Cyberchase "The Poddleville Case" (found test pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; 1999): Difference between revisions

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{{LMW
{{NeedingWork|informal writing}}
|title=Cyberchase: The Poddleville Case
{{InfoboxFound
|description=TV Pilot
|title=<center>Cyberchase Pilot: The Poddleville Case</center>
|startyear=1999
|timeframe=No
|image=Vlcsnap-2020-09-06-21h37m53s257.png
|image=Vlcsnap-2020-09-06-21h37m53s257.png
|imagecaption=Matt, Jackie, and Inez in the Pilot's Portal sequence
|imagecaption=Matt, Jackie, and Inez in the pilot's portal sequence.
 
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|status=Partially found
|datefound=06 Feb 2021
|category=Lost animation; Lost TV; Miscellaneous lost media
|foundby=Theruff
}}
}}
The pilot of the 2002 Nelvana animated program Cyberchase originally was a 1999 Pilot made by Curious Pictures, known as the Poddleville Case. It was initially distributed privately in schools around May  
The pilot of the 2002 Nelvana animated program ''Cyberchase'' was made in 1999 by Curious Pictures. Titled as '''"The Poddleville Case"''', it was initially distributed privately in schools around May 23rd, 1999.<ref>[https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/Flagg_1999_FormEval_ThePoddlevilleCase.pdf Informal Science NSF Document of the Pilot noting peer response to it.] Retrieved 06 Sep '20</ref> then airing discreetly in August 1999 through September 1999 on KTCA,<ref>[https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_77-7312kntd WGBH Archive of shows noting the pilot and its track length.] Retrieved 06 Sep '20</ref> then airing Nationally on March 24th, 2000 (3:30PM), leading to WNet to win an Emmy.<ref>[https://www.nyemmys.org/media/files/files/fb66b9d3/nyemmyawards44.pdf PDF archive of Emmys for 1999-2000 entries] Retrieved 26 Sep '20</ref> The pilot was digitally edited, completely redubbed, rescripted, and reused as 7th episode of the Final 2002 series.
<ref>[https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/Flagg_1999_FormEval_ThePoddlevilleCase.pdf Informal Science NSF Dcument of the Pilot noting peer response of the students to it] Retrieved 6 Sep '20</ref>, then publicly premiered in August 1999 through September 1999 on NSF shows on KTCA. <ref>[https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_77-7312kntd WGBH Archive of shows noting the Pilot and its track length.] Retrieved 6 Sep '20</ref> The pilot was digitally edited, completely redubbed, slightly rescripted and reused as Episode 7 for the final 2002 series
 
== History ==
For a long while, most info was speculation based on how radically different the animation for Season 1 Episode 7, "The Poddleville Case" was compared to the rest of the series, in addition to the different Live Action Actor, Kareem Blackwell, compared to the rest of the series using Matt Wilson and Bianca DeCroat. Some recall Hacker not being voiced by Christopher Lloyd, while others think the pilot initially was called the Poddleville Caper, thought to air on March 2000<ref>[https://forums.lostmediawiki.com/thread/1104/cyberchase-podellville-caper Forum with an example of misinfo]</ref>. This is false for the latter
 
On May 20, 2018, One of the Pilot's Storyboard Cleanup Artists, Gino Patti, posted on his Instagram several camera shots of the Pilot, including the end Credits and VHS video track length. <ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAWsFfnx_n/ Instagram Post showing the Pilot Credits and photos.] Retrieved 6 Sep '20</ref> Notably the credits feature far more developers of Curious Pictures, and a completely different cast of voice actors
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
Gino2.jpg|Scene Not in Final of Jackie choosing what to eat. The previously referenced May report has some info on this.
Gino1.jpg|Vid Length noted to be 24:15.
Gino3.jpg|Case of Package for VHS.
</gallery>
 
In particular, voice actors Joanna Rhinehart and Thom Christopher both have confirmed their roles indirectly, with Joanna voicing Jackie in the pilot as noted on her portfolio<ref>[https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/one_page_resume.cfm?custom_link=joannarhinehart Joanna Rhinehart's Portfolio] Retrieved 7 Sep '20</ref>, and Thom coincidentally voicing Hacker AGAIN in the PC Cyberchase games <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160630/ IMDB noting his role] Retrieved 7 Sep '20</ref>
 
As for the Live Segment, User SonikkuAorDatH has personally contacted Gino Patti about where the Live Action footage came from. His response was he didn't recall any Live Action scene
 
The Pilot notably has the track length of 24:15. Final is only 22:30 for animation, with Over 3 and a half minutes for the Live Action segment, bringing to to a full 26 minutes. So the Live Action Segment most likely was made later, sometime in 2000.
 
