This may seem a silly question to ask with a fairly obvious answer but am just interested if everyone prefers the animation to the telesnaps for the missing episodes or are there people out there who think the telesnaps is the next best thing as you see for real in those pictures what is happening?

I certainly prefer the animation but think it's good to keep the telesnaps handy. I've just been watching stories like The Abominable Snowmen in telesnap form. Sometimes it's frustrating to have to watch still pictures and I think the CGI in the updated reconstructions help as well. The Evil Of The Daleks is a good example of this.

It's easier to view telesnaps when there's hardly any/no surviving episodes to watch. The Myth Makers is quite good in this regard as is The Dalek Masterplan.

When you have a story like The Ice Warriors, where's there was originally only telesnaps to watch for the two missing episodes, it's more frustrating and feels like there's a huge hole in the story. That's where animation has cured that problem for me. That's also where I think animation works best when you have two back to back episodes missing in a mostly complete story like The Ice Warriors or The Reign Of Terror.

Off course, nothing beats the real thing but that's a discussion for the other thread. This is all about what you prefer.

Tele-Snaps

Animation particularly if its the moonbase standard. Got all the audio releases and the 3 doctor who telesnaps mags so animation all the way.

Definitely animation.
My kids will happily watch animated episodes but struggle (as do I, to be honest) with the telesnaps.
I know the telesnaps show the actual actors / settings, but the animation brings the story to life just that bit more.

I absolutely prefer telesnaps because there's no substitute for the real human face. Extrapolating the movement in between shots is no problem for my imagination, but seeing photos of the real actors is what makes my subconscious believe I've really seen the episode. Animation always feels more like a separate work in a separate medium to me.

And it's always exciting when there's an integrated surviving clip and the pictures come to life.

The oft-reviled Ian Levine is also a fan of Loose Cannon even though he commissions his own animations.

I've just updated all my Losse cannon reconstructions. I've noticed as I said at the top they've put more CGI in now in certain scenes and the clips are always nice to see.

However, the 'Walking Yeti' in The Abominable Snowmen are actually quite comical and they do make me chuckle.

I loved the animation used for The Tenth Planet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogs20Wk5fI

Well, the original, obviously. But as we can't have that for all, as some episodes are missing, Animation. I prefer this, as we can see the characters moving and acting out the story.

As the OP said, and I quote: "I certainly prefer the animation but think it's good to keep the telesnaps handy."

This is so true. It is good to have the telesnaps handy.

I am a bit annoyed with what the reconstruction team have done to the forthcoming release of The Web of Fear. There is no animation at all for episode 3. Instead we (the fans that is), are getting a telesnap reconstruction. The rest are as they were originally broadcast. Just cleaned up with better audio.

I don't think they are going to have any extra features with this. Which is a shame, as that's one reason why I buy the DVDs.

The best animation was featured in The Invasion. Episode 1 was stunning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJgL...etailpage#t=35

BIB - 100% agree.

Up until Tenth Planet 4 I would have said animation definitely, but this episode gives us a unique DVD opportunity to watch both and I must admit I prefer the telesnaps version. It's a shame the BBC didn't try a release with telesnaps coupled to up to date CGI.

Out of interest davey where do you get these from? Thanks.

Animation, but maybe a different style sometimes, its never going to happen but would love to see Tartakovsky have a go

Tartakovsky doing Doctor Who! Fun to think about, but the pace might be a bit slow for his style.

Animation, so long as it's not too bad. The style used in "The Invasion" and "The Tenth Planet" were very good, so I wouldn't mind if each lost episode were made like that.

Telesnaps are fun, but they can be really bad depending on how much they have to work with. When I was going through Classic Who, the telesnap episodes were ones I didn't pay too much attention to because entire scenes would play out, and I'd only have a few pictures to go by. It's even worse when the dialogue isn't too descriptive of what is going on.

Defintly animation if the real thing ain't available but I'd take telesnaps if animation ain't available. Shame that Dan hall and pupltd didn't get their contracts renewed to commision animation for web but as I never anticipated a web dvd 6 months ago I'm happywith web getting a dvd release with telesnaps.

I find ians animation /reconstructions a bit hit and miss. Mission was ok. Shada I found to be vastly overrated especially after it was hyped up by Ian to be something majorly special. Planet of giants recon I enjoyed but the CGI cat made me laugh. Seen a trailer of different projects a while ago and most were poor in my opinion esp the lost s22 stuff

BIB: Yeah, would it have shot the whole budget to borrow a real cat for a bit?

I think you've nailed it: animation definitely work best to plug the gaps in stories where 50% or more of the episodes are present, as the telesnaps coming along suddenly seem like a chore to get through, interrupting the story you were enjoying. 'The Ice Warriors' was an excellent example, although to that story's shame, if you just skip the two missing episodes you can catch up really easily as if nothing had really happened. It kind of exposes which 6 parters should have been 4 parters.

With a story that is all telesnaps you can get into that mode as it were from the off and so it doesn't bother so much. Power of the Daleks for example draws you straight in and your attention stays focused on it; I'd hate to watch the first two episodes and then suddenly have to switch to telesnaps.

Of course, cost is the reason serials with only a few missing episodes have been serialized first, but it also works for the above reasons too; a good policy.




Personally, I think a DVD release with telesnaps is a bit shoddy. Like you say, it's great that we have it at all, but that's no excuse for a half-assed release.

I love the shifty eyes and intense facial expressions in the animation.
I tend to get bored of the telesnaps after a few minutes. Although I did think they should have put the actual regeneration footage on the end of Tenth Planet. Let's be honest, an animated regeneration just doesn't really have the same effect.

I often wonder if they will start releasing fully missing stories one day but guess it's unlikely if the costs are prohibitive. Or they may release one every one, maybe two or three years. Perhaps longer than that.