Plunderbirds: Talk Robots (found robot combat mockumentary film; 2019): Difference between revisions

From The Lost Media Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(The robot combat lost media well hasn't dried up yet! A shame this mockumentary was never finished, because it would have been fun considering it is International Wreck Crew at their best. I wonder if they 'ave a srimech yet (course they 'ave!).)
 
No edit summary
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxFound
|title=<center>Plunderbirds: Talk Robots</center>
|title=<center>Plunderbirds: Talk Robots</center>  
|image=Plunderbird1.jpg
|image=Plunderbird1.jpg
|imagecaption=Mockumentary logo
|imagecaption=Mockumentary logo.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>  
}}
|datefound=10 May 2023
'''''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''''' was a unreleased robot combat mockumentary film. Produced by Kinemacolour Media, it followed the International Wreck Crew, a prominent team on the BBC robot combat gameshow ''Robot Wars'', as they detailed their history in robot combat, and attended modern robot combat events.
|foundby=[https://amazon.co.uk/placeholder_title/dp/B0B8T85DLV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HTOGSQHGBZR6&keywords=plunderbirds&qid=1683711240&s=instant-video&sprefix=plunderbird%2Cinstant-video%2C77&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR1qZ2IaU3CZNnNpPPn9w6VBybnODV4XBZ6JrL43X-DEVYlvKRDi3yOoOJM Amazon Prime]
}}  
'''''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''''' was a previously unreleased robot combat mockumentary film. Produced by Kinemacolour Media, it followed the International Wreck Crew, a prominent team on the BBC robot combat game show ''Robot Wars'', as they detailed their history in robot combat, and attended modern robot combat events. Originally, the work went unreleased following a failed February 2019 Kickstarter. However, the film would quietly be completed and released on Amazon Prime in 2023.


==Background==
==Background==
International Wreck Crew competed in the first five main series of ''Robot Wars'' as well as the spin-off ''Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1'', entering a total of five machines under the Plunderbird moniker.<ref>[https://www.haslemereherald.com/article.cfm?id=139568&headline=Robot%20Wars%20bots%20in%20town&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2020 ''Haslemere Herald'' article on International Wreck Crew.] Retrieved 2 Dec '21</ref> Their most successful machine was Plunderbird 2, which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2. The team itself, whose main members were Mike Onslow and Bryan Kilburn, overshadowed their machines however. They became highly popular among ''Robot Wars'' fans and roboteers alike, for their "tough guy" characters on-screen and for generally being helpful behind-the-scenes.<ref>[https://thingsilike.live/2018/10/24/five-memorable-moments-of-team-plunderbird/ ''Things I Like'' discussing the team and its robots.] Retrieved 2 Dec '21 Retrieved 2 Dec '21</ref> They would also win the Sportsmanship Award for Series 2,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tu1rnoMLg ''Robot Wars'' Series 2 Grand Final, where Plunderbird 2 was awarded the Sportsmanship Award.] Retrieved 2 Dec '21</ref> with their first machine, Plunderbird 1 earning Series 1's Best Design Award.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TMgtOiKMIg ''Robot Wars'' Series 1 Heat F, where Plunderbird 1 was awarded the Best Design Award.] Retrieved 2 Dec '21</ref>
International Wreck Crew competed in the first five main series of ''Robot Wars'' as well as the spin-off ''Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1'', entering a total of five machines under the Plunderbird moniker.<ref name="wreck">[https://haslemereherald.com/article.cfm?id=139568&headline=Robot%20Wars%20bots%20in%20town&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2020 ''Haslemere Herald'' article on International Wreck Crew.] Retrieved 02 Dec '21</ref><ref name="like">[https://thingsilike.live/2018/10/24/five-memorable-moments-of-team-plunderbird/ ''Things I Like'' discussing the team and its robots.] Retrieved 02 Dec '21</ref> Their most successful machine was Plunderbird 2, which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2. The team itself, whose main members were Mike Onslow and Bryan Kilburn, overshadowed their machines however. They became prevalent among ''Robot Wars'' fans and roboteers alike, for their "tough guy" characters on-screen and for generally being helpful behind the scenes.<ref name="wreck"/><ref name="like"/> They would also win the Sportsmanship Award for Series 2, with their first machine, Plunderbird 1, earning Series 1's Best Design Award.<ref>[https://youtu.be/c0tu1rnoMLg ''Robot Wars'' Series 2 Grand Final, where Plunderbird 2 was awarded the Sportsmanship Award.] Retrieved 02 Dec '21</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/9TMgtOiKMIg ''Robot Wars'' Series 1 Heat F, where Plunderbird 1 was awarded the Best Design Award.] Retrieved 02 Dec '21</ref>


