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

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{{NeedingWork|informal writing}}
{{InfoboxFound
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Cyberchase Pilot: The Poddleville Case</center>
|title=<center>Cyberchase Pilot: The Poddleville Case</center>
|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:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|datefound=06 Feb 2021
|foundby=Theruff
}}
}}
==Plot==
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.
''"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?"''


The pilot of the 2002 Nelvana animated program ''Cyberchase'' was originally a 1999 pilot made 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.
==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.
==History==
For a long while, most information of content was just 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. As well as the use of a different live-action Actor, Kareem Blackwell, compared to the rest of the series using Matt Wilson and Bianca DeGroat. Some recall Hacker not being voiced by Christopher Lloyd, while others think 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.
 
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.
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
Gino2.jpg|Screenshot of Jackie choosing what to eat. A scene that is not in episode 7.
Gino1.jpg|A screenshot showing the pilot's length to be 24:15.
Gino3.jpg|The package for the VHS, delivered to Curious Pictures employees.
</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 07 Sep '20</ref> Along with Thom coincidentally voicing Hacker again in the PC Cyberchase games <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160630/ IMDB noting Thom Christopher's role as Hacker in a later Cyberchase game.] Retrieved 07 Sep '20</ref>.
 
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 21, 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.
 
==Contents==
Despite the pilot being recycled for episode 7, there are several differences.
 
====Script====
For the Mayor panicking over the missing Pods/Eggs, several of his lines were changed. All references to eggs were changed to Pods, the "Five-sie" Poddle's line is sound mixed a little later, and the kids have added exclamations when chased by the Poddle Crowd in final.
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color:green" |Version
! style="background-color:green" |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!
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.


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


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


Mayor: Aliens. ALIENS have landed!
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.


Pod background noise: (Angry crowd)
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.
|-
|Final||Mayor: No Not Again! There's an alien in our midst! Find him before we lose power, and then get TWISTED into oblivion!


Pod1: One, Two, Three, Four all Pods accounted for
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.


Pod2: One, Two...*gasp* Oh! no! They got our darling Three! Three has been stolen!
==Gallery==
 
<gallery mode="packed" heights="175px">
Pod3: Five-sie! Our fives gone!
Jackbreakfast.png|Screenshot of Jackie making breakfast. A scene that is not in final.
 
Mattthink.png|A screenshot showing a comparison of a scene in the pilot and final.
(they see Jackie with one of the Pods)
compa2.png|A screenshot comparison noting hue errors.
 
compa4.png|Heavy redesign for a character noted.
Jackie: Oh no!
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.
Pod4: She took them, she has our Pods!
 
Jackie: No no, it's not what you think-
 
Mayor: Aliens. ALIENS have landed!
 
Pod background singular: Catch the Pod Poochers!
|-
|}
 
In addition, Hacker's lines when walking off the chair were changed.
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color:green" |Version
! style="background-color:green" |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====
Despite all vocals being redubbed, there were also many scenes that were visually edited; either digitally masked, completely reanimated, or incorrectly transferred with artifacts.
 
[[File:Compa1.png|500px|thumb|center|Interestingly the promo used the ''Ice Age'' font a couple years before the Blue Sky movie.]]
A comparison of the logos from the 3 minute promo and episode 7. Note that the pilot's logo uses the same font as the current series, just differently styled.
 
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
Compa2.png|
Compa7.png|
</gallery>
</gallery>
Two scenes from the pilot had the hue tweaked. This leads to inconsistencies of later reused scenes featuring orange colored objects.


==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)]]


[[File:Compa14.png|500px|thumb|center|]]
===PBS===
Hacker scenes specifically in final have an added spotlight filter.
*[[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)]]


 
===PBS Kids===
[[File:Compa9.png|500px|thumb|center|The masking artifacts on Jackie]]
*[[The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (partially lost PBS Kids "Lamb Chop's Play-Along" spin-off series; 1998-1999)]]
Some scenes use the original animation, but digital remove then restitch the characters on altered backgrounds, or other digitally masked effects. Here it was to add shadows.
*[[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)]]
[[File:Compa10.png|500px|thumb|center|This causes us to not see the full frame in final.]]
*[[The Good Night Show with Melanie/Leo (partially found PBS Kids Sprout series; 2005-2006)]]
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.
*[[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)]]
[[File:Compa13.png|500px|thumb|center|A lot more 3D CG elements in final.]]
*[[Kratts' Creatures (found PBS children's educational series; 1996)]]
[[File:Compa5.png|500px|thumb|center|The characters look different in artstyle compared to the pilot once exiting the portal.]]
*[[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)]]
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 thing to note is that final's sequence is roughly twice as long.
*[[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)]]
[[File:Compa6.png|500px|thumb|center|The Street view showing the scenery.]]
*[[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)]]
In the edited episode, Jackie was made shorter than Inez, and both the shading and perspective for the background was decreased heavily.
*[[Space Race (partially found PBS Kids web series; 2011)]]
 
*[[Super Why! (partially found British dub of PBS Kids CGI animated series; late 2000s-2010s)]]
[[File:Compa3.png|500px|thumb|center|Brighter set.]]
*[[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)]]
As noted, Hacker's scene is cut short in the finished episode, and also reanimated to keep the camera pan still. As in the pilot it moves to reveal Buzz and Delete, this would have ruined continuity for the later changed script and sequences of the final.
*[[WordWorld (found test pilot of PBS Kids CGI animated educational series; 2005)]]
 
[[File:Compa8.png|500px|thumb|center|Glass crash inversion.]]
 
Besides being reanimated in a different angle, there is an invert effect for right when the villains crash through the glass. Potentially this was due to censorship, or just a way to make the crash more dramatic.
[[File:Poddleville_Audience.png|500px|thumb|center|Audience the scene before.]]
[[File:Compa11.png|500px|thumb|center|The Audience in the next with comparison.]]
[[File:Compa12.png|500px|thumb|center|The egg was recolored.]]
 
The crowd cheering has a discrepancy. Right before that scene, unaltered footage from the pilot of the audience features them in correct colors. In the pilot the colors are consistent, but in the Final they are all recolored despite the scene before. There are also numerous coloring errors for the eyes and some of the Poddles' hands in final. The flags went from green, red, and blue to just blue. Due to this scene not being meant to be zoomed in the pilot, the main character's low detail is more apparent in final.
 
For the next scene, unlike the pilot where the kids blink at regular intervals, Matt and Inez are permanently stuck in a half lidded expression. The Podling's pupil also got bigger, the egg it is holding onto also got recolored, and the background is digitally redone.
 
==Availability==
As of writing (Dec 4 2020), the Pilot is partially found from Wnet's 3 min promo, and Gino Patti's Instagram Post. Some more information of the pilot's plot can be found in the National Science Foundation's PDF (See references)
 
Might change in a week...


==External Links==
==External Links==
*[https://youtu.be/9537W6RAHHI/ Video showing comparisons of footage from the Promo and Final, and note of Voice actors (1/2).] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[https://umaryland.worldcat.org/title/patterns-the-poddleville-case/oclc/399590006 A confirmed copy of the pilot archived.]
*[https://youtu.be/-jr_4jNDj4s/ Video showing comparisons of footage from the Promo and Final, and note of Voice actors (2/2).] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[https://archive.org/details/pilocompare Full comparison of final and pilot by SonikkuAorDatH]
*[https://youtu.be/EGZwAkrLJL0/ Theory of the other digitally edited/reanimated scenes.] Retrieved 07 Sep '20
*[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.]


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


 
[[Category:Found animation]]
[[Category:Lost animation]]
[[Category:Found media]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Found TV]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]

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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