On January 21, 2019, Wnet's Official Facebook Released the original 3 minute Promo used for the pilot back in 1999. <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/cyberchase/videos/original-pilot-demo-video/414996005911701/ Original 3 minute Promo] Retrieved 6 Sep '20</ref> Several users have noted differences for scenes, redone script, and completely redone dubbing compared to the Season 1 episode "Poddleville Case" that reused some footage.
==Contents==
Despite the Pilot being recycled for Episode 7, there are many differences;
 
'''Script'''
 
For the Mayor panicking over the missing Pods, several of his lines were changed. All references to eggs were changed to Pods as well, the "Five-sie" Poddle's line is mixed a little later, and the kids have added exclamations when chased by the Poddles
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color:green" | Version||Transcript
|-
|Pilot||Mayor: No! Not Again! Hurry! We must do the official Poddleville Egg count, before we lose all our Cyber power!
 
Pod1: One, Two, Three, Four, all eggs accounted for
 
Pod2: One, Two...*gasp* Ah! no! They got our darling Three! Three has been stolen!
 
Pod3: Five-sie! Our fives gone!
 
(they see Jackie with one of the Eggs)
 
Jackie: Oh no!
 
Pod4: She took them, she has our eggs!
 
Jackie: No no, it's not what you think-
 
Mayor: Aliens. ALIENS have landed!
 
Pod background noise: (Angry crowd)||
|-
|Final||Mayor: No Not Again! There's an alien in our midst! Find him before we lose power, and then get TWISTED into oblivion!
 
Pod: One, Two, Three, Four all Pods accounted for
 
Pod2: One, Two...*gasp* Oh! no! They got our darling Three! Three has been stolen!
 
Pod3: Five-sie! Our fives gone!
 
(they see Jackie with one of the Pods)


Jackie: Oh no!
==Opening Line==
<blockquote>
"When 3 kids get sucked into the cyberworld, they have to save Poddleville's power from the evil clutches of Hacker. Things go awry when the kids are blamed for the theft of the citizen's eggs. Will the three kids claim their innocence, and save Poddleville, or will it be TOO late?"
</blockquote>


Pod4: She took them, she has our Pods!
==Availability==
For a long while, most information about the pilot was mere speculation, most of it based on how different the animation style for Season 1 Episode 7's, "The Poddleville Case" was compared to the rest of the series. There was also the use of a different live-action Actor, Kareem Blackwell, as contrasted to the rest of the series using Matt Wilson and Bianca DeGroat. Some recalled Hacker not being voiced by Christopher Lloyd, while others thought the pilot initially was called the Poddleville Caper.<ref>[https://forums.lostmediawiki.com/thread/1104/cyberchase-podellville-caper Forum with an example of misinformation.] Retrieved 07 Sep '20</ref> The latter being proven false.


Jackie: No no, it's not what you think-
On May 20th, 2018, one of the pilot's storyboard cleanup artists, Gino Patti, posted on his Instagram several screenshots of the pilot, including the end credits and VHS video track length.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAWsFfnx_n/ Instagram Post showing screenshots of the pilot.] Retrieved 06 Sep '20</ref> Notably the credits feature far more developers from Curious Pictures, and a completely different cast of voice actors.


Mayor: Aliens. ALIENS have landed!
In particular, voice actors Joanna Rhinehart and Thom Christopher both have confirmed their roles indirectly, with Joanna voicing Jackie in the pilot as noted on her portfolio.<ref>[https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/one_page_resume.cfm?custom_link=joannarhinehart Joanna Rhinehart's Portfolio.] Retrieved 07 Sep '20</ref> Along with Thom coincidentally voicing Hacker again in the PC Cyberchase games.


