The Big Knights
(1999) producers:
Astley Baker / The Big Knights
for
BBC Worldwide animation: Celaction
episodes:
13 x 10mins
"The
height of two men!...
The weight of four!...
The strength of sixteen!..."
The Big Knights are Sir Boris "the
finest Swordsman in the world", and his
spectacled brother Sir Morris "not
the finest swordsman in the world, but the
most enthusiastic". This armour-plated
Abbott and Costello double-act hail from
Castle Big in the little-known kingdom
of Borovia where, to quote the official
press blurb:
"Dragons are fierce, witches are
wicked, scientists are insane,
the economy is bad and television
is in black & white..."
Big adventures abound at Castle Big, where
the brothers do battle with evil
scientists, imps, witches, vampires, dragons,
trolls and their own crude short-
comings in the name of King Otto. Even
their tin-canned pets Sir Horace the
dog and Sir Doris the hamster get in on
the act.
These big characters need some big voices
behind them and they don't come
any bigger than actor Brian Blessed who
furnishes Sir Morris with his enthusiastic
baritone. David Rintoul voices Sir Boris,
and Timothy West that of King Otto.
This fabulous series is big with laughs,
big-hearted, big on action, and especially
big on design. The animation partnership
of Neville Astley and Mark Baker build
on the unique stylings they brought to their
previous work, like the sea-borne
short "Jolly Roger", to bring us
big medieval banquets halls, castles, contraptions
and landscapes. The animation is hand
drawn before being digitally animated
using CelAction 2D software and the resulting series
has since won some big
animation trophies, including two British Animation
Awards, and a Best Animated
Series prize at Annecy...
Fans would do well to track down the six
all-new Big Knights stories
subsequently published in "FBX"
magazine. These strips wrre created by
Neville and Mark using the very same software
they used for the series.
"The Big Knights" is that wonderfully
rare thing. An animated series that has
big crossover appeal for adults and children
alike. Truly it's a treat. But bigger
than this show's achievements is the incredulation
that only one series of films
have so far been produced. Bring back those
knights at once, says The Hound.
There is a loyal fan-base out there for this
show and they are definitely,
indisputably enthusiastic for more!...
Awards
2001 Annecy - Best Animated Series
2000 British Animation Award - Best Adult Series
British
Animation Award - Most Creative Use Of New Technology
created
and directed by Neville Astley & Mark Baker producer: Claire
Jennings writers: Neville
Astley, Mark Baker,
Gary Parker, John Sparkes music: Peter
Baikie animators: Christian Chessell,
Tanya Fenton, Joris Van Hunzen,
Cathy Lowdell, Sarah Roper, Peter Wassink voices: Brian
Blessed (Sir Morris)
David
Rintoul (Sir Boris)
Timothy
West (King Otto)
Summer Strallen (Princess Lucy)
Scarlet
Strallen (Princess Loretta)
Xander
Armstrong (narrator)
Morwenna
Banks (The Old Witch)
Enn
Reitel (Wizard Zabobon / Mayor Borodzo / Jack Tiny)
Kate Robbins (Sorceress Abigail / Aunt Iris)
Prunella
Scales (Queen Melissa / Aunt Lily)
John
Sparkes (Eeuuurgh The Troll / Prof. von Proton /
Daring
Sir Douglas / Dan Titchy)
Gordon
Kennedy (Count Vampire / Ogre)
Brian
Sewell (Sir Kiftsgate)
On
the web
Astley
Baker Davies http://www.astleybakerdavies.com
Neville Astley and Mark Baker now
work with producer Phil Davies,
and their official site details
the whole Astley Baker and Davies CV,
including 'Jolly Roger', 'Hill Farm'
, 'The Village', 'The Big Knights' and
new girl 'Peppa Pig'...
Little
Gems http://www.thechestnut.com/knights/big-knights.htm
A series intro, character outlines
and an episode guide from
The gems. Pages take time to
load but your patience is rewarded
in spades - Go there now!