Comments on: When a fandom tribe dies

By: gry planszowe

gry planszowe — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:40:54 +0000

Ciekawa strona, trafilem tu przypadkowo, ale od dzis bede wpadal czesciej, pozdro

By: Preeratroug

Preeratroug — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:06:17 +0000

Sklep komputerowy z tanimi czesciami komputerowymi: sklep komputerowy

By: Kristin D.

Kristin D. — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 18:12:59 +0000

Thunderbirds fandom, dying?? Oh no-no-no-no-no-no, we’re still out there!!

I very strongly agree with what Daria, Tikatu, Willow, Amanda, TracyFan, Math Girl & Tawnyangel have said. Thunderbirds as well as the other Gerry & Sylvia Anderson Supermarionation, is VERY MUCH alive & well.

For instance, let us not forget Mike Mercury and the adventures of ‘Supercar’ (1961-62) which began the era of Supermarionation. Or, ‘Fireball XL5′ (1962-63) which introduced us to Steve Zodiac and the World Space Patrol.

And then there’s the ultimate prelude to Thunderbirds, Stingray (1964-65) which featured the valiant Troy Tempest and the crew of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol, who kept the world safe from evil forces beneath the sea.

Last but not least, the indestructible Captain Scarlet (1967-68) who with Spectrum, defended mankind from the menace of the Martian Mysterons.

So don’t count us out any time soon, we’re a force to be reckoned with!!

By: Willow_Tracy

Willow_Tracy — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:15:25 +0000

Its funny though. You sit here and watch the show thinking that all these gadgets are so inventive, and well imagined…and we’re watching it in the 21st century…only to say that those little imagined gagets are real. Not imagined at all. Sometimes I wonder if the person that created those gagets watched the show just like us.

Small hiden cameras, comunicators in watches, imprent pens, a fabric that can fit into the smallest of spaces…all of it and more are real now. That really feeds the imagination. Makes me wonder if a imaginary rescue team can turn real. Although the team wouldn’t be the Tracy family like my imagination wants to lead me to believe…but I’m hoping that the guys are cute too. ;)

Will

By: Willow_Tracy

Willow_Tracy — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:14:32 +0000

Will

By: Math Girl

Math Girl — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:27:58 +0000

I will add my bit, though I’ve little right to, as my take on the boys and the team is different from both series and movie. I also am female, and something of a gee-whiz science nerd. I write at FFN, as do many of the posters above. As a child I grew up with the show, fell in love with half of the characters and wanted to fly most of the ‘Birds. It influenced me then and continues to be a warming obsession now. I, too, would argue that the Thunderbirds Fandom is far from dead. What it has done is evolve, and that, as any biologist will tell you, is a sign of life and vigor.
It’s a fun show. The puppets are cute, the machines are very 60’s modish, and the rescues inventive. The fact that there was very little backstory and characterization (what 60s- 70s era kid would want it?) created a big canvas upon which fan-writers could apply their own brush. Canon and Fanon are alive and well, and so is the show, and its legion of fans. And, um, yeah… for the record John and Gordon are extremely fascinating, both of them.

By: Willow_Tracy

Willow_Tracy — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:16:13 +0000

Although the movie whichis now three years old…wow its been that long…we wouldn’t say no to a new series as long as Mr. Gerry Anderson was involved. I don’t really care if they use Marionettes (Not to be confused with puppets. Marionettes have strings, puppets are fitted onto the hand.) or CGI (Computer Generated Images) Just resently a trailer for a new Thunderbirds series had popped up. However terrible lookin in origin, I’m not totally sure if it was fan based or not. I’d really like to see more. 32 episodes isn’t enough to show the spinder of the Tracy Family.

By: Daria

Daria — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 06:08:21 +0000

Wow—a big ‘high five’ to all of the above! These wonderful ladies represent thousands upon thousands of Thunderbirds fans in the States and the many millions around the world. I often receive letters addressed to the various members of the Tracy family from places as far away as Australia and New Zealand, The Netherlands, Chile, Japan and various parts of the US and Canada, from fans as young as 4 and as old as 65 or more. They all have their favorite characters and episodes (with scripts they know by heart) and, what’s even better, they really believe in International Rescue and the dangerous but life-saving work which those characters perform. Many of the kids that I hear from want to grow up and be like the Tracy family: they want to do good deeds and help people who are in dire need. How many other fandoms can you name which inspire the best in the human spirit and cause fans to want to become rescue workers or designers of high-tech rescue and/or aeronautics equipment?

As for the fandom, despite the fact that licensing seems to all but have dried up since Granada/ITV bought Carlton, there are still millions-worth of BPS, dollars and Yen being put into and spent on Thunderbirds memorabilia each year, with recent collections such as the excellent Robert Harrop porcelain figurines, signed portraits of the Tracy brothers straight from the lounge at Tracy Villa, yet another full-series DVD set for both the Region 1 and Region 2 markets and the Konami Ultimate Thunderbirds sets hitting the market to enthusiastic receptions. Some smart marketing folks definitely know that we’re out here: fans around the globe with both a mania for Thunderbirds and deep-pocket disposable income. Additionally, I’m willing to bet that there hasn’t been one year since 1966 wherein there were no Thunderbirds-related toys issued, particularly in Australia and Japan; the franchise has been THAT important to retailers over the years. 2010 will mark the series’ 45th anniversary and you can be sure there will be more merchandising, more media exposure and, yes, more fans joining the fold. Welcome!