==Plunderbirds: Talk Robots and Kickstarter Campaign==
==Plunderbirds: Talk Robots and Kickstarter Campaign==
In 2016, Onslow was interested in creating a mockumentary on International Wreck Crew, based upon their history of creating machines, as well as interviewing teams that were still competing in the sport. Plans therefore began with the aim of releasing a robot combat mockumentary DVD where all proceeds would be donated to good causes, including cancer and homeless charities. Throughout 2017, Onslow and Kilburn would work with Kinemacolour Media to film the mockumentary, including at various robot combat and educational events, and the team's robot workshop. A teaser trailer was released by Kinemacolour Media in July 2018.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/UnofficialRobotWars/posts/840411272905306 ''Unofficial Robot Wars'' Facebook post discussing the teaser trailer.] Retrieved 2 Dec '21</ref>
In 2016, Onslow was interested in creating a mockumentary on International Wreck Crew.<ref name="kickstarter">[https://facebook.com/groups/UnofficialRobotWars/posts/985232278423204/ ''Unofficial Robot Wars'' Facebook post on the Kickstarter, with some being put off by the £10k target.] Retrieved 02 Dec '21</ref><ref name="teaser">[https://facebook.com/groups/UnofficialRobotWars/posts/840411272905306 ''Unofficial Robot Wars'' Facebook post discussing the teaser trailer.] Retrieved 02 Dec '21</ref> His proposal would focus on the team's history of creating machines, as well as interviewing teams that were still competing in the sport.<ref name="kickstarter"/><ref name="teaser"/> Plans, therefore, began with the aim of releasing a robot combat mockumentary DVD where all proceeds would be donated to good causes, including cancer and homeless charities.<ref name="kickstarter"/><ref name="teaser"/> Throughout 2017, Onslow and Kilburn would work with Kinemacolour Media to film the mockumentary, including at various robot combat and educational events, and the team's robot workshop.<ref name="kickstarter"/><ref name="teaser"/> A teaser trailer was released by Kinemacolour Media in July 2018.<ref name="teaser"/>
 
In January 2019, Onslow and Kilburn launched a Kickstarter campaign. They requested £10,000 so that their mockumentary, entitled ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots'', could receive the editing and marketing required, as well as allowing for the manufacturing of the DVDs themselves. Included on the Kickstarter page includes several screenshots of the unedited film, and a two-and-a-half minute video consisting of the duo explaining the Kickstarter (both in and out of character), with a small trailer of footage of the film provided.


Ultimately, the project raised only £765 from 12 backers by the funding goal's deadline of 17th February, 2019. The failure primarily stemmed upon lack of interest among the robot combat community, some being put off by the £10k target.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/UnofficialRobotWars/posts/985232278423204/ ''Unofficial Robot Wars'' Facebook post on the Kickstarter, with some being put off by the £10k target.] Retrieved 2 Dec '21</ref>
In January 2019, Onslow and Kilburn launched a Kickstarter campaign.<ref name="kickstarter"/> They requested £10,000 so that their mockumentary, entitled ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots'', could receive the editing and marketing required, as well as allowing for the manufacturing of the DVDs.<ref name="kickstarter"/> Included on the Kickstarter page includes several screenshots of the unedited film, and a two-and-a-half minute video consisting of the duo explaining the Kickstarter (both in and out of character), with a small trailer of footage of the film provided.<ref name="kickstarter"/> Ultimately, the project raised only £765 from 12 backers by the funding goal's deadline of 17th February 2019.<ref name="kickstarter"/> The failure primarily stemmed upon lack of interest among the robot combat community, with some particularly being put off by the £10k target.<ref name="kickstarter"/>


