StateMaster - Encyclopedia: Science fiction on television

Science fiction first appeared on television during the Golden age of science fiction, first in Britain and then in the United States. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium for science fiction, which in turn contributes to its popularity in this form. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Download high resolution version (462x636, 95 KB)Uploaded to illustrate the Science fiction on television article. ... Download high resolution version (462x636, 95 KB)Uploaded to illustrate the Science fiction on television article. ... For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... The Golden Age of Science Fiction, often recognized as a period from the late 1930s or early 1940s through the 1950s, was an era during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published. ... Special effects (abbreviated SPFX or SFX) are used in the film, television, and entertainment industry to create effects that cannot be achieved by normal means, such as depicting travel to other star systems. ...

Because of its visual presentation mode, television uses much less exposition than books do to explain the underpinnings of the fictional setting. As a result, the definition and boundaries of the genre are less strictly observed than they are in print media. Because of the relatively high cost of creating a television show compared to the cost of writing and printing books, television shows are obliged to appeal to a much larger audience than print fiction. Some writers and readers believe that a lowest-common-denominator effect lowers the quality of science fiction on television, relative to that in books. With the genre boundaries being weaker, screenwriters and viewers must use more inclusive standards than authors and readers. So the category of science fiction on television is considered in many contexts to include all the speculative genres, including fantasy and horror; in Britain this group is referred to as "telefantasy". Look up exposition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Speculative fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

The most enduring and well-known bodies of work in this field are Doctor Who and Star Trek, though countless other series have attracted large and small audiences over the decades. For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ...

Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... This page lists a broad variety of science fiction novels (and novel series)--some old, some new; some famous, some obscure; some well-written, some ill-written--and so may be considered a representative slice of the field. ... Note that this partial list contains some authors whose works of fantastic fiction would today be called science fiction, even if they predate, or did not work in that genre. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Main article: Science fiction conventions These are lists of conventions in the genres of Science Fiction/ Fantasy, Anime, Gaming, Comics, Horror and related genres. ...

Science fiction television history and culture

US television science fiction

Science fiction has been a popular genre with television viewers in the United States almost since its inception, and the country has produced many of the best-known and most popular sci-fi shows in the world. Most famous of all these – indeed, perhaps the most famous science-fiction program of all – is the iconic Star Trek and its spin-off shows, comprising the Star Trek franchise. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ...

The first popular science-fiction program on American television was the children's adventure serial Captain Video and His Video Rangers, which ran from June 1949 to April 1955.^[1] ABC's own attempt to cash in on the success of Captain Video was a small screen version of Buck Rogers in 1950. Other important live-action space adventure series of the early 1950s included Flash Gordon, Space Patrol, and Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers. The Video Ranger and Captain Video in space suits at the controls of the X-9 Captain Video and His Video Rangers was an American science fiction television series. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... The Video Ranger and Captain Video in space suits at the controls of the X-9 Captain Video and His Video Rangers was an American science fiction television series. ... Buck Rogers is a fictional pulp character who first appeared in 1928 as Anthony Rogers, the hero of two novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan published in the magazine Amazing Stories. ... Steve Holland as Flash Gordon Flash Gordon is a television show based on the characters of the Alex Raymond comic strip (of the same name), but featured its own storyline. ... A number of science fiction works have had the title Space Patrol. ... Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers was a 30-minute, weekly CBS-TV network outer space adventure series, broadcast live Saturdays from April 18, 1953 to May 29, 1954. ...

Science Fiction Theatre was an early anthology series, running from 1955 and 1957. It was followed by The Twilight Zone in 1959 and The Outer Limits in 1963. Science Fiction Theatre was a syndicated science fiction anthology series. ... The Twilight Zone title. ... The Outer Limits is an American television series. ...

Lost in Space, a space opera which aired from 1965 to 1968, became popular with audiences. It was followed by the influential Star Trek, conceived by Gene Roddenberry and produced by Desilu Productions on the former RKO lot, which later was acquired by Paramount; it aired on NBC. When NBC tried to cancel it in early 1968, the show was so popular among fans that a campaign organized by Bjo Trimble successfully demanded its return, redefining the relationship between television networks and audiences. However, the eventual cancellation of Star Trek led to a decline in science fiction on American television. For other uses, see Lost in Space (disambiguation). ... Classic pulp space opera cover, with the usual clichÃ© elements. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (August 19, 1921 â€“ October 24, 1991) was an American scriptwriter and producer. ... The Desilu logo, used in the 1960s. ... RKO could stand for: RKO Pictures The R.K.O. - finishing manoever (and initials) of WWE professional wrestler Randy Orton. ... The Paramount Domestic Television logo used from 2002-2006 with 90th Anniversary used throughout 2002 (when Paramount Pictures celebrated its 90th Anniversary) Paramount Television (re-incorporated from Desilu Productions) was an American television production/distribution company that was active from 1967 to 2006 and was launched under Gulf+Western. ... This article is about the television network. ... Betty Jo Trimble, born as Betty McCarthy, universally known as Bjo (IPA /biËÊ¤o/[1]), is one of the most significant figures in the history of science fiction fandom. ...

During the 1970s, Star Wars reignited interest in science fiction. This led to the production of shows including Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Battlestar Galactica (1978–80). This article is about the series. ... Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is the title of an American motion picture produced by Universal Studios and released in 1979, and is also the title of a television series based upon the film that was aired by NBC for two seasons between 1979 and 1981. ... This article is about the original television series; for other versions, see the main Battlestar Galactica page or Battlestar Galactica (disambiguation). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1983, V used both Cold War and World War II allegories about totalitarianism, propaganda, collaboration, and resistance. In 1987, enduring fan interest led to the development of the Star Trek sequel Star Trek: The Next Generation, which became extremely successful, and led to the later sequels Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and finally Star Trek: Enterprise, which ended in 2005. V was a 1983 US science fiction television miniseries written and directed by Kenneth Johnson and first shown on NBC. It starred Jane Badler, Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Michael Ironside, Michael Durrell, Jenny Sullivan, Richard Herd, Peter Nelson, Diane Civita and Robert Englund. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... The starship Enterprise (NX-01) Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ...

In 1993, seaQuest DSV explored environmental themes. In the same year, Babylon 5 began, set in a detailed universe, using a multi-threaded multi-level story arc. Although ratings were weak among general audiences, Babylon 5 had unprecedented support within science fiction fandom. It raised the bar expected by audiences and led to a broad increase in the quality of science fiction on television in the late 1990s. The time travel drama Quantum Leap used contemporary settings to find a broader audience. The X-Files tapped into popular conspiracy fears and generational angst to find great commercial success at the end of the decade. This section has been identified as trivia. ... Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is the community of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy literature, and in contact with one another based upon that interest. ... Quantum Leap is a science fiction television series that ran for 97 episodes from March 1989 to May 1993 on NBC. It follows the adventures of Dr. Samuel Beckett (played by Scott Bakula), a brilliant scientist who after researching time-travel, and doing experiments in something he calls The Imaging... The X-Files is a Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning science fiction television series created by Chris Carter, which first aired on September 10, 1993, and ended on May 19, 2002. ...

