Thunderbirds at 60: The grief, genius and enduring magic behind Gerry Anderson’s sci-fi classic

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Even after sixty years, Thunderbirds is still one of the most memorable shows British television has ever produced – it uniquely combined exciting, futuristic adventures with amazing models and a heartfelt story. However, beyond the rockets and brave rescues, there’s a deeper, more personal tale – a story about grief, affection, and the powerful creativity of its maker, Gerry Anderson.

Originally broadcast in 1965 but imagined in the year 2060, Thunderbirds was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. It centers around International Rescue – a top-secret group started by former astronaut Jeff Tracy and operated by his five sons from their secluded island headquarters. The team undertakes dangerous rescue operations worldwide, utilizing a collection of sophisticated vehicles called Thunderbirds, each flown by one of the brothers. Combining excitement, tension, and positive values, the show offered a hopeful portrayal of heroism built on teamwork and empathy, not fighting.

Made using the Andersons’ unique ‘Supermarionation’ method – which blended puppetry, miniatures, and special effects – Thunderbirds became a hugely important show in British television history. Its impressive sets, memorable characters, and unforgettable theme tune made it different from other science-fiction programs of the era. The series later led to movies, related shows, and updated versions, solidifying its place as a key part of popular culture and a testament to imaginative storytelling.

Jamie Anderson speaks about his father’s most well-known work with fondness and respect. “I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit recently,” he explains. “And I believe Thunderbirds is the show that best captures the core values and experiences that were most important to Dad – his life and what he felt deeply.”

Despite its high-tech appearance, Thunderbirds originated from a very personal and heartfelt story. Gerry’s older brother, Lionel, was a pilot in the Royal Air Force who tragically died in 1944 when his de Havilland Mosquito plane was shot down over the Netherlands. He was only 22 years old. It’s believed that the show’s title, Thunderbirds, was actually inspired by “Thunderbird Field,” the air base in Arizona where Lionel received his training during the war.

The death of his friend deeply affected Gerry for the rest of his life, and Jamie – a producer, writer, and director who oversees his father’s work at Anderson Entertainment – feels that this sadness is a core part of the show. He says, “I think it’s the series where he expressed his emotional pain most openly,” referring to Thunderbirds, which came after Gerry’s previous projects like Supercar, Fireball XL5 and Stingray.

The difficult experiences of his childhood led to themes that many people can relate to – such as the importance of family, and how it often forms the core of our lives.

The feeling of being a close family was central to Thunderbirds, with the Tracy brothers constantly putting themselves in danger as part of International Rescue. Jamie explains, “This strong family bond came from his personal life – specifically, his challenging relationship with his parents and his bond with his brother.” He continues, “His childhood wasn’t easy, and his brother became a role model – someone to look up to and admire.”

In the Anderson family home, Lionel was always remembered. Jamie explains, “I don’t think Dad fully realized how much of his feelings he’d invested in creating the emotional core of Thunderbirds.” He often told Jamie, “I have never and will never recover from Lionel’s death.” The subject of Lionel would arise a few times each year – whenever news related to war, military draft, or people serving in the armed forces came up, he’d invariably say, “I’ll never get over losing my brother.”

He didn’t dwell on the past, but Lionel was someone he greatly admired. I believe watching Thunderbirds offered a comforting way to reconnect with their shared history.

The show’s genuine emotional core – along with its impressive scope – is why Thunderbirds still connects with audiences today. Jamie believes it’s part of a larger wave of creativity after the war, where young men who experienced conflict envisioned brighter futures. “That generation of children who grew up during wartime and then went on to have amazing creative careers – my dad being the prime example, but also people like Brian Clemens [the screenwriter and television producer, best known for writing and producing classic British TV series such as The Avengers, The New Avengers and The Professionals].”

Children who lived through the war years experienced a broken, challenging, and traumatic world. Despite this, they envisioned a future that was harmonious, optimistic, and leveraged technology to improve lives.

At the same time, Thunderbirds stood apart from much of children’s television that followed. “I maintain that kids don’t really want to see kids on screen,” Jamie says. “This obsession with ‘kidifying’ children’s TV characters just needs to stop. Thunderbirds proves it’s not needed – as does Doctor Who. When I was young, I couldn’t wait to watch things that were too old for me. It’s about not over-engineering things to tick boxes, but instead making what you genuinely care about. That’s what Dad did. He cared deeply about the morals and the inspirational qualities of his hero brother – and those values ended up on screen.”

