back to article Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet creator Gerry Anderson dies at 83

Gerry Anderson, creator of classic children's television shows like Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90, has died at the age of 83. Anderson, in conjunction with his then-wife Sylvia, pioneered the use of puppets that had solenoid motors built into them to move the eyes and mouth – later dubbed supermarionation. The wires …

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  1. Graham Dawson Silver badge

    I only saw the Captain Scarlet reboot last year but boy, what a nostalgia trip. It was the sort of thing the original Scarlet wanted to be.

    Shame the broadcaster cocked it up...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and the Thunderbirds I saw first time round, Space 1999 watched on Sunday afternoons together with the series (not film) Logan's Run.

      Wish I could revisit that innocence as everything today is now is so matter of fact.

    2. Captain Scarlet Silver badge
      WTF?

      CGI Reboot

      Never mind the reboot, always wanted the original series completed :(

      What happens to me now??

  2. Haku
    Pint

    I never 'got on' with Thunderbirds

    But thought Captain Scarlet was great and did enjoy Space: 1999 & Terrahawks.

    *raises a pint (on a string)*

    Thanks for making some great tv, Mr Anderson.

    1. Captain Scarlet Silver badge
      Pint

      Re: I never 'got on' with Thunderbirds

      I also thought Captain Scarlet was great, probably a little to much :S

  3. banjomike
    Unhappy

    Four Feather Falls, a puppet Western that didn't catch on

    Yes it did. There were more episodes of Four Feather Falls than there were of Thunderbirds.

    1. Pookietoo

      Re: Yes it did

      Yet Thunderbirds has been frequently repeated in various countries right up to the present day, while Four Feather Falls doesn't seem to have been repeated anywhere in over forty years.

      1. tirk

        Re: Yes it did

        B&W vs colour is an enormous factor in determining what gets repeated though.

        1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
          Unhappy

          Re: Yes it did

          Colour was a pretty bold step in the UK (given the UK did not have a colour TV channel until BB2 launched in 1967 or 8)

          Walt Disney did the same early on. It's kept the re-run fees rolling in ever since.

          RIP Gerry. You made some terrific TV.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Four Feather Falls, a puppet Western that didn't catch on

      I've never heard of this, but its was before my time,

      I supose this may because this news hack is a yank, but he mentions the BBC once, but never once a mention that all that work was paid for by ITV under the control of Lew Grade.

      Plus where is the UFO series, that was the first show to use actors with the pupetry/models only used for the real SciFy vehicles (plus the real gas turbine car for the main star, later purches by DLT).

      There was an excellent documentary a year of two back covering the whole history of the Andersons, and the creation of all these shows. It was part of a 50 year celabration or something, with a bit of luck it will be repeated soon as a tribute to this wonderful story teller.

      1. Intractable Potsherd

        Re: Four Feather Falls, a puppet Western that didn't catch on

        I was wondering where the references to UFO were - in my mind the best of Gerry Anderson's real-actor series. Far better than the hippy-dippy surreal plotlines of Space:1999 (though the Eagle transporters are one of my favourite Anderson tech creations).

  4. eurobloke
    Go

    RIP Gerry Anderson

    I probably like many others think that Gerry was one of Britain's great television sci-fi creators, and is amazing that such a programme like Thunderbirds don't date and bring joy to those who could be his grandchildren.

    A plaque outside Slough Trading Estate, perhaps?

    GO - because Thunderbirds are!

    1. MJI Silver badge

      Re: RIP Gerry Anderson

      An important part of any 40-50 year olds childhood

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Extend that a bit: I'm 60, and you could probably go a bit further!

    2. graeme leggett Silver badge

      Re: RIP Gerry Anderson

      I hum (to myself) the theme from Thunderbirds when opening the roller door at work to take the van out.

      The next time it will be a more sombre arrangement.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Thunderbird one

    Immediate Launch

  6. edge_e
    Thumb Up

    anything can happen

    in the next half hour

    1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      Happy

      Re: anything can happen

      "in the next half hour"

      And almost anything did.

  7. Mage Silver badge

    Left out...

    Supercar

    1. AndrewInIreland

      Re: Left out...

      And UFO

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Alien

        Re: Left out...

        "And UFO

        About as much like a childrens TV show as South Park-The Movie (released as a U in Spain, because it's a cartoon)

        There was but you don't want to find out what it is.

    2. Thomas 4

      Re: Left out...

      Was "Z-cars" one of his or was it just from the same era?

      1. frank ly

        @Thomas 4 Re: Left out...

