Turner France Presents the New Gadget Series With TEMP Image!

In the comments to yesterday's news about Boomerang France, Cortoony remarked something I hadn't quite noticed about the promotional screenshot accompanying those news: that it was in fact a work-in-progress image (from the "Game Over, Man" episode; the one the WorldScreen clip includes an excerpt of). This could be evidenced by partly different furniture, something resembling a framed picture on the left wall and, most glaringly, Quimby's freakishly long arm poking through the floor underneath the livingroom table. Well, guess what? In this official PDF from Turner France, I found a higher-res, less cropped version of the image... which shows pretty clearly why the finished episode version removed that framed picture - uh, television screen.

Is that TV channel really on pause, or are the words "TEMP image" trying to tell us something?

Here, again, is the matching episode screenshot for comparison. I find it interesting how the details revealing the temporary state of the above image have been literally covered up in the final version. Maybe that's why they went with a different type of table.

It's charming to get a glimpse into the CGI animation process... but I have to say I'm surpriced to find that glimpse in official promotional material. My guess is, the image was added to the promotional image bank in its temporary state, intended to be replaced with a final rendering later... but for some reason, that replacement didn't happen. And then for some even stranger reason, it snuck into Boomerang France's press material. This picture has come a long way.

While on the subject of Boomerang France, I should mention that the PDF was released on December 8 along with this article on Turner's kids channels from the news site Offre Media. The article specifies a few more details about the French premiere, which is now merely three and a half weeks away:

C'est Boomerang, ciblant les 4-7 ans et toute la famille, qui programmera le plus de nouveautés en 2015. Le samedi 3 janvier, la «chaîne des stars du dessin animé» (Tom & Jerry, Mr Bean...) arborera une nouvelle identité graphique, un nouveau logo, un nouvel habillage et de nouveaux codes de communication. Le même jour à 10h25, la nouvelle version de la série «Inspecteur Gadget» (52x11min) ouvrira le bal des nouveautés programmes.

In English:

It's Boomerang, targeting 4-7 year olds and the whole family, which programs the most news in 2015. On Saturday, January 3, the "channel of the cartoon stars" (Tom & Jerry, Mr Bean...) will sport a new graphic identity, a new logo, a new look and new communication codes. The same day at 10:25, the new version of the series "Inspector Gadget" (52x11 min) will open the show of new programs.

We already knew that the series would premiere on Boomerang France on January 3, the day the channel splits from Boomerang Europe at large; and also that it will air regularly at 10:25 on Saturdays and Sundays. But here we learn that the new Inspector Gadget is in fact the very first series to introduce the revamped schedule of Boomerang France. (And yeah, this is clearly part of the same Boomerang rebrand that's gradually happening around the entire globe. Boomerang France just moves at their own pace, independently of Europe at large.)

The PDF page for the series also included another interesting visual detail (see if you can find it)...

...that's right: the first release of the show's French logo! As with the original series, it is of course just like the English version except for "EU" replacing the "O".

Seeing this kinda makes me wonder if the new series might have a custom-animated, French title logo for the intro, like the 1983 series did. Then again, I doubt it. On the original show, as I mentioned yesterday, the French broadcaster FR3 was a production partner on the financial side... so it makes sense that it would ask for custom-made, French-language titles and end credits. DHX's series, on the other hand, is a 100% Canadian production.

Finally, a quick translation of Turner's French PDF presentation, because I find it a bit charming:

Inspector Gadget returns with a new production unreleased in France! Gadget is a subtle blend of Inspector Clouseau and Robocop. 

Always confident, self-assured, while being a bit careless, he leaves destroyed paths behind without understanding that he is the cause. New stories, new gadgets, new characters. 

It is me who's here, Inspector Gadget, it will be a joy... ooh ooh! [French theme song lyrics.]

