In the 60s, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson created many shows for kids, featuring “Supermarionation”, a combination of string puppets and miniature scale models. The most famous of these was ‘Thunderbirds’, starring the Tracy family– Scott (Thunderbird 1), Virgil (Thunderbird 2), John (Thunderbird 3), Alan (Also Thunderbird 3) and Gordon (Thunderbird 4 as well as their leader, father Jeff. (The sons were named after the Mercury Seven astronauts Scott Carpenter, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, John Glenn, Alan Shepard and Gordon Cooper.) They were assisted by their head of security Kayrano, his daughter Tin-Tin, scientist Brains, the faaaaaaaaaaaaabulous Lady Penelope and her chauffeur Nosey. Collectively, the heroes are known as International Rescue and respond to disasters too great for normal law enforcement/military forces.
All of Anderson’s “Supermarionation” shows were massive in their native England. They were popular enough in the US but not nearly as huge. In 2004, Jonathan Frakes (a.k.a. #1 from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’) directed a live action adaptation of the series as a feature film, which bombed at the box office and is mostly forgotten.
But the concept is being revived in a new CGI series. Will it soar to new heights? Or is there something missing without the marionettes? You can judge for yourself with the trailer below:
‘Thunderbirds are Go!” debuts in the UK on CITV this spring.
Source: Cinema Blend