Pod background singular: Catch the Pod Poochers!||
As for the live-action segment, User SonikkuAorDatH has personally contacted Gino Patti about the origin of the live-action footage. His response was he did not recall any live-action scenes. Indicating that possibly the live-action scenes were shot later.
|-
|}


In addition, Hacker's lines when walking off the chair were changed
The pilot notably has the track length of 24:15. With the finished episode only being 22:30 for the animation, and over 3 and a half minutes for the live-action segment, bringing it to a full 26 minutes, the VHS tape screenshot's time didn't match.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
On January 21st, 2019, Wnet's official Cyberchase Facebook account released the original 3 minute promo used for the pilot back in 1999.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/cyberchase/videos/original-pilot-demo-video/414996005911701/ Original 3 minute promo.] Retrieved 06 Sep '20</ref> Several users have noted differences for scenes. Such as a redone script, and completely redone voice-overs compared to the Season 1 episode "Poddleville Case" that reused some footage.  
|-
! style="background-color:green" | Version||Transcript
|-
|Pilot||Hacker: Now where was I? Oh yes!....Being wonderfully.. Evil....
|-
|Final||Hacker: Now where was I? *Gasp* YES, Hahaha!....Being wonderfully awful
|}


'''Visuals'''
On February 6th, 2021, the pilot in full was uploaded to the Internet Archive.
Despite all vocal audio being redubbed being a major change, there were many scenes edited, either Digitally masked, completely reanimated, or flat out transferred wrong


'''Logos'''
On March 2nd, 2021, the pilot was uploaded to YouTube in full quality.
[[File:Compa1.png|500px|thumb|center|Interestingly the Promo/Wnet Site used the Ice Age Font a couple years before the Blue Skys Studio Movie]]
A comparison of logos from the 3 minute promo and Site till Final. Note that the Pilot logo uses the same font as final...Just more 90s styled


'''Hue Edits'''
==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
Compa2.png|
Jackbreakfast.png|Screenshot of Jackie making breakfast. A scene that is not in final.
Compa7.png|
Mattthink.png|A screenshot showing a comparison of a scene in the pilot and final.
compa2.png|A screenshot comparison noting hue errors.
compa4.png|Heavy redesign for a character noted.
compa11.png| Another reanimated scene, indicating a zoom in was added.
Gino3.jpg|The package for Gino Patti's copy of the VHS, posted on his Instagram.
</gallery>
</gallery>
Two scenes from the pilot in final had the Hue tweaked. This leads to inconsistencies of scenes where it isn't, such as any instance we see Matt's orange hair, Hacker's orange engine for the Grim Wreaker, and most Poddleville houses being orange
'''Filter'''
[[File:Compa14.png|500px|thumb|center|The filter seems nice though]]
Hacker scenes specifically in final have an added spotlight filter
'''Masking'''
[[File:Compa9.png|500px|thumb|center|The masking artifacts on Jackie]]
Some scenes use the original animation, but then digital remove then restitch the characters on altered backgrounds. Here it was to add shadows
'''Added Camera Movement'''
[[File:Compa10.png|500px|thumb|center|This causes us to not see the full frame]]
Before the characters get to their last frame of animation for the scene in final, it starts to rotate and zoom in for added effect
'''Reanimation'''
Due to the amount of information, we'll be going scene by scene in comparison of the 3 minute Promo, and the Final 2002 edit
[[File:Compa13.png|500px|thumb|center|CG galore in final]]
[[File:Compa5.png|500px|thumb|center|The characters look awfully more on model here in final]]
The portal sequence in the Pilot used 2D animated shapes, with the outside portal looking more like a vortex. Final used CG shapes, no color cast, and the outside is a flat disc like other episodes. One major thing to note is that final's sequence is roughly twice as long!
[[File:Compa6.png|500px|thumb|center|Hello Flatter perspective]]
Final for whatever reason reanimated this scene. Jackie incorrectly was made shorter than Inez, and both shading and perspective for the background was decreased heavily
[[File:Compa3.png|500px|thumb|center|Brighter set]]
As noted, Hacker's scene is cut short in Final. It was also reanimated, probably to keep the camera pan still, as the Pilot it moves to reveal Buzz and Delete. This would have ruined continuity in Final
[[File:Compa8.png|500px|thumb|center|Glass crash inversion]]
Besides being reanimated in a different angle, there's an invert effect for right when the villains crash through the glass. Potentially this is due to censorship, or just a way to make the crash more dramatic
[[File:Compa11.png|500px|thumb|center|Everyone is miscolored]]
[[File:Compa12.png|500px|thumb|center|Wonder why the egg was changed]]
The crowd cheering in Final has a discrepancy. Right before that scene we see unaltered footage from the pilot of them all in the correct colors. So recoloring them for the reanimation creates an inconsistency. Besides that, there are numerous coloring errors for the eyes and some of the Poddles' hands. Flags went from Green Red Blue to just Blue. And since this scene wasn't meant to be zoomed in, the main character's low detail is horribly shown final with the added zoom effect
For the next scene, unlike the Pilot where everyone blinks at regular intervals, Matt is permanently stuck in a half lidded expression. The Podling's pupil got bigger, the Egg the egg it's holding also got recolored, and the background is digitally redone
==External Links==
==External Links==
Videos showing comparisons of footage from the Promo and Final, and note of Voice actors;
*[https://umaryland.worldcat.org/title/patterns-the-poddleville-case/oclc/399590006 A confirmed copy of the pilot archived.] Retrieved 19 Dec '20
*https://youtu.be/9537W6RAHHI
*[https://archive.org/details/pilocompare Full comparison of final and pilot by SonikkuAorDatH] Retrieved 12 Feb '21
*https://youtu.be/-jr_4jNDj4s
*[https://youtu.be/9537W6RAHHI/ Older video showing comparisons of footage from the Promo and Final, and note of Voice actors (1/2).] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[https://youtu.be/-jr_4jNDj4s/ Older video showing comparisons of footage from the Promo and Final, and note of Voice actors (2/2).] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[https://youtu.be/EGZwAkrLJL0/ Old theory of the other digitally edited/reanimated scenes.] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160630/ IMDB noting Thom Christopher's role as Hacker in a later ''Cyberchase'' game.] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[https://archive.org/details/bcast-086020-0001_202102 Internet Archive upload of the pilot.] Retrieved 12 Feb '21
02 Mar '21
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNdhMTxqnc YouTube upload of the pilot] Retrieved 11 Mar '21


