In Theaters and Digital

How fun is this?!  Thunderbirds are back in cinemas!

Thanks to Anderson Entertainment and Kaleidoscope Entertainment classic British sci-fi gets a 4K ticket to ride as Thunderbirds, marking its 60th Anniversary, gets a cinematic double-bill bringing together two of the most iconic episodes ever made for the series: TRAPPED IN THE SKY and TERROR IN NEW YORK CITY.

When it comes to producing quality entertainment for children, there are few artists that can match the talents of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. The duo and their creation of Supermarionation within AP Films produced some rather exciting programs (Fireball XL5 and Stingray) headlined by some pretty impressive and highly-articulated marionettes. Yet, as their fanbase grew, the couple wanted to branch out and include the youth raised on their black and white programs and offer them something a bit more adult.

Defining the term “kidult”, The Andersons launched themselves into the stratosphere with the two year run of 1964’s Thunderbirds and its two movie spinoffs. It is an imaginative show, in spite of its age, that truly never runs out of steam.

Bursting with action, suspense, and Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s groundbreaking Supermarionation, these fan favourites showcase International Rescue at its very best—combining daring rescues, stunning model work, and unforgettable characters.

But first, let’s focus on Jeff Tracy and sons Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon, and Adam as they provide some much needed humanitarian aid on our own pop culture. Thunderbirds, in a modern day viewing remains a bizarre combination of cool model effects and entertainment. It is still solid; still weird; still crazy, and above all else, still creative.

Featuring the voice talents of Peter Dyneley, Shane Rimmer, David Holliday, Matt Zimmerman, David Graham, Ray Barrett, and Sylvia Anderson, Thunderbirds is about the well-funded Tracy Family and their secret International Rescue (IR) force, designed to save lives around the world.  Every episode features a near catastrophic event (like a building on fire or a natural disaster) that grows to such levels (in a matter of a few minutes) that only the specially designed machinery and courageous skills of the IR force can handle. Their machines are numbered 1 – 5 for each member of the family to operate and have communication devices that cover their space station and their father’s secret island location, which serves as the IR force’s headquarters.

The first classic episode of Thunderbirds features Master criminal the Hood as he plants a bomb on board the new atomic-powered airliner Fireflash before it departs on its maiden flight. Unable to land for fear of setting off the bomb, the crew and passengers' only hope of survival lies with International Rescue and their swift action to stop the Hood.

And in Terror In New York City, which is largely regarded as the most exciting Thunderbirds episode made, we deal with the aftermath of Thunderbird 2 taking heavy damage in a mistaken attack.  Without a major means of transportation, this leaves the team seemingly without a swift means to transport any rescue gear to New York City to save a news crew trapped underneath the collapsed Empire State Building.

Making their worldwide debut in stunning 4K UHD, both episodes have been meticulously restored from the best surviving film elements in collaboration with award-winning restoration experts, Silver Salt. The result is the ultimate viewing experience—presented in glorious detail, including a brand new 5.1 surround sound mix for an appropriately epic cinema experience.

Thunderbirds and its 40-minute approach to narrative storytelling broke new ground for children’s entertainment in the late 1960s. Today’s youth, who suffer from a significant lack of attention abilities, will probably be bored with the relatively “static” approach to the program; there is hardly any change in the “how” as the emergency situations develop and are resolved. Since these are marionettes, the camera rarely moves and the edits are certainly not quick. I imagine that an 8-year-old, conditioned by the 10 second “jolt” in today’s programming, would actually struggle as Anderson builds suspense with a combined approach of some serious wicked special effects (visible strings and all) and characterization.

Set firmly in the same future that enveloped most of Anderson’s programs (albeit with much less camp), Thunderbirds is all about continuing the militaristic vision of 2065. The special effects, a combination of model work and scaled interiors are detailed and impressive and always worthy of attention as they roll out on the screen.

Whether you're reliving the danger of a sabotaged atomic airliner in Trapped in the Sky or the dramatic mission to save New York from disaster in Terror in New York City, this cinema double bill is a must-see celebration of Thunderbirds in all its explosive glory.

The double-bill will be in UK cinemas, in expertly restored stunning 4K UHD, from 20th September.

5...4...3...2...1...Thunderbirds are GO!