BEHIND THE SCENES of Thunderbirds Anniversary Specials - Supermarionation Puppets & Special Effects
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- How can special effects and puppetry secrets last employed in the 1960s be revived for use in the 21st century? That was the challenge posed to the team of filmmakers behind 'Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes'! In this behind the scenes documentary, the crew reveal the tips of the trade that needed to be employed in order to create three brand new episodes of Thunderbirds for the series 50th anniversary - this making of covers "Introducing Thunderbirds", "The Abominable Snowman" and "The Stately Homes Robberies" with contributions from original series director David Elliott, Lady Penelope sculptor and puppeteer Mary Turner, actor and fan Sanjeev Bhaskar, producer Stephen La Rivière and many more.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's (Fireball XL5, Stingray, UFO, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Space:1999) classic series, the team from Century 21 Films produced three brand new episodes which were based upon three original 1960s voice recordings and produced in association with copyright holders ITV. Their task was to build sets, puppets, and models matching the originals and to marry them with those adapted voice recordings. The final effect should make the audience feel that they're watching three long-lost episodes. The series premiered at the BFI in August 2016, and has enjoyed subsequent screenings at Vue Cinemas and on streaming platforms and home media around the world.
The Thunderbirds Anniversary Episodes are now available on ITV X in the UK and Star Channel in Japan!
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About Us:
About Me:
Century 21 Films Ltd is a multi-faceted production company whose work spans drama to documentary, miniature effects to puppet shows. It was founded by a group of filmmakers who first collaborated on Filmed in Supermarionation, the story of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's hit puppet shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet.
Since then, we have worked for a multitude of high-profile clients including ITV, BBC, Mammoth Productions, British Film Institute and the Halifax working on projects such Thunderbirds, Endeavour, Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone.
In addition to our regular filmmaking services, we specialise in ‘Supermarionation’ - the puppetry filming technique used to make shows like Thunderbirds and have collaborated with ITV repeatedly to provide specialised services. Our work has been featured on The One Show, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, BBC News, ITV News and Mastermind.
#filmedinsupermarionation #thunderbirds #century21films
After watching several behind-the-scenes shows about the making of Thunderbirds, I have a new level of respect for the people who made it work. It’s not just the fact that everything is miniature. It’s the lighting. It’s the fact that they had more than one model of each ship in various sizes for close-up shots and far-away shots. It’s the fact that they used high-speed film so that when the shot played back, it didn’t look like a bunch of toys bobbing around in a bathtub. One VFX guy from the show did say that fire and water were very difficult to make look right on film.
You guys need to make an official unofficial continuation of the original series. The original series only had 2 seasons, 32 episodes total. Imagine seeing the series continue with a third season and perhaps a fourth season, that would bring so much joy and excitement to every grown up out there who watched the first two seasons as a kid. That would be the best thing ever. Of course, it wouldn't be under the supervision of Gerry and unfortunately some of the original voice actors aren't around anymore. But think about it, a brand new season, full length episodes, continuing the story of International Rescue, using the original supermarionation techniques but also at the same using modern technology of the 21 century. You're going to score with that! :D
AI for the voices. But funding and time, and the desire are key. It takes a lot of work, as we know. I’d love for what you suggest to happen, but… would it sell long term? Who knows. Fingers crossed.🤞🏻
This right here... I didn't even know the anniversary episodes existed until the past few days when I discovered this channel. Perhaps voices could be AI driven... we've seen powerful AI tools easily replicate voices these days.
I would imagine if this became a possibility there has to be some talented vocal impressionists out there who could imitate the original voice artists...🤔
The only surviving cast member is David Graham, and he's 98. But also, I disagree. The original TV show has become very special-and I feel like recreating the show would make it not special anymore... not to mention how outrageously expensive making a show like Thunderbirds nowadays.
As much as I'd love to see this ,there's one small problem and it's called Google they won't allow proper entertainment to happen anymore so that millions of people are brain dead on tiktok and social media.
