Last time we childminded our Grandjunior I thought I'd introduce him to Thunderbirds the original series. I would say TOS for short but Trekkies have snaffled that one already!
Trying to ensure audience satisfaction I chose the most exciting episode I could remember as a kid, the one with the massive crocodiles. I wuz mesmerised back in the day!
And so we settled down like a couple of Tracy brothers and the iconic theme tune started. I noticed it was me that was getting excited and not Junior, but once the giant crocs turned up I was sure he'd feel the Anderson vibe.
I was right. Those big reptiles pounding the house did the trick. What a fabulous job the Century 21 team did. Tails smashing the walls, snarling, growling, snapping. And that was just me! Junior loved it! I was thrilled.
The Thunderbirds vehicles were pretty darn good as well and I realised that Thunderbird 2 was my favourite as a kid. There's just something about it's huge portly body and the wonderful pod vehicles. You never knew what you were going to get! And the sounds. Boy, those engine sounds! What were they?
I was also amazed how obvious the strings were on the puppets and Junior could see them too. It didn't bother us and I can only assume it didn't when I was a kid. In fact I liked seeing them again, those strings.
I'd also forgotten how long Thunderbirds was. 50 minutes! Wow! Almost like feature films! Junior got fed up sitting around after half an hour and went off to play scrapyards with his old Dinkys we got him. He is only 4 after all.
What would you say is the ideal age to watch Thunderbirds the original series readers and which episode would you recommend?
I tried this with my son around 2006 or 2007, when he was 5 or 6.
ReplyDeleteI offered him all the old Anderson stuff.
Nothing. No excitement, no interest, nothing.
He loved Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Shrek, Star Wars:The Clone Wars etc with their C.G.I. characters, but thought Anderson's puppets looked old fashioned, creaky and a bit naff.
Hope you continue to have more success with your grandson, but don't be surprised if he migrates away from Anderson shows soon.
I shall try again Mish although I may have to go for a new episode. Offering Junir the second half of the massive crocodiles may have lost its charm. Junior loves everything you've said too but his absolute fave films are Superman 1 to 3 with Chris Reeves!
DeleteGood job trying to instill the thrill of Supermarionation in the younger set, but personally I wouldn't bother. They are (by and large) addicted to the computer-generated stuff, which to them seems more "real" than modelwork. Using actual, real miniatures in movies/television was a glorious moment in time, and I think an acquired taste as well. Most don't like to recall this, but even back then, some of my peers thought the Supermarionation shows were "old-fashioned, creaky and a bit naff." They were not universally liked by kids, contrary to what we would like to believe. But they were precious to me then, and they are precious to me now, and I think its really a special kind of person who enjoyed, and can still enjoy, classic Supermarionation. Me, I still watch Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90 all the time, thanks to DVDs. They never grow old for me. A perfect alternate universe.
ReplyDeleteWell done Zigg keeping the flame alive. I will try again with Junior. There's too much shooting in most of the other Anderson shows so Thunderbirds it is for now. Any episode you could recommend?
DeleteOh I like em all so I’m not the person to ask. Recently seen eps which I loved are Atlantic Inferno, Sun Probe, Security Hazard...
DeleteTrapped in the Sky of course (pilot episode), Pit of Peril, Day of Disaster, Terror in New York City...
DeleteBrink of Disaster, Path of Destruction (the crablogger!), Danger at Ocean Deep...
DeleteThanks for tips Zigg!
DeleteI agree with that last statement!
ReplyDeleteMe too. Reality is over-rated!
DeleteWell put Zig.
ReplyDeleteHere here.
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