Anderson Entertainment: Go

From the beginning, when Gerry Anderson made his first foray into puppetry in 1957, to signing an expansive cross-category deal with ITV in 2020, Anderson Entertainment, says Jamie Anderson, MD, has a wealth of IP at its fingertips. Of course, Thunderbirds is still the jewel in the crown, but, as Jamie comments: “We are not resting on our laurels!” Creating, developing, producing and nurturing properties to engage the huge global fanbase is the ethos behind the company. Now, with direct to consumer and licensing operations ‘a-go’, Anderson Entertainment brings together its cult following, new audi-

ences and heritage IP to explore the universe of licensing. The company recently announced its first steps into the world of card games with the launch of Thunderbirds: Danger Zone. The co-operative card game was developed with award winning designer Andrew Harman and is available to buy from the Gerry Anderson store or via Asmodee and Spiral Galaxy at independent game stores. In addition to the game, Anderson Entertainment has been busy working on new stories from the world of Thunderbirds through a range of audio dramas. Adapted from the pages of TV Century 21 comics of the 1960’s the ranges launch with ‘Thunderbirds versus The Hood’ released in September, with further releases so be announced in the coming months. The audio dramas, adapted from the pages of TV Century 21 comics of the 1960’s the ranges launch with ‘Thunderbirds versus The Hood’ released in September, with further releases so be announced in the coming months. These full cast audio dramas feature impressionist Jon Culshaw taking on the roles of Jeff Tracy and Parker, alongside a full recast of the original voices – all handpicked by Jamie Anderson, Gerry’s younger son, to embody the qualities and energy of their 1965 counterparts Fans – new and existing – are absolutely key to Anderson Entertainment. With nearly 200,000 combined followers and a monthly reach of five million, there are over 3000 hours of content. E-commerce is also an extremely important part of the business, with over 30,000 e-commerce customers. The vast library of content in particular is a stronghold for the company, with unexploited IP ready for the off. “There is a real appetite from fans for new and exciting ways to engage,” explains Jamie. “Nostalgia is so important, and by delving deeper into the archives while retaining the key elements, we can entertain, inspire and excite a whole new generation of fans.” Plans include moving further into the

experiential sphere; further content creation and development; and increasing visibility in markets such as Latin America and Japan. Space: 1999 and UFO are just two of the that, as Jamie comments: “… are under-used but again, there is a real appetite for all shows that come under the umbrella of Anderson Entertainment.” Gerry Anderson’s successful career spanned 60 years. Released a decade after his death, the documentary Gerry Anderson: A Life Uncharted draws on exclusive access to over 30 hours of previously unpublished interviews, in order to share the untold stories that defined his life and body of work. Available to air on BritBox, the documentary exemplifies the true depth of the body of work, the creativity behind Gerry and his son Jamie, and the potential to create new worlds of fans.