The ReTurn of ReBoot

“Originally aired on Sept 10, 1994, The Tearing is the very first episode of the classic series, ReBoot! Venture back to Mainframe with Bob, Dot, Enzo and your other favourite characters.”

Happy 30th anniversary to the world’s first fully CGI tv show, a gift to kids of the mid-90’s. This show from Mainframe Entertainment was everything when I was growing up, and now the pilot episode has finally been ‘remastered’ to modern standards. The story behind why this prettier version is even possible is fascinating, and ramped up in just the last year.

Why does a digital show need to be remastered in the first place? Why not re-render the images to a higher resolution and be done with it? Well, simple answer is: the project files don’t exist anymore. The environments, character models, animations and effects would all have to be re-made from scratch, and that’s just not going to happen. But the finished episodes and variant versions (TV vs. DVD differences for example) were all stored on specific digital tapes and kept safe. The problem was with the tapes. It was with the machine needed to read those tapes and export the highest quality uncompressed copies possible.

Queue the fan-sourced campaign to track down said digital-tape-reading machine. The search for a VTR machine able to read D1 tapes was unsuccessful in Vancouver. And across Canada. But with the help from Linus Tech Tips of YouTube fame, one from overseas was located. But mailing nearly 300 30-year-old tapes with no possible back up was too risky. So a campaign to transport said machine to Vancouver began, and with it the hunt to find someone who could serve as technician for the ancient tech.

This post from two weeks ago has the latest updates:

They have been successful, at least to start, with at least 3 full episodes being re-recorded into the highest resolution possible. And you’ll be able to learn all about it – and the making of the show itself – when a brand new STORYHIVE docu-series titled ReBoot ReWind arrives later this month. I can’t wait to watch.

“This all-new remaster was captured and upscaled by the team behind the new documentary series, ReBoot ReWind. Huge thanks to Jacob Weldon, Raquel Lin, Mark Westhaver of Disappearing Inc, Bryan Baker, Tanner McColeman and Linus Media Group.”