TMG’s Thunderbirds Re-Issue Is One Of 2015’s Best New Box Sets For Kids, Famlies

Courtesy: Timeless Media Group

Gerry Anderson’s classic sci-fi/action series Thunderbirds is not the only series that he created during his life.  Though, it is safe to say that of the series that he created it is the best . That is both the personal opinion of this critic and apparently that of audiences in general.  The fact that Thunderbirds has been re-imagined so many times since its original run on television from 1964 – 1965 proves that true.  It has been made into a variety of TV series and even an absolutely horrid teen-centric big screen adaptation in 2004.  There is also a whole new reboot of the original series in the works set to air this year on British television.  It goes to show the longevity of the series.  Now thanks to Timeless Media Group, this classic series has finally been resurrected once more.  While not the first time that the series has been released in full—it was last released by A&E Home Video in 2008 in a twelve-disc DVD box set—it proves to be just as welcome in any classic TV lover’s library this time out as in its previous release if not even more welcome.  The very fact that it has been presented both on DVD and Blu-ray this time is one clear reason that it is such a welcome return.  The writing behind the series should be noted whether audiences are seeing the series for the first time or for the first time again.  The writing behind Thunderbirds makes it stand out from any of Anderson’s other series.  Last and hardly least worth noting of TMG’s newly re-issued full series Thunderbirds set is its look and sound.  It looks and sounds just as good as ever if not better.  That is especially the case for the series’ Blu-ray presentation.  That impressive look and sound in the series’ new re-issue rounds out the ways in which it shows itself to be a completely welcome return both for the series’ original fans and for a whole new generation of fans.  Considering all of this it can also be said that TMG’s new re-issue of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series is one of this year’s best new box sets for children and families.

TMG’s new re-issue of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series is a completely welcome return both for the series’ original fans and for the current generation of fans.  Considering the amount of work that went in to resurrecting the series and doing it right for that matter, it is also one of the best new box sets for children and families.  It shows this to be true in a number of ways, the main way being its overall presentation.  TMG’s release of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series is not the first time that the series has ever seen the light of day.  It was previously released in 2008 in a twelve-disc box set by A&E Home Video.  It was only available on DVD at the time, too.  TMG’s new re-issue offers the series on both DVD and Blu-ray.  Whereas A&E Home Video’s box set was composed of twelve discs and was quite bulky to say the least, TMG has presented audiences with a DVD and Blu-ray box set that are both much more streamlined.  The DVD box is composed of eight discs and the Blu-ray set six discs.  Even if either set had to add an extra disc to house the bonus features included in A&E Home Video’s box set, both sets released by TMG would still be more ergonomic than that of A&E Home Video.  To that extent the series’ packaging both on DVD and Blu-ray in its new release plays a big part in why fans of all ages will enjoy it.  The only down side to the packaging and overall presentation here is that it is lacking an episode guide of any sort.  Given it would be nice to have had that.  But even without it, neither set suffers so much that it isn’t worth the purchase.  It’s just a minor detail.  The fact that fans of the series are presented with two ways to watch the series and in cases that are much more ergonomic than that of its previous release more than makes up for that one negative aspect of the packaging.  That being the case, the overall presentation of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series in its new re-issue presents a sound foundation for both sets.

TMG’s presentation of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series on both DVD and Blu-ray is within itself a great positive for the series in its return.  The fact that both the DVD and Blu-ray set are more ergonomic than that of A&E Home Video’s previous twelve-disc DVD presentation makes both sets even more worth of a welcome return for fans of all ages.  Both elements together form a solid foundation for both the series’ new DVD and Blu-ray sets.  That means that there is still much more to be examined here including the series’ very concept and the related work of its writers.  The concept behind Thunderbirds is completely apart from anything that Gerry Anderson developed for any of his other series.  Instead of going out into space as in Fireball XL5, beneath the waves as in Stingray or even using super brain power to fight the forces of evil.  The closes that Thunderbirds comes to any of Gerry Anderson’s other series by comparison is to Supercar.  And even that comparison is loose at best.  It could actually be argued to a point that Thunderbirds is so enjoyable because it built on the concept behind Supercar and made it more relatable to young viewers than Supercar or even any of Anderson’s other series.  Here, in Thunderbirds, is a covert team of operatives that uses cool, high-tech gadgets and vehicles to save the world.  It just happens to be that they are all brothers and are led by their father.  That within itself is an entirely original concept that has seemingly gone on to be the model for a number of other action series that have come along since then.   The brothers don’t save the world from aliens from another world (Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons) or from other sources in their missions.  Rather the bad guys and situations in general are more real and in turn more believable.  The series’ premiere episode is proof of that as International Rescue has to save a jet that has been strapped with a bomb that would not only destroy the plane but would also lead to a massive spread of radioactive material in the jet’s explosion.    Another episode later in the series’ run sees the team having to save one of its own from a group of villains.  There’s even a point in the series’ run in which the Tracy brothers have to aid the U.S. Army in recovering a new vehicle not from villains but from a fiery pit once used by the army to dispose of its own old equipment.  Simply put, the concept and writing behind Thunderbirds presents concepts and adventures that are more tangible than those presented in Anderson’s other series for lack of better wording.  In being more believable the series also becomes more accessible and in turn enjoyable, which is why even some five decades since it first premiered it remains just as enjoyable as any children’s series on television today if not more so.  It’s one more reason that the series, now in its latest re-issue, is a completely welcome addition to any classic TV lover’s library.

