Works based on Thunderbirds

In the early 1980s, episodes from a number of the Andersons' 1960s Supermarionation series were re-edited and combined into made-for-TV compilation films by ITC's New York offices, supervised by producer Robert Mandell and writer David Hirsch.[9] Intended to be broadcast in a two-hour family timeslot (including advertisement breaks), and branded "Super Space Theater", this new format was sold to cable networks and into syndication in United States.[9] Three Thunderbirds compilations, all one-and-a-half hours in length and re-edited with new, animated title sequences, were made: Thunderbirds To The Rescue (1980) is a combination of "Trapped in the Sky" and "Operation Crash-Dive",[10] Thunderbirds In Outer Space (1981) of "Sun Probe" and "Ricochet",[11] and Countdown to Disaster (1982) of "Terror in New York City" and "Atlantic Inferno".[9][11] Although copyright issues entailed by the 1980s home video releases of the "Super Space Theater" compilations delayed VHS releases of individual Thunderbirds episodes (in their un-cut form) until the early 1990s, the UK versions proved to be a major commercial success for the distributor, Channel 5 Video.[9]

A live-action film adaptation – Thunderbirds, directed by Jonathan Frakes and produced by StudioCanal, Universal Pictures and Working Title Films – premiered on 24 July 2004. All the Thunderbird machines seen in the film are based on the original designs, albeit with modern refinements. Since BMW, current owners of Rolls-Royce, refused its permission for use of the brand, a modified Ford Thunderbird appears as FAB 1. The plot of the film concentrates mostly on Alan Tracy, Tin-Tin and a newcomer – Brains' son, Fermat – who must rescue their families, Lady Penelope and Parker while the Hood plots a gold bullion raid on the Bank of England.

The film was poorly received both critically and commercially,[12] opening in 11th place at the North American box office, grossing only £1.3 million in the UK on its opening weekend,[13] and drawing a negative response from fans of the TV series.[14] Sylvia Anderson, who served as an unofficial production consultant,[15] endorsed the adaptation; in her memoirs, she expresses regret for the "negative vibes that were already being circulated before even a foot of film was being shot. But I suppose there was bound to be a backlash from genuinely passionate fans who jealously guarded the Thunderbirds legacy."[14] According to Anderson, series cinematographer John Read responded positively at a test screening.[16] By contrast, Gerry Anderson denounced the film as "the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in my life"[17] and an "absolute, unmitigated disaster".[18] Like Sylvia, he had been contacted as a possible consultant, but declined the studio's offer after rejecting the concepts for the re-imagined Thunderbirds machines;[19] additionally, he declined an offer of £750,000 to attend the film's premiere.[18] He received no on-screen credit for his role in co-creating the TV series.[19]

Plans for a live-action film had first been announced by ITC's Los Angeles offices in 1993.[20] Originally expected to be released in time for Christmas 1995, the film was to have been directed by Renny Harlin, with Tom Cruise a possibility for the role of Scott Tracy.[21] Other actors under consideration included Bob Hoskins (as Parker) and Patsy Kensit, Joanna Lumley and Emma Thompson (as Lady Penelope). Following PolyGram's acquisition of ITC in 1995,[22] its subsidiary Working Title (represented by Tim Bevan) resumed the development of the abortive project, with filming now scheduled to commence in August 1998.[23] By 1997, Peter Hewitt had been hired to direct on the basis of Karey Kirkpatrick's script.[23] Kristin Scott Thomas had been contracted to play Lady Penelope, while Pete Postlethwaite had yet to accept an offer to appear as Parker.[23] The Baldwin brothers – Alec, Daniel, William and Stephen – had been suggested for the roles of the Tracy sons, with Sean Connery a candidate for Jeff Tracy.[23] Other filming techniques were briefly considered, including computer and stop-motion animation.[23] As he would in subsequent years, Anderson was offered a consultant post; he was dropped from the production when Working Title determined that it already had sufficient numbers of creative staff attached to the project.[24]

