The Everlasting Appeal of Thunderbirds with Keith Shackleton

[@susanscott8653]

I think Thunderbirds really benefited from the hour long format. Characters other than the Tracey family could be introduced and developed as the story went, which added to the depth of the world. I also loved the 60s style of the imagined future.

[@andrewparkin4036]

I agree, that format allowed for better world building and storytelling, much as I like captain scarlet and stingray along with the others sometimes trying to get everything shoehorned into that 25/30 min episode doesn't always work...I love the new cgi version of scarlet and Thunderbirds but whereas scarlet works Thunderbirds although working I think would have benefited from that original series length.

[@minicle426]

​@@andrewparkin4036 TAG should have done more multi parters IMO.

[@brianedwards7142]

I don't want to sound pontifical but what I've always liked about it was that you had an adventure series where the tension was over saving a life, not ending it. Of course I love Penny, who doesn't but Parker and Hiram Hackenbacker are my favourite characters.

[@leokimvideo]

The core strength and appeal in the 60's Thunderbirds that's completely lacking in the latter version is a Father figure Jeff Tracy. He was the the man in charge of the operation and his sons. It was a massive mistake to extract Jeff from the new version of Thunderbirds. Left the family without an anchor and role model. The mistake has been done and now can't be undone.

[@masudashizue777]

You are absolutely right about Thunderbirds being huge in Japan! I remember buying almost every single model of the Thunderbirds (some which I still have!) and cutting out photos from Japanese magazines. Thunderbirds was a major part of my happy childhood.

[@minicle426]

It was very influential on the Tokusatsu genre. Starting back with Ultraseven.

[@johnclay7644]

Many factors, characters, concept the recognisable music, to name a few.

[@Back2TheBike]

My career in defence aerospace, 42 years, had two roots. My dad's RAF service as Lancaster pilot and Thunderbirds, watching in black and white mid 1960s. Thank you.

[@iandeeley9033]

I think Keith Shackleton is absolutely right in his interview when he said that THUNDERBIRDS is still very popular with today's fans, it's popularity will go on FOREVER!

[@bewarethekelpie5390]

I'm in my 20s, got into Thunderbirds in my teens. I think there is absolutely more potential for Thunderbirds to continue its legacy into the modern age

[@tristankawatsuma8962]

You at least have to admit, there hasn’t been a rescue show like it since. Rescue Heroes and Transformers Rescue Bots are fun, but Thunderbirds is just plain unique and I might say, king of the Rescue genre.

[@minicle426]

Gogo V and Rescue Force from Japan are definitely homages to Thunderbirds.

[@tristankawatsuma8962]

@@minicle426 Don’t forget Scientific Rescue Team Technoboyger otherwise known as Thunderbirds 2086. I certainly would like it if somebody made another rescue show. Be pretty great if it was anime, but I’m cool if it’s a cartoon or live-action as well. I suppose all those tv shows like the Australian one about some paramedic team or all these American shows about cops and firefighters technically count, but that just doesn’t feel the same to me compared to Rescue Heroes and Thunderbirds.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

It was lovely meeting you, that year when we wanted to do a calendar! R.I.P Keith Shackleton! Thank you for all the fun with Thunderbirds and the other show the you were involved in!

[@minicle426]

What I always liked about Thunderbirds was that lived in dirty futuristic look most evident with the craft. I believe it had an influence on George Lucas when making Star Wars.

[@bewarethekelpie5390]

When I got into Thunderbirds as a teen i brought it up to my mom and she remembered watching reruns of it in the 70s. I'm usually never into the same things my mom was so that was a unique conversation between us

[@lahechizerodelnucleonottur572]

This was my favorite as a child and it still is to see how they did it without any technology, everything by hand and also the vehicles, the effects, the music, everything is super cool and to see how this series continues I feel very famous until DIY today this series will always be remembered and will never be forgotten

[@georgeplaysharmonica.]

Joe 90. A little kid giving the power to be an adult and having to deal with the evils of adulthood.Joe done so with no messing around and with very minimal mercy for evil foreign powers trying to undermind the structure of modern day democracy and values.thankyou Joe. You kicked ass.

[@edwarddowney2513]

Love Thunderbirds as a kid and still do and I'm 60..

[@beachcomberbob3496]

I'm still blown away, even as a young boy fan since the first airing in the 1960s, at the crispness and high quality of the cinematography.

[@commanderstraker6732]

Fantastic series. I remember watching the repeats in 1971 on Southern TV when I was a kid. Gerry Anderson and all the team were all instrumental in creating this masterpiece.