Over the years, some comic science fiction shows have been popular, including My Favorite Martian, Mork & Mindy, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Eureka, and the animated series Futurama. Comic science fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that exploits the genres conventions for comic effect. ... My Favorite Martian was an American television sitcom aired on CBS from September 29, 1963 to September 4, 1966 for 107 episodes (75 in black and white 1963-1965, 32 color 1965-1966). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the US science-fiction television series For the Canadian educational science television series, see Eureka! (TV series). ... Futurama is an animated American cartoon series created by Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) and David X. Cohen (also a writer for The Simpsons). ...

At the end of the decade, shows with fantasy and horror elements attracted large audiences, most notably Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel. For other uses, see Buffy the Vampire Slayer (disambiguation). ... For the South Korean TV series of the same name, see Angel (2007 TV series). ...

In the 21st century, shows with paranormal themes like Medium and Ghost Whisperer have appeared on mainstream networks. Many shows popular with American audiences are now produced outside the US, including Stargate SG-1 and Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series). Paranormal is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of reported anomalous phenomena. ... Medium is an American drama television series about a woman (played by Patricia Arquette) who acts as a research medium for the Phoenix, Arizona, district attorneys office. ... Ghost Whisperer is an American television drama-fantasy-thriller that premiered on CBS September 23, 2005. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ... This article is about the 2004 television series. ...

In recent years, the much lower costs of reality television shows have hit all television dramas, but especially those with unusual cost requirements such as science fiction shows. This has led to a sharp decline in production since 2003, though shows like the 2004 Battlestar Galactica series attract strong audiences. // This article is about the genre of TV shows. ...

Prior to recent years, science fiction television shows were normally centered around a premise and characters were defined essentially based on what they did or encountered in the course of their adventures. However, the growing trend towards character drama and naturalistic plots and settings has replaced the episodic action-adventure format that was once standard for television science fiction. Cosmic themes, exotic settings, so-called technobabble, and "two fisted action" have been mostly phased out in favor of emotional content and contemporary themes. Also, the demographic audience for science fiction has changed from mostly male to a significant female presence demanding more human elements and stronger female character representation. The aforementioned reimagined Battlestar Galactica is one of the most noted examples of the naturalistic approach towards television science fiction. Technobabble (a portmanteau of technology and babble) is a form of prose using jargon, buzzwords and highly esoteric language to give an impression of plausibility through mystification and misdirection. ...

British television science fiction

The first known piece of television science fiction anywhere in the world was produced by the BBC on February 11 1938. The piece was a thirty-five-minute adaptation of a section of the play R.U.R..^[2] // The first known piece of television science fiction anywhere in the world was produced by the BBCs fledgling television service, then less than eighteen months old, on February 11 1938. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1937 in television, other events of 1938, 1939 in television and the list of years in television. // Events February 11 - The BBC Television Service broadcasts the first ever piece of television science-fiction, a 35-minute adaptation of a segment of the play R.U.R. by the... R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robots) is a science fiction play by Karel ÄŒapek. ...

In the summer of 1953, BBC staff writer Nigel Kneale created The Quatermass Experiment, leading to further Quatermass serials and feature film adaptations from Hammer. Unlike the US practice, British SF on television was mainly broadcast live until the early 1960s, and then mainly on videotape until the 1980s. Nigel Kneale (born Thomas Nigel Kneale on April 18, 1922 in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, UK) is a Manx television and film scriptwriter, who has worked mostly in the UK. He is best known for his creation of the character of Professor Bernard Quatermass, who has appeared in three... The Quatermass Experiment is a British television science-fiction serial, transmitted by BBC Television in the summer of 1953. ... Professor Bernard Quatermass is a fictional character, created by the writer Nigel Kneale originally for BBC Television, who appeared in three influential BBC science fiction serials of the 1950s, and made his swansong in a final serial for Thames Television in 1979. ... Hammer horror refers to horror films produced in the late 1950s through the 1970s by the British film studio Hammer Films. ...

In the 1960s, Britain's independent television network, ITV, influenced by Canadian producer Sydney Newman produced the science-fiction serials Pathfinders In Space (1960) and its sequel Pathfinders to Venus (1961). Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... Sydney Cecil Newman OC (April 1, 1917â€”October 30, 1997) was a Canadian film and television producer, best remembered for the pioneering work he undertook in British television drama from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. ...

In 1963, the BBC began production of the longest-running science-fiction television series ever, Doctor Who. It lasted for twenty-six seasons in its original form, and has been revived twice, training a generation of writers, producers, and actors. For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ...

Gerry Anderson was keen on making science fiction for the independent companies. He wanted to make live-action series but did not have the money, so used puppetry instead. His science fiction shows such as Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray became successful and are still well-known to this day. Later he was allowed to develop live-action shows like UFO, then Space: 1999. Gerry Anderson (MBE), born 14 April 1929, is a British producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called Supermarionation. His first television production was the 1957 Roberta Leigh childrens series The Adventures of Twizzle. ... Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of puppetry dubbed Supermarionation. The series followed the adventures of International Rescue, an organisation created to help those in grave danger using technically advanced equipment and machinery. ... Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often referred to in shorthand as simply Captain Scarlet, is a science fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Television company of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson and Lew Grade and first shown in Britain (originally on ATV Midlands, but later the whole of the... Stingray (1964 â€“ 1965) is a childrens marionette television show, made by Sylvia and Gerry Anderson and produced by AP Films for ATV and ITC Entertainment. ... UFO is a British television science fiction series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grades Century 21 Productions for Grades ITC Entertainment company. ... Left to right: Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell and Martin Landau from Space:1999s second season. ...

Doctor Who alumni had moved on to produce their own genre programmes, such as Doomwatch, Survivors, and Blake's 7. For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... Doomwatch was a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC, which ran on the BBC1 channel for thirty-seven fifty-minute episodes, plus one unshown, and one part made, in three seasons transmitted on Mondays from 9 February 1970 to 14 August 1972. ... Survivors was a British television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977. ... Blakes 7 is a British science fiction television series made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for their BBC 1 channel. ...

In the 1970s, ITV began to produce youth-oriented genre programmes, such as Timeslip (1970) and The Tomorrow People, as well as shows aimed at a wider audience such as the time-travel drama Sapphire & Steel. Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... Timeslips Liz & Simon, played by Cheryl Burfield and Spencer Banks Timeslip was a 1970s British childrens science-fiction television series about the adventures of two children, Simon Randall (played by Spencer Banks) and Liz Skinner (Cheryl Burfield), who had the ability to travel through a time barrier that... The Tomorrow People is a childrens science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price and produced by Thames Television for Britains ITV network between 1973 and 1979. ... Sapphire & Steel is a British television science-fiction series starring David McCallum as Steel and Joanna Lumley as Sapphire. ...

