Gerry Anderson Primer: Lavender Castle

Lavender Castle is a place of mystery and legend, fabled throughout the universe, a floating city of light, a place of peace, harmony and all the things that have ever been dreamt of. It is the centre of the universe and the greatest source of power - should it be destroyed, the universe would be plunged into darkness forever.
Created by Rodney Matthews and produced by Gerry Anderson, it was produced in 1997 through a collaboration between Carrington Productions International and Cosgrove Hall Films, and was first broadcast on CITV between 1999 and 2000.
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[@GerryAndersonTV]

Lavender Castle is a rather unusual show compared to many of the best known Gerry Anderson series. Have you seen it? What do you think of the characters and style?

[@trainlover16]

Gerry Anderson I quite like it based on the episodes I've seen.

[@jmorton201]

I always enjoyed rodney Matthews art

[@jacksmales4973]

I've seen bits of it and while it is different compared to other Anderson shows it looks great on DVD with great colours

[@martynbolam9932]

I remember seeing a few episodes of Lavender Castle when I was young, but I never remembered the show's name until last year when I started rewatching again. I think the style of the show is amazing, merging fantasy with science fiction. I wish it lasted longer.

[@OdeeOz]

Darn bloody shame the series wasn't picked up for a 2nd season. My kids raved on about it, when I cam home from working the Mid Shift.

[@AnotherDoomerWeeb]

For years I thought this series was a fever dream, a mysterious intergalactic British Dark Crystal. Its great to learn more about it. =D

[@katenunyabizness9221]

Being here in the states, there are so many little bits of Gerry's works we missed out on. Lavender Castle looks gorgeous an stunning and not written down for kids like so much of the shows here. I want to see all of this work of love. Thank you for sharing this hidden gem!

[@SimpsonsClips24]

I like this show a lot - and not just because of the designs by Rodney Matthews! (There's a corner shop's worth of eye candy in them) It doesn't talk down to children, and treats them with respect while having a mix of serious storylines (A Stitch in Time - one of the show's darker episodes) and silly ones (Duelling Banjos - where else can you find a bluegrass banjo picking contest?!) I've even managed to amass the world's largest collection of Lavender Castle memorabilia - 5 DVDs, 2 VHS tapes, a script for the episode "Duelling Banjos", a Press Pack, a sketchbook containing drawings of Short Fred Ledd, and two sketches of mine and Jack Williams' characters Princess Astra and Donald!

[@sorvad99]

Today is literally the first time I've heard of this show!

[@GerryAndersonTV]

That’s why these Primers exist 🙃☺️😊

[@EndlessLaymon]

I went a convention as a kid where Gerry premiered Lavender Castle and spoke about the show and answered questions. Lavender Castle seems to be overlooked, the style was unique and the show was more aimed for a younger audience. I watched it on CITV.

[@stevebushell4810]

I was there too. Love L Castle. Crispin's music is spot on.

[@jamiec9260]

So how this for cool, About a year ago I had this vague memory, not more than a couple of character designs of a show I remembered seeing when I was little, I tried to find it but the memory was too vague to find anything - a year later I find this video and it all falls into place! I'm glad I found it and would never have guessed that the Creator of Thunderbirds - my definitive childhood favorite - was behind it.

[@lukegreen5341]

Happy 20th Birthday Gerry Anderson's Lavender Castle. 1999 - 2019. 20 Years Of Gerry Anderson Family Fun Action Adventure And Excitement. X

[@lukegreen5341]

2:30 Great Scotland Yard. It's The Wind In The Willows The Movie In 1983 Starting David Jason From Only Fools And Horses. Lovely Jubby. Thanks Mate. X

[@Twirlyhead]

They did a really good job on this show; stop motion and models in particular are excellent.. Shame it only ran 1 season.

[@iandeeley9033]

Remember watching this on CITV and then online on Anderson TV!

[@JackWilliams2000]

Yes, I've seen it, and I think it is brilliant! And I think the characters are fantastic and the style for it is cool! And I even have the Complete Collection DVD which I've got for my birthday back in 2017!

[@KingofPotatoPeople]

I used to watch it as a student. In some ways it’s a bit like the Anderverse Dark Crystal - visionary tv legend works closely with equally visionary fantasy artist to create a huge mythology without any human characters....

