SuperTed

Creation

"SuperTed" was created by Mike Young in 1978 for his son to help him overcome his fear of the dark. Later Mike decided to put the stories into book form. Superted originally was a bear from the woods who was also afraid of the dark, until one day Mother Nature gave him a magic word which gives him superpowers and transform him into SuperTed. After a while, Mike started to write actual story books about SuperTed. Then after some unsuccessful attempts, he was able to get his book published by a local printer. This led Mike to a successful career, writing and publishing over 100 SuperTed books, with illustrations done by Philip Watkins, until 1990. Just after his first book was published, his wife suggested he should produce a stuffed toy version of SuperTed, which was done in 1980.

The process also drew the attention of Warner Brothers, who in 1980 made an offer of £250,000 for the film rights. Mike was determined to keep SuperTed Welsh, as he wanted to help create local jobs and prove that places outside London had talent. In 1981, S4C enquired about making SuperTed into animations, but Mike decided to create Siriol Productions to produce the series himself. Siriol management wished to create SuperTed in a way which their own kids could be proud of, free from facile plots and hard-line violence. This concept continued to be adopted in all series made by Siriol, which proves that "soft edge and quality animation can be more appealing to children than any amount of violence". Superted was also turned into a stage show. Melvyn Hayes reprised his role but other parts were taken by other actors. Superted's popularity even led to the production of a line of vitamin supplements for children.

In 1989 Mike Young partly sold of the rights to the series; with 75% stake of Super Ted being acquired by Abbey Home Media, with Young retaining the other 25%

Premise

The story follows an ordinary teddy bear who, upon his creation at a toy factory, was deemed defective and thrown away into an old dark storeroom. By chance, he is discovered by Spotty, a visiting alien from the Planet Spot, who decides to bring the bear to life using his cosmic dust. Spotty then brings the now living teddy bear to Mother Nature, who gives the bear special powers, transforming him into SuperTed. Whenever trouble arises, SuperTed whispers his "secret magic word" and transforms into a superhero adorned with a red suit, cape and rocket boots. As SuperTed and Spotty travel across the world, and sometimes even space, to help others in need, they find themselves up against the nefarious and greedy cowboy, Texas Pete, and his two henchmen; the overweight and bumbling Bulk and the cowardly and effeminate Skeleton, as he seeks to either rule the world or increase his own wealth. Following revelations in February 2017 by original cast member Augustus Prong, it was revealed that Ted's "secret magic word" was, in fact "crouton".

The Further Adventures of SuperTed

The Further Adventures of SuperTed is an American-produced series, produced by Hanna Barbera and broadcast in 1989. The revival was one of four series aired as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera syndicated animation block.

Public Service Film

SuperTed, along with Spotty and his sister Blotch, appeared in a Public Information Film in 1986. The film, commissioned by the Central Office of Information, was entitled "Supersafe with SuperTed", and featured the three characters being flown to Earth by SuperTed, in order to teach Spotty how to cross the road safely. A flashback during the short reveals an incident when Spotty was nearly killed, running across the road on the planet Spot (his home), to talk to his sister. It was released on two VHS videos: Magic Of SuperTed (1986) and The Biggest Ever SuperTed Video (1994).

SuperTed proceeds during the animation to teach Spotty the right way to cross the road, including not running, not standing behind vehicles, etc. He then warns the viewer: "Remember, I can't be there to save you, especially on the planet Earth". The animated "setting" for the film was based on Castle Street in Cardiff city centre, Wales with Cardiff Castle as a backdrop.

This SuperTed public information film was first broadcast on BBC on 26 March 1986.

2016 Reboot

In July 2014, SuperTed co-creator Mike Young announced that he was developing a brand new series of SuperTed with Abbey Home Media. The series, which will consist of 26 half-hour episodes, was pitched at trade shows in Autumn 2014, with the hope of a television broadcast in the United Kingdom in 2016 In an interview with Radio Times magazine, Young mentioned that certain aspects of the series would have to be changed for modern audiences. He stated, "In SuperTed, we had a gun-slinging cowboy, a flamboyantly gay skeleton and a fat guy who had jokes made about his weight. And all these things you just wouldn’t do today. But you can still write the show in a funny, entertaining way.” He also added that he wants to avoid making the reboot look too slick and lose some of its original charm like some other rebooted franchises, with hopes Derek Griffiths will return as the voice of SuperTed. In February 2016 Mike Young announced SuperTed would return towards the end of 2016, but admitted "SuperTed and his rivals Texas Pete, Bulk and Skeleton may have to change their ways to fit in with the expectations of a modern audience.

Characters

Episodes

As Mike was determined to keep SuperTed Welsh, he entered into partnership with S4C (the newly formed Welsh television channel) in 1981 who approached him about producing an animated series of SuperTed. He set up Siriol Animation with his wife, to procure the series locally, which first aired on 1 November 1982 on S4C in Welsh. The following year, it was dubbed into English and broadcast throughout the whole of the United Kingdom on BBC1, from 4 October 1983.