In the 1980s, the BBC adapted novels such as The Day of the Triffids, The Invisible Man and Child of the Vodyanoi (adapted as The Nightmare Man), also beginning an adaptation of The White Mountains novels, under the name The Tripods. The BBC's Edge of Darkness was a popular hit. Later, Star Cops ran for nine episodes before being cancelled, despite critical approval. The BBC also aired science fiction comedy series such as ‘’The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’’ by Douglas Adams and Red Dwarf. Doctor Who was finally cancelled in 1989, although it was revived as a 1996 television movie (intended as the start of a new series), and in 2005 as a television series. The Day of the Triffids is a 1981 BBC television science fiction serial, based on the novel of the same name by English science fiction author John Wyndham. ... The Invisible Man, the second television series with this title, debuted in 1975 on NBC and starred David McCallum as scientist Daniel Weston. ... The Nightmare Man is a science fiction and horror television serial, produced by the BBC in 1981. ... The Tripods TV series title card, seemingly computer-generated, but made using traditional animation The Tripods is series of novels written by Samuel Youd (under the pen name John Christopher) beginning in the late 1960s. ... This article is about the 1985 British television drama Edge of Darkness. ... Star Cops was a science fiction television series shown on BBC2 in 1987. ... The cover of the first novel in the Hitchhikers series, from a late 1990s printing. ... Douglas NoÃ«l Adams (11 March 1952 â€“ 11 May 2001) was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. ... For the type of star, see Red dwarf. ...

In the 1990s, Russell T. Davies began working in the BBC children's department. His first sci-fi serial was Dark Season; two years later he wrote Century Falls. The BBC also produced the action adventure series Bugs, and co-produced Invasion: Earth with the US Sci-Fi Channel. Davies was finally able to revive Doctor Who in 2005, with some financing from the Canadian Broadcasting Company. Since then, the show has spun off two series: Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Russell T Davies, interviewed for the documentary series Doctor Who Confidential in 2005. ... Dark Season title screen. ... Century Falls is a British science-fiction television serial for children broadcast in six twenty-five minute episodes on BBC One in early 1993. ... Bugs was a British television drama series which ran for four seasons from April 1995 to August 1999. ... SCI FI (originally The Sci-Fi Channel, sometimes rendered SCI FI Channel when part of a longer phrase) is an American cable television channel, launched on September 24, 1992, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal programming. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the countrys national radio and television broadcaster. ... For plants known as torchwood, see Burseraceae. ... The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British television series, produced by BBC Wales for CBBC, starring Elisabeth Sladen and created by Russell T. Davies. ...

Other 21st century British science fiction shows have included the time travel drama Life on Mars on the BBC and Eleventh Hour and Primeval on ITV. Life on Mars is a British television drama series, which was shown on BBC One in January and February 2006. ... Eleventh Hour is a four part television series developed by Granada Television for ITV by writer Stephen Gallagher. ... Cast of Primeval: (left to right:) Hannah Spearritt, Andrew-Lee Potts, Douglas Henshall, Lucy Brown, James Murray and Mark Wakeling. ...

Canadian science fiction television

Science fiction in Canada was produced by the CBC as early as the 1950s. In the 1970s, CTV produced The Starlost. In the 1980s, Canadian animation studios including Nelvana, began producing a growing proportion of the world market in animation. // Science fiction in Canada was produced by the CBC as early as the 1950s. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the countryâ€™s national public radio and television broadcaster. ... This article is about the Broadcast Television Network CTV, for the broadcasting television company see CTVglobemedia. ... The Starlost was a Canadian-produced science fiction television series devised by writer Harlan Ellison and broadcast in 1973 on CTV in Canada and on NBC in the United States. ... Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company, founded in 1971, that is well-known for its work in childrens animation, among many things. ...

In the 1990s, Canada became an important player in live action speculative fiction on television, with dozens of shows like Forever Knight, Robocop, and most notably The X-Files and Stargate SG-1. Many shows have been produced for youth and children's markets, including Deepwater Black and MythQuest. Forever Knight is a Canadian-German-American television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a detective in modern day Toronto. ... The X-Files is a Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning science fiction television series created by Chris Carter, which first aired on September 10, 1993, and ended on May 19, 2002. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ... Deepwater Black is a 1995 novel, first in the Deepwater trilogy, by the New Zealand science fiction writer Ken Catran, where a cast of young characters are supposedly stranded in space whilst a virus ravages Earth. ... MythQuest is a Canadian television series that originally aired on PBS. It stars Meredith Henderson and Christopher Jacot as Cleo and Alex Bellows, two teens whose father Matt disappears into the Cybermuseum, a computer program that, as they discover, allows them to travel into myths by touching an artifact on...

In the early 2000s, changes in provincial tax legislation prompted many production companies to move from Toronto to Vancouver. Recent popular shows produced in Vancouver include The Dead Zone, Smallville, Andromeda, Stargate Atlantis, The 4400, and the revised Battlestar Galactica. For other uses, see Vancouver (disambiguation). ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Smallville is an American television series created by writer/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and was initially broadcast by The WB. After its fifth season, the WB and UPN merged to form The CW, which is the current broadcaster for the show in the United States. ... Gene Roddenberrys Andromeda is an American science fiction television series, based on unused material by Gene Roddenberry developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced posthumously by his widow, Majel Roddenberry. ... Stargate Atlantis (often abbreviated as SGA) is an American-Canadian science fiction television program, part of the Stargate franchise owned by MGM. Developed by longtime SG-1 producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, it is a spin-off from the television series Stargate SG-1. ... The 4400 is a science fiction television program produced by the USA Network and Sky One. ... This article is about the 2004 television series. ...

Because of the small size of the domestic television market, most Canadian productions involve partnerships with production studios based in the United States and Europe. However, in recent years, new partnership arrangements are allowing Canadian investors a growing share of control of projects produced in Canada and elsewhere.

Japanese television science fiction

Japan has a long history of producing science fiction series for TV. Only a few of these series are aired outside Japan and even when aired, they tend to be heavily edited Known for meticulous use of miniatures and hundreds of sci-fi themed anime, Japan has a long history of producing science fiction series for TV. Only a few of these series are aired outside Japan and even when aired, they tend to be edited, rarely retaining their original storyline. ...

Live-action television science fiction

Tokusatsu (特撮), lit. special filming or more commonly SFX is the loose term used to describe the televised science fiction. Icons of tokusatsu in the late 1970s: Spider-Man, Kamen Rider Stronger, Kamen Rider V3, Battle Fever J, Ultraman Jonias, as well as the manga and anime icon Doraemon Tokusatsu ) is a Japanese word that literally means special effects. ... Special effects (also called SPFX or SFX) are used in the film, television, and entertainment industry to realize scenes that cannot be achieved by live action or normal means. ...