Being 64 years old I just loved the Thunderbirds , thanks for sharing as it takes me back to my youth 😊
Tbh we need more TV shows like this.
With real effects, puppetry, stop motion etc
Not all this CGI stuff
Big up to you!!
I honestly respect anybody that do these type of media
Agreed.
We have got Ardman animation at least to keep that skill set going .....
The best thing to ever happen to me as a kid was watching Thunderbirds. Everything about it was EPIC ❤️
Agreed. Watching the Thunderbirds on Wednesday night TV was the greatest thing for this 9-year-old at the time.
Absolutely, Thunderbirds was totally epic for me as a10 year old. I loved every episode and have watched and re-watched Thunderbirds repeats over the years. I'm now 67 and have both series on DVD. Thunderbirds, Corgi Toys and Airfix Kits are pure nostalgia of a 1960s childhood....good days.
Yes sir, me too. Have the toys, and series on DVD, along with Stingray, Fireball XL5, Supercar, and Captain Scarlet. Great TV watching stillI', and I'm 69 yo.@@24th1879
Snap❤❤❤
On avait aussi cette série au Québec !
So lovely to see the Puppets and no CGI. I loved the show all those years ago for that reason, it stirred my imagination. Let it prosper and delight the young and the not so young for many more episodes.
Amazing and a Masterpiece ❤❤❤❤❤❤
A huge tribute to the late, great, Derek Meddings.
watching thunderbirds as a kid .you had no idea how much work went into making a episode . great job
I want to thank all these wonderful people for continuing, preserving and keeping GERRY ANDERSON's legacy alive.
As a 60's kid, this will also help preserve what's left of my youth.😊👍
Really wish I was there on set, helping you guys out. It was a dream of mine to work on a supermarionation show.
Same here.
They do seem to be over their heads with a project that was an absolute joy to the original artist like Brian Johnson etc al you think they would consulting their notes and letters on how they did it...with no sweat!🚀✨🔮🤔
Me TOO!
It wouldn't be Thunderbirds without explosions! Just an amazing job done by everyone involved and a true labor of love!👍👍
I'm 60 yrs old a watched and loved Thunderbirds as a kid and continue to watch and enjoy it as an adult on syndication MeTV. I'm trying to get my 7 yr old grandson to get into Thunderbirds.
Watching this on a Sunday back in the 70's was like being teleported into another world...In my mind it was unimaginably dramatic and a huge scale..Toys coming to life.
Well for me, this is the equivalent of being astounded to see York Minster Cathedral restored after the fire as it was built by the medieval stone masons.
You think there aren't the people around with the same skills or even motivation to achieve such a thing. Well this looks like it required every bit the same effort to match a tv show made 50 years ago, and the result is truly amazing. They are true crafts people that worked on this project and hope that there is more to come. as Thunderbirds is a classic and always will be.
Thunderbirds, Capt Scarlet, Joe 90 etc are just the best, most exciting, incredibly dynamic, thrilling all action story telling drama series ever made (for kids!?!). And the music still blows my head off. Everything in those shows was turned up to 11, plus some! I just love 'em! Everything about them was unique in TV at the time. IMHO there's Not been anything as good since, tbh.
I'm in my 60's now and I still watch them when they are repeated on TV.
I'm obsessed with Thunderbirds.. I can't get over the paitence, craftsmanship and talent that it took to produce these episodes. The story telling is also a huge part it's revelivence is always engaging and believable. Lovable and a treat to watch! I am recording the series here in the States on METV it a 60's nastalgia channel and has some great programming! So, I'm reliving all the episodes and haveing a blast! I would love to see the new episodes and will start looking for them. Love this show. Can't say that enough! You guys are the new stewards of this classic and iconic piece of history and I applaud your efforts and vision for bringing this back!
I am DVRIng Thunderbirds on MeTV! I watched this wonderful show as a kid and have always LOVED it! I get up at 5 AM on Sundays to watch it "live" on MeTV with a long-distance friend from my childhood as we text our thoughts during the show. We are back in the '60s for that hour...
