Oh, I just found out the actual Season 4 funding credits may have used a still from the Arthur funding credits of the time for the “Viewers Like You” card.
I actually thought the Dash/Dot logos would be more interesting to use in a “what-if” scenario such as “what if TMSB continued in reruns on PBS past 1998?”, for instance.
Though, for A Magic School Bus Halloween, I figured I’d use the 1992 general PBS logo instead, since hour-long PBS Kids specials tended to use that logo around that time (looking at you, Shining Time Station).
FTW here’s the AVS script I’m currently running:
SetMemoryMax(512)
SetFilterMTMode(“DEFAULT_MT_MODE”, 2)
SetFilterMTMode(“FFVideoSource”, 3)
PluginPath = “C:\Users\-----\Downloads\MeGUI-2896-64\tools\avisynth_plugin”
LoadPlugin(PluginPath+“DCTFilter.dll”)
LoadPlugin(PluginPath+“Deblock-x64.dll”)
LoadPlugin(PluginPath+“masktools2.dll”)
Import(“C:\Users\-----\Downloads\Deblock_QED_MT2Mod.avsi”)
LoadPlugin(PluginPath+“ffms2.dll”)
LoadPlugin(PluginPath+“nnedi3.dll”)
FFVideoSource(“C:\Users\-----\Videos\The Magic School Bus\The Magic School Bus For Lunch.mov”).ConvertToYV12()
Deblock_QED(quant1=24, quant2=26, aOff1=1, aOff2=1, bOff1=2, bOff2=2, uv=3)
Blur(1.0)
nnedi3_rpow2(rfactor=8)
Sharpen(0.25)
LanczosResize(2880,2160)
SD video AFAICT, but it’s not for a lack of trying to get improvement that I’m not getting much improvement.
After nearly two decades, I’m finally getting back into The Magic School Bus, and I figured, why not do a 4K restoration to make it resemble a potential primetime rebroadcast?
Each episode will consist of the following:
And, of course, I’ll be assembling the masters in Blender and doing all upscaling in Avisynth.
All episodes are presented in 4K, with the original stereo audio in English and Spanish. As I intend this restoration for those who grew up on the series as I did, and not just today’s kids, most episodes will be TV-G; those that are rated higher, the reason is displayed right next to it on this page.
SEASON 1 (sponsored by National Science Foundation, Microsoft Home, U.S. Department of Energy, and Carnegie Corporation of New York)
SEASON 2 (sponsored by National Science Foundation, Microsoft Home, U.S. Department of Energy, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS)
SEASON 3 (sponsored by National Science Foundation, Microsoft, U.S. Department of Energy, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS)
SEASON 4 (sponsored by National Science Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and PBS)
Another confirmed series is The Magic School Bus, which will feature the PBS Kids Dash/Dot logos at the end and the current PBS logo at the start… and, perhaps, some content disclaimers regarding the now-outdated science depicted in the series.
IIRC the mix we’re most used to, featured on newer releases such as the Anchor Bay and Blue Underground releases, was used for international releases of the English dub, typically with the “Zombies 2” or “Zombie Flesh Eaters” title.
As far as I can remember, this original theatrical mix is different than the one most of us are used to around the point where Dr. Menard shoots the zombie as it’s getting up, the end of the “shark vs. zombie” scene, and the zombie invasion of New York (the transition there happens after “…Manhattan. General Stein…” and the anchor’s scream sounds very different in the original theatrical mix).
I’ll probably also work on the UK X-rated version, which is shorter by a few minutes owing to the censorshit of the Ferman days. One thing I know I’ll be doing for sure is the original Jerry Gross theatrical mix, as heard on the Wizard and Magnum releases and a bootleg VHS from Woodhaven.
I’ll actually release my first Halloween restorations next year.
Every Halloween, I hope to release some spooky fun restorations.
I could try it for one of my Halloween releases.
It should be. I highly recommend running the extended version scenes through Avisynth, of course.
Had a look at that video a few days ago.
I have a feeling that what we’re calling the “original” version is actually more a workprint than a final print; some music cues and sound effects are absent and at one point, when Charlie Brown realizes that Snoopy is decorating for a “lights and display contest?!”, his voice is not provided by Peter Robbins. Is there anyone out there who can do a reconstruction of what would’ve aired on CBS less than 55 years ago?
Additionally, the music was recorded in stereo, but downmixed to mono on both the workprint and the broadcast prints. Anyone here willing to sync the stereo score elements (most of which were released on CD and vinyl) to the video of the official Blu-ray release - or their own restoration/preservation - of the special? Here’s a very useful cue chart.
I might make that one of my (admittedly many) projects for next year.
Yes. Unfortunately, I’ve got a lot of other things happening, such as a job search. I’m trying to apply for a job as a transcript editor, but thus far I haven’t had much luck. Also, I’m trying to make it as a Twitch streamer. But this project ain’t dead.
Myself, I’m hoping to do a full-length restoration of A Charlie Brown Christmas based on the Blu-ray and a 16mm print I downloaded from MEGA as part of this project.
The Internet Animation Database forum has a thread about the original poster obtaining a 1965 workprint and listing all the differences between it and the much more common re-edit. Here are some of the differences…
- The Coca-Cola references are left intact
- When Snoopy decorates his doghouse and Charlie Brown reads the paper about the lights and display contest, an instrumental version of “Christmas Time is Here” plays instead of “Surfin’ Snoopy” and Charlie Brown’s voice is softer
- Various sound effects are missing or different
- There is no close-up of Lucy’s hand when she gives “five good reasons”
…and here’s the thread I’m referring to. Was the print you downloaded the same as or similar to the one the thread was about?Additionally, are you going to sync some of Vince Guaraldi’s full stereo soundtrack elements, most (if not all) of which are available on CD and vinyl, to the video of your restoration project?
Yes, it was the same, and yes, I plan to sync whatever I can find.
I’m considering it.
Do you think I should incorporate this reimagining of Obi-Wan’s final bout with Darth Vader into the Ultimate Edition? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to2SMng4u1k
Myself, I’m hoping to do a full-length restoration of A Charlie Brown Christmas based on the Blu-ray and a 16mm print I downloaded from MEGA as part of this project.
I might be of assistance, if I could only find it myself.
Yes, but the quality, it must be presumed, should be a quite bit better than on the iTunes one.
I ended up deciding to redo the upscaling of the opening and closing logos with Avisynth, since I realize they’d look better that way.
One thing I can’t promise is the Spanish dub audio, as unlike the Baker stories it’s currently considered lost.
Doubtful. If I’m able to find all the Da Silva narrations, I will include all of them.
I’m thinking about doing it in April and May, actually.
