The original 1965 series charted International Rescue's efforts to save the planet from the likes of Hood, and had a chic, utopian view of the future where super machines burst forth from luxury island dwellings. It was the most successful of the Andersons' 'supermarionation' productions that also include Fireball XL5, Stingray and Joe 90. The popularity of Thunderbirds is due to the stunning sets and vehicles and also to the characters that have transcended the confines of children's television to become iconic - Lady Penelope, Brains and Parker, although secondary characters to the Tracy Brothers' heroics, are very much the stars of the show.