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The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)

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The Adventures of Tintin
File:AdventuresOfTintinTitle.png
Tintin and Snowy, as seen on the show's opening sequence.
Created byHergé (characters)
StarringColin O'Meara
David Fox
Wayne Robson
John Stocker
Dan Hennessey
Susan Roman
Country of originFrance / Canada
No. of episodes39
Production
Running time25 minutes (approx. per episode)
Original release
NetworkVarious
Release1991 –
1992

The Adventures of Tintin is an animated television series based on the Tintin series of books by Hergé. It debuted in 1991, and 39 half-hour episodes were produced over the course of three seasons.

History

The television series was co-directed by Stéphane Bernasconi, unit directed by Peter Hudecki, and produced by Ellipse (France), and Nelvana (Canada), on behalf of La Foundation Hergé. It was the first television adaptation of Hergé's books for over twenty years (previously, the Belgian animation company Belvision had been responsible for their remarkably loose adaptations). It was essential from the start to produce a series that was faithful to Hergé's work, and so Philippe Goddin, an eminent expert in Hergé and Tintin acted as consultant to the producers. Writers for the series included Toby Mullally, Eric Rondeaux, Martin Brossolet, Amelie Aubert, Denise Fordham and Alex Boon.

Production

File:TintinMoonRocket.png
The Moon rocket from Explorers on the Moon, animated using 3D techniques

Traditional animation techniques were used on the series. The books were closely adhered to during all stages of production, with some frames from the original albums being transposed directly to screen. In the episodes Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon, 3D animation was used for the Moon rocket - an unusual step in 1989. The rocket was animated in 3D, each frame of the animation was then printed and recopied onto celluloid and hand painted in gouache, and laid onto a painted background. The rocket seen in the title sequence is animated using 3D techniques.

Artistically, the series chose a 'constant' look, unlike the books (drawn over a course of 47 years, Hergé's style developed throughout from early works like The Blue Lotus and later ones such as Tintin and the Picaros). However, later televised episodes such as the Moon story and Tintin in America clearly demonstrate the artists' development during the course of the series. The quality of animation is good, yet it should be remembered that the series is over ten years old and produced on a television budget.

The series was filmed in English, with the animation timed to fit the English soundtrack. French-speaking viewers have found the French voices 'rushed' to fit the English timing. Purists have also complained that French should have been the first language. All visuals (road signs, posters and settings) remain in French.

The series is generally seen by fans as being a faithful adaptation of Hergé's books. The changes that occurred have been accepted due to the potential audience, and in some cases (most notably Tintin in America) have improved on some aspects of the original books (most notably by the removal of many Deus ex Machinas). Some feel uncomfortable with the Canadian accent given to Tintin, but it is a small quibble for what results in a highly faithful, enjoyable adaptation of Tintin's adventures which introduced many fans to the original books, as did the Belvision episodes generations earlier.

Changes from the comics

Inevitably, certain areas of the stories posed difficulties for the producers, who had to adapt features of the books to a more modern audience. The most obvious change was that the books Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, Tintin in the Congo and Tintin and Alph-Art were not adapted at all. Whilst Soviets and Alph-Art were left for obvious reasons, Congo is a part of the French canon, but due to its unavailability in English and questionable content was dropped from the series.

Smaller changes were made due to the necessity for simplification or audience requirements. In The Calculus Affair, the Syldavian group who tries to snatch Calculus from the Bordurians in the original book is removed for simplicity.

File:TintinInAmericaScreenshot.png
Screenshot from Tintin in America, showing a scene not in the original book.

For audience sensitivities, Haddock's penchant for whisky posed a problem. Whilst the original books did not promote alcohol, they featured it heavily, with much humour based around it and the results of drinking, whilst in many countries where the producers hoped to sell the series, alcohol is frowned upon. Therefore, international versions of the series make some alterations (including Haddock drinking lemonade in Explorers on the Moon, and his drunken state being caused by 'space sickness'!). In The Red Sea Sharks, the original book dealt with the topic of modern slavery, but in the television episode was centred around illegal immigration. Furthermore, while the Africans in the book volunteered to be simply stokers for the ship that Captain Haddock has command of, the television version makes a point of having the characters doing more sophisticated work on the ship.

Tintin in America was the most altered episode, amounting to almost a completely new story. The Native American aspect was completely removed, and the gangster element given the main focus. Bobby Smiles, in the book the head of a rival gang to Al Capone becomes an 'employee' of Capone's in the televised episode. Artistically, the episode was produced to the same standard as the others, with backgrounds having greater detail and more interestingly filmed shots.

