Thunderbirds

5,4,3,2,1,... Thunderbirds are Go ! When color made its debut on British television, kids shows finally were packed with adventures and out-of the world vehicles. The secret ? Puppets. Gerry Anderson had a try at it in previous shows like Fireball XL-5 or Stingray, but it would be his Thunderbirds show that would make the world wake to a new type of Sci-Fi design. Shows became instant hits in Japan, the Netherlands, and the USA. An incredible number of special effects and modelers were called to the rescue, some of them working on James Bond movies later on.

Motorized Thunderbird 2 kit, maker unknown
1960s

The storyboard, that of a family that was involved in the most dazling rescue operations but always trying to keep their identities secret, was thrilling at every episode. And when the kids saw the magic lines "filmed in Supermarionation" on the screen filled with explosions of every kind, they knew they had one of the best Sci-Fi on TV.

FAB 1, JR21 toy, United Kingdom,
1960s