In 1958, Gekkokamen (月光仮面) became the first science fiction series to be aired. Tsuburaya Eiji, the producer of Godzilla films, He produced Ultra Q in 1964 and Ultraman in 1966, using wireworks and firecrackers for special effects and suit actors for aliens and monsters. In 1971, Ishimori Shotaro produced Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー), based on manga. The single-hero series had commercial (merchandising) limitations among the youth audience (hard for group play), so the first Sentai series was produced in 1975, based on a secret battle team of five rangers. Eiji Tsuburaya (円谷 英二 Tsuburaya Eiji) (July 7, 1901 – January 25, 1970) was responsible for the special effects on many Japanese movies, including the Godzilla series (1954–??). Born in Sukagawa, Fukushima prefecture, He worked as a cinematographer in Kyoto from 1919, joining Shochiku Kyoto Studios in... This article is about the character itself. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This article is about the Japanese superhero. ... Shotaro Ishinomori (石ノ森章太郎 Ishinomori Shōtarō), also known as Shotaro Ishimori (石森章太郎 Ishimori Shōtarō), (1938-1998) was an influential figure in manga and anime who created several long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and The... Kamen Rider ), translated as Masked Rider, was a popular and seminal sci-fi story conceived by renowned Japanese comic book creator ShÅtarÅ Ishinomori ). It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973. ... Sentai is a Japanese word which roughly translates to task force. It is often use to refer to a specific type of fictional story, which stars a specially organized group of heroes; good examples of Sentai is the various Super Sentai live-action Japanese television programs which the American Power...

TV dramas including science fiction elements are too numerous to list. Satorare (サトラレ) in 2002 featured genetic geniuses who broadcast thoughts telepathically.

Science fiction in anime

Osamu Tezuka played a major part in the history of science fiction anime with Astro Boy, an adaptation of a manga that began in 1952. Since then, anime has always been associated with elements from science fiction, particularly in the West. The history of anime begins at the start of the 20th century, when Japanese filmmakers experimented with the animation techniques that were being explored in the West. ... Tezuka redirects here. ... â€œAnimÃ©â€ redirects here. ... Astro Boy is the American title for the Japanese animated series Tetsuwan Atom , which roughly translates to Mighty Atom and literally to Iron-arm Atom) first broadcast on Japanese television from 1963 to 1966. ...

Early science fiction anime strongly influenced Japanese live-action works, and vice versa. Gatchaman (1972) had five members, like most sentai (combat team) tokusatsu (special effects) series that followed it. Categories: Stub ...

Tetsujin 28-go (鉄人２８号) or Gigantor started another trend called Robottomono (ロボット物), lit. robot stories or Mecha. Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム)) (1979) by Tomino Yoshiyuki brought verisimilitude for characters and setting to Robottomono. Gigantor (originally Tetsujin-nijÅ«hachi-gÅ é‰„äºº28å·, literally Iron Man #28) was a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama published in 1958 which was later made into several anime series, the first in 1963. ... This article is about the term used in science fiction, anime, and manga. ... Mobile Suit Gundam ) is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. ... Yoshiyuki Tomino (富野 由悠季 Tomino Yoshiyuki) (b. ...

During the 1980s, character development, even romance, grew in importance. Later episodes of Armored Trooper Votoms (装甲騎兵ボトムズ)) focused mainly on politics and relationships, while in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (超時空要塞マクロス) humanity was saved with the help of Bubblegum pop singer. Armored Trooper VOTOMS ) is a 52-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, aired in Japan from April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 on TV Tokyo. ... The Super Dimension Fortress Macross ) is an anime television series. ... Bubblegum pop (bubblegum rock, bubblegum music, youth music, or simply bubblegum) is a genre of pop music. ...

The space opera genre is best represented by Morioka Hiroyuki's Crest of the Stars. Common anime subgenres include magical girl anime, Bishounen, and Bishoujo. Morioka Hiroyuki (æ£®å²¡æµ©ä¹‹: 1962-) is a Japanese sci-fi novelist. ... Crest of the Stars (Japanese: æ˜Ÿç•Œã®ç´‹ç« Seikai no MonshÅ) is a trilogy of space opera (some parts could classify as military science fiction/military space opera) science fiction novels written by Morioka Hiroyuki. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Bishōnen (美少年. literally, beautiful boy) is a specific Japanese aesthetic concept of the ideally beautiful young man. ... The bishōjo style of cartooning uses large, limpid eyes for increased cuteness, as in the character of Nyuu from Elfen Lied. ...

Television science fiction in other countries

Although the US and the UK have produced the bulk of the world's most famous television science-fiction shows, the popularity of the genre ensures that just about every country which produced television drama has produced some sci-fi at some point. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from...

The Australian / American production Farscape (1999–2003) has been a popular hit in recent years, as have other Australian science-fiction productions such as the children's serial The Girl from Tomorrow (1992). Farscape (1999â€“2003) is a science fiction television series, featuring a present-day astronaut who accidentally travels through a wormhole to a distant part of the galaxy. ... The Girl from Tomorrow is an Australian childrens television series created by Film Australia. ...

Lexx was most famous German and Highlander: The Series French science-fiction/fantasy television series (both co-produced with Canada). Lexx is a science fantasy TV series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the Lexx, the most powerful destructive force in the two universes from which the show takes its name. ...

Among the notable non-English language productions is "Raumpatrouille", a German series first broadcast in 1966. Also well remembered in Germany are the movies by Rainer Erler, including the miniseries "Das Blaue Palais". Danish television broadcast the children's TV-series "Crash" in 1984 about a boy who finds out that his room is a space ship. France produced a small number of science fiction/fantasy television series, including "Tang" in 1971, about a super secret organization that attempts to control the world with a new super weapon.Annother French produced sf-serie was the animated serie: Il était une fois... l'espace.In english:Once upon a time...space An interesting pheomena has been the continuing collaboration between French and Japanese animators, resulting in a series of French-Japanese cartoons/anime, including such titles as "Ulysses 31" (1981), "The Mysterious Cities of Gold" (1982) and more recently, "Ōban Star-Racers" (2006). Serbia produced The Collector (Sakupljač), Sci-Fi TV-series in style of Twilight Zone, based upon Zoran Živković's story, winer of World Fantasy Award. Several science-fiction series were also produced in various European countries, and never translated into English. Raumpatrouille - Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffs Orion, colloquially also known as Raumpatrouille Orion, is the first German science fiction television series. ... For the band, see Cartoons (band). ... â€œAnimÃ©â€ redirects here. ... Ulysses 31 (Japanese: , French: ) is a Franco-Japanese anime series (1981) which updates the Greek and Roman mythology of Odysseus (known as Ulysses in Roman Mythology and Ulysse in French, hence the name) to the 31st century. ... â€œCities of Goldâ€ redirects here. ... ÅŒban Star-Racers is a French/Japanese animated television series created by Savin Yeatman-Eiffel of Sav! The World Productions. ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ... The Collector (SakupljaÄ - original title), is the first Serbian science fiction television series. ... Zoran Å½ivkoviÄ‡ (Serbian Cyrillic: Ð—Ð¾Ñ€Ð°Ð½ Ð–Ð¸Ð²ÐºÐ¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ›) (born October 5, 1948) is a science fiction writer, essayist, researcher, publisher and translator from Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (former Yugoslavia), where he still resides. ... First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ...

In New Zealand, the production of Hercules (TV series) and Xena: Warrior Princess created an entire industry, building the foundation for The Lord of the Rings movies and other productions. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was a television series produced from 1995 to 1999, very loosely based on the tales of the classical culture hero Hercules. ... Xena. ... This article is about the Peter Jackson films. ...

Speculative genres on television

Because of the need to market television to a wide audience, shows outside the loose realm of science fiction will often tend to gravitate to established tropes, such as time travel or superheroes. Time travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity—whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammeds trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. ... Superheroes are fictional heroes who possess abilities beyond those of normal human beings. ...