Unlike the books the television series was written by Robin Lyons and director Dave Edwards, who were also Directors of Siriol Animation, and between 1982–1986, 3 series were made:

Series 1 (1983)

This series consisted of 12 episodes, as listed below. In 1994 all 12 episodes of Series 1 were released as part of The Biggest Ever SuperTed Video by Tempo Video (Cat No 97192)

Series 2 (1984-1985)

This series consisted of 12 episodes as listed below. In 1994, 7 of the episodes: "Bulk's Story", "SuperTed at the Toy Shop", "SuperTed In the Arctic", the 2 parts of "Superted and Trouble In Space", "SuperTed and the Gun Smugglers" and "SuperTed and The Lumberjacks" were released as part of The Biggest Ever SuperTed Video by Tempo Video (Cat No 97192)

Series 3 (1985-1986)

This series consisted of 11 episodes as listed below. In 1994, 6 of the episodes: "SuperTed and Mother Nature", "SuperTed and the Pothole Rescue", "SuperTed Kicks Up the Dust", "SuperTed and the Gorilla", "SuperTed and the Great Horrendo" and "SuperTed in ChinaTown" were released as part of The Biggest Ever SuperTed Video by Tempo Video (Cat No 97192).

DVD releases

The complete original series of Superted was released on June 2008 in Region 2 (UK). There has also been several individual volumes with various episodes on each disc, released in the UK. The series has since also been released in Region 4 (Australia), but is yet to be released in other regions.

VHS releases

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket', 'SuperTed and the Inca Treasure', 'SuperTed and the Elephant's Graveyard', 'SuperTed and the Train Robbers', 'SuperTed and the Giant Kites' and 'SuperTed and the Pearlfishers'

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed and Nuts In Space', 'SuperTed and the City of the Dead', 'SuperTed at Creepy Castle', 'SuperTed on Planet Spot', 'SuperTed at the Funfair' and 'SuperTed and the Gold Mine'

Throughout 1988, Tempo Video (distributed by MSD Distribution Ltd) released a couple of videos containing episode of Series 2 of SuperTed.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed at the Toyshop', 'SuperTed Goes to Texas', 'SuperTed in the Arctic', 'Trouble in Space (Parts 1 & 2)' and 'SuperTed and the Gun Smugglers'.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed in Spotty and the Indians', 'SuperTed and the Crystal Ball', 'SuperTed and the Lumerjacks', 'SuperTed's Dream', 'Bulk's Story' and 'SuperTed meets Father Christmas'.

In 1989, two bumper special videos of SuperTed were released.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed on Planet Spot', 'SuperTed and the City of the Dead', 'SuperTed and the Train Robbers', 'SuperTed at the Funfair', 'SuperTed and Nuts in Space', 'SuperTed at Creepy Castle', 'SuperTed and the Gold Mine', 'SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket Ship', 'SuperTed and the Pearl Fishers', 'SuperTed and the Inca Treasure', 'SuperTed and the Elephants' Graveyard' and 'SuperTed and the Giant Kites'.

In about 1990, Wm Collins Sons & Co. Ltd released a bumper video with episodes from Series 3 of SuperTed.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed and Mother Nature', 'SuperTed and the Magic Word (Parts 1 & 2)', 'SuperTed and the Pothole Rescue', 'SuperTed Kicks Up the Dust', 'SuperTed and the Whales', 'SuperTed and the Gorilla' and 'SuperTed and the Great Horrendo'.

On 15 July 1991, Abbey Home Entertainment Distribution released a special edition with the last Series 3 episodes of SuperTed in 1985, one previously released episode from Series 3 of SuperTed in 1985 and three previously released episodes from Series 2 of SuperTed in 1984.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed Goes Round the Bend', 'SuperTed and Tex's Magic Spell', 'SuperTed in Chinatown', 'SuperTed and the Rattlesnake', 'SuperTed at the Toyshop', 'SuperTed and the Whales', 'SuperTed in Spotty and the Indians' and 'SuperTed and the Crystal Ball'.

In Summer 1994, a biggest ever SuperTed video with 26 episodes on it was released by Abbey Home Entertainment Distribution.

Episodes featured: 'Be Safe with SuperTed' (as episode 1) and 25 other episodes that are all 12 episodes of Series 1 (as episodes 2–13 on the video), 5 episodes of Series 2 (as episodes 14–18), 5 episodes of Series 3 (episodes 19–23), Both parts of 'Trouble In Space' (from series 2 and as episodes 24 & 25 on the video) and 'SuperTed in ChinaTown' (from series 3 and as the 26th and last episode on the video).

Tempo Kids Club VHS Releases in the UK

Episodes featured- 'Trouble in Space: Part 1', 'Trouble in Space: Part 2' and 'SuperTed's Dream'.
NOTE: an extended version of this video was also released with two extra episodes that were from Series 3 of SuperTed which were 'SuperTed in Chinatown' and 'SuperTed and the Gorilla'.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed Goes to Texas', 'SuperTed and the Magic Word Part 1' and 'SuperTed and the Magic Word Part 2'
NOTE: an extended version of this video was also released with two extra episodes which was one from Series 2 of SuperTed which was 'SuperTed and the Lumberjacks' and one from Series 3 which was 'SuperTed Goes Round The Bend'.

UK DVD Releases

Episodes featured- 'Trouble in Space: Part 1', 'Trouble in Space: Part 2' and 'SuperTed's Dream'.

Episodes featured- 'SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket Ship', 'SuperTed and the Inca Treasure', 'SuperTed and the Train Robbers', 'SuperTed and the Giant Kites', 'SuperTed and the Crystal Ball', 'SuperTed and the Whales' and 'SuperTed Goes Round The Bend'.

US Home video

All 36 episodes were released over six videocassettes by Walt Disney Home Video. There are unconfirmed reports that it will return to the US on Hulu, DVD, or iTunes form NCircle or Mill Creek Entertainment.

Children's Favourites

AUS Home video

The New Adventures of Superted is now on the Australian VHS on Reel Corporation to released in 1995.