Music

The music and score for the series was composed by Ray Parker, Jim Morgan and Tom Szczesniak. It is generally regarded as an excellent score, fitting with the series well and providing enjoyable listening in its own right. Excerpts from the score were released by Ellipse on CD and cassette in conjunction with Universal, on the StudioCanal label. It is no longer available.

Broadcasts and releases

File:TintinDVDR1.png
Region 1 DVD release

In the United Kingdom, the series originally aired on Channel Four on terrestrial television, and Family Channel, a Canadian channel available through the original Sky system. It was later broadcast on Sky One until the series was purchased by Five.

In India, the series was broadcasted by Cartoon Network in the summer of 2000. The orignal run was followed by many reruns. Zee Alpha Bangla also showed the series with Bengali dubbings.

In France, the full series has been available for years on video, produced by Citel, and recently on DVD, with two episodes on each, released by the same company. A full set was issued in a wooden box, but recently UK imports have become the most popular due to the price and the convenience. The French DVD releases featured subtitles in five languages. Recently the series was issued as a partwork by Éditions Atlas in France, with an accompanying booklet featuring information about the episode and behind-the-scenes artwork.

In Canada, episodes of the series have been released on Region 1 DVD, with French and English language tracks with subtitles. Each DVD contains two episodes, and a boxed-set has been released containing the first five volumes. The second set is planned for release in September 2005. For some unknown reason, Tintin in America is not planned for release, although this may change before the second boxed-set is produced. The episodes have no specific order on the discs.

In Australia, the series was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as part of their ABC Kids programming block as well as on the ABC2 digital channel. It has been shown in its complete run at least twice, leading to screenings of the Belvision Tintin films. In 2004, a DVD box set of the series was released by Madman Entertainment.

File:TintinDVDR2.png
Region 2 DVD release

In the United States, the series aired on HBO, The Family Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. A limited edition of Ellipse-Nelvana's The Adventures of Tintin TV cartoon series is scheduled for release on DVD in the United States by Universal Studios Home Video around 2006, containing 21 full-length episodes in 7 volumes.

The full series has been available three times on video, with individual episodes released by Lumiere in 1994 and Mollin Video in 2000, whilst Anchor Bay released a series of five videos, containing four episodes on each (and five on the last one) in 2002-2003. The series has also been released twice on DVD by Anchor Bay, as an exclusive 5-disc R2 release for HMV and a general 10-disc release, both with soundtracks in English, French and Spanish, but unfortunately no subtitles or extra features. The 10-disc set is in the canonical order, although the limited edition 5-disc set places The Blue Lotus first (presumably from looking at the back of one of the books).

The series is currently aired globally in over 50 countries.

Voice artists

English

French

Episodes

Season 1

  1. The Crab with the Golden Claws (part one)
  2. The Crab with the Golden Claws (part two)
  3. The Secret of the Unicorn (part one)
  4. The Secret of the Unicorn (part two)
  5. Red Rackham's Treasure
  6. Cigars of the Pharaoh (part one)
  7. Cigars of the Pharaoh (part two)
  8. The Blue Lotus (part one)
  9. The Blue Lotus (part two)
  10. The Black Island (part one)
  11. The Black Island (part two)
  12. The Calculus Affair (part one)
  13. The Calculus Affair (part two)

Season 2

  1. The Shooting Star
  2. The Broken Ear (part one)
  3. The Broken Ear (part two)
  4. King Ottokar's Sceptre (part one)
  5. King Ottokar's Sceptre (part two)
  6. Tintin in Tibet (part one)
  7. Tintin in Tibet (part two)
  8. Tintin and the Picaros (part one)
  9. Tintin and the Picaros (part two)
  10. Land of Black Gold (part one)
  11. Land of Black Gold (part two)
  12. Flight 714 (part one)
  13. Flight 714 (part two)

Season 3

  1. The Red Sea Sharks (part one)
  2. The Red Sea Sharks (part two)
  3. The Seven Crystal Balls (part one)
  4. The Seven Crystal Balls (part two)
  5. Prisoners of the Sun (part one)
  6. Prisoners of the Sun (part two)
  7. The Castafiore Emerald (part one)
  8. The Castafiore Emerald (part two)
  9. Destination Moon (part one)
  10. Destination Moon (part two)
  11. Explorers on the Moon (part one)
  12. Explorers on the Moon (part two)
  13. Tintin in America

References

  • Les Aventures de Tintin en DVD (2003) : issues 1,2,5,6
  • The Adventures of Tintin - 5-disc DVD set (2003)
  • Lofficer, Jean-Marc & Randy (2002) The Pocket Essential Tintin - ISBN 190404817X
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