[@gmosphere]

And both tv legends had shows produced by Lew Grade

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

I haven't seen Lavender castle since it's original run when I was very very little. I never remembered the title of the show until this primer but I do remember the character designs extremely well & I'm surprised how well the designs have held in my memory

[@MakiPcr]

I'm a fan of Samorost, and it reminds me of this show, but I couldn't remember the name. So nice to find it

[@ListerDavid]

I loved Lavender Castle when it aired in 99, it was my last year at secondary school and it helped me to relax and escape from all that rubbish.

[@barry-allenthe-flash8396]

No way! I was watching this and as it began I was thinking to myself, "Who's the artist who worked on this? It's reminding of concept art for (obscure video game) Haven: Call of the King..." and then you went into Rodney Matthews, who *IS* the guy Traveler's Tales tapped for that game! That's awesome - that dude's art is absolutely fantastic (he reminds me of Brian Froud, and I wish more productions would go to him) and it really was brought to life here _incredibly well._ I *adore* the look of this one.

[@RDW4]

I'm going to be distraught when Primer runs out of shows to review

[@gmosphere]

Firestorm primer!

[@maxbrandt6]

This looks like a wonderful show for kids and I love seeing Rodeny Matthews artwork come to life! It's a real shame this is overlooked.

[@parkerproductions4546]

What a fantastic looking series! I had no idea about Lavender Castle. But this primer video has me sold on it! I'm a stickler for Cosgrove Hall productions (Wind in the Willows is one of my favourite shows ever) and the design of this series looks utterly remarkable! Shame about the rights issue - I hope something can be cleared up with that.

[@Lumibear.]

I had never heard of this, I wasn’t in the country at the time it aired, so a highly informative video for me, thanks. Also, Walking Cane looks like a cute caricature of the scary baby from Eraser Head, just saying.

[@martythemartian99]

4:27 Oh that is just too funny for words :D

[@thesodorengines]

I have vivid memories of this series

[@ProfSaxby]

Have the entire series in my collection. it is fun and charming. The character designs are fantastic and unique. If you think Captain Scarlet is too much for kids then Lavender Castle is your in! Really fun and positive stuff!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

The stop-motion in this was GREAT!

[@Tyler-ky3wo]

Jamie should get to work on making a Netflix reboot of Lavender Castle! i can guarantee Gerry up there would want that!

[@chrisc1553]

I never watched it my friends and I tried to watch the first episode and were very confused so hopefully this primer makes it more clear to me! Sadly it airs at 2 am here so I wont be able to see it premier.

[@BNK2442]

I wish this series had more episodes. I love Matthew's art and it goes so well with Anderson's stop motion!

[@vultan2000]

Rodney Matthews came and talked to my art class at school in the late 80s and was a thoroughly decent chap. He was very open and modest about his artistic process.

[@YorHighness]

True Magic all Gerrys content. Period.

[@gamingninja5196]

I remember watching this show. Mainly the spaceship, but I couldn't remember the name. I also never knew this was a Gerry Anderson shpw

[@ktclm0617]

Another great Primer from Mr.Dale, great work Chris as always, thank you!. As for the show...WOW...not what I had expected at all. It looks amazing and I will be tracking this one down for viewing straight away. Excellent stuff.

[@turbobrony1472]

Lavender Castle will always be a part of my childhood!

[@Kuesoth]

For years I was searching this series when I was child

[@stevenray8737]

Completely flew under my radar but it looks excellent.

[@trainlover16]

Lavender Castle, a place of legend, fabled right across the universe.

[@SimpsonsClips24]

This is our quest - to find it!

[@menkomonty]

I loved Lavender Castle as a kid.

[@Riku006]

I remember occasionally catching an episode or two of this show back when I was a kid. I had no idea that it was an Anderson series, but even if I forgot the name of the show over the years, it managed to stick in my memory regardless. A shame how it ended, as this show was pretty interesting given the character designs, but still a worthy show to check out if you’re a fan of stop-motion animation.

[@thomaswhalley807]

Can you upload Primer of Gerry Anderson's the day after tomorrow pilot

[@timepoet77]

Agreed

[@longbowandwarbowcraftingbo2859]

WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS!!!?????

