'Dr.Who' was not the only classic children's British sci-fi show to be revived in 2005. Beating it to the airwaves by a few weeks was an all-new animated version of Gerry Anderson's 1967 hit 'Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons'. Though 'Scarlet' rivalled 'Who' in terms of quality, it met with a different fate. Where the latter recently concluded its fourth season ( with a fifth scheduled to appear to 2010 ), the former vanished from our screens at the end of 2005, never to return. So what happened?
It was Anderson's cherished dream to make a new series of 'Captain Scarlet' ( along with a new 'Thunderbirds' ). After securing a $30 million budget, he set to work upgrading the concept for a new generation.
The basic idea remained the same; an expedition to Mars results in tragedy. Captain Black opens fire on a mysterious alien city, believing the inhabitants to be hostile. Actually, they were not, but now they are. The city is controlled by computers built by the Mysterons, and they swear vengeance against Mankind.
They turn Black into their top agent, and on returning to Earth he begins a war of nerves against the Spectrum organisation, commanded by Colonel White. All Spectrum operatives are named after colours.
The Mysterons have the power of 'retro-metabolism', meaning that they can kill a person and then construct a replica under their control. This happens to Captain Scarlet, but he recovers and becomes Spectrum's number one weapon in the fight against the Mysterons. He also is indestructible.
Recognising that the old puppets from the 'Supermarionation' days had had their day, Anderson decided to make the new show in motion-capture C.G.I. and High Definition, making it one of the most ambitious and expensive children's series ever mounted.
The animation greatly increased the scope of the plots, which now included metal-eating insects, alien spores and time travel. Scarlet now could do things his predecessor simply could not, such as running, jumping and fighting. The old vehicles such as the Angel Interceptors ( now known as Falcons ) were kept but there were new ones such as the tank-like Rhinos and ultra-fast Raid bikes.
The first episode of the original show was expanded into a two-parter called 'Instrument Of Destruction'. Changes included Scarlet becoming a part of the ill-fated trip to Mars and a chilling sequence with an apparently dead Black rising from the grave.
Minor characters such as Destiny Angel, Captain Magenta and Captain Ochre were given a chance to shine. Lieutenant Green becoming a woman angered die-hard fans but I do not think it hurt the show. Cloudbase, Spectrum's floating headquarters, was renamed Skybase. Again a change of minor importance. I was not keen on Crispin Merrill's new theme though, it sounded like the 'Space Precinct' signature tune with the notes in a slightly different order. The famous seven note drum roll between scenes was thankfully retained.
'New Captain Scarlet' both looked and sounded marvellous. Despite the modern technology, the integrity of the original was perfectly preserved. The failure of the 'Thunderbirds' movie the year before became immediately apparent. To do justice to a Gerry Anderson idea you first need to hire the man himself ( and David Lane if possible! ).
With all these excellent qualities, it is sad to have to report that it was not the success it should have been. Originally earmarked for a high-profile autumn launch, 'New Captain Scarlet' was instead crucified.
Without warning, I.T.V.-1 inserted it into a dreadful Saturday morning children's show called 'Ministry Of Mayhem''. The episodes were cut in half ( with no indication given as to when Part Two would appear ), the opening and closing credits often removed, and the presenters allowed to make inane comments both before and after the show had finished. It was impossible for 'New Captain Scarlet' to gain the kind of audience it needed to become a popular success.
Anderson was understandably furious. Though the show ( or some of it ) was later repeated in an afternoon slot, the damage had been done. After 26 episodes, it ended. Annoyingly, many intriguing possibilities ( such as the idea of a renegade Mysteron faction ) remained unexplored.
Interestingly, 'Dr.Who' paid tribute in the 2007 episode 'The Sound Of Drums' by having the Doctor's arch-enemy The Master based on a craft called 'The Valiant', whose design was remarkably similar to Skybase.
It beggars belief that Anderson's best series in years should have been treated with something approaching contempt by I.T.V.-1, but then what do you expect from the channel that gave us 'Footballers' Wives' and 'Trinny & Susannah Undress The Nation'?
