"Cosmos" (1980) TV mini-series

User Rating:

9.6/10   

Director:

Adrian Malone

Writer:

Ann Druyan (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

28 SZEPTEMBER 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Astronomer Carl Sagan leads us on an engaging guided tour of the various elements and cosmological theories of the Universe.

Plot Keywords:

Earth | Universe | Star | Venus | Library

Awards:

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Carl Sagan

...

Himself - Host (13 episodes, 1980)

(more)

Series Directed by
David F. Oyster		(13 episodes, 1980)
Adrian Malone		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Carl Sagan		(13 episodes, 1980)
Ann Druyan		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Gregory Andorfer	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Judy Flannery	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Haines-Stiles	....	senior producer (unknown episodes)
David Kennard	....	senior producer (unknown episodes)
Adrian Malone	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Rob McCain	....	producer (unknown episodes)
David F. Oyster	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Tom Weidlinger	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Richard Wells	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Larry Fast		(unknown episodes)
Gordon Skene		(unknown episodes)
Tôru Takemitsu		(unknown episodes)
Isao Tomita		(unknown episodes)
Vangelis		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
James Lathom		(unknown episodes)
Roy Stewart		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
John Retsek		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Rick Sternbach	....	astronomical artist (12 episodes, 1980)
Don Davis	....	astronomical artist (unknown episodes)
Jon Lomberg	....	chief artist (unknown episodes)
Anne Norcia	....	astronomical artist (unknown episodes)
Ernie Norcia	....	astronomical artist (unknown episodes)
Adolf Schaller	....	astronomical artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kent Gibson	....	sound designer / sound re-recording mixer (13 episodes, 1980)
Richard Van Dyke	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Gerald Zelinger	....	sound mixer / sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Robert Blalack	....	effects production (12 episodes, 1980)
James Shourt	....	effects production (12 episodes, 1980)
John Allison	....	visual effects supervisor (11 episodes, 1980)
Adolf Schaller	....	visual effects supervisor (8 episodes, 1980)
Bob Buckner	....	visual effects: Magicam, Inc. (4 episodes, 1980)
Pat Cole	....	computer animation (4 episodes, 1980)
Jim Dow	....	visual effects: Magicam, Inc. (4 episodes, 1980)
Joe Matza	....	visual effects: Magicam, Inc. (4 episodes, 1980)
Susan Racho	....	visual effects production coordinator (2 episodes, 1980)
Christopher S. Ross	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Donna Tracy	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Mark J. Levin	....	lighting technician (13 episodes, 1980)
Hilyard John Brown	....	location cinematographer (unknown episodes)
Chris O'Dell	....	location cinematographer (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Russ Mooney	....	animator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Janelle Balnicke	....	location & production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Stephen H. Burum	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
John Gale	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Larry Heider	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Mike Johnson	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Robert C. King	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Cleve Landsberg	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Carey Melcher	....	technical designer (unknown episodes)
George C. Reilly	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)
Joe Wolcott	....	magicam crew (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Carl Sagan Productions
• KCET

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Special Effects

• Animagraphics
• Cartoon Kitchen
• Cinema Research
• Computer Graphics Research Group, Ohio State University (computer animation)
• Evans and Sutherland (computer animation)
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (computer animation)
• Lumeni Productions
• Magicam
• Modern Film Effects
• Motion Pictures (MPI)
• NASA Ames Research Center (computer animation)
• New Genesis Productions
• Opticam
• Precision Film Group
• Universal Hartland
• Wexler Film Productions (computer animation) (as Wexler Productions)

Other Companies

• Animagraphics  stills camera

Runtime:

60 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Carl Sagan Productions

Trivia:

The series featured the most extensive use of special effects ever conducted for a documentary. In one notable episode, special effects were used to make it seem as if host Sagan was walking through a model recreation of the Library of Alexandria.

Quotes:

Carl Sagan: A galaxy is composed of gas and dust and stars - billions upon billions of stars.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Quarterfinal 1 (#26.4)" (2009)

A dreamy and hopeful meditation on science and the universe

This thirteen part series is Carl Sagan's personal account of the universe and how humans have interpreted it through time. In Cosmos, Carl Sagan takes us on location to places in the world where the most important people and ideas in science and astronomy were born, and to places in outer space where those ideas have revealed the universe to us. Carl Sagan shares a sense of wonder that is both intelligent and humorous, while occasionally warning us of our capabilities of self-destruction. Though Cosmos was made during the height of the cold war, it still stands as a reminder of global problems and dangers we still need to resolve. This series has either consciously or unconsciously set the standard for the format of almost every hosted science show or series on Television since it was made, and it's no wonder. Carl Sagan is a charismatic and sincere authority on the subject matter, and the music score is mostly by Vangelis (Bladerunner, Chariots of Fire, 1492) Synergy, Tangerine Dream, Vivaldi, and more. The visuals are amazing and remain as relevant as they were on the release date.