CBS Storybreak "What Happened in Hamelin" (lost episode from animated series; 1987): Difference between revisions
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==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
Whereas most of the series has been uploaded online, "What Happened in Hamelin" is one of two episodes that remain unavailable, in its particular case likely because of the subject matter (one Goodreads review calls the book 'a straight-up horror novel for kids' and another suggests this adaptation's ending is even more unsettling than the novel's | Whereas most of the series has been uploaded online, "What Happened in Hamelin" is one of two episodes that remain unavailable, in its particular case likely because of the subject matter (one Goodreads review calls the book 'a straight-up horror novel for kids' and another suggests this adaptation's ending is even more unsettling than the novel's<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2687911 Goodreads page for Skurzynski's novel</ref>) It wasn't among the episodes that were released on VHS after the series ended, and so has remained shrouded in mystery. | ||
Other than a single still frame and the 'Next week on...'-style preview following the previous week's episode "The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek", which can be seen along with that episode on YouTube and separately on Facebook, no trace official or otherwise of "What Happened in Hamelin" can be found online. | Other than a single still frame and the 'Next week on...'-style preview following the previous week's episode "The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek", which can be seen along with that episode on YouTube and separately on Facebook, no trace official or otherwise of "What Happened in Hamelin" can be found online. |
Revision as of 18:15, 14 July 2023
"What Happened in Hamelin" is an episode of the animated literary anthology TV series, CBS Storybreak. It premiered on October 3rd, 1987[1] and is an adaptation of the book of the same title, initially published and released in 1979, by Gloria Skurzynski.[2] Information regards to technical credits is unobtainable at the moment, aside from the fact that along with the rest of the series it was co-produced by Hanna-Barbera Australia and Southern Star Entertainment.[1]
Premise
Like all Storybreak episodes, this is an adaptation of a critically-acclaimed children's book, in this case Gloria Skurzynski's 1979 novel What Happened in Hamelin. The story is an attempt to reframe the Pied Piper legend in its historical context - given that over a hundred children are, in fact, recorded as disappearing from the town at one point in the Middle Ages, for reasons now wholly unknown. If it wasn't the result of dark musical magic, might it have been something even more disturbing?
Our hero is Geist, a 14-year-old baker's apprentice in Hamelin who is envious of the Piper's apparently carefree lifestyle and quickly becomes his protege. However, on discovering his mentor's plan to revenge himself on the stingy town fathers using their children - involving grain tainted with ergot, a poisonous fungus that causes those who ingest it to 'dance' in agony - Geist is horrified, working desperately to betray his master and save his friends from a dreadful fate.
The adaptation seems to have followed this plot fairly closely, although synopses and a still of the episode indicate Geist is joined in the animated version of his quest by a young girl, not further identified but presumably another of Hamelin's children.[3]
Availability
Whereas most of the series has been uploaded online, "What Happened in Hamelin" is one of two episodes that remain unavailable, in its particular case likely because of the subject matter (one Goodreads review calls the book 'a straight-up horror novel for kids' and another suggests this adaptation's ending is even more unsettling than the novel's[4]) It wasn't among the episodes that were released on VHS after the series ended, and so has remained shrouded in mystery.
Other than a single still frame and the 'Next week on...'-style preview following the previous week's episode "The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek", which can be seen along with that episode on YouTube and separately on Facebook, no trace official or otherwise of "What Happened in Hamelin" can be found online.
Gallery
Images
Videos
See Also
- Boss Cat (found British opening and ending titles of "Top Cat" animated series; 1962-1989)
- Dastardly & Muttley - Operation: Pigeon Pursuit (lost build of unreleased PlayStation 2 video game; 2007-2008)
- Fender Bender 500 (partially found episodes of "Wacky Races" reboot animated series; 1990s)
- Jetsons: The Movie "Gotcha" (partially found full version of song from Hanna-Barbera animated film; 1990)
- Jetsons: The Movie - Janet Waldo performance (lost audio of animated film; 1988-1989)
- Jokebook (partially found Hanna-Barbera animated series; 1982)
- Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (partially found episodes of syndicated animated series; 1990)
- Return of the Bunjee (lost ABC Weekend special; 1985)
- Rock Odyssey (partially lost Hanna-Barbera animated film; 1987)
- Showbiz Pizza's Yogi Bear and Boo Boo Showtape (found animatronic audio showtape; 1987)
- The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (partially found Hanna Barbera live action-animated TV series; 1968-1969)
- The Flintstones (cancelled Seth MacFarlane reboot of animated series; 2013)
- The Flintstones Movie (partially found Sega Channel exclusive build of 2D movie tie-in platformer; 1995)
- The Funny World of Fred and Bunni (partially found live-action/animated variety show pilot; 1978)
- The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour (partially found NBC comedy variety show; 1978)
- The Moxy Show (partially found episodes of CGI anthology series; 1993-2000)
- The New Teen Titans "Just Say No!" (partially lost Hanna-Barbera anti-drug animated PSA; 1983)
- The Ruff and Reddy Show (found episodes of NBC Hanna-Barbera animated series; 1957-1960)
- The Snorks (partially found unaired pilot of Hanna-Barbera animated TV series; 1982)
External Link
- Facebook fan page for CBS Storybreak. Retrieved 27 Jan '20
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 193. ISBN 978-1476665993
- ↑ What Happened in Hamelin (1979) on Internet Archive Retrieved 29 Dec 2022
- ↑ Info about the various episodes including "What Happened in Hamelin" Retrieved 26 Aug. '21
- ↑ https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2687911 Goodreads page for Skurzynski's novel