Lost Doctor Who episodes being re-animated by fans

This is one of those stories that makes me want to hug the internet and give it a big squeeze. Doctor Who fans, pretty much geeks to a man (hi!), have been gathering on the intermatube to create reconstructions of lost Doctor Who episodes - for nothing more than the pleasure of knowing that they exist in the world for all to see and enjoy.

(Watch a video clip after the turn)

The BBC, in its infinite wisdom, used to re-use its tapes, merrily recording over vast chunks of our cultural history (stuff by the Monty Python gang, Dad's Army, Steptoe and Son) in order to save a bit of space. Great swathes of Doctor Who serials were lost, but now graphic designers, artists and animators are clubbing together to animate lost episodes using sound recordings that have been recovered by fans.

Animated Recreations

The BBC itself funded one recreation some lost Who episodes, called the Invasion Project, but thanks to high costs, there are no plans to do any more (although the DVD was one of the BBC's most successful Doctor Who releases).

Now, Garrett Gilchrist a director and artist based in the US is working on recreating the lost 1967 Patrick Troughton serial, Evil of the Daleks.

"I use a very painstaking method, working very closely from photos," he told the Guardian. "Everything has to match the original photo perfectly. I wanted my animations to look like a painting come to life - looking just like the original actors, only with cartoon lines around them."

Gilchrist has the help of a loose collection of able fans, who form what they call the WhoSprites Project, all of whom are giving their time for free, for the sheer love of Doctor Who. Which is currently making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

CGI Recreations

Meanwhile, a group called WHO3D is working together to produce CGI reconstructions of the the six-part Power of the Daleks serial, made in 1966 with Patrick Troughton as the Doctor.

The BBC is more than happy to let people get stuck into these voluntary groups, and there's always a chance that if the right project comes together, the Beeb could get involved with funding it.

Check out a WhoSprites animated clip here

The WhoSprites project and WHO3D forum

(By the way, if you have any old episodes of lost BBC shows lying about in your garden shed, do let them know won't you. This is the one time you won't get in trouble for taping stuff off the TV.)

Read full interview on the Guardian

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