A combination of budgeting concerns, disagreements over the writing and characterisation, and the poor commercial reception to films such as Lost in Space and The Avengers (both adaptations of older TV series), caused the development of the film to stall for a second time.[23] In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagram and merged with Universal – an acquisition that Sylvia Anderson, who had given Hewitt's version her endorsement, believes impacted negatively on the production: "It seemed Seagram ... cared nothing for this 'work in progress' and the whole Thunderbirds saga fell between the cracks."[25] Frakes' version, co-produced by Bevan, did not enter production until 2003.[15] Anderson adds that the many delays experienced in adapting Thunderbirds for live-action cinema may be partly attributable to her divorce: "[Gerry's and my] parting broke up a winning combination ... The two creators [of Thunderbirds] were going in different directions – the winning team was no more. How to entrust millions of dollars to only one of the duo? Which one? The name above the title or the character creator?"[26]

Kagaku Kyuujo-Tai TechnoVoyager (Scientific Rescue Team TechnoVoyager) – a 1982 Japanese anime series dubbed for, and exported to, Anglophone countries as Thunderbirds 2086 – is based on Thunderbirds[9][12] but written with a stronger emphasis on futuristic technology. In this re-imagining, developed from a concept by Anderson titled Thunderhawks (but without his knowledge, involvement or approval),[35][36] International Rescue is stationed within an arcology, operates 17 Thunderbird vehicles, and employs personnel from a diverse range of backgrounds.[37] Distributed by ITC under the supervision of Robert Mandell,[9] Thunderbirds 2086 comprised 24 episodes, but was cancelled in Japan after the first 18 had been broadcast.[35] In the UK, 13 episodes aired on BBC1 in 1986.[37][38]

The "Hack Masters", Tripp and Roxette, of UPN's short-lived Turbocharged Thunderbirds (1994–95)

From 5 February 1994,[20] the Fox Broadcasting Company broadcast Thunderbirds (re-styled Thunderbirds USA or Thunderbirds Are Go!)[20] on its Fox Kids programming block.[21] In response to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and other successful, contemporary children's programmes, and to acquaint American audiences with the series' premise before the release of a film version (then expected to appear in 1995), ITC edited 13 of the original episodes to fill a half-hour timeslot, also overlaying new opening titles, synthesised theme and incidental music, character voices and dialogue (provided by American actors).[21] The series was not renewed for a second season and, to date, has never been transmitted in the UK.[20]

Thunderbirds was syndicated in a brand-new format as Turbocharged Thunderbirds, a PolyGram-Bohbot co-production, on the United Paramount Network (UPN) from 18 December 1994.[12][22][39] Conceived as a comedy, this second re-edit preserved most of Fox's alterations, although a number of episode titles were changed.[39] Fox additionally inserted live-action footage of a pair of Californian teenagers from the year 2096 – Tripp (Travis Wester) and Roxette (Johna Stewart), nicknamed the "Hack Masters" – who are pulled into a parallel universe called "Thunder-World".[22] There, they ally themselves with "simulated lifeforms" of International Rescue (the 1960s puppet characters) against the evil "Atrocimator" (voiced by Tim Curry) and his "head-honcho", the Hood (Malachi Throne), serving Jeff Tracy (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) from the orbital listening platform Hackmaster Command.[22]

A single series of 13 episodes was transmitted in the United States; as with its antecedent, Turbocharged Thunderbirds has never received a UK broadcast.[23] Cull describes the series as a "grotesque hybrid show",[40] while Archer and Hearn consider it "risible".[41] After viewing a sample of footage, Anderson judged Turbocharged Thunderbirds to be "the most diabolical thing I had ever seen in my life ... absolutely appalling".[41] He held the acting, dialogue, and "gaudily painted set" of Hackmaster Command in especially low regard and was prepared to initiate legal action against the producers until his name was removed from the credits.[23][41]

Prior to the 2013 announcement of an official remake, Gerry Anderson made a number of attempts to resurrect Thunderbirds. In 1976, in association with Star Trek and Space: 1999 producer Fred Freiberger, he developed Inter-Galactic Rescue 4 for the American NBC network as an updating of both Thunderbirds and Supercar. The series was to have been filmed in live action and to have followed the adventures of the variable-configuration land-, sea-, air- and space-rescue vehicle of the title, Rescue 4, patrolling the "north-west quadrant of space". Century 21 designers Reg Hill, Brian Johnson and Martin Bower contributed pre-production concept art, but the 13-episode proposal was ultimately rejected by NBC in favour of rival story ideas.[9][42]

