I first found out about the Trap door about three years ago, and I'm so glad that I did. Claymation has some of the most imaginative creature designs of any medium, and this show is a perfect example of how creative you can be with it.
Thank you so much for making an article about these guys. These 'tributes to the obscure' are one of the things I like most about Bogleech.
zayda
· 2 months ago
Oh my god. I love you.
I grew up with The Trap Door; it was one of my favourite shows as a kid. My parents thought I was very strange... but this is such a trip down memory lane. Most of all, thank you thank you thank you for sharing the extended theme. It's so groovy! <3 The computer club at my university has their hub computer rigged to play the theme when they open the door in the morning. Sends me rocketing towards nostalgia, every time.
I remember being so utterly frightened by the yellow thing, though. Those creatures that just eat everything have always terrified (or possibly deeply disturbed?) me, and one has to admit, The Trap Door had quite a lot of those to haunt my nightmares with, heh.
And now you have me wanting to find these episodes again! But thanks so much for making such an in-depth article on the series. Let's get this little beauty out to more of those unfortunate enough not to know it (it was screening well into the late nineties here in Aus, I'm genuinely surprised to find out it was made in '84!). I'll stop rambling now.
scythemantis
· 2 months ago
I like rambling! :D
I was able to find ALL of the episodes on youtube to make this article, but not all of them come up in youtube's search! Some only appear in the "suggested links." At least the first few episodes were even uploaded by an official licensed channel, apparently!
Tarazuma
· 2 months ago
This was an incredible article. I always wondered what was the big deal about this show, as it was mentioned to me several times in the past, but it never seemed interesting enough for me look into. After seeing all the awesome monster designs however, I now see what an good show it was, and it's a true shame this wasn't aired in the US. I too feel like I missed out on something now :/
Penanggalan Monster
· 2 months ago
Oh, how I love the egg bugs and eyeball monster <3 <3 And even the LUMP!
scythemantis
· 2 months ago
Alllll the episodes are on youtube now! You have to dig though, many come up in suggested/related videos but not in search D:
scythemantis
· 2 months ago
It sets such a nice example that other lumps should follow :x
Ryan
· 2 months ago
Ooh, wonderful! The Trap Door was, and is still amongst, my favourite TV shows ever.
I was a superfan or something, and I still have a Trap Door book (various episodes converted into comic-form) and big spongy toys of Berk and Boni. These originally came with little standees of loads of the Trap Door monsters, but these have been lost to the void of time.
Also had a video, and I'd watch the Bed Bugs episode over and over and over, but now I have a DVD. Most DVD players can be easily converted to multi-region, so you should try and get the Trap Door DVD - it has every episode on it!
My favourite monster's that sucky-vacuum thingy - had a big thing for vacuum-based beasts back in the day, such as the vacuum head from Dynamite Headdy.
Yes, a wonderful articles! Thanks!
scythemantis
· 2 months ago
Wow, I bet those little standees were awesome - but definitely sound like something almost everybody would have lost! The vacuum monster is probably in my top five :)
SaucyLobster
· 2 months ago
Oh boy, that takes me back. I may be only eighteen but the nostalgia is overpowering. Me and my sis loved this show and sat down diligentley whenever it was on, frequently getting up at five in the morning just to watch it. There's something about clay animation, it's so wholesome and fulfilling, especially to children.
scythemantis
· 2 months ago
Just looking at clay makes me remember the way it always smelled.
wendytigges
· 2 months ago
Ahh, that's my childhood, right there. Good thing we had BBC in Holland too!
I don't know how many hours I sculpted monsters inspired by Trapdoor as a kid.
tumbleweed93
· 2 months ago
Have you seen Count Duckula? Pure Brilliance!
Oh and does anyone know of a program of this style involving dodos and little limpets with eyes as minor background characters. Hopefully somebody will know what the hell i'm on about.
Oh man, I NEED to watch this now. I love that crazy demented kind of claymation.