The Robocop comparison makes sense, though it's amusing to me considering that the first Robocop movie premiered in 1987, several years after Inspector Gadget. Ah well. Anything to create interesting associations, I guess. (EDIT: As for more Robocop connections - true to his 1980s form of scoring nearly every cartoon show on TV, Shuki Levy of course composed the music for the 1988 animated series adaptation.)

So Apparently, Boomerang France Airs the New Inspector Gadget From January 3, 2015 (What Happened To France 3?)

Weird broadcast news today... though it seems they are legit, as I've found two sources on this by now. From a December 5 article on CB News:

La chaîne Boomerang déclinée dans le monde à partir de son exemple français

Turner Kids (Time Warner Company), qui édite les chaînes jeunesse Boing, Cartoon Network et Boomerang, annonce que cette dernière sera déclinée dans le monde dès le 3 janvier 2015 à partir de son concept et de son positionnement français. Hors de l’Hexagone, Boomerang s’adressera donc également aux 4-7 ans et à la famille avec des productions originales. Côté programmes, en France, la chaîne proposera à partir de janvier 52 épisodes inédits de l’« Inspecteur Gadget » et de « The Tom & Jerry Show », 26 épisodes de « Mr. Bean »  en avril et 13 épisodes de « Scooby-Doo »  en octobre. Parmi les nouveautés, en février prochain, 52 épisodes des « [Les] as de la Jungle » et 13 épisodes de « Wabbit » en décembre 2015.

In English (via Google Translate and myself):

Boomerang chain worldwide splits from its French example

Turner Kids (Time Warner Company), which owns the children's channels Boing, Cartoon Network and Boomerang, announces that the latter will be split worldwide from January 3, 2015 onwards from its French concept and positioning. Outside France, Boomerang thus also addresses the 4-7 year olds and families with original productions. On the program side in France, the channel offers from January 52 new episodes of "Inspector Gadget" and "The Tom & Jerry Show", 26 episodes of "Mr. Bean" in April and 13 episodes of "Scooby Doo "in October. Among the news next February, 52 episodes of "The Jungle Bunch" and 13 episodes of "Wabbit" in December 2015.

Very curious news, and I'm not sure I quite understand why Boomerang France is splitting from the programming for Boomerang Europe in general; considering that Boomerang France clearly intends to debut numerous new animated series themselves, much like Boomerang Europe will when its rebranded version rolls out in February. But maybe the French channel wishes to keep more of their classic cartoons' schedule? I really don't know.

Anyway, I mentioned there was another source for this, and that souce specifies that the above-mentioned date of the split - the Saturday of January 3 - will also see the French Boomerang premiere of Inspector Gadget. Here's the relevant extract from this December 5 posting on Les Accros aux Séries:

La nouvelle production inédite arrive en France avec Inspecteur Gadget tous les samedis et dimanches à 10h25 à partir du 3 janvier 2015 sur Boomerang, 26 épisodes de 11 minutes. 

In English:

The new and unreleased production of Inspector Gadget debutes in France on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:25 AM from January 3, 2015 on Boomerang, 26 episodes of 11 minutes.

This presentation gets one thing wrong: the new series consists of 52 episodes of 11 minutes (52 x 11 min., produced as 26 x 22), not 26 episodes of 11 minutes. But I'm assuming the rest of it is legit, as it matches and adds to the info from CB News. Plus, the post even includes a promotional image I haven't seen before... which is really just taken from the "Game Over, Man" episode clip on WorldScreen, but with different lighting. I guess this gives more of a normal, daylight glimpse into the home of Gadget, Penny and Brain:

Just for fun, here's the matching episode screenshot:

But ANYWAY. What truly confuses me about these Boomerang France news is the earlier announced info about the series' French airing. This seems to be a reversal to the situation way back in March (which I wrote about in April), when Turner issued a French press release stating that the Gadget reboot would debut on Boomerang (presumably Boomerang France) in November. That's all well and good in itself, and it even sort of makes sense that the Turner deal goes so far back. But only a few months after that press release, in July, French media everywhere was reporting that public channel France 3 had in fact purchased Gadget's reboot. This seemed to be a very good deal for the new series, one which would give it wide-spread exposure in a country where Inspector Gadget is already well-loved and considered a cult classic. So if the current news about Boomerang France are true... what happened to France 3??