Science Fiction

The classic mode of science fiction on television is space opera, in which a protagonist or a group of brave men and women venture into the black unknown. Starships are a conventional setting in this category, with Star Trek being the definitive example. Because the spacecraft environment is by definition limited, a very small number of sets can be heavily used, lowering production costs and allowing producers to focus on character development, setting detail, or sometimes simply to keep a production in the black so it can stay on the air. Variations on this are space station series, notably Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, based on an open-port paradigm in which trouble comes in through the airlocks. Rarer are shows based on space travel without vehicles; Stargate SG-1 is the prime example. Classic pulp space opera cover, with the usual clichÃ© elements. ... This article is about the vehicle for interstellar travel. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... The International Space Station in 2007 A space station is an artificial structure designed for humans to live in outer space. ... Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ...

Near-future settings work well for science fiction on television; shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man, TekWar, Quatermass, Star Cops, and Mutant X allow producers to use street clothes and contemporary locations, using only minimal props and effects to foster viewers' suspension of disbelief. The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a cyborg working for the OSI (which was usually said to refer to the Office of Scientific Intelligence, but sometimes was called the Office of Scientific Investigation). ... TekWar is the title of a series of science fiction novels by William Shatner which gave rise to a TV series and short series of TV movies in which Shatner also appeared. ... Professor Bernard Quatermass is a fictional character, created by the writer Nigel Kneale originally for BBC Television, who appeared in three influential BBC science fiction serials of the 1950s, and made his swansong in a final serial for Thames Television in 1979. ... Star Cops was a science fiction television series shown on BBC2 in 1987. ... Mutant X can refer to: Mutant X (comics) - a Marvel Comics graphic novel. ...

Using stock sets for other shows results in odd subcategories like the science fiction western; some established shows also have the occasional episode. A science fiction Western is a work of fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and Western genres. ...

Fantasy

Fantasy is less common on television due to higher production cost. Stories with animalistic or otherwise non-human characters, scientifically impossible talents, and settings that evoke awe and wonder are more expense to film on a regular basis, making true high fantasy shows like Robin of Sherwood or Legend of Earthsea rare examples. Fantasy seems to lend itself to comedy with shows like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, and Wizards and Warriors. As noted, to control costs, fantasy on television is often presented as finite mini-series such as Merlin or The Odyssey. As with science fiction, contemporary settings reduce costs in shows like Beauty and the Beast or Nanny and the Professor. Shows may be based on fairy tales, e.g. The 10th Kingdom, or mythology, like Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, or divine intervention like Touched by an Angel or Joan of Arcadia. Encounters with ghosts or the paranormal are a popular category, with shows like Medium, Ghost Whisperer, or Dead Like Me. Fantasy television is a genre of television featuring elements of the fantastic, often including magic, supernatural forces, or exotic fantasy worlds. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... Robin of Sherwood, retitled Robin Hood in the US, was an acclaimed 1980s British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. ... Earthsea DVD Cover The Legend of Earthsea miniseries (later shortened to Earthsea), adapted quite loosely from the award-winning Earthsea novels by Ursula K. Le Guin, premiered as a two-night television event on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2004. ... The word comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humor with an intent to provoke laughter in general). ... This article is about an American television sitcom. ... I Dream of Jeannie was a popular American sitcom with a fantasy premise. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A miniseries, in a serial storytelling medium, is a production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. ... DVD Cover Merlin is a 3 hour made-for-television movie released in 1998 that retells the famous legend of King Arthur from the perspective of the wizard Merlin. ... The Odyssey was a Canadian-produced half-hour adventure-fantasy television series for children, originally broadcast 1992-95 on CBC. It starred Illya Woloshyn as Jay Ziegler, Ashleigh Aston Moore as Donna/Alpha (credited as Ashley Rogers), Tony Sampson as Keith/Flash, Andrea Nemeth as Medea/Sierra Jones, Mark Hildreth... For other uses, see Beauty and the Beast (disambiguation). ... Nanny And The Professor was a 1970s U.S. fantasy sitcom that was produced by 20th Century Fox Television. ... A fairy tale is a story, either told to children or as if told to children, concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. ... The 10th Kingdom is a made-for-TV mini-series written by screenplay writer Simon Moore. ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ... Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was a television series produced from 1995 to 1999, very loosely based on the tales of the classical culture hero Hercules. ... Divine intervention is another term for a miracle. ... This section contains a list of trivia items. ... Joan of Arcadia was an American television fantasy/family drama which aired on Fridays, 8-9 p. ... Medium is an American drama television series about a woman (played by Patricia Arquette) who acts as a research medium for the Phoenix, Arizona, district attorneys office. ... Ghost Whisperer is an American television drama-fantasy-thriller that premiered on CBS September 23, 2005. ... Dead Like Me is an American television comedy-drama starring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers in Seattle, Washington. ...

Horror

Horror has advantages and disadvantages in the medium of television. On the one hand, horror can often be produced with inexpensive techniques: creative cinematography, pacing, lighting, fake blood or other simple props, prosthetics, or costumes. However, horror relies on a definitive resolution, often with a negative result for main characters. The episodic nature of television generally involves a resolution at the end of the episode, with characters surviving to the next episode; over time, this lessens the extreme tension required in horror. This makes horror an excellent genre for films, but much less so for television, though many anthology shows, notably The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Night Gallery, avoid the problem. Investigative shows, related to the mystery genre, such as Kolchak: The Night Stalker, also mostly avoid the issue (though are hard on secondary characters). Shows with humorous elements, like The Chronicle, relieve tension for viewers but not characters in the show, making things more accessbile to audiences. Some horror shows use common horror tropes such as vampires with more conventional dramatic forms like the heroic myth (for example Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or even gothic romance (Dark Shadows). Demonic powers and black magic are common themes in shows like Brimstone, Charmed, Hex, and Supernatural. The Twilight Zone title. ... The Outer Limits is an American television series. ... Night Gallery was Rod Serlings follow-up to The Twilight Zone, airing on NBC from 1970 to 1973. ... Mystery fiction is a distinct subgenre of detective fiction that entails the occurrence of an unknown event which requires the protagonist to make known (or solve). ... Darren McGavin as Kolchak in The Night Stalker (1972) Kolchak: The Night Stalker is a television series that aired on ABC in 1974, about a newpaper reporter -- Carl Kolchak, played by Darren McGavin -- who investigates crimes with mysterious and unlikely causes that the proper authorities wont accept. ... Characters Tucker Burns played by Chad Willett Grace Hall played by Rena Sofer Wes Freewald played by Reno Wilson Donald Stern played by Jon Polito Sal the Pig-Boy played by Curtis Armstrong Kristen Martin played by Elaine Hendrix Vera played by Sharon Sachs Ruby played by Octavia Spencer Chronicle... Further reading Christopher Frayling - Vampyres: Lord Byron to Count Dracula 1992. ... The monomyth (often referred to as the heros journey) is a description of a basic pattern found in many narratives from around the world. ... For other uses, see Buffy the Vampire Slayer (disambiguation). ... The gothic novel is an English literary genre, which can be said to have been born with The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... â€œFiendâ€ redirects here. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Brimstone (1998-1999) is a short-lived Fox television series, featuring a dead detective whose mission (assigned by the Devil) is to return 113 spirits who have escaped from Hell to Earth. ... For other uses, see charm. ... Hex is a British television programme developed by Shine Limited and aired on the Sky One satellite channel. ... This article is about the US TV series. ...