==Availability==
==Availability==
Because ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots'' went unreleased, little media of the unfinished mockumentary is publicly accessible. A few minutes of footage can be viewed from the teaser and Kickstarter videos, with a few screenshots still remaining accessible on the Kickstarter page.
Because ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots'' originally went unreleased following the failed Kickstarter, little media of the unfinished mockumentary was publicly available prior to 2023. A few minutes of footage could be viewed from the teaser and Kickstarter videos, with a few screenshots still remaining accessible on the Kickstarter page. However, while the failed Kickstarter delayed the film's production, it was still being completed under the direction of Geoffrey Burgess and David Cheshire.<ref name="found">[https://reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/13dlywn/found_plunderbirds_talk_robots_robot_combat/ r/lostmedia discussing the mockumentary being released on Amazon Prime.] Retrieved 10 May '23</ref> Unbeknownst to the majority of robot combat fans, the 45-minute mockumentary would be quietly released on Amazon Prime.<ref name="found"/> Such was the lack of announcement concerning an impending release, its existence on Amazon Prime was not common knowledge to the robot combat community until May of 2023.<ref name="found"/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 59: Line 59:
*[[American Robot Wars 2000 (lost MTV pilot of British robot combat game show; 2000)]]
*[[American Robot Wars 2000 (lost MTV pilot of British robot combat game show; 2000)]]
*[[BattleBots (found Comedy Central robot combat game show; 2000-2002)]]
*[[BattleBots (found Comedy Central robot combat game show; 2000-2002)]]
*[[BattleBots (lost build of unreleased GameCube/PlayStation 2 game based on robot combat TV series; 2003)]]
*[[BattleBots (partially lost build of unreleased GameCube/PlayStation 2 game based on robot combat TV series; 2003)]]
*[[BattleBots Collegiate Championship (partially lost unaired spinoff of robot combat TV show; 2009)]]
*[[BattleBots Collegiate Championship (partially lost unaired spinoff of robot combat TV show; 2009)]]
*[[Mechanoids (partially found BBC robot combat game show; 2003)]]
*[[Mechanoids (partially found BBC robot combat game show; 2003)]]
*[[Robot Wars (found cameos of robot combat-themed BBC 2 ident; 1999-2000)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost footage and HSE documentation of behind-the-scenes accidents of BBC robot combat game show; 1998-1999)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost near-death footage of Jeremy Clarkson from robot combat game show; 1998)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost near-death footage of Jeremy Clarkson from robot combat game show; 1998)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost work on unfinished cartoon series based on robot combat game show; existence unconfirmed; 2002-2004)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost work on unfinished cartoon series based on robot combat game show; existence unconfirmed; 2002-2004)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found footage of robot combat show qualifying auditions and battles; 1998-2003)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found unaired or partially aired battles of BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found unaired or partially aired battles of BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found uncut battles from BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found uncut battles from BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)]]
Line 70: Line 73:
*[[Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 2 (partially found behind-the-scenes footage of TNN robot combat game show; 2002)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 2 (partially found behind-the-scenes footage of TNN robot combat game show; 2002)]]
*[[Robot Wars Revealed (partially found BBC Choice spin-off of robot combat game show; 1998-2000)]]
*[[Robot Wars Revealed (partially found BBC Choice spin-off of robot combat game show; 1998-2000)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 3 (lost HSE documentation concerning behind-the-scenes accidents of BBC robot combat game show; 1999)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 8 (lost unaired pilot of BBC robot combat game show; 2016)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 8 (lost unaired pilot of BBC robot combat game show; 2016)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 8 (partially found Science Channel reruns of robot combat game show; 2018)]]
*[[Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (lost BNN robot combat special; 2001)]]
*[[Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (lost BNN robot combat special; 2001)]]
*[[Robotica (found TLC robot combat game show; 2001-2003)]]
*[[Robotica (found TLC robot combat game show; 2001-2003)]]
Line 78: Line 81:


