Insektors (stylized as InseKtorS) is a 1994 French computer-animated TV series. Made in a small studio, Fantome in France, it was one of the earliest computer-animated series alongside VeggieTales and ReBoot. The series won 30 awards, including a 1994 "Children and Young People" Emmy Award, and was the very first film to ever be given an Academy Award for "Young People’s Honoree."
On 3rd May 2023, Piko Interactive acquired rights to the show.
Production and dubbing
Fantome began work on Insektors in 1991 after their last series, Les Fables Géométriques, was almost finished. Animation director Gilbert Louet said that the team wanted to make something more ambitious, with a more serious story and larger scope. Renato came up with the concept, and the studio released a "making-of" video in 1992 that served as a de facto pilot. In the video, the studio discussed the challenges they would face bringing the series to fruition, as getting licenses for animation technology was expensive at the time.
Fantom hired script writer Eric Rondeaux at the recommendation of animation studio Ellipse Programme, with whom Rondeaux had worked on a 1991 adaptation of The Adventures of Tintin. Marc Perrier and Veronique Herbaut were later hired as additional script writers. The studio used Silicon Graphics hardware for its animations. Crew recalled the animation process as grueling; the studio wanted two to five seconds of animation to be done per person each day. For the second season, the series used motion capture on the direction of Canal+, who had just bought a production company that specialized in the technique
A pilot episode was shot, and there were two 13-episode seasons and a few special episodes including a 1996 Christmas episode.
The series was dubbed into two English language releases; one for North America, and one for the UK. The North American version was recorded in Paris. It was first aired on Canadian television on YTV. For the UK version, the script was re-written; characters had different names, and different dialogue was used. Jokes and references specific to British/English culture were also incorporated.
Characters
The French name is given first followed by the British name in brackets, and if there is an alternate North American name, this is indicated by a slash.
Joyces
Joyces (Verigreens) are colorful, cheerful insects and offshoots of the Yuk/Krud civilization who broke away from their dark cousins upon the arrival of the Great Prism which nourished the site where it landed, resulting in the creation of Flower City. They are peaceful people who devote their lives to merrymaking and protecting the Great Prism from harm. Joyce citizens who are not main characters resemble bees.
Fulgor (Flynn) Original Voice: David Gasman Teddy Kempner (UK dub) A walking stick born a Yuk/Krud, Fulgor/Flynn was adopted from a young age. Armed with the mighty Kolour Guitar/Musical Colour Gun - an electric guitar that fires blasts of colorful pollen - he is the brave, and sometimes reckless, champion in the fight against the Yuks/Kruds.
Aelia (Alex) Original Voice: Karen Strassman Caroline Bliss (UK dub) A butterfly. She is the daughter of the Joyce/Verigreen leader and adopted sister of Fulgor/Flynn. She tends to the Great Prism and assists her father in his scientific explorations. She has romantic feelings for Acylius/Max.
Le Grand Artificier/The Great Pyro (Godfrey) Original Voice: Christian Erickson Andy Secombe (UK dub) A butterfly. The slightly eccentric leader of the Joyces/Verigreens, descendant to his Great Great Grandfather who was mentioned in Planet Karbon/The Black Planet, and is the biological father of Aelia/Alex and adoptive father of Fulgor/Flynn. He is talented as a scientist and mystic.
Daltonio (Bentley) A greenfly. The Great Pyro's/Godfrey's main assistant.
Gallopus (Peg) A mechanical horse-like robot. Fleet of foot (and flight), he was originally created by Eurekas/Magus. He is Fulgor's/Flynn's steed and close confidante, but unable to speak outside of honks and squeaks. In the UK dub, Peg is female.
Spotty (Elmo) Another machine like Gallopus/Peg, he is a small flier. He has a large spotlight in his stomach to illuminate dark areas.