I have said it before, but must say it again - Thank you to all involved in the making of these shows - especially Thunderbirds, which for me was the most memorable, and enjoyable tv series from my childhood. What you all produced was, and still is an amazing achievement. Quality second to none. The fact that 30 years later my own children would get exactly the same enjoyment from the series says it all. So to all of the remaining crew - thank you.
What I love about this documentary is that it celebrates everyone who was involved in the production of these series. The use of the original music and appropriate clips and new puppet scenes with Parker and Lady P to frame it all. Brilliant. A thrill to watch again.
For what its worth, Here's a Big thank from myself to all of you who worked in sets at Century 21. Where we would be without Supermarionation and all the wonderful and fantastic stories, rescues and other life saving episodes, Thank you so much, bless you all ✔✔😀😀❤❤🌞🌞👍👍
I can promise you! Here was one lad that just loved the film! I am now 66 years of age and have never forgotten the fun it gave me! I can well imagine how you all felt! Whilst our family firm did not have the exposure yours did! Ours was started in 1948 by my grandfather and died in the early eighties! that broke my heart so I can all imagine how you all felt! sigh! 😑😓
It's a rollercoaster of a ride watching this. The pride and affection with which the memories are recounted alongside the sense of mourning when it came to an end. Each and every show stood out which given the quality of programmes back then really is an achievement.
The story of mine and many tens of thousands of others childhood. Truly ground breaking. I had very vague memories of reruns (had to be reruns as I was born in 1960) of Twizzle and Supercar. Grew up with Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlett & Joe 90. It was not until many many years later that I discovered the early black & white shows I could barely remember were made by the same people! We will never see the like again. I showed DVD's of most of these to my own Step children. They loved it. Their favourite? Joe 90! I still watch Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlett now. Thank you Gerry, Sylvia and everybody else involved, for everything. And thanks to Century 21 for this ❤
As an American who only recently discovered the works of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, I have to say they are the BEST shows I have ever seen and this documentary was amazing! Thunderbirds is my favorite, though I love almost all of them. Except for Torchy The Battery Boy, that one scares me. I am super excited for 2025, the 60th anniversary of Thunderbirds, and I can't wait to see what cool stuff will happen. Though I really hope that there can be Supermarionation merch over here in the States, I'd ADORE to have a Scott Tracy Funko Pop. Maybe there could even be a Supermarionation themed blind box series and a series of Supermarionation Build A Bears and Build A Bear Mini Beans. I'd buy anything Scott Tracy, Captain Scarlet, Mike Mercury, and Lady Penelope related.
Barry Gray really epitomised each sequence with resounding scores which underpinned every scene of perfectly. But he left a very important mark on every episode for new generations to enjoy.
Only half way through: There are only so many ways you can keep repeating the same story but this is truly a work of art in itself. Especially the addition of all these people who where not yet in your earlier video’s really give it a definitive touch. Also great to get an ever clearer picture of the circumstances under which the programs were made and the strengths and weaknesses of certain persons. For instance: I always assumed Provis and Leigh would have a certain accord which made them go off in another direction. And then that Provis remark! Magnificent stuff.
I do like the new Thunderbirds BUT the first Thunderbirds is still the best and even at the age of 61 I still enjoy watching them even though I have seen them lots of times the music the action you can’t beat it thank you everyone who was involved 😊👍
I've recently bought this amazing documentary on DVD this year, and I'm now working on collecting these Supermarionation shows on DVDs for both rewatch and watched for the first time. A huge thanks for uploading this on UA-cam and I'll be looking forward to the newly complete Thunderbirds with new extras and 50th Anniversary Specials in one big package next year from you guys from Century 21 Films team.
What A Wonderful Documentary Many Thanks 2 hrs of You Tube time I will not resent......................Imagine every XL5 in Colour and Stingray and Thunderbirds with Captain Scarlet to scale Puppets .
I just realised that Four Feather Falls was itself an allegory of what the Andersons and their team acheived. Making the Horse talk WAS Supermarionation. I've also just realised that Masterspy was a caricature of Lew!
I’m enjoying watching this but it has all been seen before in smaller “episodes”, and I can’t help thinking this will be the final episode, where everything has been brought together in conclusion. I am feeling the same sense of dread I felt when one series ended and was superseded by its successor. Once again, I just want this to go on forever…
A perfect amalgam of creativity. Barry Grey was the icing on the cake. We don't get that kind of musical beauty anymore. No key overtures, no instantly recognisable musical accompaniment. Why is that? ....Why? ...Why? ....Why? I've tried watching 'Trapped in the Sky' when Fireflash makes its final approach without the Barry Grey's crescendo of sound.....well, there you go. I rest my case. Matt Zimmerman was totally correct about continuing with Thunderbirds. I can clearly remember feeling short changed with Scarlet, Joe 90 (Apart from the theme tune), Secret Service.....but then UFO arrived.....FANTASTIC!..and then it too was cancelled....massive, massive mistake. That show had so much potential. Space 1999 once again felt like a huge step backwards....and that was it...😪
It's a shame they never released the whole Supercars and Fireball XL5 Series on to complete DVD in colours just like Stingray, Thunderbireds, Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons and Joe 90 because I'm alway curious to know what the characters looked like in colours instead of black and white.
