Sylvia Anderson: The Unsung Heroine Behind Thunderbirds' Iconic Characters

Thunderbirds is a classic science-fiction puppet series that first aired on TV 60 years ago. It was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, but often only Gerry is recognized for the show. Dee Anderson, their daughter, wants people to remember that her mother, Sylvia, played a huge role in making Thunderbirds. Sylvia came up with many of the characters and was the voice of Lady Penelope, one of the most popular characters. At the time, women were not always given credit for their work, but Sylvia was a pioneer in television and film.

The original Thunderbirds series was filmed in studios on Slough Trading Estate, using puppetry and models instead of computer graphics. The story followed the Tracy family, who ran International Rescue, a futuristic emergency service. Lady Penelope, voiced by Sylvia Anderson, and her butler Parker often helped the Tracy family. The show became famous for its catchphrases like 'Thunderbirds are go! ' and 'FAB. ' Gerry and Sylvia Anderson developed a special puppetry technique called 'supermarionation,' which used thin wires to control the marionettes.

To mark the 60th anniversary, International Thunderbirds Day is being celebrated with a celebrity lunch at BAFTA, where a seat has been named after Sylvia Anderson to honor her contributions. There is also a large exhibition at the Museum of Brands in London, featuring over 300 Thunderbirds toys and collectables. Malcolm Garrett, a Thunderbirds superfan, helped organize the exhibition and says owning the toys made fans feel connected to the show. Special events, including a 4K restoration of episodes shown in UK cinemas, are also taking place. Dee Anderson hopes her mother will finally get the recognition she deserves for her creative work on Thunderbirds, which was groundbreaking for its puppetry and merchandising.