Thunderbirds Are Go

Thunderbirds is one of my all time favourite things in the universe, so when I heard a new Thunderbirds TV series was in production, excitement doesn't even begin to describe my feelings! Thunderbirds Are Go is set to air next year, with a first season of twenty-six episodes made by ITV Studios, Pukeko Pictures, and Weta Workshop.

There have been a few teaser images around for a while, but now all five of the new Thunderbird designs have been revealed. Here are the clearest images so far released, of Thunderbirds one through four:

There's not been such a well presented image of Thunderbird 5 yet, but you can see it here in this size comparison image of all five:

Continue after the jump for more on the Thunderbird designs and more from this exciting new series:

Rotating animations of all five vehicles have also been released. Let's have a look at each of them:

Thunderbird 1

Of all the new designs, this one is closest to the original, with just a few minor embellishments updating the classic rocket.

Thunderbird 2

We have a more substantial redesign for Thunderbird 2, which now seems more boxy and industrial. Thunderbird 2 was never exactly elegant; I think this new version is even less so than before, having lost it's distinctive curve shape somewhat - But in the process it communicates its pure functionality at the core of the International Rescue operations.

Thunderbird 3

The space going Thunderbird 3 has also been beefed up; not nearly as fragile looking as the original. The new look definitely tells us it's a powerful spacecraft.

Thunderbird 4

The submarine, Thunderbird 4, has lost its distinctive shovel, but probably looks better for it! The rest of the design sticks very close to the original, with just a few tweaks, and some more curves.

Thunderbird 5

And finally the most radical redesign is also my favourite. While retaining the distinctive ring shape of the original Thunderbird 5, the new space station looks a lot more "realistic" while retaining a futuristic sci-fi edge.


The series promises to feature a mix of physical models and CGI work. As best I can tell that means the settings and the vehicles will be "real", with the characters produced by animation. You can get a nice feel for just how real the locations are from this image of the new Tracy Island:

There is also this teaser image of the CGI Tracy brothers, who retain their blue uniforms, but get a high-tech make-over to give their sashes some functionality:

Finally this last images comes from ITV's listing for a making of program that is set to air when the series begins. It too appears to demonstrate the wonderful miniature work being done on the series. Lot the vehicle which appears to be hovering on rockets above the building:

At twenty-two minutes an episode, we won't get quite the same mini-movie experience of the original fifty-minute adventures, but I get the feeling already from these teasers it will still look as amazing and cinematic as the originals. Apparently the music is also seeking to emulate the original, which if successful will only reinforce what looks like it will be a wonderful series.

Sources: Thunderbirds Are Go 2015, Screen Relish, Rocket Tumblr, Film Divider, Jason Ford, TBI Vision, MIP Blog, Kidscreen, ITV Studios, Mike Cane's xBlog.