Concept and creative process
Titles for a science fiction adventure adapted from a series of novels by John Christopher, in which two teenagers are caught up in a battle to free the Earth from alien control. 'The Tripods' was set in 2090 on an Earth already ruled by gigantic robot-like aliens. For the titles, designer Charles McGhie embraced the emerging technology of 3D computer generated animation and created a logo for the programme title from solid geometric shapes.
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The Tripods images and press articles
Computer generated image of the 'The Tripods' logo
In 1985 the Computer Graphics Workshop also purchased a 3D CAD system to enable Scenic Design staff to explore the use of this technology in their work. The software was installed on one of the CGW’s Dec 11/750 computers. In the image a member of the Scenic Design staff is getting to grips with computer aided draughtsmanship
The cover and four pages from the 1984 BBC Engineering brochure of all the latest technical developments in BBC Television. Called ‘Track Forward 84’ the booklet included a description of the work of the Computer Graphics Workshop, part of BBC Graphic Design Department. It featured computer animation sequences produced by the CGW for the ‘Tripods’ drama, plus work on Typography, the General Election Presentations and the ‘Children in Need’ fund-raiser
The cover and four pages from the 1984 BBC Engineering brochure of all the latest technical developments in BBC Television. Called ‘Track Forward 84’ the booklet included a description of the work of the Computer Graphics Workshop, part of BBC Graphic Design Department. It featured computer animation sequences produced by the CGW for the ‘The Tripods’ drama, plus work on Typography, the General Election Presentations and the ‘Children in Need’ fund-raiser
The cover and four pages from the 1984 BBC Engineering brochure of all the latest technical developments in BBC Television. Called ‘Track Forward 84’ the booklet included a description of the work of the Computer Graphics Workshop, part of BBC Graphic Design Department. It featured computer animation sequences produced by the CGW for the ‘The Tripods’ drama, plus work on Typography, the General Election Presentations and the ‘Children in Need’ fund-raiser
The cover and four pages from the 1984 BBC Engineering brochure of all the latest technical developments in BBC Television. Called ‘Track Forward 84’ the booklet included a description of the work of the Computer Graphics Workshop, part of BBC Graphic Design Department. It featured computer animation sequences produced by the CGW for the ‘Tripods’ drama, plus work on Typography, the General Election Presentations and the ‘Children in Need’ fund-raiser
The cover and four pages from the 1984 BBC Engineering brochure of all the latest technical developments in BBC Television. Called ‘Track Forward 84’ the booklet included a description of the work of the Computer Graphics Workshop, part of BBC Graphic Design Department. It featured computer animation sequences produced by the CGW for the ‘Tripods’ drama, plus work on Typography, the General Election Presentations and the ‘Children in Need’ fund-raiser