Just a case of they were done in black and white back then apart from the others but Day in the life of a Space General of Fireball XL5 is in colour so that should give a sign of how it looks in colour while their is a possibility they could be coming in colour as clips have been done of the shows
@@adamrooney517 If shot on film the grey response to a colour . especially if you have a reference to work to, colourisation is possilbe. Computing power and AI (because its quicker , not because its smarter) can generate your desire.
I’d talk about the supercoloration DVD for four feather falls etc. But all I’m going to say is hopefully AI will be used to automatically colour all FFF, SC and FBXL5 episodes
I remember watcing the very first episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons but I do have one big question which was never explain in the series like I know after first episode that the original Captain Scarlet have been restored in his Mysteronised likeness while still have his memories but what happen to his original body after Spectrum discover the scene in the car crash?
01:18:14 Incroyable qu'on parle encore des " THUNDERBIRDS " again on 2020'ies. C'était vu nulle part, ces 🚀 fusées qui atterrissent et qui décollent. C'est seulement en 2024 qu'elon Musk à réussi à faire atterrir une fusée 🚀.
I think script writing quality deteriorating was an indication that each series was coming to an end. Especially after Thunderbird's Ricochet ended it had lost momentum 😢 - a pirate radio satellite of all the ideas....? After it ended it was Captain Scarlet that brought revival but it couldn't top the highs of the excitement of Thunderbirds series and nothing else with puppets will again.
Who would send in a company to destroy the work of Genius people who spent all there time making such work of art. wish I could have been there. ( Those people should be ashamed of the selves).
I appreciate the sentiment, but two things: One, they weren't made to last. Some of the sets and props melted and fell apart during shooting. They were the minimum required for the shot, often cardboard and Styrofoam. Two, the moment a set or prop stops making money, it starts costing money. Storage space itself is expensive enough and preservation or restoration isn't cheap. It's too bad, they made it look so substantial and real, and it would be neat to see.
@@ilionreactor1079 Yes, these are the two main considerations. A third is that film-makers who had to work as cheaply as possible would often try to re-use props from bigger productions whenever they could get their hands on them. Apart from IP issues, the original filmmakers often worried that it cheapened their film if the same stuff could be seen in exploitation B-films.
thanks for the memories i am 66 and i still watch Thunderbirds
I am 62 and I still fly my Thunderbird 2 around when I watch Thunderbirds.
I have said it before, but must say it again - Thank you to all involved in the making of these shows - especially Thunderbirds, which for me was the most memorable, and enjoyable tv series from my childhood. What you all produced was, and still is an amazing achievement. Quality second to none. The fact that 30 years later my own children would get exactly the same enjoyment from the series says it all. So to all of the remaining crew - thank you.
What I love about this documentary is that it celebrates everyone who was involved in the production of these series. The use of the original music and appropriate clips and new puppet scenes with Parker and Lady P to frame it all. Brilliant. A thrill to watch again.
For what its worth, Here's a Big thank from myself to all of you who worked in sets at Century 21. Where we would be without Supermarionation and all the wonderful and fantastic stories, rescues and other life saving episodes, Thank you so much, bless you all ✔✔😀😀❤❤🌞🌞👍👍
Wonderful that this is available on UA-cam! It was a great watch when I saw it a few years ago.
Stingrays music was amazing to hear and still is to this day.
Thanks for sharing. I never missed an episode when I was a kid and I still enjoy these series just as much. I'm 58 years old.
I can promise you! Here was one lad that just loved the film! I am now 66 years of age and have never forgotten the fun it gave me! I can well imagine how you all felt! Whilst our family firm did not have the exposure yours did! Ours was started in 1948 by my grandfather and died in the early eighties! that broke my heart so I can all imagine how you all felt! sigh! 😑😓
It's a rollercoaster of a ride watching this. The pride and affection with which the memories are recounted alongside the sense of mourning when it came to an end. Each and every show stood out which given the quality of programmes back then really is an achievement.
Penelope's sudden cold cruelty in Alan's dream deeply disturbed me when I saw the movie as a child.
