Doctor Who | Alternative Hartnell Title Sequence

Not for reupload.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be uploading alternative title sequences for the first three Doctors. Each will feature 'unused' howlaround footage from the original recordings, and also be generally 'spruced up' with a 1080p upscale conversion. I don't aim to make better variations on the original titles, as they are simply too iconic for that! It's just so I can try out various ideas, to see what might have been...

Here, we start with Hartnell. Credit to Bernard Lodge for the footage used, and the logo design used too. What I aimed to change with this specific sequence was the addition of Hartnell's face. I tried to bring him to life, moving his face, hair and eyes, and also using a displacement map to give him a more faux 3D look. I think that turned out fairly well. I also recreated the logo using very similar, if not the same, fonts that were used originally. At the last minute, I also decided to recreate the early 60's BBC ident!

Thanks to Ned Warren for use of his Delia 2015 stereo remaster, with added hissing sound effects by me (if it sounds overworked, I take the blame!) Also, thanks to Danny and Ian Stewart for use of their theme samples, some of which were used near the end of the video.

Doctor Who and it's associated material belongs to the BBC.

All original content and concepts © CloisterProductions 2013-2016

[meggytari]

I love the eye movement on Hartnell's image. Back then the actor would have to stand in front of the camera to make that effect happen, so the eyes moving and making it seem like the actor was there rather then having a still image, really brings it to life.

[skarosianfilmmaker]

I love how the logo sort of explodes from the howlaround, as well as how the theme sort of deconstructs itself towards the end. Great job!

[jwhofilms]

A really cool title sequence, and it succeeds in doing exactly what I feel it aimed in doing. 00:22 when the logo bursts in feels particularly triumphant and is very well executed. Hartnell's face looked a bit weird though with the blinking eyes (and in the TV series they tend to use symmetrical pictures of the Doctor's face, which I reckon works better). Pretty small gripe though. I have a soft spot for this type of reimagining/re-creating, so I look forward to seeing the next two!

[HjRobins]

I love how the title sort of explodes into view. Excellent work!

[CtrlAshDel]

Brilliant as always! Love the small eye movements on Hartnell and the logo transition is so pleasing :)

[Jason_C_Onion]

I LOVE the subtle movement and twinkle in Bill's eyes there Chesterfield 😊

[MebThemes]

Awesome, Looking forward to the next two alternative title sequences. Keep up the great work!

[aadamhussain]

This is amazing! What makes it even better is that this video came out on my birthday!

[goneoffbeans]

I love how at the end the baseline just keeps on going.Well done.

[drawwithcameronsmith]

The original pilot thunderclap! Amazing

[emerald]

Fun fact: the BBC were originally going to use William Hartnell's face in the intro, but it was deemed 'too scary' for its age demographic. But some early test clips can be found in the DVD bonus features for The Edge of Destruction that use a presumably other actor for the Doctor.

Of course, all credit goes to 77x5ghost

[Jason_C_Onion]

Beautiful 💙 this needs to go at the front of the 60th anniversary - family scene round a small telly then close up to screen with your rendition of the music 👌
Well done 👏👏👏

[Kryojenix]

This is brilliant, even if I do miss the DOCTOR OHO! >=-P

[henkman]

awesome, the First Doctor is my favorite ;)

[dis]

This is excellent work, and the original title sequences are far superior to their successors anyway...  I have a suggestion, all the same. Instead of the Hartnell image you used as just an imposition over the swirl, there's a scene when the Tardis dematerialises for the first time where Hartnell's face merges and then is covered briefly in the same swirl they use for the title sequence.  I've always thought they could have used that as part of the title sequence, which only the addition of colour like they finally did for the Third Doctor could make absolutely perfect...!!!

[CouchpotatonationBlogspot]

I made an opening logo for my new channel that was inspired by this opening sequence and I'm concerned about copyright issues. Did you have any problems with BBC for this video or any of your other videos?

[tangerinealarm]

Interesting work.
I watched before reading the description and thought 'are his eyes moving' and then watched in full screen, it was a little creepy until I watched it a few times. It's still a little off putting.
The transition in and out of the image appearing look really good, but when his face is in the sequence wholly, there's something that doesn't quite match the surrounding footage - it looks like an image inserted over the top of the footage rather than being 'a part' of the the sequence.

[passivelotus]

I love it I do miss the
DOCTOR
O Ж O
Though

[LunaIsOnYoutube]

Where did you get the oscillator swoops?

[LiamDavidJohns]

The BBC would reupload this if they could!