The Daleks are coming back! Lost 'Doctor Who' story getting animated take
A missing 1966 "Doctor Who" adventure will be animated and available on DVD for Whovians eager to see the second Doctor in action against his old enemy.
Daleks, the metal-encased warriors and enemies of Time Lords in "Doctor Who," have a habit of never really dying. So maybe it's no surprise that a 50-year-old lost episode called "The Power of the Daleks" will live once again -- in animated form.
The original master tapes from the 1966 "Doctor Who" adventure were destroyed in an archive purge in 1974.
The six-part story revolves around newly regenerated Time Lord (the second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton) who must battle the evil Daleks on the planet Vulcan with his brave companions Ben (Michael Craze) and Polly (Anneke Wills) by his side.
Commissioned by the BBC, "The Power of the Daleks" is being re-created using existing film clips, old photos and audio recordings featuring the original cast. Character designs come from comic book artists Adrian Salmon and Martin Geraghty.
The animated reversion of "The Power of the Daleks" is "the most ambitious Doctor Who archive restoration ever attempted," animation producer and director Charles Norton told BBC News.
Fans will be able to see the animated "Power of the Daleks" at a special screening from the British Film Institute in London, and digitally in the BBC Store on November 5 and other online retailers on November 14. The animation will also be released in DVD format in the UK on November 21. BBC America will air the entire story on November 12, and it will be made available for streaming online on the BBC America site on November 13.