The 'New' Doctor Who – An Animated Series (REF: VV 5) was a Doctor Who cartoon planned by Nelvana Limited, a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971.
John de Klein wrote a six-page bible dated 10 May 1991 that outlined the premise of the animated series. (REF: VV 5)
This was the first of four proposed animated series, the later ones being Doctor Who: The Animated Series, Doctor Who - The Animated Series and Doctor Who the Animated Series.
Development[]
In 1990, following the cancellation of the live-action series, the BBC approached the Canadian cartoon studio Nelvana to discuss reviving Doctor Who in an animated format to save costs. It was intended to be a continuation of the live-action show, and would have been targeted at the same audience as its predecessor. The animated show would have starred an unspecified Doctor that combined elements of various preceding Doctors, and would have featured space battles that were economical in animation but expensive in live-action.
Concept art was drawn by Ted Bastien, but the series was never produced. According to Bastien: "We went through a lot of development on it, then we were scripting and storyboarding it and about 4 scripts had been written. It happened really fast". The series would have been Nelvana's biggest show to date, however, according to Bastien, "it was pulled out from under us" after a British animation studio told the BBC that it could do what Nelvana intended for a much lower price.[1]
While at least one animation cel was made[2], the project did not proceed further and no pilot was produced. (REF: The Nth Doctor)[3][4]
The 'New' Doctor Who – An Animated Series[]
Written: 10 May 1991
The Doctor[]
Nelvana's Doctor was described being "wild and whimsical" and a cross between Eric Idle of Monty Python and Ichabod Crane. He would be tall and slim with short black hair and a large nose. His wardrobe would have consisted of glasses, gloves, shoes and a trench coat with a question mark. (REF: VV 5)
Concept art was prepared depicting several possible versions of the Doctor modelled on actors such as Peter O'Toole, Jeff Goldblum and Christopher Lloyd with elements of the wardrobes of previous Doctors.[1]
Companions[]
The Doctor's companion was an alien woman named Raven, a freedom fighter planet ravaged by the Daleks. She was inspired by Ace, according to de Klein. (REF: VV 5)
K9 was also planned to return. (REF: VV 5)
The show would also feature female human companions from Earth.[1]
Villains and other characters[]
The Master, the Cybermen and the Daleks would all return in the series. The Daleks were going to have evolved into "sleek flying machines that glide effortlessly over any landscape" and would be able to "link with each other" and transform into Super-Daleks. (REF: VV 5)
The Master was to be "half man, half robot with a cybernetic bird accessory and a face modelled after Sean Connery."[1]
Other characters included in Ted Bastien's concept were an alien woman named Cellus and a Time Lord named Magnar.
"D" is for Daleks[]
Written: late May 1991 by John de Klein
to be added
Doctor Who and the Time Crusaders[]
Written: 3-6 September 1991 by John de Klein
to be added
Doctor Who Goes Hawaiian[]
Written: November to 30 December 1991 by David Cole
to be added
Rowan[]
Written: 16-28 January 1992
to be added
Concept art[]
![Animation cel[2]](/wiki/File:Nelvana_Doctor_Who_concept_art.jpg "Nelvana Doctor Who concept art.jpg (67 KB)")
Footnotes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 That time when Doctor Who was reborn in Toronto. Retrieved on August 22, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://skaro.org/other.htm
- ↑ The Planet of the Doctor, Part 6: Doctor Who & Culture II (QuickTime or Windows Media ). CBC Television. Retrieved on 9 April 2009.
- ↑ Planet of the Doctor. Retrieved on 9 April 2009.
External links[]
- Concept art source (archived)
- That time when Doctor Who was reborn in Toronto
- In the Name of Time, K-9, Cease That Primitive Barking!
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