On the 28th of October 2024, Fabulous Films issued the 1970s series of Paddington Bear on DVD and Blu-Ray; The latter marks the first time in HD!
There is no denying that Paddington Bear’s popularity has endured since Michael Bond wrote the first book, A Bear Called Paddington, over 65 years ago. The adventures of the Peruvian bear have been discovered and enjoyed by generations of fans, through further books, film and several television adaptations.
His first foray onto the small screen is perhaps his most beloved, a stop-frame animated series that ran on the BBC between 1976 and 1980. Produced by FilmFair, 56 episodes were made in total. It was later revived for three specials in the 1980s.
The series was narrated by British actor Michael Hordern, who delivered Bond’s scripts with a dry yet authoritative tone, creating an open distinction between the softness of Paddington’s voice and the gruffness of Mr Curry. The narration was underscored by the music of Herbert Chappell, including a tune known as “Size Ten Shuffle”. Ivor Wood directed the series.
The series follows the title character, as he arrives in Britain from Peru. He meets the Brown family, who invite him to stay with them. The shorts, just under five minutes each, follow aspects of his adventures. The overall storytelling style is gentle, with verbal misunderstandings and occasional slapstick.
Paddington on Blu-Ray!
(The Adventures of) Paddington has been broadcast on numerous channels over the decades. It has also seen multiple releases on physical media, including VHS and DVD. Now, thanks to the team at Fabulous Films, the FilmFair adaptation arrives on Blu-ray for the first time. It is currently retailing for £39.99 on Amazon.
The episodes presented here have been restored from film elements and remastered for the first time in decades. The old masters, pun intended, were starting to look a little worn and faded.
Picture Quality
There is no doubting FilmFair‘s genius for translating Michael Bond’s Peruvian bear to the small screen. The pleasing contrast of a model Paddington in a mostly 2D-drawn world is as intriguing as ever, now with undeniable clarity.
The minimalist background design of mostly white with black lines has definition without any blooming or oversaturation. The colours on the 2D characters appear vibrant, with every detail visible. The handmade quality is still evident, with occasional “human” details present. The details on the model, such as the texture of his blue duffle coat, include aspects I had never noticed before.
Finally, the viewing experience is pretty consistent across most episodes. The flicker of age is gone, and replaced with a pleasing presentation that breathes new life into this series. The specials look especially shiny, as they are younger.
Audio Quality
The stories are “told” by Michael Hordern, who delivers each piece of narration in his own unique style. The audio quality of his dialogue varies by episode, but it has never sounded better through a vastly improved definition. The music, also, is nicely crisp.
The intro music appears to play at different pitches occasionally, but maintaining this is possibly preserving how they went out originally.
Special Features
This set includes a few special features, though most of the content is original. One notable feature is an interview/documentary with Barry Leith, which explores his experiences working on Paddington and The Wombles at FilmFair. It’s an engaging interview with clips throughout. It’s always enjoyable to hear the behind-the-scenes stories.
Another feature, the charmingly tirled marmalade sandwich, features behind-the-scenes footage of Paddington being made, combined with a vintage interview of Michael Bond explaining the origins of the character. The method of entry is initially confusing, but the content is nice to have.
The last feature is a brief comparison between the original broadcast master and the new Blu-Ray restoration, featuring comments by Barry Leith. It could be fair to say that the quality of the restoration is not truly realized until you see this short piece.
The Packaging
The artwork of the Blu-ray case has been tastefully done, with a nicely defined picture of Paddington with a sandwich alongside a jar of marmalade on the front. The background is minimalist, with an idea of the 2D art style.
The back cover has all the details needed, placed in front of a transparent image. There are a number of screenshots at the top of the design, which gives an idea of the effectiveness of the presentation. The spine of the release looks good on my shelf, with the Fabulous Films logo complementing the shows typography nicely.
Conclusion
The price of £40 is a little expensive, but understandable given the amount of work that has gone into it. Fabulous Films has assembled a set which restores the Adventures of Paddington to a level of visual quality never seen before. The show still holds up, with FilmFair’s well-honed unique animation style a draw, further emphasised by enhanced clarity. Likewise, Michael Hordern’s narration is timeless and fully audible.
The number of special features is small, but understandable given the age of the material. It’s lovely to hear the testimony of someone heavily involved, a precious inclusion for years to come.
If you’re a fan of this incarnation of Paddington, you owe it to yourself to buy this set. NEVER had this looked or sounded better, and the stories still hold the same charm. The presentation, from disc menus to cover art, is slick. Casual fans may want to look for a cheaper option, but this Blu-Ray now feels like the definitive viewing experience for Paddington. Paddington Bear The Complete Series is available from Fabulous Films. Also available as a DVD, and in a special “pop-up” edition.
