Animal Magic (TV story): Difference between revisions
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The [[1 May (releases)|1 May]] [[1979 (releases)|1979]] episode of the educational BBC series ''[[Animal Magic (series)|Animal Magic]]'' (1962-1983), later released on the ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'': ''[[The Collection]]'' — ''[[Season 17]]'' [[Blu-ray]] boxset as simply '''''Animal Magic''''',<ref>[https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/doctor-who-the-creature-from-the-pit-animal-magic-bonus-material-qxnzzxq6vlgtmtawmdewmdm ''Doctor Who: The Creature From The Pit - Animal Magic'' on bbfc.co.uk]</ref> was a [[crossover]] with ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'', featuring the [[Fourth Doctor]] played by [[Tom Baker]]. | The [[1 May (releases)|1 May]] [[1979 (releases)|1979]] episode of the educational BBC series ''[[Animal Magic (series)|Animal Magic]]'' (1962-1983), later released on the ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'': ''[[The Collection]]'' — ''[[Season 17 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 17]]'' [[Blu-ray]] boxset as simply '''''Animal Magic''''',<ref>[https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/doctor-who-the-creature-from-the-pit-animal-magic-bonus-material-qxnzzxq6vlgtmtawmdewmdm ''Doctor Who: The Creature From The Pit - Animal Magic'' on bbfc.co.uk]</ref> was a [[crossover]] with ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'', featuring the [[Fourth Doctor]] played by [[Tom Baker]]. | ||
Baker was explicitly playing the Doctor, rather than appearing as himself — with the script going as far as to establish that the Doctor was hosting from [[Chloris|the alien setting]] of the then-upcoming TV story ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]''. However, the story freely broke the fourth wall, with the Doctor addressing the viewers and ending on the note of telling them to "look out next time I'm on!" | Baker was explicitly playing the Doctor, rather than appearing as himself — with the script going as far as to establish that the Doctor was hosting from [[Chloris|the alien setting]] of the then-upcoming TV story ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]''. However, the story freely broke the fourth wall, with the Doctor addressing the viewers and ending on the note of telling them to "look out next time I'm on!" | ||
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The Doctor states that a little while ago, he happened to be on [[Earth]] and was talking to a friend of his, who said that Earth had some ferocious animals. The friend started getting a little competitive about the animals on Earth, saying which are the largest and the deadliest — citing the [[elephant]] as the largest, and the [[puff adder]] as the deadliest. | The Doctor states that a little while ago, he happened to be on [[Earth]] and was talking to a friend of his, who said that Earth had some ferocious animals. The friend started getting a little competitive about the animals on Earth, saying which are the largest and the deadliest — citing the [[elephant]] as the largest, and the [[puff adder]] as the deadliest. | ||
Naturally, the Doctor countered with a list of "some of the things ''I''<nowiki>'</nowiki>d bumped into during my travels" — such as the voracious [[Shrivenzale]], the tree-sized [[Krynoid]], or the deadly [[Wirrn]] or the [[Fendahl]]. He thinks that the audience isn't taking his claims seriously, but ends his spiel by saying "What | Naturally, the Doctor countered with a list of "some of the things ''I''<nowiki>'</nowiki>d bumped into during my travels" — such as the voracious [[Shrivenzale]], the tree-sized [[Krynoid]], or the deadly [[Wirrn]] or the [[Fendahl]]. He thinks that the audience isn't taking his claims seriously, but ends his spiel by saying "What did you say? You don't believe it? Well, you look out the next time [[Doctor Who (in-universe)|I'm on!]]" The Doctor then laughs manically and says "Bye, bye!" before walking off. | ||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
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== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
[[File:Animal Magic.jpg|thumb|The title card before the special.]] | [[File:Animal Magic.jpg|thumb|The title card before the special.]] | ||
* This story was evidently filmed during production of ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]'', using the [[Chloris]] set. As a result, it was released on [[DVD]] with ''The Creature from the Pit'', and later on the [[Season 17]] ''[[The Collection]]'' Blu-ray box set. | * This story was evidently filmed during production of ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]'', using the [[Chloris]] set. As a result, it was released on [[DVD]] with ''The Creature from the Pit'', and later on the [[Season 17 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 17]] ''[[The Collection]]'' Blu-ray box set. | ||
* The Doctor is wearing the portable stocks that he was placed in after being captured by Madam [[Karela]] on Chloris. | * The Doctor is wearing the portable stocks that he was placed in after being captured by Madam [[Karela]] on Chloris. | ||