The largely original concept behind Thunderbirds and its fun, entirely believable stories make it just as enjoyable as any children’s series on television today if not more so.  That within itself makes the series’ new re-issue a completely welcome return for audiences of all ages both on DVD and Blu-ray.  The fact that TMG has presented the series in separate, streamlined DVD and Blu-ray boxes makes its new release even more welcome in any classic TV lover’s library.  Both elements together give audiences more than enough reason for audiences of all ages to own Thunderbirds: The Complete Series in its new presentation whether on DVD or Blu-ray.  One would be remiss to ignore the overall quality of the episodes in their new re-issue, having noted the series’ packaging and writing.  The series looks and sounds just as impressive as it did in its original run five decades ago.  This is especially the case with the series’ Blu-ray presentation.  The video is crystal clear.  Yet at the same time, the static that was there in the show’s original run is there, too.  It has just been cleaned up to the point that the picture isn’t hindered.  So, retro TV fans won’t have to worry there.  It still maintains its original look.  That look has just been tweaked a little.  Just as impressive is that the Blu-ray presentation presents the video in its original 4:3 aspect ratio.  It hasn’t been stretched out or distorted to accommodate wide screen televisions.  It is a big statement that the people at TMG would make sure to maintain this aspect of the show.  Added to the fact that it still boasts its original static (albeit cleaned static), the look of the series proves to be its own huge bonus for audiences regardless of their familiarity with the series. The sound is just as interesting to note. Audiences will find themselves by and large holding their remotes, constantly adjusting the volume as they watch. That isn’t the fault of those that re-mastered the show. That is actually how the sound was presented in the show’s original run. While it is somewhat irritating, keeping in mind that this is exactly how the audio was originally presented makes the inconsistency bearable. It might even create even more of a sense of nostalgia among audiences. That sense of nostalgia will keep audiences fully engaged in every episode. Being fully engaged, audiences will in turn see for themselves the importance of the series’ concept and its writing. That appreciation coupled with an appreciation for TMG’s dual, ergonomic presentation of the series will lead finally to the agreement that TMG’s new re-issue of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series is a completely welcome return. It is in fact one of this year’s best new box sets for children and families.

TMG’s new re-issue of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series is one of this year’s best new box sets for children and families. It shows this in so many ways including its packaging, its production values, and of course its concept and writing from one episode to the next. That is not to discount other factors such as the work of those that controlled the marionettes. They were the real stars of the show. The bonus material makes the set even more of a hit. That is because one of the bonus features allows audiences to print out classic brochures promoting the series. There is also an in-depth documentary that discusses how Thunderbirds came to be along with other topics. Whether for these elements, for those that were more directly cited, or for any other element not noted here, any classic TV fan will agree that TMG has impressed greatly with its newly released re-issue of Thunderbirds: The Complete Series. It is a series that was well worth the wait, especially for those that perhaps didn’t already own the series on DVD or even VHS. It is one that is one of this year’s best new box sets for children and families. Thunderbirds: The Complete Series is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered direct from TMG via Shout! Factory’s online store on either platform at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-action-adventure/thunderbirds-the-complete-series. More information on Thunderbirds: The Complete Series and other titles from TMG and Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

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Fireball XL5: The Complete Series Is Another Must Have For Any Classic TV Fan

