5 ms·

For those that remember the original tv series (based on the books, of course, which were in fact originally a radio play), you will remember the shockingly bad

For those that remember the original tv series (based on the books, of course, which were in fact originally a radio play), you will remember the shockingly bad special effects (themselves outdone only by Tom Baker era Dr. Who effects in terms of sheer awful). The one exception to the BBC standard guy-in-a-bad-rubber-suit effects in terms of quality was the animation of the HHGG screens. I was shocked to find out that they were, in fact, all animated by hand. I've seen a doc about this, can't find it online now. Here's a brief clip of an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynMCvdkp0M#t=2m20s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynMCvdkp0M#t=2m20s By hand... Reverse-Skueomorphism before it was cool.

mpclark 14y ago
I have a lovely babel fish graphic from this awaiting framing. The artist, Rod Lord, was selling the original artwork on eBay a few years ago. Looks like you can still buy prints: http://www.rodlord.com/H2G2PRINTS/PAGES/prints1.htm http://www.rodlord.com/H2G2PRINTS/PAGES/prints1.htm
akiselev 14y ago
I think that was intentional. You can see some of the same pattern in the 2000s movie (most of the setting was decent but just look at the Vogons)
snogglethorpe 14y ago
Hmm, really? I remember the original TV series mainly as being completely, utterly, awesome. The effects weren't particularly sophisticated, but they fit well enough, and never detracted. You didn't really notice them. This is more than just a good story distracting one from the visuals, I think; the effects guys did a pretty good job with their limited means, and often those primitive effects really managed to communicate the atmosphere and feeling intended. They did this much better than Dr Who's effects ever did, in my experience: With Dr Who, one almost always had the feeling "ok, this is some guys on a soundstage", but with HHGttG, often it somehow really did seem like they were stowed away on a Vogon spaceship. I'm not really sure how they managed to pull it off as well as they did, though I suppose even in the category of "low budget BBC SF efx" there's a range of budgets... .. and the hand-drawn "computer" animations were great. Together with the incredible music, they were a real highlight. There were some lowlights, of course; I remember the scenes on the Heart of Gold as being pretty bad. [Watching your clip really brings back the memories of the complete bliss of watching that on TV way back when... just hearing the music sends chills down my spine... :]
- Adaptive 14y ago
  (Biggest orig HHGG / Tom Baker era Dr. Who fan ever, here.) Looking back, those effects were bad (like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynMCvdkp0M#t=2m10s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynMCvdkp0M#t=2m10s ), but I'll agree with you on this: back then, I never cared or noticed; the whole thing was just pure joy as far as I was concerned. And in a way these effects just offset the glorious, labor of love animations. Totally agree about the music. In fact I was just telling someone last night that Justice's "Civilization" always makes me think of the HHGG tv theme music (this comparison fell on deaf ears). One of the best ever intro tracks. And the opening title sequence with the GOLD ASTRONAUT? Genius. A low budget effect but nicely executed. (for the uninitiated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKilWkX4jA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKilWkX4jA ) You have swayed my opinion. I hereby revised my previous comment to confirm that these BBC folks really deserve a geek hero's medal for their work. I suspect you are right that it was often scrounging sets/etc. and it shaped my taste to this day. Much love to those unnamed fx teams.
  - mpclark 14y ago
    If you loved the music, have a listen to The Eagles' "Journey of the Sorcerer"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s
    - snogglethorpe 14y ago
      Thanks for the link... [This song completely changed the way I thought of the banjo! :]
- shimfish 14y ago
  My understanding is that Douglas hated the TV series. I think he had issues with the lazy and arrogant attitude that the director had.
- alexfarran 14y ago
  The Vogon spaceship interior was a reused set from Alien.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
shimfish 14y ago
This appears to be the animator, Rod Lord talking about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPS4GohlRn4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPS4GohlRn4

mpclark 14y ago

I have a lovely babel fish graphic from this awaiting framing. The artist, Rod Lord, was selling the original artwork on eBay a few years ago. Looks like you can still buy prints: http://www.rodlord.com/H2G2PRINTS/PAGES/prints1.htm http://www.rodlord.com/H2G2PRINTS/PAGES/prints1.htm

akiselev 14y ago

I think that was intentional. You can see some of the same pattern in the 2000s movie (most of the setting was decent but just look at the Vogons)

snogglethorpe 14y ago

Hmm, really? I remember the original TV series mainly as being completely, utterly, awesome. The effects weren't particularly sophisticated, but they fit well enough, and never detracted. You didn't really notice them. This is more than just a good story distracting one from the visuals, I think; the effects guys did a pretty good job with their limited means, and often those primitive effects really managed to communicate the atmosphere and feeling intended. They did this much better than Dr Who's effects ever did, in my experience: With Dr Who, one almost always had the feeling "ok, this is some guys on a soundstage", but with HHGttG, often it somehow really did seem like they were stowed away on a Vogon spaceship. I'm not really sure how they managed to pull it off as well as they did, though I suppose even in the category of "low budget BBC SF efx" there's a range of budgets... .. and the hand-drawn "computer" animations were great. Together with the incredible music, they were a real highlight. There were some lowlights, of course; I remember the scenes on the Heart of Gold as being pretty bad. [Watching your clip really brings back the memories of the complete bliss of watching that on TV way back when... just hearing the music sends chills down my spine... :]

Adaptive 14y ago
(Biggest orig HHGG / Tom Baker era Dr. Who fan ever, here.) Looking back, those effects were bad (like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynMCvdkp0M#t=2m10s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynMCvdkp0M#t=2m10s ), but I'll agree with you on this: back then, I never cared or noticed; the whole thing was just pure joy as far as I was concerned. And in a way these effects just offset the glorious, labor of love animations. Totally agree about the music. In fact I was just telling someone last night that Justice's "Civilization" always makes me think of the HHGG tv theme music (this comparison fell on deaf ears). One of the best ever intro tracks. And the opening title sequence with the GOLD ASTRONAUT? Genius. A low budget effect but nicely executed. (for the uninitiated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKilWkX4jA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKilWkX4jA ) You have swayed my opinion. I hereby revised my previous comment to confirm that these BBC folks really deserve a geek hero's medal for their work. I suspect you are right that it was often scrounging sets/etc. and it shaped my taste to this day. Much love to those unnamed fx teams.
- mpclark 14y ago
  If you loved the music, have a listen to The Eagles' "Journey of the Sorcerer"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s
  - snogglethorpe 14y ago
    Thanks for the link... [This song completely changed the way I thought of the banjo! :]
shimfish 14y ago
My understanding is that Douglas hated the TV series. I think he had issues with the lazy and arrogant attitude that the director had.
alexfarran 14y ago
The Vogon spaceship interior was a reused set from Alien.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

shimfish 14y ago

This appears to be the animator, Rod Lord talking about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPS4GohlRn4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPS4GohlRn4