This is the one RIP thread I've been dreading creating... but sadly, I knew it was imminent. Legendary television producer, writer, director, actor, sound editor and composer Gerry Anderson has died aged 83, after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for the past two years. Gerry was best known for creating not just one, but many children's puppet television series. Arguably, the most famous was Thunderbirds. He didn't want to work with puppets when he was asked to do his first series, The Adventures of Twizzle. He decided if he made it look as realistic as possible, he would be asked to do serious filming. Unfortunately, the industry was so impressed with the realism of his puppet series that they commissioned more! He went on to make Torchy the Battery Boy, Four Feather Falls, Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90, The Secret Service and Terrahawks. He also did two stop-motion animation series, Dick Spanner, P.I. and Lavender Castle. An attempt at an animated cartoon series, GFI, was started. However, Gerry was unhappy with the result, and it was canned. Later, though, he returned to animation with a Japanese anime show, Firestorm, and the CGI-based New Captain Scarlet. He also made several live-action series - UFO, The Protectors, Space: 1999 and Space Precinct as well as several films, including Crossroads to Crime, Doppelganger, Thunderbirds are Go, Thunderbird 6 and The Day After Tomorrow. A lot of people don't know that Gerry was involved in sound and music before that. He was sound editor on several films in the 1950s and even returned to the genre when he composed music for Terrahawks himself. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-20845407 RIP Gerry. Your programs have been a major part of my life, and were an inspiration to my wanting to work in the industry. One of my earliest memories is watching Terrahawks. Your shows will always be loved and remembered by many. I am so pleased that I got to meet you.
Sad day that such a legend has passed on. Gerry had entertained millions of people throughout the world, my self included. I clearly remember watching Thunderbirds on BBC 1 after Battle of the Planets (G-Force / Gatchaman) on a Saturday morning and later on in my life it was Terrahwks on ITV on Saturday afternoon. I also loved his live action series, Space 1999 (one of the space ships was used in Red Dwarf Once) and even remember watching Dick Spanner as a kid. Gerry Anderson, a true legend of TV and Film. R.I.P.
for me it was UFO. as a teen that female submarine uniform (fishnet!) was hot! And the moon base uniform was hot too! R.I.P Gerry
Just found out that Shiggsy was a fan! http://www.3dsbuzz.com/miyamoto-reveals-the-surprising-inspiration-for-star-fox/
R.I.P. It's a terrible loss. I've read somewhere he was planning on doing a CGI version of Thunderbirds. I only had the chance to watch Thunderbirds in the early 90's, but it was impossible not liking it. No wonder it was a worldwide success. I really recommend watching the documentary "All About Thunderbirds". It's a true tribute to Gerry's work and to all those people involved.