Courtesy: Timeless Media Group/Shout! Factory

When he first introduced the concept of “supermarionation” to television viewers over fifty years ago Gerry Anderson probably didn’t have any idea of how popular his various puppet-based programming would become to audiences the world over.  If he saw the love that his various series still receive to this day, Anderson would likely be very pleased to see how beloved they remain today.  And thanks to the hard work of the people at Timeless Media Group, he would probably be just as happy to see the love given to his series so far by the company.  That is especially the case with the brand new release today of Anderson’s first ever “supermarionation” series Fireball XL5.  Originally broadcast in 1962, the series followed Colonel Steve Zodiac and the crew of the Fireball XL5 deep into space as they faced all kinds of adventures.  Now thanks to its new re-issue, a whole new generation of audiences will get to see those adventures for themselves.  In taking in every one of those adventures, said viewers will agree as to just how enjoyable they are, proving the importance of the writing to the series’ enjoyment.  And while the series was obviously acted out by marionettes instead of actual actors, audiences will agree that the work of the puppeteers–essentially the actors–adds even more enjoyment to the series.  The work of the people pulling the strings made suspension of disbelief so easy and in turn made enjoyment of the series that much easier, too.  The look and sound of the footage across the series’ thirty-nine total episodes rounds out the reasons that this newly released set is such a joy for audiences of any age.  If not for the work put in by the necessary parties to bring the series back to life neither the writing nor the work of the actors chronicled on the set’s six discs would be worth the time and/or money invested into the set.  Luckily though, the series’ production values do in fact make its writing and acting worth the investment.  And in investing both the time and money, audiences will agree that Fireball XL5 is another must have for any classic TV buff.

Fireball XL5 is not the first of Gerry Anderson’s classic “supermarionation” series released by Timeless Media Group in the past year or so.  And while it is not the first of Anderson’s classic “supermarionation” series to see the light of day again it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is another must have for any classic TV buff.  This is proven first and foremost through its enjoyable writing.  Those responsible for writing the series’ thirty-nine total episodes have crafted over three dozen stories that will keep audiences fully engaged from beginning to end in each.  Audiences will be kept engaged thanks in part to the stories themselves.  From battling evil aliens bent on freezing Earth by reflecting the sun’s rays to taking on evil space pirates to saving an entire race of people when its planet heads on a collision course with another planet, the stories prove to be just extraordinary enough yet believable enough to keep viewers engaged.  These are just a few examples of why the series’ writing is so pivotal to the success of Fireball XL5. Throughout the series’ thirty-nine total episodes, there are plenty of other examples of why its writing makes it just as fun as Anderson’s other “supermarionation” series. One of those many examples lies in the episode “Mystery of the A2” in which Col. Zodiac and his crew uncover a long-held mystery in when they find a long-lost rocket and its captain.  “1875” is another prime example of why the series’ writing is so important to its importance. It puts Col. Zodiac in a time travelling adventure in which he has to stop his crew, as they have turned into robbers. There is even an adventure that takes Col. Zodiac and company on a peaceful mission to help a pair of giants in their efforts to explore space in “The Triads.” Again, here is more proof of the importance of the writing behind Fireball XL5. While the series is another “supermarionation” series, the adventures crafted for the series still manage to stand on their own merits versus those crafted for the likes of Stingray, Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons, Thunderbirds or any of Gerry Anderson’s other series. It’s just one way that Fireball XL5: The Complete Series proves itself a must have for any true classic television fan.

The writing behind Fireball XL5 is key to the enjoyment of the series. The adventures themselves are great escapes for any true classic TV fan. The fact that the series is a stand-alone series versus all of the serials currently cluttering up the airwaves today only adds to this new release’s positives. As important as the noted aspects of the show’s writing prove to be, the work of those controlling the marionettes is just as important to note. While they may have been off camera, it goes without saying that they were in fact the real actors. They were just pulling the strings of the on-screen “actors.” Their interpretation of the scripts makes it easy to look past the fact that what audiences are seeing is a bunch of puppets on strings and more on the story. As a matter of fact, their work actually makes the show’s obviously campy feel all the more endearing. Again, it shows exactly why the work of the real cast is so important to the series and why it makes this new release a must have for any classic TV buff.

The work of Fireball XL5’s writers and that of the show’s puppeteers collectively shows why decades after it ended its run, it is still a great watch. It proves why this show is in this critic’s view more enjoyable than most “family friendly” offerings on television’s major broadcast and cable networks today. The same can be said of those responsible for resurrecting the show’s original footage for this release. Given, it’s not the first time that the series has seen the light of day. But roughly twelve years have passed since it was last released by A&E Home Video. So some work had to have been put in to do some restoration work for this re-issue. And said work paid off, too as the footage looks and sounds as impressive as it did in its original broadcast if not better. The end result here is a sense of nostalgia even among those that were not even born at the time of the series’ original run. Coupled with the work of the show’s writers and puppeteers, that sense of nostalgia is increased and in turn, the appreciation for this classic is increased, too. That newly found appreciation will lead ultimately to the realization once more that Fireball XL5 is a must have for any true lover of classic television.

