Watch 54 years of Doctor Who's opening credits in this glorious new compilation
Prepare for some classic abstract openings – and sketchy computer graphics
To celebrate 54 years of Doctor Who, the BBC has released a special compilation of the Doctor’s adventures in space and time through the show’s opening credits.
From the famous first sequence in 1963 (a “howlaround” effect filmed by pointing a camera at its own monitor) to the intergalactic 1996 TV movie opening and last year’s clockwork helix, all the most memorable titles materialise in this video. Expect plenty of abstract shapes, floating Time Lord heads and some cracking variations of the classic theme song.
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But just a warning: the video also documents the 1987 opening titles (made for Sylvester Mccoy’s Seventh Doctor – see at the 4.35 mark below) containing some extremely rusty CGI, a Microsoft WordArt logo and some very strange synthesiser backing plugged into the opening music. It's retro to the extreme.
Not only does this video celebrate another anniversary of Who, but it also serves as a reminder that the opening credits are due to change once more. Not only are we getting a new Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), showrunner (Chris Chibnall) and Tardis (grooved edges!), but it’s likely Whovians will be treated to a revamped title sequence to mark a new age of the show.
Will it tinker with the theme song once more? Will Whittaker and the Tardis feature? We'll have to wait until the new series next year to find out...
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