FAB!
I would bike after school to visit the small unit on Slough Trading Estate to watch Thunderbirds being made. Huge amount of memories and knowledge of how this and previous Gerry Anderson productions like Fireball XL5, Supercar etc were made. Luckily for 20th Century Films the American model company Revell were situated a few units away and their scrap skip at the rear of the building came in handy for many cleverly modelled building interiors. SO many wonderful memories of SO many gifted people. How about Derek Meddings for one. 👏👏👏👏👏
That was great many memories, I’m 61 loved Thunderbirds, Thunderbird 2 was my favourite.
I remember watching Thunderbirds as a kid It was one of my favorite shows when I could see it
I wish there were more episodes as well ! I was always amazed at the extreme details that were in every set ! I was disappointed when they made Thunderbirds movie using real people. The magic was in the puppetry & models. Team America shows people still enjoy these types of shows ! Being 65 ,i miss all the shows Gerry Anderson made !
When I first heard the term Supermarionation I assumed it was a fan club oriented around Super Mario.
Thunderbirds is SUCH nostalgia for my childhood. I was born in 1997 so I wasn't around when it originally aired but it sure as hell was on telly when I was very little. Very vivid memories.
Although I was a liitle french boy, when Thunderbirds arrived on french tv in the 80's, this has been by far the most enjoyable experience I had as a kid watching television. I was just stunned by this program. And now, forty years later, I just realise how big it had to be to make all this happen, in all ways possible. No words to express my joy, and my admiration for the idea, the talent, the courage and all the rest to build this unic creation. thousand thanks to all the team behind this magic!
This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.
From the opening sequence🎥 to the last frame🎞️ you were hooked.. It was like a big budget 💷movie you watched at home📺
Thanks ever so much, the 60s live on, thanks to all your hard work.
Fascinating. Its great that Thunderbirds still has the recognition it has to this day , one of the best TV programes from the 1960s
Great job guys…Gerry Anderson would have been happy…as a fan, it’s pure dead brilliant! Or should I really say ‘FAB’!! 👏👍❤️✌️
I had some of those e..p. vinyl records back in 1966! I use to like listening to the stories, but also the rendition of the song 'Oh, Parker' by Lady Penelope.
Just two words some up my beautiful childhood of " 60 s : Beatles and THUNDERBIRDS.
Thunderbirds was the 1st Anderson show that I saw in color, after I helped dad build a Heathkit Colour TV. 👍👍🤴 10⭐
Sweet huge fan of the Gerry anderson shows 😊
This was a great show, learnt to swim and got these videos as a reward! I caught it the 2nd time round in the early 90s, just noticed the whole 32 episodes are on itvx, so, I’m watching them all, much to the anger of the missus!
Era una de las series favoritas de mi infancia entre el 72 y76 ,nos creiamos uno de los rescatistas,gracias por hacernos recordar nuestra infancia
I dreamed about this and wanted more thunderbirds but after such a long time it seemed like it remains a dream the Thunderbirds movie with real people was ok
There was no chance of new 60s series until you guys have came along and made it all real again
I guess being into model making it always kept my dream alive and sure enough it’s real again
Gerry and Silvia Anderson hit on a show that you prove is time less I can’t wait to see these episodes
You guys are brilliant 😊😊😊
My childhood program brought back to life! This is great! (PS I also loved Supercar and Fireball XL-5)
One of my nephews is a special effects artist/modeller/digital effects creator and would've loved to have worked on such a brilliant project 🙂Growing up during the 60's, I owned and played my several Thunderbirds LP records constantly as a kid
I loved the Thunderbirds as a kid. The sets were so real and it never mattered to me that I was watching puppets. The subjects were more real than the cartoons of the day. Anytime I find one on television and I have time, I'll watch it. Much luck with the new set of films.
The Thunderbirds 1965 50th Anniversary 3 Episodes and Documentaries were spectacular.
Highly enjoyable and a brilliant addition to the Thunderbirds collection.
