Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboeken

Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboeken
Comic book series
Written by	Herman van Veen
Artwork by	Harald Siepermann Hans Bacher
Typesetting and layout	Ton de Jong jr.
Publisher	PrimaMedia bv (Ton de Jong)
Language	Dutch
Release date	2006
Number of books in series	17 planned, 2 released
Binding method	Hardcover

The Filmstripboek series was made in 2006 along with the Dutch Disky DVDs. The intention was to use screengrabs from all 52 of the episodes and make them into 17 comicbooks (3 episodes each). Only 2 of these were eventually released. These books use screengrabs from a Standard Definition quality source, likely the Disky DVD release from the same year.

Production

On 24 February 2006, Harald Siepermann posted on his Alfred J. Kwak blog and, three days later, on his personal blog that there would be 52 comic books coming. This statement turned out to be an exaggeration and likely a result of miscommunication, as the images he posted clearly show two alternate covers of the first book featuring King Radbout de Derde and Jonkheer Das, along with content from the first three episodes. These photos likely depict proofs of concept as they were being shown to Siepermann and Stephan Dunweg at PrimaMedia, and include different color tests.

The comicbooks closely follow the episode, ommitting, shortening or combining scenes and dialogue to fit into 15-17 pages of generally 6 panels per page. The artwork is almost exclusively Standard Definition screengrabs from the episodes, likely using the Dutch Disky DVDs, which were developed in the same year, as a source. The screengrabs were upscaled using nearest-neighbor interpolation image scaling instead of bicubic scaling. Another result of using screengrabs from the standard definition versions is that some frames include frame blending artifacts, caused by the transitioning from 24 to 29.976 to 25 frames. The second book improves on the quality of the screengrabs used, but it is still possible to see individual pixels and there are still a number of instances of frame blending. There is also a difference in color quality. The first book seems to have been printed in the RGB color model, rather than being converted to CMYK, the standard model for print media. This can be observed in the bright magenta beams of the ruby in the crown, which lose saturation in the center. This effect suggests a color shift resulting from an RGB-to-CMYK conversion error, as the magenta extends outside the CMYK color space. The second book's colors however are muted, which is also evident in Hannes' feather colors as compared to those of the picture of Alfred.

The covers are created by tracing a screengrab from one of the three episodes and coloring them in. In the case of the first book, not only has Jonkheer Poen van Kalekoen been traced, but the background has as well, turning the magenta beams from the ruby of the crown white. The background is shifted left slightly, combared to Jonkheer Poen. On the second book it appears that the background has been upscaled using bicubic scaling and Dolf and Hannes have been traced and put on top of it. The covers would have a number in a black box on the top right, the logo text of Alfred J. Kwak featured twice, once horizontal with the Herman van Veen Studios logo on top, and once sideways with the Alfred J. Kwak logo to the top of it. On the right a red banner and the main picture featuring content from inside the book framed with a specific color on the top and bottom; pink for book 1, green for book 2 and blue for the unreleased book 3. A standard picture of Alfred Jodocus Kwak is featured next to a list of the episode names included in the book. The backs all include short blurbs of each of the episodes it contained with three screengrabs framed inside a filmstrip on a baby blue background.

The inside has a title page and a foreword from Herman van Veen, co-signed tongue-in-cheek by Alfred Jodocus Kwak. At the end of the book is a teaser for the next installment of this series and then a list of all the intended book releases.

On 18 August 2006, at the outdoor theater Cabrio in Soest, Herman van Veen officially announced, at the conclusion of the charity theater play Eend Goed Al Goed for UNICEF, that comics covering all 52 episodes would be released across 17 books (each containing 3 episodes, except the final volume, which contains 4). At the end of the performance, Ton de Jong from PrimaMedia presented van Veen with the very first volume of the series. The plan was for these comics to be translated and distributed worldwide.

In November the first book was released in stores and the second book followed at the end of 2006. No official statement has been made as to why no more parts were published.

A behind the scenes video for children was released on the offical Alfred Jodocus Kwak website showing the printing process at Drukkerij Proost. The video was produced by CTV Productions in 2006, filmed by Aaron Rookus, voiced by Erna Berendsen and edited by Pi-Qui Baltink. Music featured was the Dutch end credits and Metliedje.

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  Ton de Jong (??) showing Stephan Dunweg printed pages and a mock-up of the cover of book 1.
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  A close-up showing pages from the first chapter of book 1.
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  Cover with printing bleed of book 1.
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  Cover with printing bleed of book 2.
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  A screengrab from the behind the scenes video from the Alfred Jodocus Kwak website shows that the inside covers were originally supposed to have a color similar to what was on the front, instead of white.

Main staff list

© 2006 Herman van Veen Studios BV, Soest
© 1989 Harlekijn/Van Veen Siepermann, Bacher & JFA productions BV
Exclusive license given by Herman van Veen Studios BV, Soest, Stephan Dunweg

Illustrations: Hans Bacher, Harald Siepermann
Text: Herman van Veen
Typesetting and layout: Ton de Jong jr.
Distribution: Joosten & De Haas
Printing company: Drukkerij Proost
Special thanks': Hans Huijsing, Maan Jansen, Manon Kotvis and Letja Verstijnen

Releases

All the releases in this series.

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  Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboek Deel 1 (2006) (Dutch)
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  Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboek Deel 2 (2006) (Dutch)
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  Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboek Deel 3 (Unreleased) (Dutch)

Every comic was to be divided into 3 episodes as follows. All the story titles are exactly the same as the episode titles, except for episode 16.

Deel 1 1 De Eieren 2 Het Verjaardagsfeestje 3 Het Kroonjuweel Deel 2 4 Op School 5 De Kater 6 De Olympiade Deel 3 7 De Zeeverkenners 8 De Spion 9 De Geest in de Fles Deel 4 10 De Heilige Tulband 11 Het Circus 12 Het Schaakspel Deel 5 13 De Witte Koningin 14 Vissen in Troebel Water 15 De Ontploffing Deel 6 16 De straat van Jeep 17 Vrienden vanuit de Ruimte 18 De Poolster Deel 7 19 De Walvis 20 De Nachtmerrie 21 De Bijen Deel 8 22 De Kraaienpartij 23 De Slag om Polderstad 24 Het Plan Deel 9 25 De Bevrijding 26 De Sneeuwman 27 Verliefd

Deel 10 28 Een Geschenk van de Koning 29 De Boerenganzen 30 Op Vakantie Deel 11 31 Het Booreiland 32 Atlantis 33 Cowboys en Indianen Deel 12 34 De Schat van Toet Kat Kammon 35 De Slang 36 Michael Duckson Deel 13 37 De Ontvoering 38 De Burenruzie 39 De Heks Deel 14 40 Het Stuwmeer 41 De Vulkaan 42 De Draak Deel 15 43 Groot Waterland krijgt een President 44 De Watersnood 45 Het Land van Twee Deel 16 46 Pierrot 47 Eind goed, al goed 48 Een Partijtje Golf Deel 17 49 De Regenboog 50 Het Casino 51 Het Regenwoud 52 Nog Lang en Gelukkig