There's another reason why I always liked that France 3 would broadcast the reboot: This is the channel which, under its old name "FR3", premiered the original Inspector Gadget series to French television more than thirty-one years ago. FR3 was even a production partner on the original show, putting up some of its financing. In that light, it felt kind of poetically fitting that France 3 of today would premiere the new series in France. I'm really curious what became of that deal.

Anyway, here's to the old days of Gadget on FR3... a vintage magazine ad promoting the first season's premiere run on the channel, from October 1983 to January 1985. (Scan courtesy of a generous collector whom I'll refer to here as "GC".)

Boomerang Europe To Premiere The Inspector Gadget Reboot On February 2, 2015, Concurrently With The Channel's Rebrand

Following up on Thursday's big Boomerang news... I recently found a listing of the exact, upcoming airing schedule for the revamped Boomerang Europe, which unveils its "New Look" in February. This is part of Boomerang's current, global shift from being a classic cartoons' channel to focusing on new (or recent) animated content... so logically, the updated Gadget series is part of that shift. According to some December 3 postings on the Boomerang Europe blog - which gets its information directly from the horse's mouth, i. e. Boomerang Turner - Inspector Gadget will join the channel's schedule on Monday, February 2, the day the European rebrand officially starts. The show's planned shedule through weekdays and weekends in February is as follows (all times CET, Central European Time):

WEEKDAYS
Mondays through Thursdays: 07.15, 15.55 (one half-hour each).
Fridays: 21.50 (one half-hour). 

WEEKENDS
Saturdays and Sundays: 09.40 (one half-hour).
Sundays only: 19.05, 00.50 (one half-hour each).

So there you have it - another premiere date, this one relevant to a LOT of countries, along with the airing schedule for the series through the first month.

UPDATE (February 2, 2015): As I've later come to realize, this schedule apparently only concerns the Boomerang CEE (Central Eastern Europe) feed.

Turner Broadcasting's Boomerang Will Air The New Inspector Gadget In 56+ Countries (Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific)

Fresh off the presses today: Turner Broadcasting has picked up the rights to air DHX's Inspector Gadget reboot on their Boomerang channels in a plethora of different countries - and continents. Via KidScreen:

Turner Broadcasting has picked up DHX Media‘s Inspector Gadget reboot for its Boomerang channels across EMEA, Latin America and Asia Pacific. 

The new CGI series, which updates the 1980s classic toon, will run on Boomerang EMEA, a digital cable and satellite network operating across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 56 countries, reaching more than 48 million homes. Boomerang Latin America, a pay-TV network launched in September 2014, will also carry the Canadian CGI series. 

The new Inspector Gadget , comprising 26 half-hours, has Dr. Claw restarting his global crime syndicate MAD, bringing the multi-tasking detective Gadget out of retirement to save the world, along with his niece Penny and his dog Brain.

The press release version at TV Wise includes a quote from DHX's Josh Scherba (who we already know) about what this deal means for the reboot, and why he thinks the show will appeal to audiences across the globe:

“Inspector Gadget is one of those classic properties that’s perfect for a contemporary version”, said Josh Scherba, DHX Media’s Senior Vice-President of Distribution. “It combines humour, mystery and zany accessories that audiences the world over will wish they had. This series has been updated for the next generation of gadget-savvy kids and our deals with these new broadcast partners will ensure Inspector Gadget will ‘go-go’ to new fans.”

The TV Wise article also states specifically that the series will start airing on all these Boomerang channels in 2015 (though nothing more specific has been mentioned in any of the press releases I've seen):

Under the deal, the show will launch on Turner’s Boomerang channel, which is currently in the midst of a global revamp, in those regions in 2015.

