Plot: What’s it about?
In the distant future of 2065, the world has been put into a peaceful state and mankind has extended its reach deep into outer space. A global democracy keeps the world up and running in peace, but even then, evil has taken hold in a most unexpected place. A lot of the world is covered by water and beneath the calm surface, a nefarious character known as Titan lurks and prepares all sorts of plans to demolish the peace found back on land. Titan commands a band of undersea dwellers called the Aquaphibians, who take orders from their leaders and do whatever is asked of them, in the name of overtaking the surface world. But this group isn’t going to be able to put their plans into motion without a battle, as members of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP) are on the clock. As soon as word leaks that Titan is up to no good, the members leave their secret base in Marineville behind and head out to thwart the Aquaphibians, with captain Troy Tempest leading the charge. Titan is determined to unleash whatever evil is needed to defeat WASP however, so Tempest and his team had better be at their best at all times. But even then, can they somehow defeat Titan’s plans time and time again?
This was the third Supermarionation series (after Supercar and Fireball XL5) and while it isn’t the best known of Gerry Anderson’s inventive animation programs, it did help pave the way for his more popular efforts. But don’t dismiss Stingray as a mere warmup for shows like Thunderbirds, as it is a great show itself, one that is a lot of fun to watch. The underwater setting opened up some great potential and Anderson’s crew makes good of it, with some wild and exciting underwater adventures. I do think Stingray is a shade darker than Anderson’s other Supermarionation efforts, but this could be due to the subdued underwater visuals and once the action kicks in, it has a similar texture as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. So we have a lot of action present, but also some elements aimed toward a more mature tone, such as fantasies, romantic desires, and yes, even sexual tension between the puppets. These themes are never explored much, but you can see them as you watch and in truth, they add to the show’s effectiveness, since the characters have more depth and development. But above all else, Stingray is an action packed show that delivers ample fun and thrills, as only a series filmed in Supermarionation can. So for fans of Anderson’s magical animation process, Stingray is highly recommended.
This deluxe collection houses the entire Stingray series, with every last episode tucked inside this release. I think that’s an excellent idea and A&E has went with this approach on some other releases too, which went over very well with fans. This allows us to nab all the episodes in one fell swoop at a reasonable price, instead of having to wait for and then track down individual volumes or two disc releases. In this case, we have all thirty-nine episodes spread across five discs, so there’s ample room for them all to stretch out here. A lot of times, studios might try to fit too much into these kind of releases, but that isn’t the case with Stingray. Then again, as A&E has been excellent with previous television based projects, I don’t think anyone had doubts about how well Stingray’s DVD treatment would turn out. You can’t ask for much beyond this, as we have all of the episodes, plus some nice supplements, all rolled into one neat little box. In other words, if you’re a fan of Stingray or other Gerry Anderson productions, there’s no reason not to add this release to your collection. The show itself is as much as fun as ever and its well presented in this set, not to mention the low and very affordable price involved.
Video: How does it look?
Stingray is presented in full frame, as intended. As with the other Anderson production released by A&E, this one looks terrific and while it has more wear than the others, this is because it is an older series. But for a series made in the early 1960s, I think Stingray has held up well and looks better than you might expect. Yes, the materials have been worn a little, but the flaws never distract from the content, so you shouldn’t be let down in the least. The colors are solid and black levels seem accurate, so all the neat visuals are preserved here. I will say the image is on the soft side, but as I said, this material is well over three decades old and by turn, that means some tolls will be evident of time’s presence. Even so, A&E has issued a solid looking series and fans should be pleased, since the material has held up rather well.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is rather basic, but it sounds solid and all the needed elements come through as intended. As per usual, Barry Gray’s exceptional music often steals the audio limelight and it sounds quite good here. Of course, a more dedicated surround track might enhance it, but as it is more than effective here, I won’t complain much. The wacky sound effects are well presented too, with enough punch to work, but keep the material’s age in mind, as the elements are a little confined at times. The dialogue is clean and clear also, so all the vocals are in fine form and in the end, this is a solid, acceptable audio presentation.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes some nice extras, including a total of four audio commentary tracks, each on a select episode. Its always a pleasure to hear from creator Gerry Anderson, who contributes two of the sessions, while members of the production team comprise the other two tracks, though all four are well worth a listen. Of course, Anderson’s comments merit more attention, but it is cool to get some insight into how Supermarionation was used and to hear some “war stories” from crew members. You’ll also find a new twenty minute behind the scenes featurette (titled The Thing About Stingray…), an alternate French end sequence, a nice selection of production stills, and extensive information on Anderson.