Pity the Thunderbirds 55/GoGo 50th Anniversary Episodes Collectors Edition blu-rays are only in Japan and so hard to find tho ....
Abdolutely ace. I was so happy watching these episodes on Christmas day, 65 year old child thst I am. I used to rush home from school so excited on Thundebirds' night. You all did a fine job. Thankyou :-)
WOW that brought back many happy childhood memories from 60 years ago. I always thought it was an American production.
I watched 'Thunderbirds are Go' as a small child when it released in theatres in NZ. I remember I just sat with my mouth open in astonishment!
Wow I really enjoyed seeing this!!! Lol the series I remember was Super Car!!! After that I was hooked on everything that came later!!! I'm 69 now and I still love this type of entertainment! I've never missed any any of the shows, I love them all!!! Super Car, Fire Ball XL-5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, and others that I can't remember! I never thought about all the hard work that went into such productions!!! When will this new project be released???? Thank you soooooo much for sharing this!!!!!
If you like in the UK or Japan you can see the episodes now on ITVX or Star Channel. Otherwise, get in touch with whatever company released the original Thunderbirds in your country and ask them to release the new episodes!
I didn’t know about this project. Just amazing work, trying to be authentic from the 60s must be such a challenge. Nothing beats original, From a young boy watching Thunderbirds repeats in the 90s, the concept of toys and puppets coming to life never gets old.
This art needs to come back again.
Young people of today( I am 70 years old) need to know that you dont need CGI or AI to make amazing content! Amazing
So wonderful seeing this brought back to life again. The reason I joined fire rescue was because of Thunderbirds. Well done crew. 🙂
Just love this.
How did i not know about this??? I can't believe this passed me by!!! I love Thunderbirds and anything GA
One thing more: en France, cette série s'appelait "Les sentinelles de l'air". For once, this translation was close ton the spirit of this creation. Pure poetry.
Loved the thinderbirds!!!
The story telling and puppeteering do not get the accolade they deserve.
Thanks for the video
If this program came back tommorow I would watch it all over again Fantastic love show and if they can make more new story's I would watch them they did a fantastic job
I grew up with reruns of the Thunderbirds on TechTV 20 years ago and always appreciated the elaborate practical effects, thank you for making this happen
Absolutely brilliant.
It's super cool, how they explain how the series was made, how the special effects were and how they handled them
I watched the original 'artist' productions with their commentary on how the series was challenging at times but always a joy to perform...this group comes off like a bunch of narcissistic selfrighteous barely competent whiners who could never create on the scale of the original artist...Will get it from them...and see if this new group can get it together🤔
Do not mess with that theme tune, guy's.. that original score is what made kids light up.. Keep it original😊 💯... That's how it was..
I just hope that future generations of children actually get to see Thunderbird re-runs on the tv - like my own children did in the early 90's. I just hope that the show does not fall foul of the cancel culture. I am thinking about just how often the main cast have cigarettes or cigars in their hands or mouth. Something that never even stuck out to me when i was a child in the early 70's, or even with the 90's re-run. It was just a normal part of life back then. Long may the show stay on the itv website.
This was great to watch I have watched all 3 of the new episodes and to see how you made them was marvellous Congratulations to the whole team for a job well done.
This show is an amazing masterpiece, and I hope they bring it back. It is so unique compared to anything we see today. I just hope they don’t botch it up with today’s current technology, because the way it was presented back in the day with the strings hanging down in the head was just so retro.
Great work guys! Loved all the Anderson productions as a boy. Who would have thought then that I would go on to be a puppeteer with the Jim Henson Company and the BBC amongst many others…but is a Gerry Anderson production I would love to have done before my career ended. Congrats to all involved!
An art form so distinctive and entrancing. I love that you have done this and hope you can continue if you want to. I watched the original series as a kid and your new making-of video was a real treat.
Excellent work done by the team
Well done everyone involved in theses recreations - brilliant work Thunderbird's had a huge effect on me as a kid. it opened a whole new world of sci fi , model making, expanding the imagination. I also think it was the intelligent story telling for kids, which started with Supercar and followed through via Fireball XL5 and Stingray.