The story of mine and many tens of thousands of others childhood. Truly ground breaking. I had very vague memories of reruns (had to be reruns as I was born in 1960) of Twizzle and Supercar. Grew up with Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlett & Joe 90. It was not until many many years later that I discovered the early black & white shows I could barely remember were made by the same people! We will never see the like again. I showed DVD's of most of these to my own Step children. They loved it. Their favourite? Joe 90! I still watch Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlett now. Thank you Gerry, Sylvia and everybody else involved, for everything. And thanks to Century 21 for this ❤
On 2064, thunderbirds will be always on TV in the world. Incredible !!!!
Brilliant documentary - outstanding...
My evening just became sorted!
And mine! … 👍 … 😁
what a great 2 hour documentary this was thank you very much for this :)
The Studios would have made a great museum to the history of early special effects
_early?_ how's this:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trip_to_the_Moon
I just cannot understand why the sets and models were destroyed.
That's my evening's viewing sorted out!
As an American who only recently discovered the works of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, I have to say they are the BEST shows I have ever seen and this documentary was amazing! Thunderbirds is my favorite, though I love almost all of them. Except for Torchy The Battery Boy, that one scares me. I am super excited for 2025, the 60th anniversary of Thunderbirds, and I can't wait to see what cool stuff will happen. Though I really hope that there can be Supermarionation merch over here in the States, I'd ADORE to have a Scott Tracy Funko Pop. Maybe there could even be a Supermarionation themed blind box series and a series of Supermarionation Build A Bears and Build A Bear Mini Beans. I'd buy anything Scott Tracy, Captain Scarlet, Mike Mercury, and Lady Penelope related.
Captured my attention yet again. A magnificent document of a fantastic time. Thank you again.
Barry Gray really epitomised each sequence with resounding scores which underpinned every scene of perfectly. But he left a very important mark on every episode for new generations to enjoy.
Only half way through: There are only so many ways you can keep repeating the same story but this is truly a work of art in itself. Especially the addition of all these people who where not yet in your earlier video’s really give it a definitive touch. Also great to get an ever clearer picture of the circumstances under which the programs were made and the strengths and weaknesses of certain persons. For instance: I always assumed Provis and Leigh would have a certain accord which made them go off in another direction. And then that Provis remark! Magnificent stuff.
I don't think Barry Gray got the full recognition for his music for the Anderson productions ..esp. Thunderbirds
I quite agree, for me the highlight was Barry’s music and also the unsung hero’s who produced some great sound effects.
I always hum the launch march when I'm flying, particularly as the plane taxis up to the runway.
Superb from start to end, thankyou thankyou thankyou
1:13:10. Even though you’ve just seen it start up, the footage “just works”. Derek and his team… so clever!
I thought you would have kept this back for whatever else you might be planning for the 60th, so this is a wonderful surprise.
I do like the new Thunderbirds BUT the first Thunderbirds is still the best and even at the age of 61 I still enjoy watching them even though I have seen them lots of times the music the action you can’t beat it thank you everyone who was involved 😊👍
Popping this into my playlist for sure 😎
Such a shame so much stuff was destroyed or lost, great vid as always
I've recently bought this amazing documentary on DVD this year, and I'm now working on collecting these Supermarionation shows on DVDs for both rewatch and watched for the first time.
A huge thanks for uploading this on UA-cam and I'll be looking forward to the newly complete Thunderbirds with new extras and 50th Anniversary Specials in one big package next year from you guys from Century 21 Films team.
i think this was shown on the bbc some years back
@@vincentl.9469you mean on BBC Two back in 1991?
What A Wonderful Documentary Many Thanks 2 hrs of You Tube time I will not resent......................Imagine every XL5 in Colour and Stingray and Thunderbirds with Captain Scarlet to scale Puppets .
Well that is a triumph of editing
Thanks guys. Cracking stuff.
I just realised that Four Feather Falls was itself an allegory of what the Andersons and their team acheived. Making the Horse talk WAS Supermarionation.
I've also just realised that Masterspy was a caricature of Lew!
As a child watching these wonderful SuperMarioNation productions,i was even more impressed that my name "Mario" was in the titles.😊
Bloody marvellous, its what memories are made of 👏👏
They shaped my childhood, although Torchy was a bit scary😅. Wonderful stuff.
Good thing ole Cliff danced like he was on strings.
The Roberta Leigh/Space Patrol connection is fascinating.
00:50:58 h “What a good idea! He should buy my company!” 🤣🤣🤣
1:20:54 Thunderbirds Are Go!
*Cue the Music*
1:02:07 🎵 My Heart would be a Fireba~all
A Fireba~all
Cuz you would be my Venus of the Sta~ar 🎵
Not a dry eye in the house!
