Ulysses 31 Redux
November 23, 2011 4:10 PM Subscribe
Ulysses 31 Redux (YT) is a shot-for-shot remake of the opening credits of Ulysses 31, the Franco-Japanese sci-fi retelling of The Odyssey (and perhaps high water mark of 80s children's television). The remake was directed by Dermot Canterbury.
The Mysterious Cities of Gold is on instant view on Netflix. The pace is a little slow by modern standards but it holds up pretty well.
posted by Loudmax at 4:38 PM on November 23, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Loudmax at 4:38 PM on November 23, 2011 [5 favorites]
Awesome. Now want "Cities of Gold"
posted by schwa at 4:39 PM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by schwa at 4:39 PM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thank you E.Man.Reg.Jr.Kbdi.Champ.94.
I would also like to see Belle & Sebastian in live-action, and an epic adaptation of Spartakus/Les Mondes Engloutis.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:27 PM on November 23, 2011
I would also like to see Belle & Sebastian in live-action, and an epic adaptation of Spartakus/Les Mondes Engloutis.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:27 PM on November 23, 2011
Wow, I've forgotten how great these sound!
M.A.S.K opening clip
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:29 PM on November 23, 2011
M.A.S.K opening clip
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:29 PM on November 23, 2011
I love TV shows where the entire setting is explicitly explained in the title theme. The GI Joe theme is a classic of the genre.
posted by Grimgrin at 5:39 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by Grimgrin at 5:39 PM on November 23, 2011
Wow. I used to watch this in french(a language I don't speak)when I was a kid just because the visuals were so good. Nice to see somebody else enjoyed it too.
posted by Dhertiiboi at 5:43 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by Dhertiiboi at 5:43 PM on November 23, 2011
I love TV shows where the entire setting is explicitly explained in the title theme.
Also, Galaxy Rangers.
(Incidentally, for a total headmelt, try the intro to "GI Joe Action Force".)
The incidental music for Ulysses 31 is also ineffably French despite its composers, Ike Egan and Denny Crockett.
Melancholy! Because cursed by the gods.
Funky! While delivering the smackdown to the Cyclops.
Smooth! While exploring an ancient spaceship.
posted by running order squabble fest at 5:48 PM on November 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, Galaxy Rangers.
(Incidentally, for a total headmelt, try the intro to "
The incidental music for Ulysses 31 is also ineffably French despite its composers, Ike Egan and Denny Crockett.
Melancholy! Because cursed by the gods.
Funky! While delivering the smackdown to the Cyclops.
Smooth! While exploring an ancient spaceship.
posted by running order squabble fest at 5:48 PM on November 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Growing up in Britain, it was years before I realised GI Joe and Action Force were the same thing.
posted by garius at 6:03 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by garius at 6:03 PM on November 23, 2011
The English language has not enough adjectives meaning 'awesomest thing ever' to properly describe this.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 6:36 PM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by lesbiassparrow at 6:36 PM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've been meaning to make a FPP about Les Mondes Engloutis for some time. Have most of it written, but I've been delayed by trying to find more video of the show.
posted by JHarris at 6:51 PM on November 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 6:51 PM on November 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
The one that's absolutely engraved on my memory circuits is the Albator 84 intro.
Since I was about three years old the odds that the following refrain has been running in my head at any given moment is probably at least one in ten.
"Le voilà (le voilà!), Albator (Albator!), le capitaine corsaire!"
I can't tell you how happy I was to find an extended version.
Though I have to admit that the greatest space opera animé intro song is clearly Uchuu Senkan Yamato.
posted by Kattullus at 7:19 PM on November 23, 2011
Since I was about three years old the odds that the following refrain has been running in my head at any given moment is probably at least one in ten.
"Le voilà (le voilà!), Albator (Albator!), le capitaine corsaire!"
I can't tell you how happy I was to find an extended version.