==External Links==
==External Links==
*[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/230519924/plunderbirds-talk-robots? The Kickstarter for ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''.]
*[https://amazon.co.uk/placeholder_title/dp/B0B8T85DLV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HTOGSQHGBZR6&keywords=plunderbirds&qid=1683711240&s=instant-video&sprefix=plunderbird%2Cinstant-video%2C77&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR1qZ2IaU3CZNnNpPPn9w6VBybnODV4XBZ6JrL43X-DEVYlvKRDi3yOoOJM Amazon UK Prime page for ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''].
*[https://kickstarter.com/projects/230519924/plunderbirds-talk-robots? The Kickstarter for ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''.]
*[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/International_Wreck_Crew ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article for International Wreck Crew.]
*[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/International_Wreck_Crew ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article for International Wreck Crew.]
*[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/Plunderbird ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article for International Wreck Crew's Plunderbird machines.]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Found films]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Found media]]

Latest revision as of 16:36, 10 May 2023

Plunderbird1.jpg

Mockumentary logo.

Status: Found

Date found: 10 May 2023

Found by: Amazon Prime

Plunderbirds: Talk Robots was a previously unreleased robot combat mockumentary film. Produced by Kinemacolour Media, it followed the International Wreck Crew, a prominent team on the BBC robot combat game show Robot Wars, as they detailed their history in robot combat, and attended modern robot combat events. Originally, the work went unreleased following a failed February 2019 Kickstarter. However, the film would quietly be completed and released on Amazon Prime in 2023.

Background

International Wreck Crew competed in the first five main series of Robot Wars as well as the spin-off Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1, entering a total of five machines under the Plunderbird moniker.[1][2] Their most successful machine was Plunderbird 2, which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2. The team itself, whose main members were Mike Onslow and Bryan Kilburn, overshadowed their machines however. They became prevalent among Robot Wars fans and roboteers alike, for their "tough guy" characters on-screen and for generally being helpful behind the scenes.[1][2] They would also win the Sportsmanship Award for Series 2, with their first machine, Plunderbird 1, earning Series 1's Best Design Award.[3][4]

Plunderbirds: Talk Robots and Kickstarter Campaign

In 2016, Onslow was interested in creating a mockumentary on International Wreck Crew.[5][6] His proposal would focus on the team's history of creating machines, as well as interviewing teams that were still competing in the sport.[5][6] Plans, therefore, began with the aim of releasing a robot combat mockumentary DVD where all proceeds would be donated to good causes, including cancer and homeless charities.[5][6] Throughout 2017, Onslow and Kilburn would work with Kinemacolour Media to film the mockumentary, including at various robot combat and educational events, and the team's robot workshop.[5][6] A teaser trailer was released by Kinemacolour Media in July 2018.[6]

In January 2019, Onslow and Kilburn launched a Kickstarter campaign.[5] They requested £10,000 so that their mockumentary, entitled Plunderbirds: Talk Robots, could receive the editing and marketing required, as well as allowing for the manufacturing of the DVDs.[5] Included on the Kickstarter page includes several screenshots of the unedited film, and a two-and-a-half minute video consisting of the duo explaining the Kickstarter (both in and out of character), with a small trailer of footage of the film provided.[5] Ultimately, the project raised only £765 from 12 backers by the funding goal's deadline of 17th February 2019.[5] The failure primarily stemmed upon lack of interest among the robot combat community, with some particularly being put off by the £10k target.[5]

Availability

Because Plunderbirds: Talk Robots originally went unreleased following the failed Kickstarter, little media of the unfinished mockumentary was publicly available prior to 2023. A few minutes of footage could be viewed from the teaser and Kickstarter videos, with a few screenshots still remaining accessible on the Kickstarter page. However, while the failed Kickstarter delayed the film's production, it was still being completed under the direction of Geoffrey Burgess and David Cheshire.[7] Unbeknownst to the majority of robot combat fans, the 45-minute mockumentary would be quietly released on Amazon Prime.[7] Such was the lack of announcement concerning an impending release, its existence on Amazon Prime was not common knowledge to the robot combat community until May of 2023.[7]

Gallery

Videos

Teaser video for Plunderbirds: Talk Robots.

Kickstarter video for Plunderbirds: Talk Robots.

Images

See Also

External Links

References