Hergé's Adventures of Tintin
Encyclopedia
Hergé
Georges Prosper Remi , better known by the pen name Hergé, was a Belgian comics writer and artist. His best known and most substantial work is the 23 completed comic books in The Adventures of Tintin series, which he wrote and illustrated from 1929 until his death in 1983, although he was also...
's popular comic book series, The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
. The series was produced by Belvision
Belvision Studios
Belvision Studios was a Belgian animated cartoon studio best known for producing Hergé's Adventures of Tintin and other films and series in animation, and was active from 1956 until about 1976. One of their major achievements in animation was the production of Tintin and the Lake of Sharks....
and aired from 1959 to 1963, with 104 five-minute episodes produced. The series was adapted by Charles Shows and Greg, the editor of Tintin magazine
Tintin (magazine)
Le journal de Tintin or Kuifje , was a weekly Belgian comics magazine of the second half of the 20th century...
, produced by Raymond Leblanc
Raymond Leblanc
Raymond Leblanc was a Belgian comic book producer and publisher, best known for publishing The Adventures of Tintin, by Hergé and the magazine Tintin...
(who launched Tintin magazine), and directed by Ray Goossens
Ray Goossens
Ray Goossens was a Flemish artist, animator and director best known for creating Musti.-Biography:Ray Goossens was born in Merksem, Belgium in 1924. Interested in animation from before World War II, he created the animation studio AFIM in Antwerp in 1940, together with Jules Luyckx and Henri...
.
Changes from the books
This series varied widely from the original books, often changing whole plots.In Objective Moon
Destination Moon (Tintin)
Destination Moon is the sixteenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero...
, The trip to the moon was all about rescuing Snowy, who was trapped in the (now white) test rocket. Captain Haddock's whiskey is replaced with coffee, and when he is pulled into orbit, he is not drunk, but his feet are hurting, so he takes his metal boots off (although the lack of pressure would damage his feet!). The tank is replaced with a hovering car called "the moonmobile". Professor Calculus, Haddock, and the Thompsons explore the dark side of the moon in it, but get caved in by a meteor shower. Snowy rescues them by giving them dynamite (the wick burns, despite the lack of air!). Jorgen and Wolff survive, and at the end, the rocket crashes in the mountains.
In The Crab with the Golden Claws
The Crab with the Golden Claws
The Crab with the Golden Claws is the ninth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero...
, Tintin sees Herbert Dawes being drowned and decides to investigate. In this version Tintin and Haddock already know each other, whilst the original book is their first meeting. What's more, Haddock is being drugged with actual drugs, rather than whiskey. And diamonds are being smuggled in the tins rather than opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
. They have slightly different exploits in the desert. They are attacked by a desert raider named Ahmed the Terrible, and later by the pilot of the seaplane. And the ending has been re-written.
In The Secret of the Unicorn
The Secret of the Unicorn
The Secret of the Unicorn is the eleventh title in the comic book series The Adventures of Tintin, written and illustrated by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Designed to be the first volume in a two-part story, the plot of The Secret of the Unicorn was continued in the twelfth Tintin adventure, Red...
, Barnaby and Mr Sakharine are completely missing from the storyline. Marlinspike Hall has been renamed "Hudson Manor". Max Bird escapes in his car, but in this version he is pursued by Tintin, Haddock, and the Thompsons. They fight him on a pumpkin farmers truck, and pursue him with help from a pilot.
In Red Rackham's Treasure
Red Rackham's Treasure
Red Rackham's Treasure is the twelfth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. It is a continuation of The Secret of the Unicorn, and is one of very few Tintin...
, they already know Calculus, who is not hard of hearing. Max Bird follows them, and attacks Tintin underwater and nearly gets killed by an octopus. Haddock is the one who meets a shark unerwater instead of Tintin. And there are natives on the desert island, who bear a strong resemblance to the Arumbayas from The Broken Ear
The Broken Ear
The Broken Ear is the sixth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero...
. The group are captured by natives, but escape when a volcanic eruption sinks the Island. Max Bird meets them at the Mansion after they find the treasure, but they overpower him.
In The Shooting Star
The Shooting Star
The Shooting Star is the tenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip books that were written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero....
, Professor Phostle is replaced with Professor Calculus. Coincidentally, the phostlite is renamed "calculite". Philippulus the Prophet is Calculus' assistant, and he predicts the end of the world, but his predictions are wrong. Calculus accompanies Tintin on the meteorite, and the Peary captain and a crewman chase Tintin and Calculus on the meteorite, but are chased off by the giant spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
. Captain Chester has been deleted from the storyline, and Thompson and Thomson accompany them on the voyage, whereas in the book they only appeared in one panel.