This made me emotive. Beautiful passionate work
Yes, lads, you have made my day!
Absolutely amazing . It was way ahead of its time. I still love it today, so many years later. In a thousand years it will still be Fab.
Wow, such dedication and patience, very well done everyone.
I was born in 65. I remember watching the Thunderbirds probably in 69 or 70. Someone recently asked me how much money would wish for. I said $5 Trillion so I could realize a life long dream of creating a real life version or International Rescue.
Love the remakes that you did . ITV should commission another 2 or 3 unknown mini albums. Good job 👏.
This was so cool
Classic. It will never die or get boring ..love it..well done to the crew. and thank you .Happy memories
Amazing! Love it so much. Great work!
Love this! I love Joe 90 and all the Supermarionation shows! Brings me back to childhood ❤❤❤❤ For that I thank you!
Bravo, bravo. I would dearly love to see these in action once more. Simply lovely all.
Gerry & Sylvia would say "You did it!" I agree. I can't tell this wasn't an original episode.
Just great, I remember it from the 70s and now I found it on Roku and have been going through each episode. So amazed at detail of the miniatures. The cleverness of using human hands and feet in closeups is ingenious too.
Wouuu!! Really fantastic job. Congratulations for all staff that make possible this incredibly TV series. I love now in my 66 and as a kid. Thanks!! Greetings from Mexico.
Just amazing, well done all. New series please.
It'll all 3D printed now the part'snits the best and easiest way to get on blender or z Brush and work your magic replicating near anything! It's my daily hobby now obsessed with 3D design and printing its just amazing! It never gets old
Ohhh My God!!!! It is my youth!!! You got to now a days and I am excited to see lads and new ones!!! Congratulations!!! This is Art!!! Really Art!!!
This was my favorite tv show as a little child. 60 years later I still love seeing the old episodes.
OMGGGGGG my most favourite series of all time!!!!
Wow these guys did a magnificent job. l cant imagine how fun and frustrating this would be to be a part of. They did it well.
l always noticed how much orange was in the show. lt was the colour of the sixties. The explosions were the best thing and that music is and still is the best piece of power musical score ever. When do we get to see these episodes??
you are female..always will be
This is so wonderful! Flashing back to my childhood!
thunderbirds is on talking pictures in sept, very good documentary going into a lot of the technical detail very accurately recreated.
Good luck with it all... hope it comes out soon....
Just wonderful. Have you thought about crowdfunding a new series. You'd definitely get all the publicity you need. 😎
I agree wholeheartedly
I love Thunderbirds! But I haven't seen these 3 new episodes of the show. I should check it out!
It would be fab to get another series of Thunderbirds in Supermarionation
I watch this every Sunday morning on Metv. Love it.
What a great initiative. This series was so detailed and somehow realistic in its own way. Can't wait to watch the new episodes.
Soooo Grateful to have had Watched the T V Program Thunderbirds 1960s New Zealand
Tengo casi 60 años y esta serie la vi cuando tenía 8 años, no nos perdíamos ni un capítulo mis hermanos y yo, ahora soy fotógrafo y hace un par de años le comenté a mi esposa que donde había quedado todas las maquetas y estudio donde se filmaron los TUNDERBIRDS, brillanté idea de recuperar todo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 estoy ansioso de ver el na vez más nuevos capítulos de los Tunderbirds 🚀
Fantastic !!!
Thanks you.!!
Great video...👍
I want do this in my shed on my railway layout reminds me of the fifties / sixties when we’d blow up our model kits 😊😮🎉
Brilliantly done everyone
The flub at 15:46 cracked me up.
I wonder if the Chiodo Brothers were contacted at some stage even just for consultation. They did an amazing job on Team America.
Er no. Because Team America has almost nothing in common with this.
Merci ! In French, the show was titled "Les Sentinelles de l'air". I watched this on the "Télé 7" channel in Sherbrooke, Québec.
Loved this show. BT