SuperTed

SuperTed is a British animated television series about an anthropomorphic teddy bear with superpowers, created by Welsh writer and animator Mike Young. Originally created by Young as a series of stories to help his son overcome his fear of the dark, SuperTed became a popular series of books and led to an animated series produced from 1983 to 1986. An American-produced series, The Further Adventures of SuperTed, was produced by Hanna Barbera in 1989. It also aired in Australia on ABC (27 April 1987 - 13 May 1997).

Creation
The character was created by Mike Young in 1978 for his son to help him overcome his fear of darkness. Later Young 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, Young 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 Young 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. Young 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 Young 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 off the rights to the series; with 75% stake of Super Ted being acquired by the newly formed Abbey Home Entertainment with Young retaining the other 25% The ownership nowadays is through AHE’s successor company Abbey Home Media alongside Mike Young.

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.

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

 * Heroes
 * SuperTed – A teddy bear brought to life by Spotty's cosmic dust and given special powers by Mother Nature. By uttering his secret magic word he can don his superhero outfit, complete with rocket boots, which he uses to fight evil around the world. He is voiced by Geraint Jarman in the original Welsh language version of the show and Derek Griffiths in the English dub.
 * Spotty – SuperTed's bumbling companion and best friend, a yellow and green spotted alien from the planet Spot. He brought SuperTed to life with his cosmic dust and accompanies him on his missions, regardless of whether he wants to or not. He wears a jetpack for moving about and pilots a large spotted rocket to travel over the world or across space. He is voiced by Martin Griffiths in the original version and Jon Pertwee in the English dub.
 * Blotch – Spotty's sister, voiced by Sheila Steafel. Later Wendy Padbury voiced Blotch in Super Safe with SuperTed.
 * Mother Nature – Mother Nature, voiced by Valmai Jones in the original Welsh version of the show and Sheila Steafel in the English version, portrayed as a fairy who grants SuperTed his super powers with a special potion.


 * Villains
 * Texas Pete – An evil cowboy and the main villain of the series. His goals are generally simple-minded, be it world domination, the destruction of SuperTed, or simply increasing his own wealth. Voiced by Gari Williams in the original Welsh language version of the show and Victor Spinetti in the English language version.
 * Skeleton – A very cowardly, noticeable effeminate and exceptionally camp living skeleton who wears pink slippers. He is capable of being put back together whenever he falls to bits. Voiced by Emyr Young in the Welsh language version and Melvyn Hayes in the English dub.
 * Bulk – An overweight fool with immense stupidity who serves as the muscle of the group. Voiced by Huw Ceredig in the Welsh language original and Roy Kinnear in the English dub.

Episodes
As Young 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 all over 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 12 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'
 * SuperTed (VC1058), 6 Episodes – Released: 28 April 1986
 * SuperTed Volume 2 (VC1059), 6 Episodes – Released: 3 November 1986

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'.
 * The New Adventures of SuperTed (V9062), 5 Episodes – Released: 1988
 * The Heroic Adventures of SuperTed (V9113) 6 Episodes – Released: 1988

In 1989, two bumper special videos of SuperTed were released. Episodes featured- 'SuperTed at Creepy Castle', 'SuperTed and the Pearl Fishers', 'SuperTed at the Funfair', 'SuperTed and Nuts in Space', 'SuperTed and the Elephants' Graveyard', 'SuperTed and the City of the Dead', 'SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket Ship', 'SuperTed on Planet Spot' and 'SuperTed and the Inca Treasure'. 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'.
 * The Original SuperTed Bumper Edition (GMH 101) 9 Episodes – Released: 1989
 * SuperTed: The Special Edition (GMH 102) 12 Episodes – Released: 1989

In about 1990, Wm Collins Sons & Co. Ltd released a bumper video with episodes from Series 3 of SuperTed.
 * SuperTed's Bumper Video (93852), 7 Episodes – Released: 1990.

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.
 * The Original Adventures of SuperTed: Special Edition (94982), 8 Episodes – Released: 1991

In Summer 1994, a biggest ever SuperTed video with 26 episodes on it was released by Abbey Home Entertainment Distribution. It featured the award-winning road safety film of "SuperSafe with SuperTed" along with 25 other episodes that are all 12 episodes of Series 1 of SuperTed (1982-1983), 7 episodes from Series 2 of SuperTed (1984) and 6 episodes from Series 3 of SuperTed (1985) and which are altogether on one compiled video.
 * The Biggest Ever SuperTed Video (97192) 26 Episodes – Released: 1994.

