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

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{{LMW
{{InfoboxFound
|title=Cyberchase: The Poddleville Case
|title=<center>Cyberchase Pilot: The Poddleville Case</center>
|description=TV Pilot
|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, 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
 
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>
 
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!
==Availability==
For a while, most information about the pilot was mere speculation, most of it based on how different the animation style for Season 1 Episode 7, "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.


Pod4: She took them, she has our Pods!
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.


Jackie: No no, it's not what you think-
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.


Mayor: Aliens. ALIENS have landed!
When asked about the Live Action footage in the post 2002 version, Gino Patti stated that he did not recall any live-action scenes indicating that possibly the live-action scenes were shot later for the time being.


Pod background singular: Catch the Pod Poochers!||
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.
|-
|}


In addition, Hacker's lines when walking off the chair were changed
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.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
On February 6th, 2021, the pilot in full was uploaded to the Internet Archive and on March 2nd, 2021, the pilot was uploaded to YouTube in full quality.
|-
! 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'''
==Gallery==
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
<gallery mode="packed" heights="175px">
 
Jackbreakfast.png|Screenshot of Jackie making breakfast. A scene that is not in final.
'''Logos'''
Mattthink.png|A screenshot showing a comparison of a scene in the pilot and final.
[[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]]
compa2.png|A screenshot comparison noting hue errors.
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
compa4.png|Heavy redesign for a character noted.
 
compa11.png| Another reanimated scene, indicating a zoom in was added.
'''Hue Edits'''
Gino3.jpg|The package for Gino Patti's copy of the VHS, posted on his Instagram.
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
Compa2.png|
Compa7.png|
</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
==Debunking and Questions==
- I thought this was called the Poddleville '''Caper'''?
Nothing in the referenced May report, the 3 minute Promo, Gino's Personal Tape, and the referenced WGBH archive ever refers to it as anything BUT the Poddleville Case. This incorrect title was all speculation from forums as early as 2003. Though they were partially right in the pilot not having Chris Lloyd
-What about the Live Action Segment?
Surprisingly ''Not'' in the 1999 pilot
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. *This is up for debunking if more evidence is supplied


-How come Curious Pictures doesn't site this as one of their works?
==See Also==
===Bumpers===
*[[Bookworm Bunch (partially found interstitials from PBS Kids channel block; 2000-2001)]]
*[[PBS Kids (partially lost schedule bumpers and interstitial material of TV channel block; 1999-present)]]
*[[PBS Kids Vote-A-Rama (lost bumpers of "Arthur" themed marathon; 2002)]]
*[[Someday School (partially found PBS Kids channel block; 1998-2000)]]


Again, User SonikkuAorDatH asked Mr. Patti why Curious Pictures themselves didn't cite this as one of their works (despite WNet and Nelvana always mentioning). Gino responded:
===PBS===
<blockquote>The main producer, Kris Greengrove, left Curious Pictures after the pilot. They wanted to change the look, so they moved to a new team. Also different teams worked on production because of cost</blockquote>
*[[Adventures with Kanga Roddy (partially lost PBS children's series; 1998-2000)]]
*[[Backyard Safari (partially found PBS children's educational series; 1997)]]
*[[Barney & Friends "Season 9" (partially found alternative version of PBS children's series; 2004-2005)]]
*[[Christmastime with Mister Rogers (found holiday TV special; 1977)]]
*[[Lamb Chop's Play-Along (partially lost PBS children's puppet series; 1992-1995)]]
*[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood "Mister Rogers Talks About Conflict" (found episode arc of PBS children's educational series; 1983)]]
*[[The Puzzle Place (partially found PBS puppet series; 1994-1998)]]
*[[Reading Rainbow (found Johnny Kemp opening sequence for PBS children's educational series; 1999)]]
*[[Shining Time Station (found season one intro of PBS series; 1989-1990)]]
*[[Storytime (found PBS children's reading series; 1992-1998)]]
*[[Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? "Auld Lang Gone" (non-existent episode of PBS children's game show; 1992)]]
*[[Zoom (found pilot of revival of 1972 PBS children's series; 1995)]]
*[[Zoom (partially lost revival of PBS children's series; 1999-2005)]]


