Synonymous Botch Returns Printable version

Synonymous Botch Returns was an incomplete novel written by Ted Phillips in late-1995, containing over 40 pages, across several chapters. The story was intended as a direct sequel to the 1983 film Twice Upon a Time. It was Ted's first known written mashup. It is no longer extant, and not much about the plot is known.

History

In 1995, Ted Phillips watched a screening of Twice Upon a Time on the television series Mr. Spim's Cartoon Theatre, which aired on Cartoon Network, and it immediately became one of his favorite films. Ted was fascinated by the villain Synonymous Botch and his faithful Rudy, who escape at the end of the film, and began writing Synonymous Botch Returns as an exploration of what they might do next.

The novel was written in a tan-covered, 5x8 spiral-bound notebook. Some of the chapters featured characters from Twice Upon a Time in mashups with characters from other television series Ted had seen, including The Adventures of Tintin, such as the titular character and Bluebeard the pirate.

The notebook spent several years on the white shelves. When the white shelves were dismantled, archaeologists were dismayed to learn that Synonymous Botch Returns was no longer there.

In late-1998, Ted drew concept art for a film based on Synonymous Botch Returns, called Thrice Upon a Time.

The inspiration of Twice Upon a Time extended to other content. The idea of people being trapped in a constant state of nightmare informed the plot of 1997's Dreamland.