The Celestial Toymaker, a Doctor Who story which was lost with the exception of one episode, will be released in animated form on DVD and Blu-ray in June 2024.

We had previously announced the rumour regarding this special animated release.

The two-disc set contains the third season story as well as special features. This classic series stars the First Doctor, William Hartnell and companions Peter Purves as Steven Taylor and Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet, with Michael Gough as the Toymaker.

The original 1966 master recordings of all except one of The Celestial Toymaker were lost. BBC Studios have carefully created an animated presentation of this lost classic story using off-air audio recordings of the missing three episodes.

The Celestial Toymaker sees the Doctor and companions separated when they come up against the Toymaker. While the Doctor plays the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play seemingly childish but ultimately dangerous games with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS.

All episodes have been animated in both colour and black and white and include original film elements which have been fully restored.

Here is a clip from the original story:

Special features include:

Disc One
Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Black and White
Episodes 1-3 – Reconstruction
Episode 4 – Original 1966 Episode newly restored
New Audio Commentaries

Disc Two
Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Colour
Making The Animation
Doctor Who Escape Room – Team First Doctor
Sylvester McCoy Introduction for episode 4 as per the original VHS release
Photo Gallery
PDF Material including camera scripts

The powerful and villainous Toymaker, this time played by Neil Patrick Harris, will make a new appearance in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special The Giggle on December 9, 2023.

Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker animation on DVD and Blu-ray is available for pre-order from Rarewaves and Zavvi, and from Amazon on DVD, Blu-ray and Steelbook and HMV on DVD, Blu-ray and Steelbook for a June 10, 2024 release.