The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)

Changes from the comics

Inevitably, certain areas of the stories posed difficulties for the producers, who had to adapt features of the books to a more modern audience. The most obvious change was that the books Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, Tintin in the Congo and Tintin and Alph-Art were not adapted at all. Whilst Soviets and Alph-Art were left for obvious reasons, Congo is a part of the French canon, but due to its unavailability in English and questionable content was dropped from the series.

Related Topics:
Tintin in the Land of the Soviets - Tintin in the Congo - Tintin and Alph-Art - Canon

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Smaller changes were made due to the necessity for simplification or audience requirements. In The Calculus Affair, the Syldavian group who tries to snatch Calculus from the Bordurians in the original book is removed for simplicity.

Related Topics:
The Calculus Affair - Syldavian - Calculus - Bordurians

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For audience sensitivities, Haddock's penchant for whisky posed a problem. Whilst the original books did not promote alcohol, they featured it heavily, with much humour based around it and the results of drinking, whilst in many countries where the producers hoped to sell the series, alcohol is frowned upon. Therefore, international versions of the series make some alterations (including Haddock drinking lemonade in Explorers on the Moon, and his drunken state being caused by 'space sickness'!). In The Red Sea Sharks, the original book dealt with the topic of modern slavery, but in the television episode was centred around illegal immigration.

Related Topics:
Whisky - Explorers on the Moon - The Red Sea Sharks - Immigration

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Tintin in America was the most altered episode, amounting to almost a completely new story. The Native American aspect was completely removed, and the gangster element given the main focus. Bobby Smiles, in the book the head of a rival gang to Al Capone becomes an 'employee' of Capone's in the televised episode. Artistically, the episode was produced to the same standard as the others, with backgrounds having greater detail and more interestingly filmed shots.

Related Topics:
Tintin in America - Native American - Gangster - Bobby Smiles - Al Capone

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