In 1984, following the completion of Terrahawks, Anderson conceived T-Force, which would have transferred International Rescue's base of operations to a giant submarine, re-imagined FAB 1 as a custom-built Porsche, and eliminated Brains' stutter and short-sightedness.[43][44] Although Anderson was unable to secure the funding necessary to develop the series further,[21] some of the plot devices originally intended for T-Force eventually surfaced in Firestorm (2003),[44] a Japanese anime series based on an idea by Anderson and John Needham.[45]

In 1993, the concept for T-Force was re-developed under the title G-Force,[46] and later as GFI – an abbreviation of Gee Force Intergalactic, the rescue organisation that was to have featured in lieu of International Rescue.[21] The flagship of the G-Force fleet, the colossal spaceship Galaxy, was to have housed a factory capable of manufacturing vehicles and equipment specialised to fulfil the requirements of any rescue mission.[21] Only one of the 13 scripted or partially scripted episodes of GFI – "Warming Warning", written by Tony Barwick[47] – was filmed; it combined traditional cel animation (for sequences featuring the characters) and computer animation (for vehicle sequences).[21] The former, which was provided by a Russian studio, was judged to be of poor quality; when it was determined that re-creating and upgrading this material would render the series cost-prohibitive, production on GFI was abandoned.[21] According to Anderson, "the studio in Moscow was, in my opinion, ill-equipped. After some six months of desperately trying to make this co-production work, I finally had no option but to call it off."[48]

In September 2005, a QuickTime video clip titled Thunderbirds IR was published on online P2P networks; it included a trailer of a proposed Thunderbirds remake, to be produced by Carlton Television. Made using a combination of computer animation and live-action puppetry, the clip included footage of a re-designed Thunderbird 1, the characters of Scott Tracy and the Hood, and the rescue of a falling lighthousekeeper; Scott was seen to walk, and perform a backflip with the tongue-in-cheek quip "Look, no strings!". Visual effects company The Mill had been contracted to provide computer animation. Although Anderson endorsed the project after meeting the Carlton staff in the early stages of development, production of the new series was postponed indefinitely when Carlton merged with Granada plc.[49]

Writing in 2005, following the completion of New Captain Scarlet, Anderson stated that he had been unable to secure Thunderbirds remake rights from Granada.[33] By July 2008, he was still in negotiations with ITV, but promised a new version of Thunderbirds that would be "updated for the 21st-century audience" and which would, he hoped, be made in CGI.[50] He added, "This is very much a pet ambition of mine, and I am putting everything into what I consider would be ITV's answer to Doctor Who.[50] Although Anderson continued to express his belief that such a series would finally be produced with his involvement, ITV continued to withhold the rights into late 2008 and early 2009.[51][52]

In January 2011, a new series of Thunderbirds was announced by Anderson during an interview for BBC Radio 5 Live. Anderson stated that he was unable to reveal many details because he had signed a non-disclosure agreement, but that the production of the series was assured and that it would indeed be made in CGI, with modernised characters and vehicles. In the 15 January edition of The Sun, he said that he had yet to script the first episode, but that he had "fleshed it out" in his mind.[53]

Anderson died in December 2012, initially leaving the future of the new series in doubt. However, in February 2013, an ITV press release confirmed that ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures were planning to re-invent Thunderbirds as a series of twenty-six 30-minute episodes, to be filmed using a mixture of computer animation and live-action model sets.[54] The new series premiered on CITV on 4 April 2015.

In July 2015, to celebrate the series' 50th anniversary, Filmed in Supermarionation documentary director Stephen La Rivière launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds necessary to produce three new puppet episodes based on the Thunderbirds mini-albums of the 1960s. The project, titled "Thunderbirds 1965", was supported by ITV, Sylvia Anderson and the estate of Gerry Anderson.[55]

The comedy of the American puppet film Team America: World Police (2004), produced by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, was inspired by the idiosyncrasies of Thunderbirds-era Supermarionation techniques.[56] In an interview, Stone and Parker stated that while they were not especially fans of Thunderbirds, they thought highly of the series' visual style: "What's made it last is the time and care that the people who did that show put into the marionettes".[68] In the 1960s BBC comedy Not Only... But Also, actors Peter Cook and Dudley Moore performed a sketch titled "Superthunderstingcar" – a parody of Thunderbirds as well as other Anderson puppet series, including Supercar and Stingray.[32][69] The 1980s Australian comedy show The D-Generation featured a recurring Thunderbirds-themed sketch of live actors imitating wire puppets, with various storylines (such as "Thunderbirds Pizza", in which the characters operate a global pizza-delivery business).

