Completely Covered

Final DVD Art - by Andrew Ellard

9 December, 2005

Aaah - now here's a slightly sad moment. Much as we adore the look of this Series VIII DVD cover, it is in fact the final cover for the final series release. The end is really coming for this chapter in Red Dwarf history, and that end is painted orange.

As with all previous covers, the background art has been created by Chris Veale, the show's CGI effects artist. It shows the outside of Rimmer and Lister's prison cell, part of the orange tower that became the setting for so much of the eighth series.

Chris actually did a first version for this - pictured alongside the final - that looked great, but didn't have the dirty, worn look so familiar throughout Red Dwarf. When that change was made, we also took the opportunity to move the handrail up a little, away from being a parallel line with the wall behind it. It was also given a greyer tint. (Without going too far - this is, after all, background art. Individual elements of it shouldn't stand out.)

Image choices - as you'll have seen previously - are the traditional Rimmer/Lister pairing on the front cover (also used on the VHS cover; and this is the first shot since Series III's DVD to come from a genuine photo of the pair, rather than two separate shots put together), Hollister on the spine (after a little debate) and media-mogul Kryten pictured on the back (calling up memories of Krytie TV, one of the most popular episodes with the public). The same Rimmer, Lister and Kryten decorate the DVD discs themselves.

As you'd expect, there's also a fact-filled booklet to accompany the three-disc set. Aside from the usual wealth of additional info, the booklet gives us a chance to go into detail on a couple of interesting areas. All four Only The Good... endings are listed and explained, and we have a breakdown of just how Back in the Red differs from its original one-hour script. Plus details of just what has been added to the feature-length BITR.

So, join us as we celebrate the conclusion of four years' work - and the completion of that lovely Red Dwarf logo on the DVD spine! Admit it, you'll miss DVD Details when it's done.

Of course, it's not over yet! In the coming weeks we'll have a full content list for you, plus the magnificent new animated DVD menus for Series VIII - you're gonna want to stick around for that one; guaranteed unmissable!

More DVD Details will follow soon...

The upcoming Red Dwarf DVD releases are as follows:

Region	Location	Series	Date
2	UK/Europe	VII	OUT NOW!
1	America	VII	January 10, 2006
4	Australasia	VII	OUT NOW!
2	UK/Europe	VIII	March 27, 2006
1	America	VIII	May 2, 2006
4	Australasia	VIII	March/April 2006