That commitment to quality was also evident in the show’s impressive production. Thunderbirds represented a significant technical advancement over Gerry’s earlier projects, thanks to its detailed miniatures and innovative ‘Supermarionation’ puppetry. According to Jamie, “The puppetry and special effects were pushed to their absolute limits.” He adds that the character designs were more appealing, and the overall visual style was perfected. Derek Meddings and his team had the time to experiment with explosions, scale, and new techniques, creating a remarkable set of tools that allowed them to tackle virtually any challenge.

The blend of comedy and genuine emotion was carefully planned. Jamie notes, “If you consider how much of the show was funny versus serious, you’ll notice it changed over time.” He explains that Fireball XL5 had a somewhat childish quality, while Stingray combined that with overly sweet romance. However, Thunderbirds moved towards being mostly serious. The focus shifted to exciting action, compelling drama, and the heroic, selfless deeds of the characters – with just enough humor to keep things balanced. Jamie believes they found a perfect tonal balance, creating something truly special in the show’s overall feel.

Gerry, however, wasn’t always comfortable with his most famous work. “By the late ’80s, he still thought Thunderbirds was his pinnacle – but he wanted to move on,” Jamie recalls. “Then when the BBC resurgence came in the ’90s, that shifted his perspective. Until then, he was quite dismissive about it: ‘Yes, I’m the guy that did Thunderbirds, but let’s move on.’ But when a new audience embraced it, thinking it was made just for them, I think that awakened him to its true power. It wasn’t something to be slightly ashamed of anymore – it was his calling card.”

Throughout his career, Gerry Anderson often considered revisiting Thunderbirds. “I have four or five different story ideas he developed between 2001 and 2008,” says a source. One of the later concepts began with a mining accident – a nod to the show’s original roots in the 1960s [The original Thunderbirds series was partially inspired by actual mining rescues in the early 1960s, especially the 1963 Lengede disaster in Germany, which gave Gerry Anderson the idea for a show about technological heroes saving lives].

Even in the 2000s, he kept returning to that approach. It seemed he believed that if something was already working well, there was no need to change it.

Even though it only originally aired for a brief period – 32 episodes from 1965 to 1966 – Thunderbirds has remained popular in a way few other shows have. There have been later attempts to revive it, including the 2004 live-action film starring Jonathan Frakes, which didn’t quite capture the feeling of the original, and the 2015 ITV series Thunderbirds Are Go!, which used a combination of CGI and traditional models. However, none of these have lessened people’s fondness for the original show. “Unlike Star Trek or Star Wars, which have consistently released new versions, Thunderbirds only ran for 18 months in the mid-’60s,” Jamie explains. “Since then, there’s been very little – just the films. And yet Thunderbirds has lasted. That’s truly remarkable.”

That lasting popularity was confirmed again this month with the Thunderbirds 60 cinema event, which brought two beloved classic episodes back to the big screen. “Initially, when I proposed the idea earlier this year, distributors responded with: ‘That’s a good thought – we might be able to get it on 10 screens,'” Jamie recalls. “However, I was confident there was still strong interest, and the response far exceeded our expectations. We secured more screens for two episodes of a 60-year-old TV show than many new independent films receive today. It was incredible to see families of three generations enjoying the show together – and the standing ovations at the end were truly astonishing!”

He smiles when he thinks about how his father would have reacted. “I believe Dad would have felt a strong mix of pride and annoyance that it was presented so vividly on the big screen – the puppet strings are now visible and two inches thick in the close-up shots!”

The blend of pride, humor, and heartfelt emotion feels perfect for celebrating Thunderbirds’ 60th anniversary. The show was known for its ambitious vision, but it also came about during a difficult time, as it was created following the tragic loss of a brother. As Jamie explains, it’s this unique combination of enthusiastic creativity and personal sorrow that keeps the series relevant even today. “Essentially, Thunderbirds’ authenticity stemmed from the passions and emotional struggles of the people who made it,” he says. “I don’t usually like that word, but it’s the best way to describe what allowed audiences to connect with the show for generations.”

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2025-09-29 18:10