Thunderbirds: The Complete Collection [DVD] [2015]

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A new invention – the Crablogger (a nearly fully automated logging machine that converts wood into fuel) — threatens widespread devastation if it collides with an unfinished dam, after its drivers collapse due to food poisoning.

This is an episode guide for Thunderbirds, a British Supermarionation television series produced by AP Films (later named Century 21 Productions) from 1964 and first broadcast on the ITV network in 1965 and 1966. It lists both the TV episodes and the 1960s audio plays by Century 21 Records, along with their adaptations.Plot: A series of mansion burglaries draws Lady Penelope and Parker into a conspiracy to raid the Tower of London and steal the Crown Jewels. Thunderbirds 2086 made greater use of science fiction concepts and space travel in general than the original Supermarionation series, although its vehicles were designed with more of a functional appearance than those seen there. By and large the English redub followed the stories of the original Japanese episodes but its tone was often very tongue-in-cheek, and it wasn’t afraid to make references to other television shows and films. This was a world where evil computers would claim to control “the horizontal and the vertical”, where a convicted man would yell “I am not a number, I am a free man!” upon being sentenced, where a cynical astronaut would announce “I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s some mystical energy controlling my destiny!” short before encountering said Force (and then crying “I do believe in ghosts, I do believe in ghosts!”), and where absolutely all engineers were Scottish. The humour threatens to finally break the fourth wall completely at the start of the final episode, UFO, where the captain of a sailing vessel gets excited about his first appearance on television; One additional element that came into play midway through Thunderbirds 2086’s run came with the arrival of the mysterious villain Star Crusher and his terrorist group the Shadow Axis, who were behind nefarious plots in several episodes. Although not part of the original Technoboyager series it was nevertheless an interesting attempt to provide a regular villain for 2086 through voiceover alone, since the original animation could not be altered enough to incorporate a new animated character. The ‘IRO datacube’. A beautiful island somewhere in the South Pacific. Outwardly, Tracy Island is nothing more than a luxury home for Jeff Tracy and his family. Secretly, it is the headquarters of the heroic International Rescue organisation. When newly recruited London agents Lady Penelope and Parker arrive for their very first visit, Jeff takes them on a tour to show them the fantastic Thunderbirds – the machines of the future. CAPTAIN: “I say, old bean! Here we are beginning our story, our adventure into outer space. I can’t wait to see what happens to us!”

a b Judge, Ben (30 September 2020). "30 September 1965: Thunderbirds Are Go!". moneyweek.com . Retrieved 24 August 2023. Re-released on International Rescues (Century 21 LP compilation, 1966, code LA 3) as well as Gerry Anderson Presents T.V. Favourites –Vol. 2 (Marble Arch LP, 1968, MAL 771), Thunderbirds & Captain Scarlet ( Hallmark/Marble Arch LP, 1969, HMA 227), [16] and Thunderbirds ( PolyGram cassette, 1992, code 514 385–4). [19] Although the series featured the adventures of the Thunderbirds machines of International Rescue, it did not make any mention of the Tracy family or any other familiar element of the Supermarionation original – beyond a very occasional cry of “Thunderbirds are Go!”. Instead, the International Rescue of Thunderbirds 2086 was a far larger organisation which operated out of a vast city known as the Arcology, built upon a manmade island. Although the organisation apparently employs hundreds of people, the main cast of heroes was limited to seven characters. The Thunderbirds machines would be manned by a group of captains (despite being called cadets during the opening titles narration) under the command of Doctor Warren Simpson, 2086’s equivalent of Jeff Tracy. The Thunderbird 1 space shuttle was piloted by daring young hotshot Dylan Beyda, while the hypersonic transport Thunderbird 2 was co-piloted by would-be space cowboy Jesse Rigel and Jonathan ‘Little John’ Jordan, Jnr. Thunderbird 3, a multi-purpose ground vehicle, would be commanded by Gran Hanson – who also served as the team’s leader for most missions. Thunderbirds 1 2 and 3 could also combine to ensure maximum preparedness for any emergency situation. The sole female member of the team, Kallan James, was in charge of International Rescue’s primary underwater craft, Thunderbird 4. Rounding out the regular cast – whether you liked it or not – was Commander Simpson’s seven-year-old nephew ‘Skipper’. Doctor Simpson briefs the Thunderbirds team. L-R; Dylan Beyda, Kallan James, Jesse Rigel, ‘Little John’ and Gran Hanson.a b c d e Anderson, Jamie (7 July 2015). "Brand new episodes of classic Thunderbirds on the way!". gerryanderson.co.uk. Anderson Entertainment. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015 . Retrieved 14 July 2015.

Full details regarding the release have yet to be given, but there will certainly be a flurry of activity to coincide with the release.A gang of criminals masquerade as International Rescue to conceal their theft of top-secret military plans. The ensuing worldwide manhunt for International Rescue leaves the organisation powerless to operate in a rescue situation until its name is vindicated, just as a member of a manned reconnaissance satellite is suddenly trapped in space while trying to repair the station.