The Aardman Animations short film A Close Shave includes an homage to the series:[32][56] after Wallace receives a telephone call for window-cleaning services, his movement from his living room to his garage, then onto his motorcycle, and then out into the street – all via automated machinery – is reminiscent of Virgil Tracy's launch of Thunderbird 2.[70] Further homages can be found in the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999),[32] the TV sitcom Spaced (1999–2001),[56] and the design of the computer-animated characters of TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–13).[71] A 1994 episode of the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2004) features the Lady Penelope puppet in a dream sequence based on the character of Edina Monsoon undergoing surgery: Penelope informs Edina that she is dying, but that Brains is working on a chemical formula to save her life. In the United States, MTV broadcast a sitcom parody of Thunderbirds, Super Adventure Team, in 1998.

From 1974 to 1975, the company Stage Three – co-founded by Thunderbirds puppeteer Christine Glanville – hosted a Thunderbirds rod puppet stage show at Bournemouth Pier and other venues.[9][72]

In the mid-1980s, Mime Theatre Project performers Andrew Dawson and Gavin Robertson devised a tribute show called Thunderbirds: F.A.B.,[37] which in 1989 broke West End sales records at London's Apollo Theatre.[73][74] All of the parts were acted by Dawson and Robertson, who "played" the Thunderbirds machines by wearing a variety of strap-on helmets, each one with a model Thunderbird on top of it. According to Robertson, the original intention was for the models be placed on the shoulder,[74] "but we figured they'd be too small to be seen at the back of the theatre, so we then decided to wear them like huge hats."[75] Also featuring Captain Scarlet, the show toured internationally and popularised a staccato manner of walking that became known as the "Thunderbirds walk".[73] Gerry Anderson had low expectations for the show, but after seeing Dawson and Robertson's performance described it as "original" and "superb".[76]

In 1987, Dawson and Robertson's miming style was re-produced in a TV advertisement for Exchange & Mart magazine, in which Dawson appeared in costume as Scott Tracy.[77] The original mime show re-opened in 1991 and again in 1995.[32] In 2000, it was re-launched as Thunderbirds: F.A.B. – The Next Generation, with Dawson and Robertson replaced by Wayne Forester and Paul Kent and featuring additional characters from Stingray and Captain Scarlet.[32][73][75][78][79]

Cover versions of "The Thunderbirds March" have been released by musicians and bands such as Billy Cotton, Joe Loss, Frank Sidebottom, The Rezillos and The Shadows.[32] The Royal Marines Band Service added the theme to its repertoire, performing it at the public unveiling of Concorde in France in 1969.[80] Both the march and Peter Dyneley's introductory countdown have been adopted by Level 42 for use in live concerts, as seen in the video release of their 1987 performance at the old Wembley Stadium in London; an updated version, combined with the opening fanfare to the band's song "Heaven in My Hands", is still used to start their gigs. The countdown has also been used by the Beastie Boys in various events, including the 2007 Live Earth concerts.

Songs inspired by Thunderbirds include We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It's "International Rescue" (1989), Busted's "Thunderbirds Are Go!" (the end theme of the 2004 film adaptation) and V6's "Thunderbirds (Your Voice)" (2004).[32] In 1998, Australian band TISM released the single "Thunderbirds Are Coming Out", the music video for which focuses on a socially awkward teenager who sees the Thunderbird machines on TV and is immediately impressed; thereafter, he is inspired to conform to the norms of adolescent life. Other music video allusions to Thunderbirds include Wax's "Right Between the Eyes" (1986).[81]

In 1983, Gerry Anderson directed his first music video in the form of "SOS", a song performed by Moya Griffiths (the singing voice of Kate Kestrel in Terrahawks) which features lyrical references to the Thunderbirds characters and vehicles.[82][83] In 1991, at the request of producer-director Steve Barron,[84] and in collaboration with Andrew Dawson, Gavin Robertson and Thunderbirds puppet operator Christine Glanville,[81][85] Anderson directed the video for the Dire Straits single "Calling Elvis". It mixes newly filmed footage of Thunderbirds-style puppets (some with likenesses of the band members), scenes from the TV series, and clips of the band in live performance.[21][81][86][87]

