Information on 'Le Chavalier du Labyrinthe', courtesy of the official press pack. With thanks to Sue Child at Broadsword for supplying this.

Le Chevalier du Labyrinthe

Information from the French production press pack, translated into English:

Summary

Adventure fiction for young people

Boys and girls from 11 to 15 years, in teams of four.

Concept: An imaginary situation/scenario, halfway between role play and video play. The player is an individual, in an worrying and mysterious environment, where the young participant must show intelligence to complete a life-dangerous mission.

Principle: One of the four children becomes the "Knight of the Labyrinth". The "Master of the Castle" gives him a satchel, and a helmet which covers his eyes. He is assisted in his quest by his three friends, who become his "Advisers".

Duration: 26 minutes per episode, 52 episodes

Transmission: On Antenne 2, Wednesday afternoons at 16:30, repeated Sunday mornings at 08:00 as from September 19, 1990.

Overview

Each room of the castle is regarded as a stage to cross. If the Knight fails at the time of a stage, it is eliminated and replaced by one of its Advisers. The elimination of three successive knights involves the loss of the team.

In each one of the rooms, the Knight must (assisted his Advisers and the Master) solve riddles, answer questions posed by characters (some of which correspond to the school syllabus), avoid traps, undergo physical, cross delicate passages, circumvent trap doors and face strange creatures or alarming tests.

To cross the rooms of the castle and to progress towards the final phase of adventure, the children must be very attentive with all the people they meet and note certain elements in writing. These could be indices, formulas etc..., which they will have collected to allow them to help the Knight.

The progression of the course is done by accumulation of knowledge which makes it possible for the team to reach at the final stage, i.e. with the "Command of the Knights of Labyrinthe", and to discover the treasure: many gifts in a rock "miracle" which opens thanks to a "sesame".

Locations

Three great basic locations were built: the room of the castle, the balcony of the Advisers, and the treasure room.

All the other locations in two and three dimensions were created thanks to the electronic paint system standard Paint box for the animated funds, and an Amiga 2000 (graphic computer) for the rooms of the snake, the beetle, cave of death, the worms, the cauldron, the lion, Merlin etc...

Credits

Georges Beller played the role of the 'Master of the Castle'

Rene Lafleur played the roles of 'Tarok the Wizard', 'Merlin' and 'Crom' (the monster of the walls)

Veronique Moest played the roles of 'Iselle', 'Velda' and 'Morganne'

Chantal Garrigues played the roles of 'Mandrake' (the witch) and 'Laelith' (the monster of the walls)

Lionel Muzin played the roles of 'Tados', 'Le Corbeau' and 'the Buffoon'.

Creation

Channel 1 Television - Preparation, turning and post production

A team of 50 people:

• 6 scenario writers

• 1,100m² studio

• More than 200 participating children

• 3 real locations

• 2 cyclos of incrustation

• A significant stock of locations using blue encrusts for the funds with the electronic paint system [ed: Chromakey]

• 1 rig car

• 8 cameras

• 2 Ultimattes 6 for the creation of the incrustations [ed: backdrops]

• 1 pallette graphic type Paint box for the animated funds

• 1 graphic computer, Amiga 2000

Sponsors

SEGA, Partner of the "Knight of the Labyrinth"

The making of the "Knight of the Labyrinth" reflects the passion of the young public for adventure playing and in particular, video gaming.

The sponsorship with SEGA and Virgin Leisure, promotes a product which offers perfect continuity with "The Knight of the Labyrinth".

Just like the televised programme, the game console SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, invites the child to live adventures on its television set. It obliges the child with meter at the point a strategy by anticipating the course of play. It transports them in an imaginary and fantastic world, with obstacles and people hostile or friendly.

SEGA MASTER SYSTEM is a high tech console, which connects directly on the television set. Its powerful price of 690F, includes/understands a play offered in gift. The SEGA console gives access to a catalogue of more than one hundred plays, some functioning with an interactive gun (sold separately).

In Europe, SEGA is number 1 on the market of the game consoles.

SEGA is involved in the generic tape announcements of the "Knight of the Labyrinth". The prizes offered to the winners of the show are of course, the SEGA game console.

More

Fabien, a French fan of the show has provided us with more information on Le Chevalier du Labyrinthe. See More Information.

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