The deal seems to make sense considering that the series is already slated to air on Boomerang's big brother Cartoon Network in the United States, and Turner Broadcasting is, of course, the owner of both these channels. And to be fair, parts of this information about the international Turner deal has actually been known for a little while...

-- Already on June 27, it was announced that Boomerang in Africa would air the show - though at the time, that article seemed unclear to me, as I didn't realize it specifically refererred to plans for Boomerang and Cartoon Network in Africa. 

-- A recent distribution catalogue from DHX, released in PDF format on September 26, stated this: "New series premiering on Teletoon Canada and Cartoon Network EMEA & Asia in 2015". (So it might seem that the deal for many regions was changed, after this writing, to Boomerang rather than Cartoon Network.) 

-- During this October's Mipcom market, where DHX promoted their new Inspector Gadget series heavily to international buyers, a WorldScreen article also stated that Boomerang EMEA had purchased the show. This extract includes mention of Boomerang's current, worldwide rebrand plans, referred to in the above TV Wise quote:

At Turner Broadcasting System EMEA, Patricia Hidalgo, the senior VP and chief content and creative officer for kids, says that her priority this year is Boomerang. 

“We have made a strategic decision to elevate this channel to become our second flagship kids’ brand next to Cartoon Network. We will be aligning our Boomerang channels globally with a new look and feel and a common unique positioning that we believe will resonate strongly with boys and girls 4-to-7 and their families.” (...) Coming up next year we will be launching new content from our own classics like Scooby-Doo!, Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes, as well as new seasons of acquisitions including Inspector Gadget, Mr Bean and The Garfield Show.” (...)

Global commissions include Wabbit, a series of comedic shorts featuring Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote, and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, an all-new animated comedy series. “In addition, we have prebought Mr Bean series two from Endemol and the new Inspector Gadget from DHX for EMEA and Asia Pacific,” she says.

There were several reasons I waited with reporting this stuff... mostly due to being very short on time over the past two months, but also because of the contradicting information presented in the DHX PDF and the Worldscreen write-up. Would the show be on Cartoon Network or on Boomerang across the EMEA and Asia regions? The current press releases, however, seem to clarify once and for all that Boomerang will bring the reboot to all of these countries. And I wouldn't be surpriced if today's major annnouncement also means that Boomerang is moving very close to an actual premiere date.

So all in all: VERY GOOD NEWS, and news that means Gadget's reboot will see a wide-spread, global launch next year. In all likeliness, the series will even end up on the Boomerang channel in my home country Norway... though personally, I'll probably be seeking out the English-language version rather than a Norwegian dub.

Super RTL Releases High-Res Version Of That Promotional Image We've Seen A Million Times Before (Plus Updated Broadcast Info)

After the announcement that German broadcaster Super RTL will debut the new Gadget series in a little over a month, I had a hunch it might be wise to follow the channel's Facebook page... and I was right. Yesterday, Super RTL announced their upcoming premiere on Facebook with this:

Of course, readers of this site have already seen this motive (or parts of it) many times; because various cropped and/or low-res edits of this image have circulated on the web since June. Heck, I even did my own edit of it from two different, cropped sources back in September. And I was beginning to wonder when someone, somewhere, in charge of releasing these press pictures would eventually think, "Hmmm... maybe we should just release a sharp high-quality version of this rather than all those low-res and weirdly cropped edits." Well, seems someone finally did think that. This version is still cropped somewhat on the sides, but it looks infinitely better than earlier press releases. Nice to see the imagery up close and in detail.

The text part of Super RTL's Facebook status also contained some revised info on the broadcast:

Wer erinnert sich noch an Inspector Gadget?
Ab 9. Januar zeigen wir die aufwändig animierte Neuauflage der Kultserie aus den 80ern in deutscher Erstausstrahlung - immer Freitag und Samstag um 19.45 Uhr.

In English:

Who still remembers Inspector Gadget?
From January 9, we air the lavishly animated remake of the cult series from the 80s in German premiere - every Friday and Saturday at 19:45.

