Fantastic Voyage (TV series)

Fantastic Voyage is an American animated science fiction TV series based on the famous 1966 film directed by Richard Fleischer. The series consists of 17 episodes each running 30 minutes. It was run on ABC-TV from September 14, 1968 through September 5, 1970. The series was produced by Filmation Associates in association with Twentieth Century Fox, and was the story of the C.M.D.F. (Combined Miniature Defense Force), a secret United States government organization which possessed the ability to reduce people to microscopic size.

The main characters were Commander Jonathan Kidd; biologist Erica Lane; scientist Busby Birdwell; and a master of mysterious powers known as Guru. The team was reduced in size -- for 12 hours only -- and traveled around in a microscopic flying submarine, the "Voyager", doing battle against the unseen, unsuspecting enemies of the free world (both criminal and germinal matter). The series featured the voices of Marvin Miller, Jane Webb, and Ted Knight. The producers were Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott, the director was Hal Sutherland, and the music was provided by Gordon Zahler.

Opening Narration

:"Headquarters: CMDF, Combined Miniature Defense Force. Project: Fantastic Voyage. Process: Miniaturization. Authority: Top Secret, highest clearance. Team: Jonathan Kidd, Commander. Guru, master of mysterious powers. Erica Lane, doctor/biologist. Busby Birdwell, scientist/inventor, builder of the "Voyager". Mission: In their miniaturized form, combat the unseen, unsuspected enemies of freedom. Time Limit: 12 hours. "

Trivia

*Ted Knight, who provided character voice and narration, is most famous for playing Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

*In the motion picture, the initials CMDF stood for Combined Miniaturized Deterrent Forces. The producers felt that most kids wouldn't understand the word 'deterrent' and changed the initials to mean Combined Miniature Defense Force.

*Marvin Miller, voice actor responsible for Busby Birdwell, is best known to SF fans as the voice of Robby the Robot from the M-G-M classic Science Fiction film, Forbidden Planet. Mr. Miller also has a connection with the feature film version; his voice provides the narration for the "Fantastic Voyage" theatrical trailer.

*Jane Webb, the voice of Erica Lane, also provided the voices of Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge in Filmation's The Archie Show.

*Episode 2, "The Menace From Space," was the subject of the GAF Viewmaster Fantastic Voyage 3D slide pack.

*Episode 6, "The Mind of the Master," was the cartoon version of the 20th Century Fox film, "Fantastic Voyage". After being attacked by a rival mystic, Guru suffers brain damage and the team must travel through Guru's bloodstream for Dr. Lane to dissolve an inoperable blood clot in the swami's brain. Instead of the threat of attack by white cells, as in the feature film, the cartoon "Voyager" crew is set upon by antibodies. The "Voyager" faired much better than the "Proteus" after the adventure. In the feature film the submarine is engulfed and digested by the body's defenses.

"Voyager" Model

While the series was in production, Aurora Model Company developed a plastic model of the "Voyager," releasing it only months before the series cancellation was announced. Due to the short run of the show, this kit received only one press run, and as a result is one of the rarest kits to find of the Aurora line. A contributing factor to this scarcity is that most of the kits were bought for use as toys (by fans of the show) rather than as static display or collectors' items, thus were lost, broken or disposed of long before they became "collectables."

Unbuilt, in-box kits have been sold on eBay for prices between $300 - $700.00 USD. Assembled and partially-assembled models in varied conditions from "acceptable" to "well-worn" - have been sold for over $100, depending on condition.

Polar Lights, a company which owned the rights to re-produce the kit passed on re-releasing the subject. Company director Dave Metzner stated that they had to produce much more in-demand subjects in order to be able to afford even considering the production of such niche products.

However, [http://moebiusmodels.com/voyager_Model_Kit.php Moebius Models] has obtained the original Aurora molds, and has gone into production on the "Voyager" kit (including the original distinctive delta-shaped stand used for Aurora aircraft models).

Episode List

External links

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* [http://www.toontracker.com/fantvoyage/fantvoyage.htm Toon Tracker's Fantastic Voyage page]