So executive shifting and knowledge that other companies would pick up the show caused it to be ignored for self crediting
===PBS Kids===
*[[The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (partially lost PBS Kids "Lamb Chop's Play-Along" spin-off series; 1998-1999)]]
*[[Curious George (lost test pilot of PBS Kids animated series based on books; existence unconfirmed; 2004/2005)]]
*[[Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids animated musical series; 2006-2008)]]
*[[Dragon Tales "One Small Step for Cassie" and "Circle of Friends" (lost pilots of PBS Kids animated series; 1999)]]
*[[The Good Night Show with Melanie/Leo (partially found PBS Kids Sprout series; 2005-2006)]]
*[[The Good Night Show with Nina & Star (partially found PBS Kids Sprout series; 2006-2017)]]
*[[Jet Propulsion (partially found pitch pilot of "Ready Jet Go!" PBS Kids CGI-animated series; 2013)]]
*[[Kratts' Creatures (found PBS children's educational series; 1996)]]
*[[Make Way for Noddy (partially found PBS Kids version of British children's TV series; 2005)]]
*[[Molly of Denali (partially found pitch pilot of PBS Kids animated series; 2018)]]
*[[Nature Cat (lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; early 2010s)]]
*[[Peg + Cat (partially lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; 2011)]]
*[[Preschool Musical... On a Stick (partially lost PBS Kids Sprout "High School Musical" parody; 2008)]]
*[[Seven Little Monsters (found episodes of PBS Kids animated series; 2000-2004)]]
*[[Space Race (partially found PBS Kids web series; 2011)]]
*[[Super Why! (partially found British dub of PBS Kids CGI animated series; late 2000s-2010s)]]
*[[What's The Big Idea? (partially found pitch pilot of "Sid The Science Kid" PBS Kids CGI animated series; 2007)]]
*[[WordGirl (lost pitch pilot of PBS Kids educational animated series; existence unconfirmed; 2005)]]
*[[WordWorld (found test pilot of PBS Kids CGI animated educational series; 2005)]]


==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.]
*https://youtu.be/9537W6RAHHI
*[https://archive.org/details/pilocompare Full comparison of final and pilot by SonikkuAorDatH]
*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).]
*[https://youtu.be/-jr_4jNDj4s/ Older video showing comparisons of footage from the Promo and Final, and note of Voice actors (2/2).]
*[https://youtu.be/EGZwAkrLJL0/ Old theory of the other digitally edited/reanimated scenes.]
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160630/ IMDB noting Thom Christopher's role as Hacker in a later ''Cyberchase'' game.]
*[https://archive.org/details/bcast-086020-0001_202102 Internet Archive upload of the pilot.]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNdhMTxqnc YouTube upload of the pilot.]


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


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

Latest revision as of 22:29, 7 September 2023

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, 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.

Availability

For a while, most information about the pilot was mere speculation, most of it based on how different the animation style for Season 1 Episode 7, "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.

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.

When asked about the Live Action footage in the post 2002 version, Gino Patti stated that he did not recall any live-action scenes indicating that possibly the live-action scenes were shot later for the time being.

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

Gallery

  • Screenshot of Jackie making breakfast. A scene that is not in final.

    Screenshot of Jackie making breakfast. A scene that is not in final.

  • A screenshot showing a comparison of a scene in the pilot and final.

    A screenshot showing a comparison of a scene in the pilot and final.

  • A screenshot comparison noting hue errors.

    A screenshot comparison noting hue errors.

  • Heavy redesign for a character noted.

    Heavy redesign for a character noted.

  • Another reanimated scene, indicating a zoom in was added.

    Another reanimated scene, indicating a zoom in was added.

  • The package for Gino Patti's copy of the VHS, posted on his Instagram.

    The package for Gino Patti's copy of the VHS, posted on his Instagram.

See Also

Bumpers

PBS

PBS Kids

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Informal Science NSF Document of the Pilot noting peer response to it. Retrieved 06 Sep '20
  2. ↑ WGBH Archive of shows noting the pilot and its track length. Retrieved 06 Sep '20
  3. ↑ PDF archive of Emmys for 1999-2000 entries Retrieved 26 Sep '20
  4. ↑ Forum with an example of misinformation. Retrieved 07 Sep '20
  5. ↑ Instagram Post showing screenshots of the pilot. Retrieved 06 Sep '20
  6. ↑ Joanna Rhinehart's Portfolio. Retrieved 07 Sep '20
  7. ↑ Original 3 minute promo. Retrieved 06 Sep '20
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