Personally, I think the creative team behind this are to be applauded for trying something fresh and innovative- and really this is an ideal story to try it out on - a very troubled production which was being pulled in several different directions, and a story where, if 3D models accidentally fall into the uncanny valley on occasion, it actually helps the production. I do think the likenesses of Hartnell and Purves, Hartnell in particular, are a little weak, with the correct features mapped on to a head that's the wrong shape. Lane seems a little better, but I think the aesthetic might have been improved somewhat on all three if the over-large "anime" style eyes had been toned down a little. However, that's a personal preference, and the animations used tell the story perfectly well. Would this style work for a story like "The Massacre"? No, I don't really think it would. I mean, not that I would knock them for trying it- I'd be happy to see the lost Hartnells resurrected in any form- but I think it would be a difficult task to make the visuals work in a way which would not be detracting to the storytelling, whereas here they enhance it.

Just got the dvd today!🎉

I did the same viewing the animation, Adam. Have never watched the colour animations all the way through, this is the only exception I’ve made due to the bizarre nature of the story. I checked out the reconstruction, which is lovingly done, very faithful and accurate. So I think this release caters for everyone.

Great review - the style isn't really something I loved when I watched yesterday, but happy to have another missing story I can watch as I'm terrible with audio-only adventures!

My copy of the Blu-ray steel book arrives this week. I am excited to see the new animation. I have been a fan of Dr Who since it began. I have got all vhs/dvd/blur-ays (even a couple of laser discs). I got the vinyl release of this story as well. A bit of a sad act I know. Good episode - thank you.

watched everything over 2 days. The b/w animation with orig soundtrack. The recons with naration and the colour animation with the commentaries. enjoyed all of it. First dvd i ever bought was the five doctors in 2000

Thanks, I've been looking forward to this.

I'm across the pond, so I'm sure it will be released over here in a year or so 😂 We sadly do not get reversible covers and have mismatched collections! 😢

I watched this story when I was 9, back in 1966. The Daleks didn't really scare me, but I still remember Michael Gough saying "Make your move Doctor. Make your last move". Gough was a superb actor. To think decades later he would be the perfect Alfred to my favourite superhero Batman....a complete opposite to the Toymaker. The parody Billy Bunter character (fat schoolboy with glasses) was also really creepy, since the actual Billy Bunter was a comedy character (I read the original books) seeing this sinister, arrogant and malevolent version really hit home in a way people under 60 won't appreciate. I would watch the animation if available streamed, but not the DVD, I think. It's more scary in my memory

Just got the blu ray version. Watching the black and white version first took a bit to get used to the animation style but it fits the story.

This artwork it great 🎉🎉

I really enjoyed it too :) Good to see positivity about the animation, its been difficult on twitter. I got the steelbook :)

I liked the animation when I saw the trailer as it sort of looked liked stop motion which was a perfect look for this story and I watched it tonight as I got the steelbook and my option hasn't changed, the main reason for getting this was because of The toymaker appearing in The Giggle recently and this has always been one of my favourite stories

Gonna be honest, if youtubers didn't post videos like this I wouldn't even know these came out 😂

Saw this when it was first broadcast. I was enchanted by the Toymaker's world and the games they had to play. So.... enough of the past - what are your thoughts on the new Who series...?

In the era of Doctor Who on Blu-Ray, it takes a dedicated fan to buy the DVD release (in addition to the Blu-Ray) just to have the spines match… despite the fact you probably have no reason to actually play the DVD disc. I admire the persistence! 🙂 Indeed, I just boxed up all of my Who DVDs and put them into my storage closet. (All of the content has been ripped onto a hard drive, so I can still access the programs.) I like the freed-up extra space on my shelves and will enjoy watching as the Blu-Ray collections slowly populate my shelves. 15 collections down, 11 more to go!

I will say I enjoyed the animation. Shapeshifter studios did a great job with it as their best work on the animation. Web of fear was an experiment to me which worked on one or two things but not everything. The doctor and Steven could have been better but all the others were brilliant especially the villains. Reminded me of nightmare before Christmas. Recommend the animation. The escape room thing was great with the guys. I will admit I felt Emily cook who did a nice job who but I felt too seriously in my view. I know she will do the future ones and she finds her way in the later ones. Loved Maureen on the escape room they did all great. The making of was fantastic indeed. I never ever care about ratings as I feel people do too much. If you love the show that all that matters to me. I recommend this release indedd.

Perfect upload on my birthday!! Thanks mate!

I honestly don’t mind the 3-D animation. It’s definitely an improvement over Episode 3 of The Web of Fear, but that was an experiment. Though I think 2-D animation would’ve been better, at least we can now enjoy the Celestial Toymaker fully now. I wonder if for the next stories that will be animated, they will either use 2-D or 3-D? We’ll just have to wait and see.

I like your t-shirt 🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride Month 🏳️‍⚧️

I didn't like the animation for the Doctor, Toymaker or Steven - it actually worked quite well for Dodo surprisingly, and worked well for the dolls, clowns etc. and the rest of the story. In terms of special features, I enjoyed them all except for the Escape Room, which frankly seemed a bit pointless to me. I'd have preferred a short narrative on the story, even if it was just an interview or two. Overall though it was much better than I was expecting

I just watched the dvd and it was better than I thought it would have been. The only part I didn't like was episode 2 the the King and Queen movement did my head in, it gave me a bit of a headache. But all in all it was good.

ill probably get the dvd, im not super interested in stellbooks, and ill get the blu ray at a later date, also your end card is 1 year out of date

I like The Celestial Toymaker

"Taking liberties" indeed. If it doesn;t look like the original, what's the point? My first thought was Romana's "Well at least computers know how to draw eyebrows". They've essentially remade the story - I think it looks absolutely dreadful, like cutscenes from a Lego game on the PS1. Barely recognisable characters. We could have had something like DinoPuff's stuff. Instead we got this "we think this is how it SHOULD have looked if only they'd had CGI made up by someone pissed using a Pentium PC in 1966" shit. And sadly, now they've done it and it sells (because it would sell no matter what they did) they've got a license to do whatever the hell they want with other missing stories too.

I wish they would release these steelbooks in north america as well, I have the NA standard BD ordered at least, will definitely be watching it tomorrow when it arrives never having seen any of this story 😅

I bought my copy from hmv yesterday. I must admit the animation is great and a huge improvement on previous animations. The cover design though is awful but the story and animation are great. I read the paperback years ago and loved it. Always been a of Michael Gough.

I really didn't enjoy the animation. Too much of a leap for me to have megazord-sized Gough and dozens of flying TARDISes, and the crazy gravity bending in episode 1's game. Well done on the new restoration of episode 4 though. Night and day difference from Lost in Time.

I did read that racist dialogue was censored from this new version of The Celestial Toymaker: I dont think it should be censored its like changing history (catch a tiger by the toe if you take my meaning) we are grownups. (reference to episode 2 being edited)

Back when it was worth watching, not this modern incarnation which is RTD erotic dreams filmed and served up as entertainment for everyone especially children.

I'm really disappointed won't be getting this one. The animation is crap.

The animation looks terrible. Looks like a PS1 video game. Should have stuck with 2D animation. 3D does not fit the era and is jarring and takes you out of it.

Amtv. Greetings. best editing. 📽