Adaptation with other media

Television is used as a medium for the visual presentation of fiction. In order to draw on an established audience, or simply to leverage the existing creativity of an author, television shows are sometimes based on novels or series of novels. The process of converting a print story is called adaptation. Producers, studios, or other intermediaries acquire the rights to produce shows based on a book with a contract known as an option; one might say "the studio optioned the book". Many popular novels are optioned, but only a tiny fraction of these ever materialize as an actual show; often, a producer who is interested in a particular show has to purchase an option from another producer who originally negotiated with the author. Rarely, other media are adapted for film, notably computer games. Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. ... â€¹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. ... A Television producer oversees the making of television penis programs. ... A television studio is an installation in which television or video productions take place, either for live television, for recording live on tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for postproduction. ... In the film industry, an option is a contractual agreement between a movie studio, a production company, or a producer (henceforth called the producer) and a writer, in which the producer obtains the right to buy a screenplay from the writer, before a certain date. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...

The reverse process of adaptation also occurs. Shows may be translated into print novels as novelizations, where an author is contracted to write a prose version of the story line. Just as television series are a collection of episodes, if there is a plan to convert a series to print, that usually is done as a series of novels. A popular series like Star Trek has resulted in hundreds of novelizations over the years. The visual content of a film is an excellent resource for the development of computer strategy or action games. As well, a series, particularly one that has lasted several seasons, has a rich background of character and setting detail that can provide a strong background and an established market for a role-playing game. The most popular series and novels can result in adaptation in many different media. A novelization (or novelisation in British English) is a work of fiction that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ...

Science fiction television production process and methods

The need to portray imaginary settings or characters with properties and abilities beyond the reach of current reality obliges producers to make extensive use of specialized techniques of television prodduction.

Through most of the 20th century, many of these techniques were expensive and involved a small number of dedicated craft practitioners, while the reusability of props, models, effects, or animation techniques made it easier to keep using them. The combination of high initial cost and lower maintenance cost pushed producers into building these techniques into the basic concept of a series, influencing all the artistic choices. By the late 1990s, improved technology and more training and cross-training within the industry made all of these techniques easier to use, so that directors of individual episodes could make decisions to use one or more methods, so such artistic choices no longer needed to be baked into the series concept.

Special effects

Special effects (or "SPFX") have been an essential tool throughout the history of science fiction on television: small explosives to simulate the effects of various ray guns, squibs of blood and gruesome prosthetics to simulate the monsters and victims in horror shows, and the wire-flying entrances and exits of George Reeves as Superman. Special effects (abbreviated SPFX or SFX) are used in the film, television, and entertainment industry to create effects that cannot be achieved by normal means, such as depicting travel to other star systems. ... // Rayguns are a type of directed-energy weapon. ... A squib is a phenomenon in gunmanship in which a bullet that is fired does not have enough force behind it to clear the barrel, forcing the next round to ram into it when fired. ... Wire-flying is a theatrical stunt which involves suspending an actor from from high-tension wires, normally with a harness concealed under the costume to simulate the action of flying or falling, especially in the presence of other actors. ... George Reeves (January 5,[1] 1914 â€“ June 16, 1959) was an American actor, best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman and his controversial death at the age of 45. ... This article is about the television series. ...

The broad term "special effects" all the techniques here, but more commonly there are two categories of effects. Visual effects ("VFX") involve photographic or digital manipulation of the onscreen image, usually done in post-production. Mechanical or physical effects involve props, pyrotechnics, and other physical methods used during principal photography itself. Some effects involved a combination of techniques; a ray gun might require a pyrotechnic during filming, and then an optical glowing line added to the film image in post-production. Stunts are another important category of physical effects. In general, all kinds of special effects must be carefully planned during pre-production. Visual effects (or VFX for short) is the term given in which images or film frames are created and manipulated for film and video. ... Post production is the general term for the last stage of film production in which photographed scenes (also called footage) are put together into a complete film. ... Physical Effects is the term given to a sub-category of Special Effects in which mechanical or physical effects are recorded. ... Principal Photography refers to the phase of film production during which the movie is actually shot, as distinct from pre-production and post-production. ... An under 16s motorbike display team perform a potentially dangerous stunt Freestyle & Stunt Show 2007 - LandrÃ©varzec A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, or any act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes in TV, theatre or cinema. ... Pre-production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance. ...

Computer-generated imagery

Babylon 5 was the first series to use computer-generated imagery, or "CGI", for all exterior space scenes, even those with characters in space suits. The technology has made this more practical, so that today models are rarely used. In the 1990s, CGI required expensive processors and customized applications, but by the 2000s, computing power has pushed capabilities down to personal laptops in a wide array of software. Computer-generated imagery (commonly abbreviated as CGI) is the application of the field of computer graphics (or more specifically, 3D computer graphics) to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media. ... Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... Computer-generated imagery (commonly abbreviated as CGI) is the application of the field of computer graphics (or more specifically, 3D computer graphics) to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media. ...

Models and Puppets

Models have been an essential tool in science fiction television since the beginning, when Buck Rogers took flight in spark-scattering spaceships wheeling across a matte backdrop sky. The original Star Trek required a staggering array of models; the Enterprise had to be built in several different scales for different needs. Models fell out of use in filming in the 1990s as CGI became more affordable and practical, but even today, designers sometimes construct scale models which are then digitized for use in animation software. A scale model of the Tower of London. ... A puppet is a representational object, usually but not always depicting a human character, used in play or a presentation. ... A scale model of the Tower of London. ... Buck Rogers is a fictional pulp character who first appeared in 1928 as Anthony Rogers, the hero of two novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan published in the magazine Amazing Stories. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... Enterprise or USS Enterprise are the names of several fictional starships, some of which are the focal point for various television series and films in the Star Trek franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. ...

Models of characters are puppets. Gerry Anderson created a series of shows using puppets living in a universe of models and miniature sets, notably Thunderbirds. In recent years, shows like Greg the Bunny and Puppets Who Kill have portrayed puppets as an oppressed minority, for which the politically-correct term is "fabricated-Americans" and the racial epithet is "sock". ALF depicted an alien living in a family, while Farscape included two puppets as regular characters. In Stargate SG-1, the Asgard characters are puppets in scenes where they are siting, standing, or lying down. A puppet is any controlled character, whether formed by a shadow, strings, by the use of a glove, by direct mechanical contrivance (for example a cable-controlled figure for film or TV) or electronic guidance (such as a radio or infrared remote controller). ... Gerry Anderson (MBE), born 14 April 1929, is a British producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called Supermarionation. His first television production was the 1957 Roberta Leigh childrens series The Adventures of Twizzle. ... Thunderbird refers to several things: The Thunderbird is a mythical creature common to Native American religion. ... The cover for Greg the Bunny The Best of the Film Parodies DVD Greg the Bunny is a sitcom that aired on the American television network Fox in 2002. ... Puppets Who Kill is a Canadian television comedy series produced by and appearing on the Comedy Network. ... ALF or Alf can have several meanings: ALF is an acronym standing for Animal Liberation Front, an animal rights group Alf is an acronym for the Africa Leadership Forum. ... Farscape (1999â€“2003) is a science fiction television series, featuring a present-day astronaut who accidentally travels through a wormhole to a distant part of the galaxy. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ... In the science fiction series Stargate SG-1, the Asgard are a benevolent, highly advanced and evolved race from another galaxy, called Ida, who have visited Earth on many occasions, giving rise to the Norse legends. ...

