’t 100 percent based around the original production either.
Tim M
March 12th, 2019 - 12:23pmI presume the ‘missing’ scene will be included with the telesnap reconstruction. I hope we do get more missing stories animated. ‘Fury from the Deep’ must be a strong contender for next animation.
Anonymous
March 12th, 2019 - 1:13pmIt’s funny but the more I think about it the less bothered I am. When I think about it i only ever watch the new version of day of the daleks, the animated shada, the movie versions of battlefield and curse of fenric and the reconstructed planet of giants and all of those have the originals on or in shada’s case on another DVD. Macra has the full audio reconstruction but I’ll probably just watch the animated episodes. No biggie really. The missing scene is in with the reconstructed version as it does say the original unedited audio.
Gordon
March 12th, 2019 - 1:23pmThe original soundtrack will be available on the reconstruction with or without narration. There is also the 1992 Colin Baker narration which has that scene as well
Rob W
March 13th, 2019 - 4:27pmGiven the release date was put back a week, the review disc might be just that and the short scene could be inluded after all. I guess we’ll hear for sure on Saturday when the BFI show it..?
Gordon
March 13th, 2019 - 4:50pmNo it’s defiantly not on the disc. They only finished on it last Friday so there isn’t any review discs
Skonnos
March 16th, 2019 - 11:01pmThe missing scene wasn’t shown in the BIG screened version and I can confirm it’s not part of the animation on the DVD
Steven Taylor
March 9th, 2019 - 5:21pmWill there be a telesnap version like the power of the daleks
Gordon
March 9th, 2019 - 6:34pmYes. Produced by derek Hanley who did the loose cannon version. They have touched up and improved the loose cannon version and has the option of with or without narration.
Tim M
March 12th, 2019 - 9:22pmA pity that Derek Hanley wasn’t involved in ‘The Underwater Menace’ episodes 1 and 4.
The 14th doctor
March 7th, 2019 - 12:08pmIs the animated mini episode the wheel in space?
As I have heard it might be
Gordon
March 7th, 2019 - 12:09pmYes it is
The 14th doctor
March 7th, 2019 - 12:55pmThanks, that has sold it to me now!
Robert
March 7th, 2019 - 8:37pmis it just episode one are a cut downnoftge full story?
is it a teaser for a full animation or just a one off?
Gordon
March 7th, 2019 - 9:09pmIt’s 10 minute cut down edited version of episode 1. All the stuff with Victoria’s farewell and all the interactions with the wheel crew are all cut. It is just the doctor and Jamie talking and also the servo robot. It was just a 1 off thing made for the bfi.
The Flying Shark
March 7th, 2019 - 9:45pmIt’s a ten minute cut down of episode one, as shown at a BFI event.
blazedvds
March 6th, 2019 - 2:25pmLove the post
Mr Nobody
March 8th, 2019 - 8:58pmI hate the post…especially when it’s a gas bill.
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 11:21amNever quite understood the obsession with covers for doctor who. Whether it’s the books, videos, DVD, bluray, CD or the magazine someone always has to complain. You know there is a reason why the expression “never judge a book by the cover” became a cliche! What matters is the content not whether the cover is “good” something so meaningless as for everyone that hates the cover there will be an equal number that love it. Shame we have reached a time in the world where people feel the need to Express their feelings about everything publicly. Me, I just shrug and move on if I don’t like something. Try it. You’ll feel better…
The complaints about the logo does make me laugh. Between 1973 and 1990 the target range had variations on four logos. The pertwee logo, the logo with doctor curved above the who, the neon tube logo and the McCoy logo. And it made no difference whatsoever to the most important aspect of the books – the writing!
I collect books and films not just who but a wide variety genres. Nothing matches. Looking at my shelves right now I can see a sea of differently coloured spines and sizes often from within the same authors works. Same with the film DVDs. It’s nice if an author or film set has matching spines but it’s not essential. I have 42 books from a crime writer there are 4 different sizes and spine types. And it makes no difference whatsoever to my enjoyment of the books!
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 11:23amSorry. This was meant as a fuller reply to the response to my not being bothered by the cover not matching.
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 7:55pmI think people with OCD like doctor who, or is it people who like doctor who have OCD, i don’t know but I like it when things are consistent and don’t really care if they’re not, like big finish and the steelbook spines, yes they’re different but at least they look professional and sleek and nice on the shelf no matter what design the cover artists decide to pull out of the randomiser machine they seem to have
TARDIS Traveller
March 6th, 2019 - 8:52pmI think the difference here is that the dvd range has never had the current logo on them before and even with slight tweaks in recent years there has been the option to reverse it. So I think that’s why when this artwork released I person welcomed the reversible cover.
Anonymous
March 7th, 2019 - 1:10pmFor me I think the classic era DVDs should have had the era specific logo on. So McCoy has his logo, pertwee his ect. But that should have been the alternative to whatever the current logo was. Personally I won’t be reversing the macra logo as I prefer the full cover artwork.
Anonymous
March 7th, 2019 - 8:32pmFor me – and maybe I am being extremely OCD/pedantic here, but having a Modern Who logo splashed across a Classic range release is really frustrating for me. Thats why I was irritated that the Series 11/Whittaker logo was used for the recent Classic series blu-ray box sets. It just feels wrong. The DVD range got by just fine for almost 20 years using the 3rd/8th Dr era logo and I don’t see why it needed to change.
Aiden
March 22nd, 2019 - 6:13pmThere will be a reversible cover with the pertwee/McGann logo, which is good
Tim M
March 5th, 2019 - 3:00pmCan they provide an image of the reverse DVD cover of ‘The Macra Terror’? It’s likely the side I’d use to fit in better with my collection.