As we remember, the press releases from last week stated that Super RTL would air the series at every weekday, i. e. Monday through Friday at 19:45. The Facebook post, however, claims that the air time will be every Friday and Saturday at 19:45. Which is correct? I'm going to guess the Facebook post, simply based on the fact that the actual premiere day of the show, January 9, is a Friday. Plus, the idea of airing the new series daily in first-run premiere sounded just a little strange, as you'd then plow through all 26 half-hours in less than six weeks.

One last thing: Super RTL's Facebook status has already generated much attention, in the form of several hundred likes and numerous comments both positive and negative. As usual when a reboot of this kind is announced, many of the commenters have already decided that the new series will be terrible compared to the old. Such an attitude is to be expected, but one detail stood out to me in the criticism from many of these people. A few samples:

"WARUM ANIMIERT?! Das original wäre das richtige!" ("WHY ANIMATED?! The original was the right version!") 

"Cooooool..... aber animiert? Mmhhhh blöd." ("Cooooool ..... but animated? Mmhhhh stupid.") 

"Wird Weihnachtsmann und Co. KG auch bald animiert oder wie?" ("Will The Secret World of Santa Claus [cartoon series from the 90s] also soon be animated or what?")

Now, just to be clear, what these folks are actually complaining about is the choice of three-dimensional CGI animation (computer-generated imagery) rather the hand-drawn style of the original series. But they are literally whining about the reboot series being "animated". And I know it's kind of petty to comment on this, but that just sounds STUPID. In these people's world, apparently, "animation" means only CGI, whereas hand-drawn is... um... something else, I guess. So, yeah, really, how dare the new Inspector Gadget series be animated! What a crime to the memory of the original!

It's far from the first time I've seen this mistake made, either. Over the past decade, in conversations with various friends or aquaintances (not animation geeks), I've heard a number of statements akin to this: "Tangled was great, but I wish they hadn't animated it. Seems animation is all they're doing these days." Is it really that hard for people to grasp that CGI is only one type of animation, and that the term encompasses tons of different techniques, hand-drawn cartoons included? Apparently so.

So watch out, kids. Before you know it, the precious cartoon memories of your childhood could end up getting ANIMATED reboots, too!

BREAKING: The New Inspector Gadget Series Premieres in Germany on January 9, 2015

Okay, so I had wowed (to myself, anyway) to hold off from posting more updates on the new series until I could find time to finish my commentary on the World Screen clip. But the news have been piling up recently -- and this latest development is honestly just too big for me not to report, and report right away!

Briefly: According to very fresh press statements, the German channel Super RTL - which we already knew about - will premiere the new Gadget series on January 9, 2015. That's right: one month and ten days from now. Judging by this article, the part about January has apparently been known since November 19; but a couple of press statements from November 26 and 28 provides more detailed info, including the exact date. The November 28 press release seems to stem directly from Super RTL themselves, and contains a brand-new series synopis. Here it is via the News Aktuell Presseportal (followed by my and Google Translate's translation)...

Köln (ots) - In den 80er Jahren erreichte der tollpatschige Ermittler Inspector Gadget Kultstatus. Seine unkonventionellen Ermittlungsmethoden gepaart mit den hilfreichen Go-Go- Gadgetos, die ihn in jeder Situation optimal bei der Verbrechensbekämpfung unterstützen, sorgten bei Zeichentrickfans weltweit für Schmunzeln. Jetzt wurde der Schrecken aller Bösewichte vom kanadischen Lizenzgeber DHX Media in modernes CGI-Gewand gekleidet und sorgt ab dem 9. Januar für beste Unterhaltung und wohlige Erinnerungen an die eigene Kindheit. SUPER RTL zeigt die humorvolle Neuauflage Inspector Gadget (Kanada 2014) immer wochentags um 19.45 Uhr in deutscher Erstausstrahlung. 

