RIP Gerry Anderson

RIP Gerry Anderson

Fri, 2012-12-28 15:38

Gerry Anderson -14th April 1929 - 26th December 2012.      

Anderson ran a company making puppet shows for television. If that sounds a
little unexciting for the over fives Gerry and his team re-imagined what TV
puppets might be. Aided by wife Synthia Gerry's company with glossy production
values, sophisticated sets and props, the characters moving lips and eyebrows
and the convincing design of futuristic architecture and vehicles combined to
make childrens shows that were original, creative and impressive It speaks to
the technical quality of the programmes that the term Supermarionation became
accepted as a reasonable term to apply to the programs. Gerry later claimed to
have devised the term "as a joke".

The TV series' Supercar, Thunderbirds, Stingray, Fireball XL5 and Captain
Scarlet and the Mysterons were produced.and during the Sixties became hugely popular.

The comics industry, never knowingly allowing a bandwagon to pass unjumped-on,  ran versions of the programs in TV Comic, TV Century 21, Lady Penelope, Tornado, Countdown, Joe 90 and TV Action.

Difficult to believe given his commitment to the marionettes it is reported that Gerry Anderson regarded puppets as merely his stepping stone to directing live
action movies and he did make several feature films. There was also the live
action TV series Space 1999.  

 

Sources.

The
Guardian

Wikipedia

BBC
Radio 4

and

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/bios/gerryanderson.html

Submitted by Arthur on Fri, 2012-12-28 15:38

Gerry Anderson -14th April 1929 - 26th December 2012.      

Anderson ran a company making puppet shows for television. If that sounds a
little unexciting for the over fives Gerry and his team re-imagined what TV
puppets might be. Aided by wife Synthia Gerry's company with glossy production
values, sophisticated sets and props, the characters moving lips and eyebrows
and the convincing design of futuristic architecture and vehicles combined to
make childrens shows that were original, creative and impressive It speaks to
the technical quality of the programmes that the term Supermarionation became
accepted as a reasonable term to apply to the programs. Gerry later claimed to
have devised the term "as a joke".

The TV series' Supercar, Thunderbirds, Stingray, Fireball XL5 and Captain
Scarlet and the Mysterons were produced.and during the Sixties became hugely popular.

The comics industry, never knowingly allowing a bandwagon to pass unjumped-on,  ran versions of the programs in TV Comic, TV Century 21, Lady Penelope, Tornado, Countdown, Joe 90 and TV Action.

Difficult to believe given his commitment to the marionettes it is reported that Gerry Anderson regarded puppets as merely his stepping stone to directing live
action movies and he did make several feature films. There was also the live
action TV series Space 1999.  

 

Sources.

The
Guardian

Wikipedia

BBC
Radio 4

and

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/bios/gerryanderson.html

Comments

Submitted by Andy (not verified) on Sat, 2012-12-29 01:23.

Such a huge cultural influence, as a child growing up in the 60s and 70s the amount of Anderson-based Christmas presents I received is surely a gauge of his impact on popular culture. Spectrum Is Green!!

Andy.

Submitted by Arthur on Mon, 2012-12-31 14:04.

Hullo Andy,
apart from the merchandising that cheered so many children, appearing on Her Majesty's postage stamps certainly suggests a significance in the nation's cultural life.
Best,
Arthur