By: Magratconvert

Magratconvert — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:59:18 +0000

Again, I’m another one joining in with Daria, Willow Tracy, Tikatu, and the others to proclaim PROUDLY that the Thunderbird fandom is still alive and kicking. The original series aired three years before I was even born but I was introduced to it through my Aunt who just loved all of Gerry Anderson’s work. Now that I am a mother of my own, I have introduced my children to the fandom. My son who is fifteen just absolutely loves it. For further information, YES, the original Thunderbirds series IS on DVD. I happen to have the set. It was done through the A&E DVD series. I also have many memorabilia items that I have purchased in just the past few years. So, for anyone who thinks this is a dead fandom…you are sorely mistaken, just check out the over 1,000 fan fiction stories that are on fanfiction.net or ebay to see all the various items up for sale. The fans are still here and we intend to remain. THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO.

By: TracyFan4Ever

TracyFan4Ever — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:59:44 +0000

I’m joining Daria, Willow Tracy, Tikatu, Harpo’s Horn, and TawnyAngel22 when I say we Thunderbirds fans haven’t disappeared from the Earth just yet. I’ve only been a fan since the mid 1990s, and the show started about 9 years before I was even born! I appreciate the past very much, considering many of the kids’ shows today have no meaning and a lot more violence than ever before. The really ridiculous shows like Ed, Edd, and Eddy; Camp Lazlo; and Spongebob Squarepants (Yes, I despise that sponge!) will never achieve the cult status Thunderbirds has had for the 40+ years in existence!

By: Amanda Tracy

Amanda Tracy — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:13:52 +0000

From the comments on the articles, I gather a couple of things. There is a very good possibility that you know a Thunderbird fan and knew the article was going to set off a whole bunch of fireworks within the Thunderbird communities as well as others. And I will admit to the fact that Thunderbirds came out around the same time as Star Trek and Dr. Who. (Would you really dare to tell this to those who love those shows? We’d better alert Dr. McCoy you’re on your way.) The second point I noticed is that the reason Thunderbirds doesn’t seem popular to alot of people is because Thunderbirds requires imagination. As time and technology has grown we have come to rely more and more on multimedia to do the imagining for us. I introduced my girlfriend’s kids to the Anderson show and at first all they saw were puppets and strings. Once I explained how to watch it and use their imaginations, they caught on right away.

I’m thinking of all those kids out there who take PC’s, Blackberries, and laptops for granted. You wouldn’t have all those neat little gadgets if it wasn’t for the earliest computers. Univac comes to mind. The New Math! The only math I understood….lol. The reason I bring that up is that the shows you’re watching now, will be treated with the same respect in years to come. The kids in the next 20 years are going to be laughing at the gadgets, gizmos and shows you hold dearly now.

You’re welcome to join us any time.

By: tawnyangel22

tawnyangel22 — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:24:40 +0000

I have to reiterate everything that Daria, Willow Tracy, Harpo’s Horn and Tikatu has said, Thunderbirds are alive and kicking. In fact repeats of the classic puppet series are still being shown here in the UK. There is a tremendous following worldwide.

And Alan Coil just for the record Barbara Bain was in ‘Space 1999′ and she was far from wooden.

If you care to look carefully you’ll see there is a great interest in classic thunderbirds, from DVD’s of the episodes, to books, comics, commemorative plates and models of the Thunderbird crafts and characters. There are also Thunderbirds Conventions held over here in the UK each year. So Thunderbird are not a dying series.

By: tawnyangel22

tawnyangel22 — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:24:28 +0000

And Alan Coil just for the record Barbara Bain was in ‘Space 1999′ and she was far from wooden.

By: Willow_Tracy

Willow_Tracy — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:08:34 +0000

Well When I was a new member or the fandom back in 2002 I noticed that the fandom was split into two groups first generation, and the second generation. The first generation tended to be the older, more experianced viewers of the great show. The second generation seemed to be the newer more younger viewers.

What Im getting at is the fact that the second generation tends to set there sights on trends. Once one thing is gotten tired of they cast it asside like an old broken toy, or a video game that had just been finished.

The older generations know what they like and tend to stay with the series more solidly. More loyally.

In part I think thats whats happened to most of the Thunderbirds fandom. Its not totally gone. Its still here, it might take a longer time to find some of us, but we’re still around.

Will

By: Harpo's Horn

Harpo's Horn — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:54:19 +0000

I have to speak up with Daria and Tikatu: We are very definitely out here. You can’t have been looking very hard – when I finally got the internet a couple of years back, it took me about ten minutes to find both Daria’a and Tikatu’s lists and a whole wealth of people as nutty about the original shows as I am. Just to help Tik out there, I’m British – so we exist here too!