Supermarionation
| Fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name(s): | Supermarionation, Anderson fandom, Century 21 fandom |
| Abbreviation(s): | |
| Scope/Focus: | the TV works of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson |
| Date(s): | 1959-present |
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Supermarionation is a term coined by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson to describe their method of making the mouths of puppet characters move in sync with recorded speech. By extension it is also the name generally used for the work done by the Andersons, and by Gerry Anderson alone and with other partners, in British TV science fiction and fantasy from the 1960s onwards.
Working as AP Films, Gerry Anderson and his then partner Arthur Provis made two shows for Roberta Leigh before producing fantasy Western Four Feather Falls in 1959. A chance meeting with British TV mogul Lew Grade brought the funding to create the series of ground-breaking SFX shows which would win fans around the world.
Supermarionation series
The Supermarionation series are:
- Supercar (1960)
- Fireball XL5 (1962)
- Stingray (1964)
- Thunderbirds (1964)
- Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967)
- Joe 90 (1968)
- The Secret Service (1968)
Live action series
Live action series UFO (1970) is usually bracketed with the Supermarionation series, despite being made with live actors instead of puppets. Many fans consider that its approach to SFX, futuristic settings, design, characters and overarching themes link it closely to the puppet series, and that the similarities are more significant than the difference in how actors are used.
International crimefighting series The Protectors followed in 1971 and 1972, while a further major SFX series, Space: 1999, launched in 1973 with a second series in 1976.
Fanderson
The main official focus for Supermarionation fandom is Fanderson, the Official Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society (link). Fanderson was founded in the U.K. in 1981. The club is run by fans and has organised a number of conventions and published various newsletters and zines. Its members-only zine, FAB Magazine, has been running since 1991.
Despite publishing fan fiction in text and comic form and dedicated fan fiction zines earlier in its history, it has not published fan fiction for some time. However, discussion on its forums shows that many members are active in publishing Supermarionation-inspired work in the broader fanfic scene.
Fanderson fan fiction publications
- 21- The Gerry Anderson Fiction Fanzine (ed Helen McCarthy, 1985)
- 21st Century Fiction (3 issues, #1 ed Helen McCarthy 1991-1993)
- Shock Wave (3 issues, 1994-1996)
- Sector 24 (3 issues, 1994-1996)
- Collision Course! (3 issues, 1995-1997)
- Dark Domain (1995)
- Condition: Red (1996)
Other fan fiction publications
Fanderson members have set up an online UFO zine. The Ed Straker Herald is available to all, but registration is required to read the fiction sections.