In Black Island
The Black Island
The Black Island is the seventh of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as the hero. It was first published in the newspaper supplement Le Petit Vingtième in the late 1930s...
, Captain Haddock plays a leading part, whereas he wasn't in the original book. And Professor Calculus makes a cameo. Puschov accuses Tintin of robbing him, but in an airport. Tintin and Haddock hide in post office bags to get to Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, but Haddock gets in the wrong bag, and they are separated. Tintin later finds Haddock in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
examining the plane. Dr Müller is older and white-haired, and has a goatee. And Ranko doesn't break his arm in this version.
The Calculus Case
The Calculus Affair
The Calculus Affair is the eighteenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero....
was the most altered series, the changes amounting to a completely different story altogether. Jolyon Wagg was entirely removed, and Calculus' ultrasound weapon is called "Silly the Silent" (or "No-Sound Nellie" in the US English version.). The Thompsons' roles have been expanded, and Haddock is captured with Calculus in "Darkol Prison". Professor Topolino and Colonel Sponz have been renamed "Professor Bretzel" and "Colonel Brutel".
There were notable changes in the characters too. Captain Haddock does not have a penchant for whiskey, and is seen drinking coffee, Professor Calculus no longer has hearing problems, the Thompsons' mustaches are identical, and Snowy has a red collar in some adaptations.
Most fans of the original books prefer the later television series The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)
The Adventures of Tintin is an animated television series based on The Adventures of Tintin, a series of books by Hergé. It debuted in 1991, and 39 half-hour episodes were produced over the course of three seasons...
as it is truer to the original books.
Broadcasts and releases
- This series has aired in repeats on non-network syndicationTelevision syndicationIn broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1963 to 1971. Several video releases were made, in both English and French. To date, no DVD set has been released, though The Calculus Case was released on DVD as a full-length film.
Voice artists
- Georges PoujoulyGeorges PoujoulyGeorges Poujouly was a French actor who gained international acclaim as a child for his performance in the award-winning film Forbidden Games...
– TintinTintin (character)Tintin is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé. Tintin is the protagonist of the series, a reporter and adventurer who travels around the world with his dog Snowy.... - Jean Clarieux – Capitaine HaddockCaptain HaddockCaptain Archibald Haddock is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé...
- René Arrieu – Allan Thompson
- Robert Vattier – Prof. Tryphon TournesolProfessor CalculusProfessor Cuthbert Calculus is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé...
(Prof. Cuthbert Calculus) - Hubert Deschamps – Dupond et DupontThomson and ThompsonThomson and Thompson are fictional characters in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé. Thomson and Thompson are detectives of Scotland Yard, and are as incompetent as they are necessary comic relief...
(Thomson and Thompson)
US version
- Dallas McKennonDallas McKennonDallas Raymond McKennon , sometimes credited as Dal McKennon, was an American actor, with extensive work as a voice actor, in a career lasting over 50 years.-Career:...
– Tintin, Professor Calculus - Paul FreesPaul FreesPaul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
– Captain Haddock, Thomson and Thompson
Episodes
- Objective Moon
- The Crab with the Golden Claws
- The Secret of the Unicorn
- Red Rackham's Treasure
- The Shooting Star
- Black Island
- The Calculus Case
The Calculus Case was released in a DVD boxed set in movie format in the UK, accompanying Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun
Tintin and the Temple of the Sun is a film made after the success of the Belvision cartoon series. The subject was to be The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun...
and Tintin and the Lake of Sharks
Tintin and the Lake of Sharks
Tintin and the Lake of Sharks is a Tintin animated film, directed by Raymond Leblanc . It was not written by Hergé, who supervised, but by the Belgian comics creator Greg , a friend of Hergé...
. The three have appeared on UK Channel 5 numerous times.
Legacy
Despite the series' low popularity with Tintin purists, it is well known throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the United States. The "Hergé's Adventures of Tintin!" speech at the beginning of each episode has become an iconic trademark of the franchise in the UK. For example, on an EmpireEmpire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
issue showcasing the upcoming film by Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg, the cover was captioned "Jackson and Spielberg's Adventures of Tintin!". A number of reviews of the boxed set of the The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)
The Adventures of Tintin is an animated television series based on The Adventures of Tintin, a series of books by Hergé. It debuted in 1991, and 39 half-hour episodes were produced over the course of three seasons...
on Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
complain that it is not the Belvision series.