Lange Zeit versuchte er, seinen Erzfeind Dr. Kralle dingfest zu machen, doch vor einigen Jahren hat sich Inspector Gadget in den Ruhestand zurückgezogen und es wurde still um den berühmten Polizei-Detektiv. Jetzt genießt er sein Leben als Rentner, doch wird er jäh aus diesem Zustand gerissen. Die Polizei bittet ihn, sie im Kampf gegen Dr. Kralle zu unterstützen, der aus der Kältestarre befreit wurde. Die Lage ist so ernst, dass Inspector Gadget keine Wahl bleibt und er in den Polizeidienst zurückkehrt. Gemeinsam mit seiner Nichte Sophie und ihrem Hund Fino nimmt er den Kampf gegen den hinterhältigen Dr. Kralle wieder auf. Natürlich muss er dabei nicht auf seine berühmte Uniform mitsamt den genialen Go-Go-Gadgetos verzichten. Und schnell ist allen Schurken klar: Inspector Gadget ist zurück und wie früher macht er niemals halbe Sachen...

You'll notice when reading my translation that this contains some interesting info about the setup of the new series - even stating that Gadget is pulled out of retirement because Dr Claw has been "freed from hibernation" (whatever that means) and the police is begging for him to come back. This mirrors the synopsis released by DHX last January, but in more detail. On to the translated version...

Köln (ots) - In the 80s, the bumbling detective Inspector Gadget achieved cult status. His unconventional methods of investigation, coupled with the helpful gadgets which would assist him optimally in any situation in the fight against crime, made cartoon fans around the world smile. Now, the terror of all villains has been dressed in modern CGI clothes by the Canadian licensor DHX Media, and provides from January 9 first-class entertainment and pleasant memories of one's own childhood. SUPER RTL airs the humorous remake of Inspector Gadget (Canada 2014) every weekday at 19.45 in German first run broadcast.

For a long time, he tried to have his nemesis Dr. Claw arrested, but a few years ago, Inspector Gadget withdrew into retirement and there was silence around the famous police detective. Now, he enjoys his life as a retiree, but he is suddenly torn from this condition. The police begs him to help them in the fight against Dr. Claw, who has been freed from hibernation. The situation is so serious that Inspector Gadget has no choice, and he returns to the police. Together with his niece Sophie [Penny] and her dog Fino [Brain], he resumes the battle against the dastardly Dr. Claw. Of course, he couldn't do this without his famous uniform, along with the brilliant go-go gadgets. And soon, all villains are aware: Inspector Gadget is back, and as before, he never does things by halves...

The November 26 press release is quite similar to the above; except that it reads more like a standard news report and the wording of the series description is a bit different. One of the differing details is actually somewhat interesting... more on that below. First, the German quote...

Der Trend, alte Zeichentrickklassiker als CGI-Variante neu aufzulegen, greift weiter um sich. Nach "Die Biene Maja", "Wickie und die starken Männer", "Peter Pan - Neue Abenteuer", "Das Dschungelbuch", "Garfield" und"Calimero" erstrahlt demnächst auch "Inspector Gadget" in 3D-Optik. Super RTL zeigt die 26-teilige Neuauflage ab dem 9. Januar von Montag bis Freitag um 19.45 Uhr. 

Die Neuauflage wurde von dem kanadischen Kindersender Teletoon anlässlich des 30-jährigen Jubiläums in Auftrag gegeben und von Cookie Jar Entertainment produziert. In der ersten Folge wird Inspector Gadget, der sich vor einigen Jahren in den Ruhestand verabschiedet hat, jäh aus seinem Rentnerdasein gerissen. Dr. Kralle ist aus der Kältestarre erwacht und gefährlicher als je zuvor. Die Polizei bittet Gadget, sie im Kampf gegen den Verbrecher und seine Handlanger zu unterstützen. Mit von der Partie sind auch wieder Gadgets Nichte Sophie und Hund Fino, die ihn allzu oft aus brenzligen Situationen retten. Außerdem hat Gadget einige neue Go-Go-Gadgetos im Gepäck.