Animation

As animation is completely free of the constraints of gravity, momentum, and physical reality, it is an ideal technique for science fiction and fantasy on television. In a sense, virtually all animated series allow characters and objects to perform in unrealistic ways, so they are almost all considered to fit within the broadest category of speculative fiction (in the context of awards, criticism, marketing, etc.). The artistic affinity of animation to comic books has led to a large number of superhero-themed animation, much of this adapted from comics series, while the impossible characters and settings allowed in animation made this a preferred medium for both fantasy and for shows aimed at young audiences. The bouncing ball animation (below) consists of these 6 frames. ... â€œAnimÃ©â€ redirects here. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... For other uses, see Superhero (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ...

Originally, animation was all hand-drawn by artists, though in the 1980s, beginning with Captain Power, computers began to automate the task of creating repeated images; by the 1990s, hand-drawn animation became defunct. Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future was a syndicated 1987-88 television series that ran for 22 episodes. ...

Animation in live-action

The insectoid methane-breathing N'Grath in Babylon 5 was the first attempt to integrate an animated character into a live-action television series, but the limited computer power available at the time only allowed limited use of this technique. In recent years as technology has improved,this has become more common, notably since the development of the Massive software application permits producers to include hordes of non-human characters to storm a city or space station. The robotic Cylons in the new version of Battlestar Galactica are usually animated characters, while the Asgard in Stargate SG-1 are animated when they are shown walking around. Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... Cylon may refer to: Cylon of Athens The Cylons in Battlestar Galactica. ... Battlestar Galactica. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ...

Science fiction television economics and distribution

In general science fiction series are subject to the same financial constraints as other television shows. However, high production costs increase the financial risk, while limited audiences further complicate the business case for continuing production. Star Trek was the first television series to cost more than $100,000 per episode, while Star Trek: The Next Generation was the first to cost more than $1 million per episode. The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...

The innovative nature of science fiction means that new shows can't rely on predictable market-tested formulas like legal dramas or sitcoms; the involvement of creative talent outside the Hollywood mainstream introduces more variables to the budget forecasts. A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ...

The perception, more than the reality, of science fiction shows being cancelled unreasonably is greatly increased by the attachment of fans to their favorite shows, which is much stronger in science fiction fandom than it is in the general population. While mainstream shows are often more strictly episodic, where ending shows can allow viewers to imagine that characters live happily, or at least normally, ever after, science fiction shows generate questions and loose ends that, when unresolved, cause dissatisfaction among devoted viewers. Creative settings also often call for broader story arcs than is often found in mainstream television, requiring science fiction shows many episodes to resolve an ongoing major conflict. Science fiction television producers will sometimes end a season with a dramatic cliffhanger episode to attract viewer interest, but the short-term effect rarely influences financial partners. Dark Angel is one of many shows ending with a cliffhanger scene that left critical questions open when the series was cancelled. Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is the community of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy literature, and in contact with one another based upon that interest. ... For other uses, see Cliffhanger (disambiguation). ... Dark Angel is an American cyberpunk science fiction television program, created by James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee, which ran from 2000 to 2002 on the FOX network. ...

Media fandom

One of the earliest forms of media fandom was Star Trek fandom. Fans of the series became known to each other through the science fiction fandom. In 1968, NBC decided to cancel Star Trek. Bjo Trimble wrote letters to contacts in the National Fantasy Fan Foundation, asking people to organize their local friends to write to the network to demand the show remain on the air. Network executives were overwhelmed by an unprecedented wave of correspondence, and they kept the show on the air. Although the series continued to receive low ratings and was canceled a year later, the enduring popularity of the series resulted in Paramount creating a set of movies, and then a new series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which by the early 1990s had become one of the most popular dramas on American television. Media fandom is a fannish term invented in the late 1970s to describe the collective fandoms for contemporary television shows and movies. ... Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is the community of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy literature, and in contact with one another based upon that interest. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is the community of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy literature, and in contact with one another based upon that interest. ... This article is about the television network. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... Betty Jo Trimble, born as Betty McCarthy, universally known as Bjo (IPA /biËÊ¤o/[1]), is one of the most significant figures in the history of science fiction fandom. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...

Although somewhat smaller, Doctor Who fandom considerably predates Star Trek fandom. Meanwhile, Star Trek fans continued to grow in numbers, and began organizing conventions in the 1970s. No other show attracted a large organized following until the 1990s, when Babylon 5 attracted both Star Trek fans and a large number of literary SF fans who previously had not been involved in media fandom. Other shows began to attract a growing number of followers. For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ...

In the late 1990s, Buffy the Vampire Slayer drew a large mainstream audience into fandom; greater demand allowed (even obliged, for the sake of time management) Buffy actors to charge much higher appearance fees than the Star Trek actors had. This pushed appearances out of the reach of some volunteer non-profit fan groups towards commercial event promoters. At the same time, a market for celebrity autographs emerged on eBay, which created a new source of income for actors, who began to charge money for autographs that they had previously been doing for free. This became significant enough that lesser-known actors would come to conventions without requesting any appearance fee, simply to be allowed to sell their own autographs (commonly on publicity photos). Today most events with actor appearances are organized by commercial promoters, though a number of fan-run conventions still exist, such as Toronto Trek and Shore Leave. For other uses, see Buffy the Vampire Slayer (disambiguation). ... This article is about the online auction center. ... Toronto Trek is an annual Science Fiction fantasy convention, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Shore Leave is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ...

Also in the 1990s, anime fans began organizing conventions. These quickly grew to sizes much larger than other science fiction and media conventions in the same communities; many cities now have anime conventions attracting five to ten thousand attendees. Many anime conventions are a hybrid between non-profit and commercial events, with volunteer organizers handling large revenue streams and dealing with commercial suppliers and professional marketing campaigns. â€œAnimÃ©â€ redirects here. ...

Significant creative influences

For a list of notable science fiction series and programs on television, see: List of science fiction television programs. List of television shows with significant science fiction elements. ...

