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Hergé's Adventures of Tintin (FrenchLes Aventures de Tintin, d'après Hergé) was an animated television series from the late 1950s/early 1960s, produced by two French companies (Tele-Hachete, and Belevision). The series would later become known as the Belevision series. This show is no longer aired on TV as of 2021 .


Changes from the books[]

This series varied widely from the original books, often changing whole plots.

In Objective Moon:

  • The journey to the moon was all about rescuing Snowy, who was stuck inside the test rocket, which is white. This results in the Destination Moon scenes being heavily condensed, and as such, the Moon Rocket is already well into construction at the time of test rocket's launch.
  • Several changes are made to the scene where Haddock is rescued from orbit:
    • Haddock does not enter space in anger due to the accidental disengagement of the nuclear motor, but rather he is following Tintin out.
    • Captain Haddock's Loch Lomond whiskey is substituted with coffee, and when he is pulled into orbit, he is not drunk, instead his feet are aching, so he takes his boots off (the boots are given prior to Haddock venturing into space).
    • The orbit around Adonis is personally caused by Jorgen, who cuts the rope connecting Tintin to the rocket.
  • The tank is changed to a hovering car called "the moonmobile." Professor Calculus, Captain Haddock, and the Thompsons investigate the dark side of the moon in it, but get caved in on after a meteor shower. Snowy frees them by providing them with dynamite.
  • Colonel Jorgen is given a much bigger role in the episode itself, sabotaging the crew frequently (e.g. the aforementioned Adonis orbit incident) and hinting at Wolff's treachery through the crew's suspicions
  • Jorgen and Wolff survive, and at the conclusion, the rocket crashes into the mountains.

In The Crab with the Golden Claws:

  • Tintin sees Herbert Dawes being drowned and investigates.
  • In this version Tintin and Captain Haddock already know each other (as did the Thompsons), whereas in the book was their first meeting.
  • Captain Haddock was drugged with real drugs mixed with coffee, rather than whiskey by Allan Thompson.
  • Diamonds are being smuggled in the crab tins instead of opium.
  • Bunji Kuraki and Jumbo weree absent in the storyline and originally.
  • It is the pilot of the seaplane who attacks Tintin while he is flying, rather than Captain Haddock (This chase was also in the 90s adaptation).
  • Karaboudjan was renamed as "Djebel Amilah", but in this version, the ship was renamed "Tangiers".
  • While in the desert, Tintin and Haddock are attacked by a desert raider named Achmed the Terrible, and later by the pilot of the seaplane.

In The Secret of the Unicorn:

  • Barnaby and Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine are completely absent from the plot.
  • Marlinspike Hall has been renamed "Hudson Manor".
  • Max Bird tries to escape in his car, but in this version he is followed by Tintin, Haddock, and the Thompsons. They fight him on a pumpkin farmer's truck and pursue him with help from a pilot.
  • Aristides Silk (the pickpocket) has been renamed "Herbert Knill"

In Red Rackham's Treasure:

  • Both Tintin and Captain Haddock already know Professor Calculus.
  • Max Bird has a large role in the sequel while he was not present in the book (only having been mentioned as escaped from prison):
    • Bird follows them, and attacks Tintin whilst underwater and is nearly killed by an octopus.
    • He later meets them at the Marlinspike Hall after they find the treasure, but they overpower him.
  • Haddock is the one who meets a shark underwater instead of Tintin.
  • There are also natives on the desert island, who very similar to the Arumbayas from The Broken Ear in appearance.
  • Thomson and Thompson are saved from losing their heads when Haddock pretends he is the Idol of Sir Francis Haddock speaking, similar to The Broken Ear.
  • The group is captured by natives, but escape when a volcanic eruption sinks the Island (similar to Flight 714 to Sydney).

In The Star of Mystery:

  • Professor Decimus Phostle is replaced by Professor Calculus. Coincidentally, the phostlite is retitled "calculite".
  • Philippulus the Prophet works as Calculus' assistant. He predicts for the end of the world but his predictions were false.
  • Professor Calculus accompanies Tintin on the meteorite, and the Peary’s captain and a crewman chase Tintin and Calculus on the meteorite, but are careered off by the giant spider.
  • Captain Chester and Professor Paul Cantonneau has been removed from the storyline.
  • Thompson and Thomson are present on the voyage, whereas in the book they only appear in one panel.

In Black Island:

  • Captain Haddock plays a prominent role, although he was not present in the original book.
  • Professor Calculus also makes a cameo who was also absent originally.
  • Puschov accuses Tintin of robbing him in an airport, not on a train.
  • Tintin and Haddock hide in post office bags to get to Sussex, but Haddock gets in the wrong bag, and they are separated. Tintin later finds Haddock in Britain examining the plane.
  • Dr. Müller is depicted much older with white hair and a goatee.
  • Ranko doesn't break his arm in this version and it was frightened by Snowy and also helped Captain Haddock get down from the police helicopter.

The Calculus Case was the most altered part of the series, the changes amount to a totally different story altogether:

  • Jolyon Wagg and his family, Nestor, Arturo Cartoffoli, Irma, Igor Wagner, Cutts the Butcher and Krônik and Klûmsi alre completely absent from the storyline.
  • Calculus' ultrasound weapon is called "Silly the Silent" (or "No-Sound Nellie" in the US version.).
  • This series also saw Tintin's first meeting with Bianca Castafiore whilst in the original book it was their third meeting which had been started in King Ottokar's Sceptre.
  • The Thompsons' roles have been expanded and they along with Tintin are the peoplewho meets Castafiore instead of Captain Haddock. Meanwhile, Haddock is captured with Calculus in "Darkol Prison".
  • Professor Topolino and Colonel Sponsz have been renamed "Professor Bretzel" and "Colonel Brutel" respectively.
    • Bretzel has been significantly altered from his book counterpart. No longer the innocent professor who Calculus was visiting and was never seen again after the explosion at his house, he is now the person who hands Calculus over to the Bordurians. Bretzel also appears to be older, with a white beard and bald hair.

There were notable changes in the characters themselves too. Tintin lives in New York instead of Brussels, Captain Haddock does not have a desire for whiskey, and is depicted drinking coffee instead but still smoke from a pipe, Professor Calculus no longer has any hearing difficulties, The Thompsons are brothers and their moustaches are identical. Snowy also has a red collar in some of the versions.

Voice cast[]

Character Original United Kingdom United States
Tintin Georges Poujouly Peter Hawkins Larry Harmon
Lee Payant
Dallas McKennon
Gerald Campion
Cuthbert Calculus Robert Vattier Larry Harmon
Lee Payant
Dallas McKennon
Captain Haddock Jean Clarieux Paul Frees
Thomson and Thompson Hubert Deschamps

Episodes[]

1. Objective Moon
2. The Crab with the Golden Claws
3. The Secret of the Unicorn
4. Red Rackham's Treasure
5. The Star of Mystery
6. Black Island
7. The Calculus Case

The first episode, Objective Moon, makes reference to other earlier stories through Tintin reminiscing. It makes mention of Tintin in the Congo, The Crab with the Golden Claws and The Red Sea Sharks.

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