Fireball XL5 is a must have for any lover of classic television. That has been noted more than once here. And it has been noted with good reason. The writers have crafted a show that is family friendly and that presents stories largely unlike those of Gerry Anderson’s other “supermarionation” series. Because the series in whole is a stand-alone series, it stands apart from today’s “family friendly” serials. The people controlling the puppets make suspension of disbelief all the easier. The look and sound of the footage rounds out the whole package that is Fireball XL5: The Complete Series. The footage looks and sounds as clean as it did in the series’ original broadcast. Because it looks and sounds so impressive, it makes the rest of the presentation that much more worth the investment of time and money, proving once and for all why Fireball XL5: The Complete Series is another welcome piece of television history from Timeless Media Group and another must have for any true lover of classic television. It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct from Timeless Media Group online at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/fireball-xl5-the-complete-series. More information on this and other titles from TMG and Shout! Factory, including Gerry Anderson’s other series, is available online at:

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Stingray Finally Gets A Full, Proper Release In Its 50th Anniversary Edition

Courtesy: Timeless Media Group/Shout! Factory

Fifty years ago, a man by the name of Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia created what would be some of the greatest programs in television history when he introduced the concept of “Supermarionation.”  The concept, which proved to be exactly what it sounded like–using marionettes in the place of actual actors for series–led to some of the greatest series on television.  Those series included the likes of Thunderbirds Are GO, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, and Stingray just to name a few.  All three titles have received their own DVD releases in the early 2000s courtesy of A&E Home Video.  And now thanks to the efforts of the people at Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory, Stingray has gotten what can only be described as a full, proper DVD box set release.  Timeless Media Group released Stingray: The Complete Series–50th Anniversary Edition on DVD last Tuesday, January 13th.  First and most notable of the box set’s positives is its writing.  Those that might not be so familiar with the series will appreciate the writing that went into this series.  It was a serial that wasn’t a serial.  While it does hold serial elements, there are also plenty of stand-alone episodes to counter that serial element and make the series true fun.  Also worth noting is that in its new re-issue, Shout! Factory has seen what A&E Home Video offered audiences in the series’ 2002 DVD release, and raised them quite a bit with this release.  Timeless Media Group has raised the ante with packaging that is far more ergonomically sound than that of A&E Home Video’s 2002 release of the series.  TMG has also raised the bar with the set’s bonus features.  It has carried over some of the bonus material from the series’ 2002 release and included even more for audiences with this set.  Last but hardly least of all worth nothing of the set is its collective look and sound.  While half a century has passed since Stingray first debuted to audiences overseas, the series looks and sounds just as good as ever in its new release.  It shows that the efforts taken by those charged with bringing the series back to life yet again more than paid off.  Together with the set’s improved bonus material and its equally impressive writing, it becomes one more shining reason that ay lover of classic television should include Stingray: The Complete Series–50th Anniversary Edition to their home DVD library.  All three factors together show just why TMG’s new re-issue of Stingray: The Complete Series—50th Anniversary Edition an early candidate for the list of the year’s best new box sets.

Timeless Media Group’s new 50th Anniversary re-issue of Gerry Anderson’s Stingray is an early candidate to make any critic’s list of this year’s best new box sets.  This applies both to box sets for grown-ups and for the whole family.  The central reason for such an accolade is the series’ writing.  The writing presented a series that was a serial but not a serial.  From the series premiere to its finale, the series’ writers never allowed the ongoing conflict between W.A.S.P. (World Aquanaut Security Patrol) and the Aquaphibians to overpower the series.  Given, the Aquaphibians are always there in the background as the series’ central villains.  But the writers always managed to maintain the series’ episodes as their own stand-alone entities from one to the next beginning to end.  One of the best examples of the writers’ ability to maintain that balance comes in the form of “Loch Ness Monster.”  The story takes rugged Captain Troy Tempest and his navigator Lt. George Lee “Phones” Sheridan to the famed Loch Ness in Scotland to investigate an attack on a fisherman by the legendary Loch Ness Monster.  In another case, Troy and George meet some new allies while helping the crew of an oil rig in “Sea of Oil.”   And there are even more enemies and challenges for the members of W.A.S.P. late in the series’ run in “An Echo of Danger,” “Invisible Enemy” and “Deep Heat” just to name a few more of the series’ great stand-alone episodes.  The series’ early episodes tend to focus more on the conflict between W.A.S.P. and the Aquaphibians.  Even as much as those episodes focus on the underlying conflict, there are stand-alone episodes early on, too.  The fact that the series’ writers could balance both an ongoing storyline with a solid share of stand-alone episodes shows great talent.  That ability to keep viewers watching through said balance is something that far too few of today’s writers posess.  It’s one more example of what once made television great, how far it has fallen since then, and of course why any lover of classic television will throoughly enjoy Stingray: The Complete Series–50th Anniversary Edition.  The bonus material boasted throughout the set makes it even more of a must have for any lover of classic television.

