Second Chance

Fixed effects - by Andrew Ellard

22 July, 2005

Not to rake over old ground or anything, but not everything with Series VII's model effects went entirely to plan. You'll have heard the story by now - problems with the delivered shots, a last-minute CGI save - but the Series VII DVD will be providing the full SP for the first time.

But that's not what we're talking about today. Today we're giving you a first look at Tikka to Ride: Remastered.

Now, before anyone does the crazy dance (usually followed by the traditional Webboard rant), Series VII will be appearing on DVD exactly as it was shown on TV. It will also be shown in its Xtended format, with new scenes and no laugh track.

But Tikka to Ride will also be available to view in an all-new Remastered edition - replacing all that hurried Starbug footage with brand new CGI of an impeccable standard. Thanks to the joys of multi-angle viewing, these effects shots will be available via a menu option, and will be included on both the original and Xtended versions of the episodes.

So why just this one episode? And why now?

Truth time. Neither Doug Naylor, nor FX creator Chris Veale, were ever happy with the CGI in Series VII. When the fan reaction was one of disappointment, it was nothing compared to the guys in the hot-seat(s). The shots - which you can read all about here - did what they needed to, they told the story on time and for the remaining pennies in the budget. But they weren't how anybody wanted them to be.

So, out of GNP's own pocket (rather than the DVD budget), a series of new shots have been created for one episode - just to show how the series should have looked.

And... well, just check out the screenshots. These images - which look even better moving than they do static - do total justice to how things might have been.

They're inserted into the show at the exact same points as the current FX shots, replacing all of the existing (even those in the title sequence) save for the splitting Starbug Xtended finale. All sound FX have likewise been retained - and let me tell you, that whole Voyager-spoof at the start of Tikka Xtended is now just jaw-droppingly cool.

It's an example and an experiment. An opportunity. And it certainly seems to have paid off. Without the cash to fund an entire series-worth of remastering, Tikka to Ride: Remastered gives a succulent taster of the series that almost was.

If nothing else, the fan reaction is going to be very interesting!

More DVD Details will follow soon...