Though I have to admit that the greatest space opera animé intro song is clearly Uchuu Senkan Yamato.
posted by Kattullus at 7:19 PM on November 23, 2011
Silver mittens. SO MUCH WIN.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 7:27 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by obiwanwasabi at 7:27 PM on November 23, 2011
For me it's always been Thunderbirds 2086. That intro is, to me, the pinnacle of 80's animation.
posted by Guernsey Halleck at 7:35 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by Guernsey Halleck at 7:35 PM on November 23, 2011
While Ulysses 31 was on my local independent station in the spring of '86, I had the good fortune to travel to Paris on a school-sponsored trip. I was surprised to see Ulysses 31 toys still in a nicer mall on the outskirts of the city, and I'll always regret not grabbing a couple. I loved that darn show.
posted by gargoyle93 at 8:10 PM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by gargoyle93 at 8:10 PM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
That is brilliant! I loved this show as a kid. For some reason, I used to think one of the lines in the theme song was "Ulys-e-e-e-e-es, like a ball of burning cheese you're doing", even though I knew it made no sense. Listening to it again, there's no lines that even sound remotely like they could be saying that. I must have been a strange child.
posted by Kris10_b at 2:35 AM on November 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Kris10_b at 2:35 AM on November 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
I just rewatched the beginning of the first episode and holy crap it is insane. They're actually doing the Penelope thing. If he doesn't get back to Earth soon, some dude is going to have sex with his wife. French children's TV, ladies and gentlemen.
Last Ulysses 31 trivia point from me - the first episode was originally done in a more conventional anime style - the plot (and the design for the incongruous NoNo) are the same, but the character designs are radically different and IMHO much less interesting.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
(All in Japanese.)
posted by running order squabble fest at 4:16 AM on November 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Last Ulysses 31 trivia point from me - the first episode was originally done in a more conventional anime style - the plot (and the design for the incongruous NoNo) are the same, but the character designs are radically different and IMHO much less interesting.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
(All in Japanese.)
posted by running order squabble fest at 4:16 AM on November 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Awesome. Bonus points for the use of a Simon as the ship computer.
posted by greycap at 11:53 AM on November 24, 2011
posted by greycap at 11:53 AM on November 24, 2011
This is awesome.
posted by homunculus at 1:26 PM on November 24, 2011
posted by homunculus at 1:26 PM on November 24, 2011
The one that's absolutely engraved on my memory circuits is the Albator 84 intro yt .
Whoa, I've never heard that one before. Albator 78 is the one engraved in my brain.
posted by homunculus at 1:32 PM on November 24, 2011
Whoa, I've never heard that one before. Albator 78 is the one engraved in my brain.
posted by homunculus at 1:32 PM on November 24, 2011
I first saw Ulysses 31 when I was on holiday with my family as a young child, but never again, and as the years wore on I became less and less sure that I hadn't just been dreaming it. (So it was one of the first things I looked up when I first discovered the web, back when it was all default gray with beveled images and fuzzy .WAV downloads that took 30 minutes each.)
In retrospect, I realize how narcissistic it was to think that 6-year-old me would have been capable of composing that theme song.
posted by No-sword at 1:58 PM on November 24, 2011
In retrospect, I realize how narcissistic it was to think that 6-year-old me would have been capable of composing that theme song.
posted by No-sword at 1:58 PM on November 24, 2011
homunculus: Whoa, I've never heard that one before. Albator 78 is the one engraved in my brain.
I'm born in '81 and moved to France with my parents in '83. Albator 78 precedes my cartoon-watching days.
posted by Kattullus at 2:00 PM on November 24, 2011
I'm born in '81 and moved to France with my parents in '83. Albator 78 precedes my cartoon-watching days.
posted by Kattullus at 2:00 PM on November 24, 2011
Not The Mighty Orbots? Not the best 80s animated intro sequence.
Here's one that still baffles me: James Bond, Jr. No, it's not his son. It's his "nephew."
posted by beaucoupkevin at 5:47 PM on November 24, 2011
Here's one that still baffles me: James Bond, Jr. No, it's not his son. It's his "nephew."
posted by beaucoupkevin at 5:47 PM on November 24, 2011
Also: Silverhawks has an intro that features a redneck cyborg playing metal guitar before his we cut to a giant oni who turns into a robot version of Iron Maiden's Eddie but with tentacles instead of legs.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 5:52 PM on November 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by beaucoupkevin at 5:52 PM on November 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm born in '81 and moved to France with my parents in '83. Albator 78 precedes my cartoon-watching days.
Ah. I was there from '80 to '82. Albator, Capitaine Flam, Goldorack and Ulysse 31 were my favorites, as I recall.
Anyway, it looks like a new Space Pirate Captain Harlock is on the way.
posted by homunculus at 9:34 AM on December 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ah. I was there from '80 to '82. Albator, Capitaine Flam, Goldorack and Ulysse 31 were my favorites, as I recall.
Anyway, it looks like a new Space Pirate Captain Harlock is on the way.
posted by homunculus at 9:34 AM on December 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:30 PM on November 23, 2011 [6 favorites]