The writing behind Stingray is within itself plenty of reason for any lover of classic television to pick up the series’ new 50^th Anniversary Edition.  Its balance of serial and stand-alone elements keeps audiences engaged from series premiere to finale.  The bonus material offered along the way makes this new re-issue just as much a joy if not more so.  The bonus material included in the set includes a number of commentaries spread across the series’ thirty-nine episodes.  The commentaries in question are new additions to this box set.  They were not included in the set’s previous 2012 release from A&E Home Video.  They boast quite the history lesson on the show and its production as well as other topics.  Audiences learn the role that the classic crime drama Ironside played in one character’s development.  They also learn a little known secret centering on the series’ American broadcast versus its run on UK TV.  The difference in question is that the series’ UK broadcast was run in black & white while its U.S. broadcast was run in color.  There’s also a funny little bit telling about one model of the Stingray sub not being quite as waterproof as the series’ heads thought.  There are even discussions on the show’s production values in terms of its special effects that audiences will find rather interesting.  These discussions are just a handful of interesting additions to the set in whole.  There is much more for audiences to take in, including a full length interview with the now late series creator Gerry Anderson in which Anderson reveals that Stingray that was carried over from the set’s previous release via A&E Home Video in 2002.  Audiences will be interested to learn in the interview that Stingray was originally intended for adult audiences and not children.  Considering that references to smoking including Troy and George smoking were included throughout the series, it would make sense.  There are other elements to the series that show why it would be considered more for adult audiences than for children.  Ultimately the choice is up to parents.  That aside, that and the newly added commentaries show just why the bonus material included in Stingray: The Complete Series–50th Anniversary Edition adds to the enjoyment of the reborn classic.

The writing behind Stingray and the bonus features included in the series’ brand new 50th Anniversary Edition are both key in their own way to the set’s enjoyment.  The writing balances a serial element soundly with just as many stand-alone episodes, making thirty-nine episodes that will keep audiences engaged from beginning to end.  The combination of the set’s carry-over bonus material and its newly added commentaries adds to the set’s enjoyment and success thanks to the added history lesson on the series presented through each commentary.  While both elements play their own integral roles in the enjoyment and success of Stingray: The Complete Series–50th Anniversary Edition, they still comprise only a portion of the set’s positives.  The quality of the footage in terms of its look and sound is the last element to note that makes this set so enjoyable.  Stingray has–as previously noted–been released in its entirety once before via A&E Home Video.  Twelve years have passed since that release.  So unless one already owns that previously released box set, it is difficult to make a comparison of the quality of the footage in that set.  It can be said in the case of this release though, that the series looks and sounds wonderful.  Those that have the pleasure of seeing the series on a Blu-ray player will especially agree to this sentiment.  The original, grainy quality of the footage is still there.  And the sound is just as clear.  What’s really interesting to note in watching it on a Blu-ray player is just how clean it looks in its automatic up-conversion.  The noted grainy quality of the footage is anything but overpowering.  Rather it is like putting on an old vinyl and hearing that familiar static.  It’s just part of the presentation.  That in mind, those charged with re-mastering the footage for its presentation here are to be commended for their efforts.  The efforts will generate a welcome sense of nostalgia for those that grew up with the series.  For those audiences that might be new to the world of Stingray, it shows that such classic footage is just as good as any of the spit-shined material churned out by the major studios today.  That coupled with packaging that is far more ergonomically sound than that of the set’s 2002 release from A&E Home Video makes complete this set.  Together with the series’ writing and the mix of new and carry-over bonus material, the set in whole is yet another must see for any lover of classic television.  It is also more proof of why the partnership between Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory has made the companies two of the leading names in home entertainment.

Whether it be for the series’ writing, the bonus material included in the set, or even the top notch quality of the show’s footage and its packaging, there is so much to like about Stingray: The Complete Series—50th Anniversary Edition.  Considering how much there is to like about this new re-issue, it would be no surprise if this set ends up on any critic’s year-ender noting the year’s best new box sets either for adults or families.  It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct via Timeless Media’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/stingray-the-complete-series-50th-anniversary-edition.  More information on this and other releases from Timeless Media Group is available online at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com/tentpoles/timeless-media-group

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Timeless-Media-Group/358391474233364

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