^[5] Jeffrey Abrams (also credited as J.J. Abrams) (born in 1966) is an Emmy Award-winning American film and television producer, writer, actor, composer and director. ... Alias is an American Spy-fi television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006, spanning five seasons. ... â€œLOSTâ€ redirects here. ... Damon Lindelof, 2006 Damon Laurence Lindelof (born April 24, 1973) is an American television writer, executive, hack, and most recently noted as the co-creator, executive producer, head writer and show runner for the hit television series Lost. ... This article is about the 2008 film. ... Irwin Allen (June 12, 1916 â€“ November 2, 1991) was a television and film producer nicknamed The Master of Disaster for his work in the disaster film genre. ... Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was a 1960s American Science Fiction television series based on the 1961 film of the same name. ... The Time Tunnel is a 1966-1967 U.S. color science fiction TV series. ... For other uses, see Lost in Space (disambiguation). ... Land of the Giants was an hour-long American science fiction television program lasting two seasons beginning on September 22, 1968 and ending in March 22, 1970. ... Gerry Anderson (MBE), born 14 April 1929, is a British producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called Supermarionation. His first television production was the 1957 Roberta Leigh childrens series The Adventures of Twizzle. ... Fireball XL5 was a science fiction-themed childrens television show produced in Britain in 1962 by the husband and wife team of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment. ... Cover from Stingray DVD box set (2001). ... Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of puppetry dubbed Supermarionation. The series followed the adventures of International Rescue, an organisation created to help those in grave danger using technically advanced equipment and machinery. ... Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often referred to in shorthand as simply Captain Scarlet, is a science fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Television company of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson and Lew Grade and first shown in Britain (originally on ATV Midlands, but later the whole of the... UFO is a British television science fiction series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grades Century 21 Productions for Grades ITC Entertainment company. ... Left to right: Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell and Martin Landau from Space:1999s second season. ... Space Precinct is a British television series that aired during the 1994-1995 season on Sky One and BBC Two in Britain and in syndication in North America. ... Chris Carter (born October 13, 1956) is an American Jewish screenwriter and producer, best known as the creator of The X-Files. ... The X-Files is a Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning science fiction television series created by Chris Carter, which first aired on September 10, 1993, and ended on May 19, 2002. ... Harsh Realm is a science fiction television series about humans trapped inside a virtual reality simulation. ... Millennium is a grim, suspenseful American television series, produced by Chris Carter (creator of The X-Files), and set during the years leading up to the dawn of the new millennium. ... Russell T Davies, interviewed for the documentary series Doctor Who Confidential in 2005. ... For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... For plants known as torchwood, see Burseraceae. ... The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British television series, produced by BBC Wales for CBBC, starring Elisabeth Sladen and created by Russell T. Davies. ... Kenneth Johnson (born 26 October 1942) is an American screenwriter, producer and director best known as the creator of the series V. His creative efforts are almost entirely concentrated in the area of television science fiction. ... The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a cyborg working for the OSI (which was usually said to refer to the Office of Scientific Intelligence, but sometimes was called the Office of Scientific Investigation). ... The Bionic Woman was a television series which spun off from The Six Million Dollar Man. ... This article is about the live action series. ... V is a science fiction TV franchise created by American producer and director Kenneth Johnson concerning aliens known as The Visitors trying to take over Earth. ... Alien Nation is a science fiction television series, based on the movie of the same name. ... Nigel Kneale (born Thomas Nigel Kneale on April 18, 1922 in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, UK) is a Manx television and film scriptwriter, who has worked mostly in the UK. He is best known for his creation of the character of Professor Bernard Quatermass, who has appeared in three... Professor Bernard Quatermass is a fictional character, created by the writer Nigel Kneale originally for BBC Television, who appeared in three influential BBC science fiction serials of the 1950s, and made his swansong in a final serial for Thames Television in 1979. ... For other persons named Ronald Moore, see Ronald Moore (disambiguation). ... Battlestar Galactica. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... Roswell is an American science fiction television series created by Jason Katims. ... Terry Nation (August 8, 1930 â€“ March 9, 1997) was a British television screenwriter and is probably best known for creating the villainous Daleks for the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... For other uses, see Dalek (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... Survivors was a British television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977. ... Blakes 7 is a British science fiction television series made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for their BBC 1 channel. ... Sydney Cecil Newman OC (April 1, 1917â€”October 30, 1997) was a Canadian film and television producer, best remembered for the pioneering work he undertook in British television drama from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. ... For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... The Avengers is a British 1960s television series featuring secret agents in a fantasy 1960s Britain. ... Rockne S. OBannon (born January 12, 1955) is a television producer and writer. ... Alien Nation may refer to: Alien Nation (film), the 1988 motion picture Alien Nation (TV series), the 1989â€“1990 television series Alien Nation (TV series episode), the 1989 pilot episode of the television series Alien Nation (Comic Books), a 1990s series of comic books based on the Tenctonese. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... Farscape (1999â€“2003) is a science fiction television series, featuring a present-day astronaut who accidentally travels through a wormhole to a distant part of the galaxy. ... Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (August 19, 1921 â€“ October 24, 1991) was an American scriptwriter and producer. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... Gene Roddenberrys Andromeda is an American science fiction television series, based on unused material by Gene Roddenberry developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced posthumously by his widow, Majel Roddenberry. ... Rodman Edward Rod Serling (December 25, 1924 â€“ June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, most famous for his science fiction anthology television series, The Twilight Zone. ... The Twilight Zone title. ... Leslie A. Stevens III (February 3, 1924 â€” April 24, 1998) was the creator of the cult TV series The Outer Limits (1963 â€” 1965) and director of the cult horror film Incubus (1965), starring William Shatner. ... Joseph Stefano (5 May 1922 - 25 August 2006) was an American screenwriter. ... The Outer Limits is an American television series. ... Joseph Michael Straczynski (born July 17, 1954) is an award-winning American writer/producer of television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. ... Babylon 5 is an epic American science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... Joss Hill Whedon (born Joseph Hill Whedon[3] on June 23, 1964 in New York) is an Academy Award-nominated American writer, director, executive producer, and creator of the well-known television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. ... For other uses, see Buffy the Vampire Slayer (disambiguation). ... For the South Korean TV series of the same name, see Angel (2007 TV series). ... Firefly is an American science fiction television series created by writer/director Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, under his Mutant Enemy Productions. ... Robert Hewitt Wolfe is an American television producer and scriptwriter. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... Gene Roddenberrys Andromeda is an American science fiction television series, based on unused material by Gene Roddenberry developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced posthumously by his widow, Majel Roddenberry. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... The 4400 is a science fiction television program produced by the USA Network and Sky One. ... This article is about the books. ...

Contents

Science fiction television history and culture

US television science fiction

British television science fiction

Canadian science fiction television

Japanese television science fiction

Live-action television science fiction

Science fiction in anime

Television science fiction in other countries

Speculative genres on television

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Adaptation with other media

Science fiction television production process and methods

Special effects

Computer-generated imagery

Models and Puppets

Animation

Animation in live-action

Science fiction television economics and distribution

Media fandom

Significant creative influences

See also

References

Contents

Science fiction television history and culture GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

US television science fiction

British television science fiction

Canadian science fiction television

Japanese television science fiction

Live-action television science fiction

Science fiction in anime

Television science fiction in other countries

Speculative genres on television

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Adaptation with other media

Science fiction television production process and methods

Special effects

Computer-generated imagery

Models and Puppets

Animation

Animation in live-action

Science fiction television economics and distribution

Media fandom

Significant creative influences

See also

References

Science fiction television history and culture