Cult Australian sci-fi series The Girl from Tomorrow follows the fish-out-of-water tale of Alana (Katharine Cullen) – a girl from the year 3000 who ends up stranded in 1990s Sydney.

This excerpt shows the opening credits and the first few moments of the show, revealing the enduring influence of '80s pulp sci-fi obsession. Laser beams, retro-futurist sets with nightclub lighting and telepathic crystal headbands are among the fun trademarks. Add in the glittering, melodic synth theme, and the show captures the mood of the previous decade, with an eye trained on the new. Evolving computer-generated graphics are widely employed for explosions, ominous cyber-portals and the spheres Alana moves with her psychic powers. Though basic to a contemporary audience, their dynamic use reflects shifting artistic possibilities.

Combining the sensibilities of pulp fantasy and sci-fi, everyday Sydney and contemporary futurism, The Girl from Tomorrow forged a unique identity. The show aired from 1990 to 1992, and a sequel, The Girl from Tomorrow Part II: Tomorrow’s End, aired in 1992.