        Z-cars was a police drama series, using real actors (and real cars). It's funny how things melt and run together with the passage of time :)

        I remember watching it in black and white, 405 lines. Ah, when I were a lad .........

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: using real actors (and real cars)

          Z-cars... ok... But Dixon of Dock Green? Surely that was supermarionation?

    3. Identity
      Unhappy

      Re: Left out...

      and Space Precinct

    4. Sim

      Re: Left out...

      and The Secret Service

  8. Vulch
    Unhappy

    Donald and Walter Tracy

    What did they do to get written out of the series?

    I think tomorrows DVD fare is decided though...

  9. BozNZ

    Three cheers

    The guy was an inspiration to anyone who grew up in the 60`s or 70's

  10. Will Godfrey Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    A truly inspirational guy.

    R.I.P.

  11. Thomas 4

    Can somebody call the Mysterons please?

    Got a little job for them. Hell, they brought back Captain Black, they should be cool with bringing back the creator of their universe.

  12. Nordrick Framelhammer
    Go

    And another genius is lost to us.

    RIP Gerry Anderson

    Thank you for the decades of entertainment you gave all children, from a kid who never quite grew up,

    1. NogginTheNog
      Thumb Up

      Re: And another genius is lost to us.

      I really really really want to upvote this twice! Is that possible??

      1. Martin 71 Silver badge
        Go

        Re: And another genius is lost to us.

        Upvoted it again for you :-) Now can someone upvote it again for me?

        And I'd extend the 'age of influence' to 80s kids too :).. so far we have everyone from 30 to 70... any advance?

  13. DrXym

    dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum

    Captain Scarlet forever

  14. mickey mouse the fith

    very talented guy, r.i.p.

    I always thought the puppets looked crap, but the modelwork was superb.

    I loved the designs of things like the passenger planes in thunderbirds, and the futuristic buildings and vehicles in captain scarlet.

    Didnt he do a liveaction series called space cops or something in the mid 90`s? It had roy shneider in it and loads of animatronic aliens.

    1. Fibbles

      Re: very talented guy, r.i.p.

      Space Precinct perhaps?

      Anyway, RIP Mr Anderson. Who'd have thought two circles of light shone on a wall could be so menacing?

    2. MJI Silver badge

      Re: very talented guy, r.i.p.

      The puppets were advanced for their time, look at the quality of the Captain Scarlett ones compared to Fireball XL5.

      The airliner is Fireflash

      1. Martin 71 Silver badge
        Pint

        Re: very talented guy, r.i.p.

        Ah yes, one of my first memories of Thunderbirds :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOCmI72eRh4

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: very talented guy, r.i.p.

      "I loved the designs of things like the passenger planes in thunderbirds, and the futuristic buildings and vehicles in captain scarlet."

      To my mind one of the best industrial designers ever. Even today what sane person doesn't want their own roadworthy SPV?

    4. jubtastic1
      Go

      Re: very talented guy, r.i.p.

      Space 1999 Eagle was probably the best toy I ever had, hardy little thing as well, survived many a crash landing on passing planets.

  15. Winkypop Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    Captain Scarlet

    My childhood was complete watching Capt Scarlet and Thunderbirds.

    Strings? What strings?

    Thanks Mr Anderson, along with Apollo, you helped make me love all things sciency and spaceage.

  16. EL Vark

    UFO

    Launch Interceptors and forever praise his name. RIP, Gerry.

  17. SAWolf

    Caught his work in the USA. A brilliant man, whose shows helped to guide me into Naval Aviation and multiple disciplines in the Sciences. Loved the airborne carriers in Captain Scarlet and the infrastructure of ALL his shows.

  18. Kharkov
    Unhappy

    Spectrum is NOT green.

    RIP Gerry.

    You were an inspiration

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Spectrum is NOT green.

      Looking on the bright side, the Legend will live on for many years yet. I can't think of many people of his contemporaries who have left that sort of deeply loved legacy.

      Like many others I shall raise a glass to his memory.

  19. SteveCo
    Angel

    RIP Gerry

    Angel One - Immediate Launch.

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Gerry Anderson is go(ne)

    RIP

    Also, does having fantasies about Lady Penelope break any of the extreme porn laws because if they do I need locking up.

    1. Joe Harrison

      L.P. was nothing...

      ...compared to Marina

      1. Captain Hogwash

        Re: L.P. was nothing...

        I always preferred Atlanta.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: L.P. was nothing...

        Agreed

        Looking back, I'm sure many men now realise that Marina is the ultimate fantasy girl... after all, what man hasn't dreamt of a woman who doesn't speak and never has to come up for air?

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