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'.
 * The Original Adventures of SuperTed: Trouble in Space (94622), 3 Episodes – Released: 1991
 * The Original Adventures of SuperTed: SuperTed Goes to Texas (95862), 3 Episodes – Released: 1992

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'.
 * The Original Adventures of SuperTed: Trouble in Space (AHEDVD), 3 Episodes - Released: 2003
 * The Very Best of SuperTed (AHEDVD), 7 Episodes - Released: 2004

US Home video
All 36 episodes were released over six videocassettes by Walt Disney Home Video. Episodes featured-'SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket Ship', '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' Episodes featured- 'SuperTed at the Toy Shop', 'SuperTed and the Gun Smugglers', 'SuperTed in Texas', 'SuperTed in the Artic' and 'SuperTed and Trouble in Space (Parts 1 & 2)' Episodes featured- 'SuperTed and the Crystal Ball', 'Bulk's Story', 'SuperTed and the Lumberjacks', 'Spotty and the Indians', 'SuperTed meets Father Christmas' and 'SuperTed's Dream'. Episodes featured- 'SuperTed and Mother Nature', 'SuperTed and the Pothole Rescue', 'Superted Kicks Up the Dust', 'SuperTed and the Magic Word (Parts 1 & 2)' and 'SuperTed and the Whales  Episodes featured- 'SuperTed in Chinatown', 'SuperTed and the Great Horrendo', 'SuperTed Goes Round the Bend', 'SuperTed and the Rattlesnake', 'SuperTed and Tex's Magic Spell' and 'SuperTed and the Gorilla'.
 * SuperTed 1: The Premier Adventures of SuperTed, 6 Episodes. Released: 1984
 * SuperTed 2: The Further Adventures of SuperTed, 6 Episodes. Released: 1984
 * SuperTed 3: The Adventures Continues, 6 Episodes. Released: 1985
 * SuperTed 4: New Intergalatic Adventures, 6 Episodes. Released: 1985
 * SuperTed 5: New Tales of Cosmic Adveture, 6 Episodes. Released 1986
 * SuperTed 6: SuperTed's Global Adventures, 6 Episodes. Released: 1987

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

 * SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket Ship from Children's TV Favourites – Released: 1987 and 1990
 * SuperTed Kicks Up The Dust from My Best Friends – Released: 1993
 * SuperTed's Dream from My Best Friends Too – Released: 1994
 * SuperTed and Mother Nature from Children's Favourites (WHSmith Exclusive) – Released: 1995
 * SuperTed at the Toyshop from My Favourite Teddy Bears Video- Released: 1993
 * SuperTed Meets Father Christmas from The Biggest Ever Christmas Video (Released: 1993), Christmas Favourites (WHSmith Exclusive) [Released 1995] and 110 minutes of Christmas Crackers (Released- 1996).

Australia Home video
The New Adventures of Superted is now on the Australian VHS on Reel Corporation to released in 1995.
 * Funfair episodes contained: 'SuperTed at the Funfair', 'SuperTed and the Train Robbers', 'SuperTed at Creepy Castle', 'SuperTed and the Stolen Rocket Ship', 'SuperTed and the Elephant's Graveyard'.
 * Giant Kites episodes contained: 'SuperTed and the Inca Treasure', 'SuperTed and the Giant Kites', 'SuperTed and the Goldmine', 'SuperTed on Planet Spot', 'SuperTed and Nuts in Space'.
 * Pearl fishes episodes contained: 'SuperTed and the Pearl Fishers', 'SuperTed and the City of the Dead', 'SuperTed at the Toy Shop', 'SuperTed in Texas', 'SuperTed in the Arctic'.
 * Crystal Ball episodes contained: 'SuperTed and the Gun Smugglers', 'Spotty and the Indians', 'SuperTed and the Crystal Ball', 'SuperTed and Trouble in Space – Part 1', 'SuperTed and Trouble in Space – Part 2'.
 * Pothole Rescue episodes contained: 'Bulk's Story', 'SuperTed Meets Father Christmas', 'SuperTed and Mother Nature', 'SuperTed and the Pothole Rescue', 'SuperTed and the Whales'.