Robert
March 5th, 2019 - 8:22pmsame here. it’s it’s not broke why fit it hey
Gordon
March 6th, 2019 - 10:33amNo because you will get some people thinking there are 2 versions out there to buy and therefore will cancel their order. Having 2 different looking covers will muddy the waters. I really don’t get the need to see it now. We pretty much know what the cover will look like (just the same as the normal cover but with the top half being the roundels and the old classic logo). web/enemy/power/shada didn’t reveal their covers until they came through my door and people were ok with that so I don’t understand the absolute need to see the Macra Terror’s alternative cover just now
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 8:05pmActually, Power’s roundel cover was revealed at the same time as the non-roundel cover.
Steven taylor
March 5th, 2019 - 11:21amWhy has it been pushed back to the 25th
Gordon
March 5th, 2019 - 11:32amI assume it’s because they don’t want the 2 big releases of season 18 and and the Macra Terror our on the same day.
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 8:50pmDo we know if this cover is reversible to match the rest of the range?
Dante
March 4th, 2019 - 8:53pmI hope so!
Gordon
March 5th, 2019 - 12:20amYes. That has been confirmed with the old roundels and classic logo
The Drums The Never Ending Drum Beat
March 5th, 2019 - 1:23pmTHANK GOD. I HATE the fact that the new logo has to be on ALL MERCHANDISE. especially since (in my humble opinion) it doesn’t even look good!!!
Anonymous
March 5th, 2019 - 10:10pmNot bothered in the slightest if it doesn’t match.
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 10:03am‘Not bothered in the slightest if it doesn’t match’.
Your new to the collecting game aren’t you?
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 11:11amNo I’ve collected who books, videos and DVDs for 45 years. It’s just meaningless whether it all matches to me.
Anonymous
March 6th, 2019 - 4:39pmTo me. It’s a sad reminder of what is happening to doctor who at the moment. I would rather erase it from my memory.
Skonnos
March 16th, 2019 - 11:04pmI can confirm the cover is reversible to fit your existing spines guys don’t panic!
The ergon
March 4th, 2019 - 8:38pmThe animation style looks different yet again. sorry, Is this only in colour? If so i shall have to turn the contrast down.
Gordon
March 4th, 2019 - 8:40pmBlack and white is on disc 2
The ergon
March 4th, 2019 - 11:35pmjust seen it now gordon, scrolling down and taking time to read the extras. Just saw colour only and jumped the gun as per usual.
mick
March 4th, 2019 - 8:05pmBeen put back to 25th march
Doctor whom
March 4th, 2019 - 7:21pmThe cover looks pants!
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 7:30pmPersonally I think the cover is excellent
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 8:48pmOf course you do
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 8:59pmWhat’s that supposed to mean anonymous?
Anonymous
March 5th, 2019 - 1:39amI really do like the cover I think it’s striking
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 7:08pmWhich story do people want animated next? I’d like underwater menace or web of fear so we don’t have to have the telesnaps, but I would like wheel in space as it is a Cyberman story and Zoe’s intro, and the faceless ones or fury from the deep as they are departures of companions
The 14th doctor
March 4th, 2019 - 7:20pmVery nice choices.
I completely agree.
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 7:29pmAbominable snowmen and the myth makers
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 7:32pmI’d love underwater menace and web but maybe we should get them towards the end of the run of missing stories. I only say that because lets face it if they announced the next release as underwater menace there would be so much complaining!
Gordon
March 4th, 2019 - 7:56pmFury from the deep is my most wanted. Completely missing and the soundtrack is amazing. Going by the soundtrack there is some reallly creepy and unsettling moments. It fits in with the previous 2 missing stories that have been animated (Troughton with a monster) so it stands a chance. It’s been rumoured as well. I’d also like to see crusade but that has a ton of hurdles despite being only 2 eps to do. With the amount of characters sets and costumes it is estimated by 1 of the animators that it would take well over a year and would cost more and would take much longer than most of the 6 parters. I can see the likes of web and underwater menace getting animations for the blu ray sets. With the case of uwm the dvd is fine extras wise. Apart from the animation there is very little you could add to it if it was to get a stand alone rerelease. I just don’t think the animation alone would be enough to make it worth a rebuy considering how bad the reputation for it is. I can see some of the season blu ray budget used to animate that for season 4. Animated Web 3 I can see as a season 5 exclusive (at least for a specific time period). The blu ray budget should cover the ep 3 and I’d imagine they would want to keep the extras for web for when season 5 comes out
Pete
March 4th, 2019 - 10:10pmI’d love wheel in space, don’t know why but I love it. Listen to it endlessly on audio, strangely comforting,
Robert
March 5th, 2019 - 5:05ama yeti collection would work. the abominable snowmen with special edition web of fear with animated episode 3
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 7:06pmCould the BBC not dare to part with themselves at least once- on the spine they have their logo on there twice- was it that necessary?
Tyler Prescott
March 4th, 2019 - 6:25pmThe spine doesn’t match the other classic DVDs, which is a shame. Power of the Daleks had the same sort of design, but they kept the spine consistent with the rest.
Gordon
March 4th, 2019 - 6:30pmThe cover is reversable
Tim M
March 4th, 2019 - 6:51pmWill it therefore match with the other classic series DVD releases on the reverse cover. Hopefully without the PG logo on the spine too!
Tyler Prescott
March 4th, 2019 - 7:58pmOkay, thanks.
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 5:17pmRelease date now confirmed as 25th march
Anonymous
March 4th, 2019 - 5:37pmAmazon, zoom and galaxy 4 now all say 25th
Robert
March 5th, 2019 - 5:07amhmv is set for 25th according to there stock computer when I asked on Monday 5th March