I think the Egg Bugs, Vile Pile and Strange Custardy Thing are my favorites... that and THE LUMP of course ;)
LTGM
· 2 months ago
Oh wow! As soon as I finished reading this I went out searching the interweb for the episodes. Most of them were on youtube but a few seemed to be missing but with a little searching I did find the rest on megavideo. So now I've seen all 40 episodes and it is, without a doubt, one of my new favorite shows! I'm thinking about getting a multi-region dvd player just so I can import the DVD. It's a shame they never aired this here in the states. Think I'm gonna go buy some modeling clay now. Also The Splund was probably the creepiest monster in the series.
Sabbot112
· 2 months ago
Wow, WTF, "Beautiful, truly beautiful! I can watch them all day! I wonder what they taste like!" Bert, referring to the exploding slug larvae things.
lump
· 2 months ago
You have found Trap Door. And written about it.
This is the sexiest thing alive.
(Go Splund)
scythemantis
· 2 months ago
I found it years ago, but only now had the chance to make a page with EVERYTHING...and it was everything or nothing! ;p
lump
· 2 months ago
Of course, technically you've watched more than me in the process of your...research.
NeitherSparky
· 2 months ago
I have been meaning to make a Trap Door fansite for years - at least I edit the TD page on tv.com. I was able to come across the VHS set from Canada a long time back, that was before it was released on region 2 dvd. I heard about the show through the Commodoer 64 game, which I have never been able to beat. :P
drhoz
· 2 months ago
It was a staple on afternoon TV here in Australia too - yay for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation :D
All Comments
Thank you so much for making an article about these guys. These 'tributes to the obscure' are one of the things I like most about Bogleech.
I grew up with The Trap Door; it was one of my favourite shows as a kid. My parents thought I was very strange... but this is such a trip down memory lane. Most of all, thank you thank you thank you for sharing the extended theme. It's so groovy! <3 The computer club at my university has their hub computer rigged to play the theme when they open the door in the morning. Sends me rocketing towards nostalgia, every time.
I remember being so utterly frightened by the yellow thing, though. Those creatures that just eat everything have always terrified (or possibly deeply disturbed?) me, and one has to admit, The Trap Door had quite a lot of those to haunt my nightmares with, heh.
And now you have me wanting to find these episodes again! But thanks so much for making such an in-depth article on the series. Let's get this little beauty out to more of those unfortunate enough not to know it (it was screening well into the late nineties here in Aus, I'm genuinely surprised to find out it was made in '84!). I'll stop rambling now.
I was able to find ALL of the episodes on youtube to make this article, but not all of them come up in youtube's search! Some only appear in the "suggested links." At least the first few episodes were even uploaded by an official licensed channel, apparently!
I was a superfan or something, and I still have a Trap Door book (various episodes converted into comic-form) and big spongy toys of Berk and Boni. These originally came with little standees of loads of the Trap Door monsters, but these have been lost to the void of time.
Also had a video, and I'd watch the Bed Bugs episode over and over and over, but now I have a DVD. Most DVD players can be easily converted to multi-region, so you should try and get the Trap Door DVD - it has every episode on it!
My favourite monster's that sucky-vacuum thingy - had a big thing for vacuum-based beasts back in the day, such as the vacuum head from Dynamite Headdy.
Yes, a wonderful articles! Thanks!
I don't know how many hours I sculpted monsters inspired by Trapdoor as a kid.
Oh and does anyone know of a program of this style involving dodos and little limpets with eyes as minor background characters. Hopefully somebody will know what the hell i'm on about.
I think the Egg Bugs, Vile Pile and Strange Custardy Thing are my favorites... that and THE LUMP of course ;)
Also The Splund was probably the creepiest monster in the series.
"Beautiful, truly beautiful! I can watch them all day! I wonder what they taste like!"
Bert, referring to the exploding slug larvae things.
This is the sexiest thing alive.
(Go Splund)
huh, the phantoms from that Boo! episode look like the ghosts from Luigi's Mansion: http://www.mariowiki.com/images/8/82/Bogmire.jpg
Its class even now!