The largely-missing Doctor Who classic, The Celestial Toymaker, is to be animated for release on DVD and Blu-ray, and is expected to hit shelves next year.
The lead antagonist is finally returning to the show in this weekend’s 60th anniversary special, The Giggle, this time played by Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), so it’s no surprise that the First Doctor story will be made available too. Here’s the blurb and a few select special features:
Originally broadcast in April 1966, 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.
This brand new animated version has been created using the original audio recordings.
INCLUDES:
- All 4 episodes animated in both colour and black & white
- Audio commentaries
- Newly restored original episode 4
- Making the Animation
- Photo Gallery
The BBC has also released a short teaser for the animation. We’ve come a long way since The Invasion, The Reign of Terror, and The Moonbase; sadly, we don’t mean that in a complimentary way…
This looks more akin to the animated Episode 3 of The Web of Fear, which didn’t exactly go down too well. But let’s wait and see what the final product turns out like. But come on. It looks atrocious, doesn’t it? It would be fine if this were 1993…
The Celestial Toymaker is just one of many First and Second Doctor stories largely missing from the archives, after the BBC’s policy of junking tapes; fortunately, the final episode of the story was found in Australia and returned in 1984.
The Celestial Toymaker will be available on DVD, Blu-ray, and limited edition steelbook.
