DVD Review: The Adventures of Tintin (cartoon)

With Steven Spielberg’s Tintin movie coming out at the end of the month, The Adventures of Tintin,
the cartoon television series based on Hergé’s classic children’s books, has been released on DVD and
Blu Ray.

The show aired in the early 90s and I never really watched the cartoon as a child. I had vague memories
of watching parts of episodes in the morning before going to school, without caring that I was never
getting to watch a whole one. Upon watching the show for the review, the one thing that gave me a
sense of déjà vu was hearing, in an emotionless American accent, Tintin shouting “SNOWIE!” It sent
shivers down my spine. But for the wrong reasons. The major problem with this series is the atrocious
voice acting. Tintin’s voice is extraordinarily dull and as for the poor attempts at Scottish for Captain
Haddock and Cockney for the Thompson Twins, the less said the better.

While the show sounds dire it does however manage to look…average. The animation is all right, but
the movement is a bit stiff and there is little detail. They have copied Hergé’s style but something is
definitely missing; a sense of charm. The Blu ray is fine, but this is not Akira, there is very little detail.

What saves the show from being completely unwatchable is the stories. Tintin travels the world getting
caught up in intrigue and danger. The show has versions of most of Tintin’s adventures minus the
rather racist ones. An adventure cartoon with great stories should be wonderful but the execution here
is nothing short of adequate.

I am really looking forward to watching Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn
in glorious 2D when it comes out. (This is one of the deciders. For those of you hating 3D watch this
film in 2D and do the same with both parts of The Hobbit, and The Amazing Spiderman. The future of
3D hangs on the success of these films). It looks like it has captured the spirit of the original books far
more than this series. Only buy this animated version of the books if you really liked it as a child or
if you need something to do for 15 minuets in the morning before work or school. Don’t worry: you
needn’t finish an episode.