Theory of other digitally edited/reanimated scenes:
*https://youtu.be/EGZwAkrLJL0
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{reflist|3}}
[[Category:Found media]]

Revision as of 18:19, 30 April 2021

Lmwtan cleanup.png


This article has been tagged as Needing work due to its informal writing.



Vlcsnap-2020-09-06-21h37m53s257.png

Matt, Jackie, and Inez in the pilot's portal sequence.

Status: Found

Date found: 06 Feb 2021

Found by: Theruff

The pilot of the 2002 Nelvana animated program Cyberchase was made in 1999 by Curious Pictures. Titled as "The Poddleville Case", it was initially distributed privately in schools around May 23rd, 1999.[1] then airing discreetly in August 1999 through September 1999 on KTCA,[2] then airing Nationally on March 24th, 2000 (3:30PM), leading to WNet to win an Emmy.[3] The pilot was digitally edited, completely redubbed, rescripted, and reused as 7th episode of the Final 2002 series.

Opening Line

"When 3 kids get sucked into the cyberworld, they have to save Poddleville's power from the evil clutches of Hacker. Things go awry when the kids are blamed for the theft of the citizen's eggs. Will the three kids claim their innocence, and save Poddleville, or will it be TOO late?"

Availability

For a long while, most information about the pilot was mere speculation, most of it based on how different the animation style for Season 1 Episode 7's, "The Poddleville Case" was compared to the rest of the series. There was also the use of a different live-action Actor, Kareem Blackwell, as contrasted to the rest of the series using Matt Wilson and Bianca DeGroat. Some recalled Hacker not being voiced by Christopher Lloyd, while others thought the pilot initially was called the Poddleville Caper.[4] The latter being proven false.

On May 20th, 2018, one of the pilot's storyboard cleanup artists, Gino Patti, posted on his Instagram several screenshots of the pilot, including the end credits and VHS video track length.[5] Notably the credits feature far more developers from Curious Pictures, and a completely different cast of voice actors.

In particular, voice actors Joanna Rhinehart and Thom Christopher both have confirmed their roles indirectly, with Joanna voicing Jackie in the pilot as noted on her portfolio.[6] Along with Thom coincidentally voicing Hacker again in the PC Cyberchase games.

As for the live-action segment, User SonikkuAorDatH has personally contacted Gino Patti about the origin of the live-action footage. His response was he did not recall any live-action scenes. Indicating that possibly the live-action scenes were shot later.

The pilot notably has the track length of 24:15. With the finished episode only being 22:30 for the animation, and over 3 and a half minutes for the live-action segment, bringing it to a full 26 minutes, the VHS tape screenshot's time didn't match.

On January 21st, 2019, Wnet's official Cyberchase Facebook account released the original 3 minute promo used for the pilot back in 1999.[7] Several users have noted differences for scenes. Such as a redone script, and completely redone voice-overs compared to the Season 1 episode "Poddleville Case" that reused some footage.

On February 6th, 2021, the pilot in full was uploaded to the Internet Archive.

On March 2nd, 2021, the pilot was uploaded to YouTube in full quality.

Gallery

External Links

02 Mar '21

References