In 1990, TV producer Gary Shoefield released a re-mix album titled Power Themes 90, containing techno covers of themes to various British TV programmes.[69][81] Among these was Thunderbirds, whose theme was re-mixed under the name "Thunderbirds Are Go! (The Pressure Mix)", and billed as "featuring MC Parker".[81] A music video compilation was also released; the segment for "Thunderbirds Are Go! (The Pressure Mix)" contains footage from the TV episodes intercut with specially filmed shots of the original Parker puppet, dressed in "era" clothing and working as a DJ.

Between 1965 and 1967, AP Films created a series of Thunderbirds-themed television advertisements for the brands Lyons Maid and Kellogg's, featuring contributions from the original voice cast and promoting such products as the Fab ice lolly and Sugar Smacks breakfast cereal.[88][89]

In 1990, Gerry Anderson filmed a car insurance advert for Swinton Insurance titled "Parker's Day Off",[77] in which Lady Penelope, at the wheel of FAB 1, drives with a dangerous recklessness that is only checked when Parker comes to her rescue in Thunderbird 2.[43] The title character was played by the original Parker puppet, worked by veteran operator Christine Glanville.[43]

In 1993, a Thunderbirds-themed advert for the Kit Kat chocolate bar, "Scott Takes a Break", was filmed.[77] This includes the original "5–4–3–2–1!" countdown and shots of all the Thunderbird machines taking off – except Thunderbird 1.[77] Inside the cockpit, Scott is honouring the product's slogan by "having a break" with a Kit Kat, while an agitated Jeff repeatedly orders him to launch: "Thunderbirds! GO!"[77]

In 2001, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency made use of Thunderbirds in an advert prompting drivers to pay their road tax within the deadline: Lady Penelope snips Parker's strings for failing to prevent FAB 1 from being clamped.[90] The same year, Travelcare made an advert with the tagline "We'll tell you what the brochures won't": two girls in a swimming pool are disturbed as the floor starts to slide away; as Thunderbird 1 blasts off, they are revealed to be on Tracy Island, and only narrowly avoid being incinerated by the rocket exhaust.

In 2008, Specsavers commissioned an advert starring the characters of Virgil Tracy and the Hood to promote its new "Reaction" varifocal lenses.[90] The mini-adventure sees Virgil being pursued by the Hood (both of them wearing jetpacks) over mountainous terrain. When Virgil emerges from a tunnel into the dazzling sunshine, his Specsavers lenses immediately darken to protect his vision; the Hood is not so fortunate and, blinded by the light, crashes into one of the mountains, his jetpack exploding. The advert was filmed in London over five days using techniques similar to those employed by the original crew.[90] Jan King, who joined AP Films for Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, returned as puppet operator for the filming of the scene, which was heavily reliant on greenscreen chroma key compositing for the inclusion of the mountainous backgrounds.[90] He notes that the advertisement used "ordinary carpet thread for the strings, because [the studio] wanted the strings to be seen rather than not seen."[90]

Another 2000s advert, released by Britvic to advertise its Drench! water product, features Brains dancing to the 1992 song "Rhythm Is a Dancer". Half-way through, he sits down to rest and drink some Drench! before resuming the dance, and the advert ends with the slogan "Brains perform best when they're hydrated". The official "Stay Drenched!" website hosted a making-of video revealing that Brains' movements were realised by a mixture of live-action puppetry, motion capture and computer animation.

In 2017, Parker and Lady Penelope appeared in a Halifax advert promoting the bank's "Savers Prize Draw." In the advert, Parker visits a Halifax branch while running errands for Penelope, and learns that he has won the bank's £500,000 cash prize. Later, at Creighton-Ward Mansion, Lady Penelope rings for Parker, who is nowhere to be found. The scene cuts to reveal that he has spent his winnings on a tropical holiday.[91]

Thunderbirds was the inspiration for the style of Nintendo's Star Fox franchise. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the series, has stated that he is a fan of the series, and that its distinctive style inspired the puppet-like appearance and actions of the Star Fox characters since Star Fox 64.[92]

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