[@daveroche6522]

Impossible to beat the intro (THAT countdown....). UFO is a VERY close second.

[@rogercrawford772]

I'm in my mid 60 still watch it, have them all on bluray, TB2 is my favourite Thunderbird and I love Lady Penelope and Parker in FAB 1.

[@kelnewman1446]

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR 😂 LOVE IT

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

Except that was Stingray...

[@kelnewman1446]

@@CaseyJonesNumber1 🤣😂🤣

[@dinomonzon7493]

Good overview of the popularity of Thunderbirds. For me, the main appeal was in its premise- using high technology vehicles for disaster rescue. The series’ continuing appeal in Japan is no surprise as the Japanese appreciate science fiction and high technology. The anime series Science Rescue Team Technoboyager (Thunderbirds 2086 internationally) was a very good animated take on Thunderbirds. Of the 1960s series, Jeff Tracy, Lady Penelope and Brains were the best characters. Thunderbirds 3 & 5 were my fave vehicles, and Thunderbirds Are GO was a very well made film.

[@minicle426]

I wish 2086 would get more attention. Kallan was just gorgeous.

[@dinomonzon7493]

Same here. I enjoyed watching that series. International Rescue never had a proper show down against the Shadow Axis. And the series took the premise seriously. My fave characters were Cmdr. Simpson, Grant, Jesse Rigel & Kallan James (who’s really beautiful)

[@daveroche6522]

Part of the joy was trying to guess which Pod T2 would be loading at the start of the episode. I always hoped Pod 4 ....

[@nordicson2835]

Please consider bringing back the toy and model lines. Thank you.

[@HFamilyDad]

Smashin!

[@spooky1304]

When was this interview done I wonder - around 2000..?

[@mauriciosaez492]

I love Lady Penelope ❤

[@fa0676]

Can't believe you spelled his name wrong in the opening credits!

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

I scrolled down to see if anyone else had noticed - duh! As Captain Alberto Bertorelli would say... 'What-a-mistaka-to-maka !' What ever happened to checking, proofreading and editing - Just saying - 😂

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Sorry if it destroyed your enjoyment of this free content

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@GerryAndersonTV - Of course it DIDN'T - NOTHING connected with 'Gerry Anderson' could EVER spoil my wonderful and happy childhood memories. Just the 'sound' of ANY 'GA' programme's signature tune makes me feel 'warm and gooey' inside, putting an immediate smile on my face... I'm instantly transported back to watching Stingray, Thunderbirds, Four Feather Falls, Captain Scarlet or Supercar and so many other shows. How can you put a price on that??? 😂😂😂

[@fa0676]

@@GerryAndersonTV Kinda never said it did. Spelling a key player in GAs enterprise is a bit of a faux pas though innit?

[@stephenpochly7003]

Morning All hope you're well

[@garywagner2466]

All of the Gerry Anderson creations were magical. That team had astounding talent. While it seems a shame now that Supermarionation faded away, perhaps before its time, it might have been for the best. The American networks ruined so many TV concepts by messing with the formula, insisting on script changes, or otherwise interfering because they wrote the cheques. We can look back now on the very high production values, the clever writing, and the attention to detail that even modern programs don’t match. Evidence? The “real people” Thunderbirds movie in 2004 was awful.

[@gregorydotson6776]

First of all it is the music of The Thunder birds are go march. That is what stands out. And what follows are the Cool Thunder birds vehicles , and then The Family Tracy of International Rescue led by Jeff Tracy who was once himself an Astronaut and his 5 sons who are operating these cool vehicles along with the Genius Brains and also the Secret Agent Lady Penelope and her loyal driver yes Ma lady Parker. It is a Rousing Adventure of at the seat of your pants danger , thrills and shills. And plus The Tracy Family they were always Professional of the young men being so young and they always got along with one another without all of The Family dysfunction. And the 5 young men were well mannered. That you knew that there Parents raised them up right.

[@andrewmacdonald8076]

Parker was funny. Instead of hors de combat, parker said Horis the wombat 🥝🇳🇿😊

[@DataJYdocs]

🩹🌍🚑 If billions of currencies were not totally wasted in wars. . . . .

[@markdowse3572]

When I was a little kid, THUNDERBIRDS thrilled me, scared me and made me laugh! 👍 The stories were so real! I still remember BRAINS saying: "I ... don't think they're going to make it!" 😨 so clearly in the SUN PROBE episode. And I had a metal model of T2. Loved playing rescues with it in my backyard! M 🦘🏏😎