* The Doctor mentions his encounter with the [[Shrivenzale]] during "the [[Ribos Operation]]", ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ribos Operation (TV story)|The Ribos Operation]]'') the evil plans of the [[Krynoid]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Seeds of Doom (TV story)|The Seeds of Doom]]'') his encounter with the [[Wirrn]] in [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark in Space]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]'') and the [[Fendahl]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Image of the Fendahl (TV story)|Image of the Fendahl]]'') | * The Doctor mentions his encounter with the [[Shrivenzale]] during "the [[Ribos Operation]]", ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ribos Operation (TV story)|The Ribos Operation]]'') the evil plans of the [[Krynoid]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Seeds of Doom (TV story)|The Seeds of Doom]]'') his encounter with the [[Wirrn]] in [[Nerva Beacon|the Ark in Space]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]'') and the [[Fendahl]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Image of the Fendahl (TV story)|Image of the Fendahl]]'') | ||
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== Home video releases == | == Home video releases == | ||
* The mini-episode was released on DVD with ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]''. | * The mini-episode was released on DVD with ''[[The Creature from the Pit (TV story)|The Creature from the Pit]]''. | ||
* The mini-episode was released on Blu-ray with [[The Collection]] - [[Season 17]]. | * The mini-episode was released on Blu-ray with [[The Collection]] - [[Season 17 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 17]]. | ||
== Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||
Latest revision as of 17:49, 1 November 2024
The 1 May 1979 episode of the educational BBC series Animal Magic (1962-1983), later released on the Doctor Who: The Collection — Season 17 Blu-ray boxset as simply Animal Magic,[1] was a crossover with Doctor Who, featuring the Fourth Doctor played by Tom Baker.
Baker was explicitly playing the Doctor, rather than appearing as himself — with the script going as far as to establish that the Doctor was hosting from the alien setting of the then-upcoming TV story The Creature from the Pit. However, the story freely broke the fourth wall, with the Doctor addressing the viewers and ending on the note of telling them to "look out next time I'm on!"
The aim of the mini-episode was to educate an audience on various species the Doctor has met both from the real world and the monsters from series. The fourth-wall-breaking, however, was framed through the narrative device of the Doctor making a broadcast.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
Tom Baker appears in character as the Doctor during the 1 May 1979 episode of the BBC children's wildlife programme Animal Magic, filmed on the planet Chloris.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor, with his head and hands in portable stocks, is walking through a jungle and notices a live broadcast. He then states that he’s on Chloris and has escaped some bandits who think they’ve got the upper hand — going on to elaborate "that's another story".
The Doctor states that a little while ago, he happened to be on Earth and was talking to a friend of his, who said that Earth had some ferocious animals. The friend started getting a little competitive about the animals on Earth, saying which are the largest and the deadliest — citing the elephant as the largest, and the puff adder as the deadliest.
Naturally, the Doctor countered with a list of "some of the things I'd bumped into during my travels" — such as the voracious Shrivenzale, the tree-sized Krynoid, or the deadly Wirrn or the Fendahl. He thinks that the audience isn't taking his claims seriously, but ends his spiel by saying "What did you say? You don't believe it? Well, you look out the next time I'm on!" The Doctor then laughs manically and says "Bye, bye!" before walking off.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor mentions the elephant as the largest animal on Earth.
- The Doctor mentions the puff adder as the deadliest animal.
- The Doctor mentions that the Shrivenzale used to eat "six buffaloes a day" and "two wheelbarrow-loads of coconuts — unbroken!" He goes on: "When it wanted to break the coconuts, if it did... (he removes his right hand from the stocks to demonstrate) it had very short arms, and it used to put the coconut in its arm, like that..." (he clenches his fist and demonstrates cracking an imaginary coconut in the crook of his arm, before replacing his hand in the stocks)
- The Doctor describes the Krynoid as "tall as a Douglas fir and three times its circumference".
- The Doctor describes the Wirrn as "a gigantic insect with a sting so fierce it could have done in an elephant in five seconds".
- According to the Doctor, the Fendahl was "so deadly that when it used to pass anybody, it would just walk past someone and go... (sucks in breath noisily) ...and suck the life right out of them".
Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This story was evidently filmed during production of The Creature from the Pit, using the Chloris set. As a result, it was released on DVD with The Creature from the Pit, and later on the Season 17 The Collection Blu-ray box set.
- The Doctor is wearing the portable stocks that he was placed in after being captured by Madam Karela on Chloris.
- The Doctor mentions his encounter with the Shrivenzale during "the Ribos Operation", (TV: The Ribos Operation) the evil plans of the Krynoid, (TV: The Seeds of Doom) his encounter with the Wirrn in the Ark in Space, (TV: The Ark in Space) and the Fendahl. (TV: Image of the Fendahl)
Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The mini-episode was released on DVD with The Creature from the Pit.
- The mini-episode was released on Blu-ray with The Collection - Season 17.
