Animation Source Forums

I can't believe I didn't know about this until now! (Shame on me!)

This is amazing! The animated movie was great, but to actually have a real movie that actually tells the truth about the serum run? You bet your butt I'm gonna see this!

And not to sound like a fanboy, but maybe they'll also mention the animated movie in the beginning or end of the movie since they both cover the same event, Who knows, this could be just the thing to get the Balto series back on its feet. Then again, it could not. We'll just have to wait and see!

Has there been any word on what actors they may have in it?

I highly doubt that, since they would be two separate entities, produced by two different production companies. Adding to the fact that the Balto cartoon movie has almost nothing in common with the actual serum run history or the real Balto.


Beyond what has been provided here by way of links and information, no.

Color me very excited for this!

While not as enthusiastic in my pursuits of knowledge surrounding the actual Great Race of Mercy as some of the fellow sourcers (namely, Jersey Captain, whose book recommendation was vastly appreciated and enjoyed by myself), I am still excited to see the true story, Balto notwithstanding, get it's due.

Some news about the Norwegian Balto documentary. I was fortunate to be among a group of people who were invited to attend a private screening of this documentary at a recent dog event. The production company sent a copy of the film to a fellow Siberian person who had been hired by the Norwegian Broadcasting Company to do research for this project. He told us that the film debuted in Norway in late December of last year and was very successful.

This film is the real deal.....an outstanding production about Balto. Hopefully it will be released in other countries sometime soon. If so, you don't want to miss it.

Golly, I seem to have heard something about this






That is a copy of the e-mail sent to me by the Project Manager, Ms. Anne Mari Svendsen. I had previously had extensive conversations with documentary writer, director and producer Per Kristian Olsen (including phone conversations), and we talked a great deal about the history of the serum run, the documentary and Alaska. He is a wonderful individual, and he made sure that the benefits of those conversations were noted in the credits of the documentary, as I am proud to say that I am one of the ones listed in the "Special thanks to" section (which includes historians, authors, mushers, professional institutions, etc.).

As to the documentary (entitled "Balto -- A Hero From Alaska"...but don't get the wrong idea here. Togo is very well discussed and represented in this documentary, as are Gunnar Kaasen and Leonhard Seppala. Sadly, the other dogs and mushers really are not except in the most general terms), for everyone's benefit, I also received a copy (as indicated in the above e-mail), and I perused it recently. It is a wonderful production, combining interviews with authors, historians and mushers (including also the director of the first Balto animated movie, Simon Wells, and the granddaughter of Leonhard Seppala himself, Maja Ramsey), re-enacted footage, old photographs and lots of newsreel clips dating from the time and afterwards, all having to do with the serum run and individuals and/or events associated with it.

The documentary is a mixture of English (such as those interviewed and a little narration in English) and Norwegian narration with English subtitles. Most of the re-enacted footage is shot in old newsreel style, though the interviews are mostly conducted with the interviewees seated in front of a dramatically and colorfully-lit drop cloth (not terribly uncommon in documentary interviews, actually).

It's quite good, and I have inquired of Ms. Svendsen when and if the documentary will be available on DVD for purchase, or viewable online so that the rest of you may have a look. Those of you from Norway probably may have already seen it on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's programming schedule.

JC-->That's great news, and an awesome update! I wouldn't mind taking a look at that documentary just for all the new information it may fill my mind with. I'm glad you got to be in it as well--but given you're a true expert, I expect nothing less.

I have no idea whom that individual is, Sarah dear. lol


Thank you, Skul! I do hope that NBC allows for the documentary to be sold and distributed over here. Of course, I wish I could pass it along, but I want to respect their proprietary rights in this regard.

In this case, I helped them with their research and had many productive conversations with the director/writer/producer, Per Kristian Olsen, who is also an executive at NBC. Helping out was more than enough for me. I was quite happy to provide whatever I could.

They might make a movie on 2025, the 100th year Balto saved Nome. This could be more popular than the Balto sequels or even the movie! Maybe if the true Balto movie got a successful hit, then the 3 other balto movies might get a little more attention or something. To me, it sounds like the real story might have a good shot here man.

No, I don't think so. For one, they can't pop a movie out with a snap of a finger (not to mention there is a documentary in the works already, why would they need another one?). Secondly, the serum run doesn't appear to be a historical event that many people know about, so a big celebration is not going to happen.

Stop getting your hopes up for the Balto films. You will just have to learn to accept that the Balto movies are done and over with.

It's a rather interesting objective: remaking the Balto story so that it actually follows up to the TRUE story. But knowing Hollywood, they'd most likely make the movie like how Balto (1995) was: a false story about a true hero! And once again we'd be right back to square one with yet another false-facted Balto film.

Have you even read the topic? The movie concerned is a documentary on the Serum Run by a company that has basically no association with Hollywood.

Probably a very short movie that tells the history of the Serum Run. It probably won't be a big time cinema movie.

If it were to be a big time cinema movie, count me in for first in line!!! And Very interesting update on this Skul! I'm interested to know more!

This topic hasn't been touched in a year. Please don't bring up dead topics.

Oh, Shoot! I thought that 2 was a 3. I don't know how, but, yeah.... Sorry about that...