Thunderbirds Are Go! - 5 Things It Got Right (And 5 It Didn't)

8. CGI And Physical Models Don't Always Blend

Though best known for his work with physical models and puppet based Supermarionation, Gerry Anderson was in fact eager to use whatever medium was at his disposal. This went on to include live action (Space: 1999), hand puppets (Terrahawks), even claymation (Dick Spanner, P.I.), and eventually 'Hypermarionation' CGI with his New Captain Scarlet series in 2005.

Keen to get the best out of whichever techniques he used at the time, he also wasn't averse to experimenting, although his first (and only) foray into combining them resulted with his 1969 series The Secret Service being largely forgotten. Although not quite to the same degree as mixing puppets with live actors, the main problem with using techniques that have such specific styles is the danger of it becoming all to obvious when they don't compliment each other.

Throughout the majority of the series the portrayal of CGI characters 'acting' in physical sets does work brilliantly, especially when the union has to be seamless in order to compliment various camera movements. Where the join doesn't work however is often where it needs to most, during the action oriented scenes. Regardless of how much tension was meant to have been created, watching obviously CGI characters run across an obviously miniature lunar base pulls you out of the moment with the effect of the scene having no more atmosphere than the actual moon.

As the most basic building block to the series itself, it's something that jumps out right when you don't need it to, and being reminded that half of what you're watching isn't really there just leaves you wondering if the other half shouldn't be either.