As a kid I loved thunderbirds the others shows never were as good and as a grandparent I still love thunderbirds are GO 🇦🇺
I’m enjoying watching this but it has all been seen before in smaller “episodes”, and I can’t help thinking this will be the final episode, where everything has been brought together in conclusion. I am feeling the same sense of dread I felt when one series ended and was superseded by its successor. Once again, I just want this to go on forever…
A perfect amalgam of creativity. Barry Grey was the icing on the cake. We don't get that kind of musical beauty anymore. No key overtures, no instantly recognisable musical accompaniment. Why is that? ....Why? ...Why? ....Why?
I've tried watching 'Trapped in the Sky' when Fireflash makes its final approach without the Barry Grey's crescendo of sound.....well, there you go. I rest my case. Matt Zimmerman was totally correct about continuing with Thunderbirds.
I can clearly remember feeling short changed with Scarlet, Joe 90 (Apart from the theme tune), Secret Service.....but then UFO arrived.....FANTASTIC!..and then it too was cancelled....massive, massive mistake. That show had so much potential. Space 1999 once again felt like a huge step backwards....and that was it...😪
Lew Grade was all about short term gains. No wonder Peter Sellers hated him and the other Grade brothers.
@@joeoconnor5400 Without Lew none of this would have existed. No other individual would have coughed up so much.
It's a shame they never released the whole Supercars and Fireball XL5 Series on to complete DVD in colours just like Stingray, Thunderbireds, Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons and Joe 90 because I'm alway curious to know what the characters looked like in colours instead of black and white.
Just a case of they were done in black and white back then apart from the others but Day in the life of a Space General of Fireball XL5 is in colour so that should give a sign of how it looks in colour while their is a possibility they could be coming in colour as clips have been done of the shows
@@adamrooney517 If shot on film the grey response to a colour . especially if you have a reference to work to, colourisation is possilbe. Computing power and AI (because its quicker , not because its smarter) can generate your desire.
I’d talk about the supercoloration DVD for four feather falls etc.
But all I’m going to say is hopefully AI will be used to automatically colour all FFF, SC and FBXL5 episodes
This was their finest hour. Well, nearly two hours, but that didn't sound so good.
Was there ever a Lego kit of Fireball XL 5 ( I think it MIGHT be makable from the right kind of brick shapes now )
Met yourself and Jamie at the NFT Premiere a decade ago. Also met Shane Rimmer and his charming wife.
I always wanted Thunderbird 3 to go on a mission with Fireball XL5 or Thunderbird 4 to go on a rescue with Stingray.
I remember watcing the very first episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons but I do have one big question which was never explain in the series like I know after first episode that the original Captain Scarlet have been restored in his Mysteronised likeness while still have his memories but what happen to his original body after Spectrum discover the scene in the car crash?
did you see the body after Scarlet's double is created, could it be the body's atoms were reused to create the "new" body ?
Seeing Parker standing where Captain Black usually stood was...well, odd, to say the least.
01:18:14 Incroyable qu'on parle encore des " THUNDERBIRDS " again on 2020'ies. C'était vu nulle part, ces 🚀 fusées qui atterrissent et qui décollent. C'est seulement en 2024 qu'elon Musk à réussi à faire atterrir une fusée 🚀.
ben non, il y a plus de trente ans que ce tour de force a déjà été accompli:
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-X
I think script writing quality deteriorating was an indication that each series was coming to an end. Especially after Thunderbird's Ricochet ended it had lost momentum 😢 - a pirate radio satellite of all the ideas....? After it ended it was Captain Scarlet that brought revival but it couldn't top the highs of the excitement of Thunderbirds series and nothing else with puppets will again.
Who would send in a company to destroy the work of Genius people who spent all there time making such work of art. wish I could have been there. ( Those people should be ashamed of the selves).
It seems to have been policy at the time. It's how lots of old episodes of shows like Doctor Who were lost.
@ Sad but when they could have been stored away for people to look back on.
I appreciate the sentiment, but two things: One, they weren't made to last. Some of the sets and props melted and fell apart during shooting. They were the minimum required for the shot, often cardboard and Styrofoam. Two, the moment a set or prop stops making money, it starts costing money. Storage space itself is expensive enough and preservation or restoration isn't cheap. It's too bad, they made it look so substantial and real, and it would be neat to see.
@@ilionreactor1079 Yes, these are the two main considerations. A third is that film-makers who had to work as cheaply as possible would often try to re-use props from bigger productions whenever they could get their hands on them. Apart from IP issues, the original filmmakers often worried that it cheapened their film if the same stuff could be seen in exploitation B-films.
No Thunderbirds no Star Wars.
If Gerry Anderson had been in charge of NASA or ESA, there would be bases on the moon and Zero-X would be flying astronauts to Mars by now
👍
I can't believe they paid the same price as a brand new Rolls Royce to sing one song. That £5,000 has to be wrong.
The blame lies with Stanleybold.
i used to make supercars out of plastcine!