At the time of writing, Gerry is still hoping to get a C.G.I. version of 'Thunderbirds' underway. If he is successful ( and one hopes he is ), he would do well to ensure it goes out anywhere other than I.T.V.-1. Judging by its well-publicised phone-in scandals and increasingly bad programmes, it would seem that the Mysterons are now in charge, not Michael Grade!
It was Anderson's cherished dream to make a new series of 'Captain Scarlet' ( along with a new 'Thunderbirds' ). After securing a $30 million budget, he set to work upgrading the concept for a new generation.
The basic idea remained the same; an expedition to Mars results in tragedy. Captain Black opens fire on a mysterious alien city, believing the inhabitants to be hostile. Actually, they were not, but now they are. The city is controlled by computers built by the Mysterons, and they swear vengeance against Mankind.
They turn Black into their top agent, and on returning to Earth he begins a war of nerves against the Spectrum organisation, commanded by Colonel White. All Spectrum operatives are named after colours.
The Mysterons have the power of 'retro-metabolism', meaning that they can kill a person and then construct a replica under their control. This happens to Captain Scarlet, but he recovers and becomes Spectrum's number one weapon in the fight against the Mysterons. He also is indestructible.
Recognising that the old puppets from the 'Supermarionation' days had had their day, Anderson decided to make the new show in motion-capture C.G.I. and High Definition, making it one of the most ambitious and expensive children's series ever mounted.
The animation greatly increased the scope of the plots, which now included metal-eating insects, alien spores and time travel. Scarlet now could do things his predecessor simply could not, such as running, jumping and fighting. The old vehicles such as the Angel Interceptors ( now known as Falcons ) were kept but there were new ones such as the tank-like Rhinos and ultra-fast Raid bikes.
The first episode of the original show was expanded into a two-parter called 'Instrument Of Destruction'. Changes included Scarlet becoming a part of the ill-fated trip to Mars and a chilling sequence with an apparently dead Black rising from the grave.
Minor characters such as Destiny Angel, Captain Magenta and Captain Ochre were given a chance to shine. Lieutenant Green becoming a woman angered die-hard fans but I do not think it hurt the show. Cloudbase, Spectrum's floating headquarters, was renamed Skybase. Again a change of minor importance. I was not keen on Crispin Merrill's new theme though, it sounded like the 'Space Precinct' signature tune with the notes in a slightly different order. The famous seven note drum roll between scenes was thankfully retained.
'New Captain Scarlet' both looked and sounded marvellous. Despite the modern technology, the integrity of the original was perfectly preserved. The failure of the 'Thunderbirds' movie the year before became immediately apparent. To do justice to a Gerry Anderson idea you first need to hire the man himself ( and David Lane if possible! ).
With all these excellent qualities, it is sad to have to report that it was not the success it should have been. Originally earmarked for a high-profile autumn launch, 'New Captain Scarlet' was instead crucified.
Without warning, I.T.V.-1 inserted it into a dreadful Saturday morning children's show called 'Ministry Of Mayhem''. The episodes were cut in half ( with no indication given as to when Part Two would appear ), the opening and closing credits often removed, and the presenters allowed to make inane comments both before and after the show had finished. It was impossible for 'New Captain Scarlet' to gain the kind of audience it needed to become a popular success.
Anderson was understandably furious. Though the show ( or some of it ) was later repeated in an afternoon slot, the damage had been done. After 26 episodes, it ended. Annoyingly, many intriguing possibilities ( such as the idea of a renegade Mysteron faction ) remained unexplored.
Interestingly, 'Dr.Who' paid tribute in the 2007 episode 'The Sound Of Drums' by having the Doctor's arch-enemy The Master based on a craft called 'The Valiant', whose design was remarkably similar to Skybase.
It beggars belief that Anderson's best series in years should have been treated with something approaching contempt by I.T.V.-1, but then what do you expect from the channel that gave us 'Footballers' Wives' and 'Trinny & Susannah Undress The Nation'?
At the time of writing, Gerry is still hoping to get a C.G.I. version of 'Thunderbirds' underway. If he is successful ( and one hopes he is ), he would do well to ensure it goes out anywhere other than I.T.V.-1. Judging by its well-publicised phone-in scandals and increasingly bad programmes, it would seem that the Mysterons are now in charge, not Michael Grade!