[@nightshardthefanguidebrony847]

aanyone else see thunderbird 1 in the junkyard? XD

[@carylgeddes2187]

Yes I did!😱 Whether it's meant to be an Easter egg, or a possible thunderbirds/lavender castle crossover?

[@hilarioph]

Wow this is the first time he did some stop motion. Sadly it never aired in the Philippines 🙁

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Actually he did Dick Spanner in 1986...

[@SomeHarbourBastard]

In my case, I caught a few bits and pieces of the show on first airing (I was five). I didn't know what it was, but I eventually came across it on the internet.

[@GrantM1984]

I found something interesting. According to both Wikipedia and TV Tropes there was a US dub of the show produced. But I can't seem to find much evidence a US dub did air, or even produced at all. But given the rights issues this show had who knows if that's true or not. Plus only two VAs are credited for the US dub on both articles (Tara Strong as Lyca and Tim Curry as Short Fred Ledd)

[@dragoscarlatto3457]

Lavender castle 🏰❤️

[@octaviusfooks7194]

I actually have a book from Rodney Matthews - In Search of Forever (which contains ‘The Bloated Hobgoblin’)

[@SeamlessShelf35]

Doesn't anyone know that Lavender Castle is the best Gerry Anderson series according to IMDb.

[@aceflashheart2523]

I saw this on its original transmission and I’ve loved it ever since. Terrible the way the rights changed hands a number of times and caused it to be forgotten. Do Anderson Entertainment own the rights now? I’d love to see the proposed second season finally get made.

[@SimpsonsClips24]

I think DreamWorks Classics still own the rights - so it'll be a long way off yet.

[@daniellafferety4025]

Put this out in for me to whatch.

[@alexb.8455]

1:32 guys is that a amiga on his desk or just a normal old school keyboard

[@PaburoVIII]

I was forgetting this series I really enjoy it as a kid but where can I watch it? I would like to watch all the series

[@jacquelineedwards4140]

These characters are so cute.

[@SgtScorpious]

Looks intriguing enough, shame that it got cut short due to rights juggling

[@shauncampbell969]

Mini mites are Go

[@bettyleeist]

Bishop does “live on”in the 1969-1970 Ufo show!

[@ricejuice8982]

We need reboot

[@timepoet77]

How come this didn’t make it to the USA?

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Poor distribution 😣

[@SimpsonsClips24]

@@GerryAndersonTV Although, there was going to be an American cast member on the second series - Marco Palmer, who wrote 10 scripts for it. I reckon this'd probably have gotten the series noticed in America.

[@briancoulombe4517]

Guy has an eye on the tip of his nose? What happens if he sneezes?

[@yourrightimsooosorry884]

Giggitty

[@evacameron6288]

I can hear of lot of Jimmy Hibbet in this show

[@crimsondynamo615]

Oh so it’s not enough for HiT Entertainment to try and kill Thomas the Tank Engine (something that would be finalized by Mattel), but they had to kill Lavender Castle too!

[@tachiroakisu5128]

Where can we get it?

[@SimpsonsClips24]

Your best bet might be Amazon or eBay - the DVD often turns up on there.

[@peterjf7723]

On KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTo2d7aMmBZpI

[@ZEDW1]

0:36 Dr Agon is he supposed to be a Dragon or something?

[@melontimer7505]

Wait this WASNT A FEVER DREAM I HAD WHEN I 5???

[@midpuma513]

What is bro doing? Video very cool tho

[@adamtaylor5749]

Never heard of it.

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Until now...

[@wookiemart]

Very much getting a Farscape vibe from this.

[@triggerfingerstudios]

MCMLXXXXVII is not how you write 1997 in roman numerals.......

[@aceflashheart2523]

Very true. I thought it said 1987 when I first saw it. It wasn’t until much later when I noticed there was a fourth X.

[@garycrant4511]

space wombles....

[@Orlor]

"Except when he calls me...Trump..." - That would piss me off too.

[@ld8619]

The BBC and ITV did not care and still don't its so annoying!

[@datprawn4850]

4:27 - 4:39 A window into 2016 and today, very ahead of its time… for a Democrat.