Nebula-75

Nebula-75 is a 2020 Supermarionation web series created by Century 21 Films in the spirit of the early 1960s series by Gerry Anderson's AP Films.[1] The series follows the adventures of the crew of the spaceship Nebula-75, trapped in space "33 million miles from Earth". Commander Ray Neptune is joined by robot Circuit, scientist Doctor Asteroid and the mysterious "space maiden" Athena, who only communicates via telepathy.[2]

Nebula-75
Nebula 75 logo
Directed byStephen La Rivière
Starring
  • Stephen La Rivière
  • Justin T. Lee
  • Geraldine Donaldson
  • Lindsay Lee
  • Liz Comstock-Smith
Music byBarry Gray
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes12
Production
ProducerAndrew T. Smith
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time15 minutes
Production companyCentury 21 Films
Release
Original release25 April 2020 (2020-04-25)

The series was created by Stephen La Rivière and Andrew T. Smith and their production team during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom - finding themselves unable to continue planned studio production work, the film-makers created the series in a flat with puppets, props and materials from earlier productions such as Filmed in Supermarionation, Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes and the Endeavour episode "Apollo".[3][4]

Original 1960s-era music was licensed from the Barry Gray Archive, including a 1963 song "Robot Man" by Mary Jane with Barry Gray and his Spacemakers.[5] The authentic 1960s feel of the production was discussed by Samira Ahmed with La Rivière on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on 19 May.[6] Ahmed later lent her voice to a news reporter character, Juliette Destiny, for the 2020 Christmas episode.[7]

A second series of Nebula-75 commenced its run in 2021 and in December of that year it was announced that the series had been picked up for distribution by Tohokushinsha Film Corporation in Japan. The series' broadcast on Japanese television was preceded by theatrical screenings of Nebula-75's first episode, shown in cinemas across the country alongside three special anniversary editions of Thunderbirds produced for that series' 50th anniversary by members of the same production team.[8]

As of 2022, the series is not available on YouTube due to a licensing agreement.[9] It is currently available on Amazon Prime Video (in the USA and the UK) and on Vimeo.

Series One episodes
No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Nebula-75"25 April 2020 (2020-04-25)
Stranded millions of miles from home by forces unknown, Commander Neptune and the crew of the Nebula-75 must come to terms with their new life amongst the stars. Their isolation is interrupted, however, by two alien visitors...
2"The Storm Before The Calm"3 May 2020 (2020-05-03)
Commander Neptune wishes to know more about the mysterious Space Maiden who saved his ship. In learning more, he also finds out about the malevolent forces that lurk in the section of space the Nebula-75 now finds itself.
3"Short Circuit"11 May 2020 (2020-05-11)
When the Nebula-75’s ramshackle robot Circuit suffers from one malfunction too many and the crew encounter an old eccentric in need of assistance, who will save the day?
4"No One I Think Is In My Tree"30 May 2020 (2020-05-30)
A strange spatial distortion transports our heroes into an unknown realm. Separated from his crew and trapped in a mysterious void, Commander Neptune must resist the call of a sinister disembodied voice and find his way back to the ship before it is too late…
5"Heist Society"16 June 2020 (2020-06-16)
A distress call summons Commander Neptune to the assistance of a pair of aristocrats. Once aboard, however, it becomes apparent that he is dealing less with “high society” than he is “heist society”. Hoodwinked and robbed of valuable systems the crew of the Nebula-75 face a race against time to put things right.
6"Freighter Fright"31 October 2020 (2020-10-31)
Halloween Special. The Nebula-75 crew pick-up a distress call from an old freighter and set off to investigate. However, when they arrive it appears to have been abandoned for decades, so where did the call come from?
7"The Grift of the Magi"24 December 2020 (2020-12-24)
Christmas Special. On Christmas Eve, the Nebula-75 crew tune into a broadcast from Earth by Juliette Destiny (guest voiced by Samira Ahmed). But some unwelcome faces soon threaten their dreams of a white Christmas.

Series Two episodes
No.TitleOriginal air date
8"The Incredible Voyage of Nebula-75"12 May 2021 (2021-05-12)
The crew of the Nebula-75 inadvertently find themselves the stars of the latest motion picture by renowned filmmaker Dave the Director, who is making his last great film before he retires.
9"Crash Landing"18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
When the Nebula-75 crash lands on a mysterious planet Commander Neptune and Doctor Asteroid are lucky to escape with their lives. However, someone has a vested interest in their demise...
10"For The Ashes Of His Fathers"16 December 2021 (2021-12-16)
Frustrated by the delays in launching a rescue mission to retrieve the Nebula-75, General Ganymede of the Zodiac Space Centre decides to take matters into his own hands. Little does he know, however, that forces from space conspire to use him against the crew he seeks to save...
11"Fool's Gold"21 December 2021 (2021-12-21)
When Commander Neptune goes missing during a mission to locate a valuable, yet highly volatile, fuel source, his crew must face the devious Captain Caswell, scourge of the seven space winds.
12"... And There Was Light"23 December 2021 (2021-12-23)
When Doctor Asteroid spots signs of life on a planet that should be totally incapable of supporting it, the crew of the Nebula-75 send Circuit to investigate. But when Circuit is seemingly attacked, they must face hazardous conditions to discover what has become of him...

References
  1. "Nebula-75". Century 21 Films. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. "Nebula-75". Filmed in Supermarionation. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. Braxton, Mark (27 April 2020). "Here's how a Gerry and Sylvia Anderson-inspired puppet show was created and filmed in lockdown". Radio Times.
  4. The end credits refer to the series having been created in "Superisolation" and using the "Lo-Budget" sound recording system.
  5. "Mary Jane With Barry Gray And His Spacemakers - Robot Man". 45 Cat. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. "Front Row: Stephen La Rivière, Nancy Kerr, Silas Marner". BBC Sounds. 19 May 2020.
  7. @SamiraAhmedUK (4 December 2020). "The woman who haunted herself. In a FAB way" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "Global Screen Fund Awards; Rotterdam Sets Opening Film & Cinemart Lineup; Century 21 Films Sells 'Nebula-75' To Japan; Climbing Feature Sets Release Date And Trailer – Global Briefs". Deadline. 16 December 2021.
  9. "Century 21 Films - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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