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In 1987, at the ripe old age of 6, I saw a film that I found so brilliant that I literally just sat, transfixed by the screen, jaw agape and motionless like some lobotomised chimp.  It was, to my 6-year old mind, the most important film I could ever hope to see. 

THE TIME MASTERS is a film which has stayed in my memory for 21 years.

I’ve been meaning to document my love for this film for a long time, but there was a slight problem.  The film was showed by the BBC back in 1987, and repeated only once (in 1991).  Now, this film has been released many times on DVD, but the problem is that The Time Masters is actually the British translation of the movie’s real name: Les Maîtres du temps.

Les Maîtres du temps is an animated French/Hungarian co-production, made entirely in French Language.  The BBC found out about this film and decided to produce an English-language dubbed version of the film; the version that played in ’87 and ’91…and never again.

So, whilst I could have watched this in French, with English subtitles, I have instead dedicated my time to finding a copy of the version which so captured my imagination as a child; a version which featured Ray Brooks as the hero of the film - the very same Ray Brooks who will be forever cherished as narrating the wonderful Mr. Benn stories (and the same Ray Brooks who will be forever derided simply for being in Eastenders).

I’m pleased to say that last month, I was finally able to track down a copy of the BBC’s dubbed version – which was renamed The Time Masters.

The minute the film opened on a man named Claude, and his young son Piel, fleeing across the Planet of Perdide in an insect-shaped car, all of the memories came flooding back, including the amount of abuse I used to receive from my siblings as a result of my love for this film.

As a quick digression – I sunburn very easily.  Like…stupidly easily.  When I sunburn, I go from being a pastey ghost-like shade, to boiled-lobster pink.  I then suffer in agony for two days before, snake-like, I shed my skin in a fast-tracked case of what I can only describe as uber-peeling.

As a result of this, coupled with my love for The Time Masters, my brother and sister nicknamed me Peel (an HILARIOUS play on the child’s name in this film) and used to quote lines from the movie to me in an attempt to antagonise me (in particular a line uttered by the villain of the piece when he tries to encourage Piel to drown himself).

So, imagine how delighted I was when I emailed my loving sister to tell her that I had tracked down this film, and she responded thusly...

 I hate family!