...and then, my translation:

The trend to reissue old animated classic as new CGI versions spreads further. After "Maya the Bee", "Vicky the Viking", "Peter Pan - New Adventures", "The Jungle Book", "Garfield" and "Calimero", soon "Inspector Gadget" will also shine in 3D graphics. Super RTL airs the 26-episode remake from January 9 onwards, Monday through Friday at 19.45. 

The new version was commissioned by the Canadian children's channel Teletoon on the occasion of the 30th anniversary celebration and produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment. In the first episode, Inspector Gadget, who opted several years ago to retire, is suddenly torn from his pensioned life. Dr. Claw has awakened from hibernation and is more dangerous than ever. The police begs Gadget to help them in the fight against the criminal and his henchmen. Also on board again are Gadget's niece Sophie [Penny] and dog Fino [Brain], who all too often get him out of sticky situations. In addition, Gadget has some new go-go gadgets up his sleeve.

As you can see, the above states specifically that the first episode will see Gadget step out of retirement and back into his job as an Inspector. This intrigues me because the original series never offered any detailed setup to start it off with, instead simply throwing viewers into the main storyline and leaving most background details to our imaginations. In this show, if the article has its info correct, it seems the first episode will mark an actual, new starting point. I wonder how that will work.

On a different note, one of those "new go-go gadgets" mentioned above is of course the jet pack... er, rocket pack... er, whatever that thing in the below image will be called. (In case you're wondering, both pictures seen in this post are sourced from various sites reporting the Super RTL news.)

UPDATE (December 2): As I write about here, a December 1 Facebook post from Super RTL says that the air time will actually be every Friday and Saturday at 19:45, rather than Monday through Friday as the above press releases state. This revised info seems to make sense, especially considering that the premiere day, January 9, is a Friday.

Happy Halloween with Dick Dracula!

Just in case people thought we're dead over here... no, in all honesty, that's not the case. I've just become so busy lately that it seems like it (again). So on this, the day when the dead rise from their graves, I thought it was high time to bring this blog back to life.

(And I know what you all want to see - my commentary on this. And it's coming. Really. Hopefully very soon - really. But I wouldn't have had the time to finish it up today, and I wanted to post something for Halloween, so here we are.)

As far as Gadget-related activities go on such a day, I can probably do no better than recommend a watching of the arguably spookiest episode of the original series: "Haunted Castle", in which Gadget, Penny and Brain travel to Transylvania to investigate suspicious activities in the former castle of Count Dracula himself. Here's a cel of the episode's "Dracula" M.A.D. agent to get you in the mood...

...and believe it or not, as I was initially typing the above, I didn't recognize (or had forgotten) that this vampire guy is actually one of the regular agents! That's how good his disguise is, I guess. Here we have him in his undressed model sheet flesh... M.A.D. agent "Dick", as he was nicknamed by character designer Brian Lemay.

My current personal nickname for the guy is "Dick" Dracula, though. This dude's got acting skills!

Of course, "Dick" Dracula is only one of the many great elements of "Haunted Castle". More importantly, the atmosphere of the episode as a whole is spooky. The background designs are moody and beautiful.

The animation and character styling is superb, among the finest of the entire series.

Make no mistake, either: strong animation and design is extremely important to capture and bring out the mood this episode required. One of the lesser animation studios working on the series could not have handled it half as convincingly. Kudos to the entire Japanese crew working on this.

And adding to all that, the script writing is sharp. Without giving away too much (for the few reading this who haven't seen it yet... anyone?), there's some terrific character writing for all the main players - including Gadget, Penny, Brain and Dr Claw. Claw's first line, brilliantly performed by Frank Welker, sets the tone just right: "This nasty Transylvanian atmosphere is goooood for my health!" And that's only the beginning. This script gives Claw numerous chances to really act, and Frank is up to the challenge one-hundred-and-twenty percent... as are the other voice leads.

Through and through, it's the attention to detail - in writing, acting, direction and visuals - that makes this episode a standout.

But I've been pitching it to you long enough. So settle down and watch it... if you dare.