Silverwing is a Canadian animated fantasy action series based on the novel Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel. It is a mini TV series composed of thirteen episodes that are each approximately 20 - 25 minutes long. The first episode, A Glimpse of the Sun, aired on Teletoon on September 6, 2003 in Canada. The final episode, Day of Judgment, aired on December 14, 2003.
Largely based on the events of the first novel in Oppel's series, the TV show differs from the novel's plot in many ways, including the addition/exclusion of some plot points, renaming of some characters, and adding characters that previously did not have a role in the story.
Synopsis[]
Long before the first migration, there raged a Great Battle between the Birds and the Beasts. Alliances were formed and a battle was waged between the two kingdoms to establish the balance of nature and the territorial limits of every species. The bats, being neither birds nor beasts, would not choose sides in the conflict. For this, a law was passed that forever condemned the bats to darkness... One young bat, Shade Silverwing, dared to break the law.
List of episodes[]
| No. | Title | Original air date in Canada (Teletoon) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Glimpse of the Sun" | September 6, 2003 |
| 2 | "No Bat Is an Island" | September 7, 2003 |
| 3 | "Pigeon Court" | September 14, 2003 |
| 4 | "Bat in the Belfry" | September 21, 2003 |
| 5 | "Dark Alliance" | September 28, 2003 |
| 6 | "Friends in Deed" | October 5, 2003 |
| 7 | "Everything Is Not Black and White" | October 12, 2003 |
| 8 | "Deception" | November 2, 2003 |
| 9 | "I'm With The Band" | November 9, 2003 |
| 10 | "Rats" | November 23, 2003 |
| 11 | "Strange Batfellows" | November 30, 2003 |
| 12 | "Hibernaculum" | December 7, 2003 |
| 13 | "Day of Judgment" | December 14, 2003 |
Plot summary[]
Differences from the novel[]
The TV series starts out very similar to the novel, but strays from the original story in many parts, especially towards the end. Numerous episodes in the latter half of the season include plotlines that were not present in the novel, and some plotlines were altered or removed entirely. Additionally, many of the original story's more grim and violent aspects were heavily toned down in the TV series, which takes a relatively cartoony approach to the story. This was most likely done to maintain the show's TV-Y7 rating, whereas the novel is aimed at a slightly older and more mature audience. It can also be assumed that some plot points had to be simplified/removed, not only to keep the story appropriate for younger audiences, but to ensure the show's plot could be condensed into thirteen episodes.
Many smaller aspects of the story were also changed for the TV series:
- In the novels, Goth's band is described as being black. In the TV series, it is made of a metallic material resembling bronze or copper.
- In the TV series, Goth and Throbb are brothers-in-law. In the novels, they have no familial connection.
- King Boreal is instead named Brutus. Additionally, in the TV series, he resembles a great-horned owl, while he is described as a Boreal owl in the novels.
- Orestes, who does not appear in the novels until Sunwing, is present and plays a substantial role in the story. Like his father, King Boreal, he also resembles a great-horned owl instead of a Boreal owl.
- Scirocco is portrayed as being more manipulative and hostile in the TV series. He brands his followers with different names as part of the initiation process and vehemently shuns non-banded visitors. He is shown attempting to physically prevent Marina from escaping the cabin and urges his followers not to leave when Shade warns of Goth and Throbb's arrival.
- Shade and Marina return to help the banded bats in the cabin escape before Goth and Throbb can find them, whereas in the novel, they do not turn back and it is assumed the bats were killed by Goth and Throbb.
- In the novel, the beasts do not become embroiled in the owl-bat conflict. In the TV series, there are numerous beast characters like Ursa the Kermode Bear and Luger the Wolf.
- Romulus is described as being a white rat in the novels, but he has the same fur coloration as his brother in the TV series.
Production[]
The series was produced by Bardel Animation with additional work from Philippine Animation Studio[1] and initially distributed by Teletoon in Canada.[2] It was later distributed by Toon Disney/Jetix in the USA in 2005.[3] Jetix later aired the show internationally.[4]
The series was originally planned to be a theatrical film with a budget of US$25-30 million, produced by Bardel in collaboration with Melwood Pictures, with a US$5 million TV show based on the movie to come after.[5]
An additional twenty-six episodes were planned[6], and the first thirteen had reportedly entered development by early 2003.[7] The additional episodes were quietly shelved later for unknown reasons.
Trivia[]
- The series is animated with both 2D and 3D animation techniques.[1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Silverwing.” Philippine Animation Studio, Inc, https://web.archive.org/web/20181210202606/http://www.pasi.com.ph/tablet/silverwing.html. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022.
- ↑ Ball, Ryan. “Bardel Features Sold to Toon Disney.” Animation Magazine, 11 Oct. 2005, https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/bardel-features-sold-to-toon-disney/.
- ↑ Kenny, Joanne. “Bardel Toon Trio Breaks into US.” C21Media, 11 Oct. 2005, https://www.c21media.net/news/bardel-toon-trio-breaks-into-us/.
- ↑ Turner, Cynthia. “Thursday, March 30th, 2006.” Cynopsis Media, 30 Mar. 2006, https://www.cynopsis.com/thursday-march-30th-2006-2/.
- ↑ “Silverwing, Bardel Animation & Melwood Pictures.” Bardel Animation Ltd., 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20010623004318/http://www.bardelanimation.com/barani/portfoliosilverwing.html. Archived from the original.
- ↑ “Silverwing.” B Wooding Media, Ltd., https://web.archive.org/web/20041010091645/http://www.bwoodingmedia.com/programs/silverwing.html. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022.
- ↑ Ball, Ryan. “Bardel's Silverwing to Unfold at MIPTV.” Animation Magazine, 11 Mar. 2003, https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/bardels-silverwing-to-unfold-at-miptv/.