The History of Thunderbirds on Video Tapes

1981 saw the launch of Thunderbirds on Video Tapes, sixteen years after the first run on TV.

Precision Video, UK 1981[]

Originally released in three formats (Video 2000, Beatamax and VHS) by British company Precision Video, two episodes were joined together to form a feature film. Trapped in the Sky and Operation Crash Dive became "Thunderbirds to The Rescue", Terror in New York City and Atlantic Inferno was titled "Countdown to Disaster" the third tape "Thunderbirds in Outer Space" contained the episodes Sunprobe and Ricochet

The three titles were also released in Australia and Japan (1984), and in the U.S.A and Spain in 1985.

Syme Home Video, Australia 1984[]

As far as it is known Syme Home Video, only released the three titles in VHS and Betamax format.

Family Home Entertainment, USA 1985[]

Family Home Entertainment also released all three titles in 1985, in VHS and Betamax, these tapes retailed for $2.95. Unlike previous releases FHE used different covers for VHS and Betamax tapes.

Emotion, Japan 1984[]

Emotion a Japanese company owned by Bandai, released all three titles in VHS with English dialogue and Japanese subtitles.

These soon became very popular resulting in the first company to release a further four tapes, again with English dialogue and Japanese subtitles.

Emotion, Japan 1985[]

Two further tapes were released in 1985 by Emotion, containing Japanese dialogue. It is not known if any other tapes were released in this format.

EVC, Netherlands 1984[]

Three VHS tapes with the compilation Films.

Elite, Spain 1985[]

Spanish company Elite followed in 1985 with three releases, unlike before the decision was made to only release "Countdown to Disaster" followed by two single episodes, again in Betamax and VHS format.

Channel 5, UK 1986[]

In 1986 Channel 5 Video, obtained the copyright to release all thirty-two episodes on tape, the three feature films and a further thirteen volumes were added. By 1986 Betamax and Video 2000 had been replaced by VHS, and no further tapes in this format were released for sale.

They were followed shortly after by the rest of the series, with two episode per tape, making a total of 16 volumes.

B.M.J. Mygale Films - France 1985[]

For back cover images, see France.

Filmpac Australia 1989[]

A comprehensive study of this series can be found on the Australia page.

Polygram UK 1991[]

In 1991 PolyGram UK purchased the License to Thunderbirds and re-released the series in the same format as Channel 5 Video.

Festival Video, Australia 1991[]

Festival Video of Australia repackaged just five of the original series in 1981, possibly as promotional items.

A comprehensive study of this series can be found at Australia.

Polygram UK 1993[]

The next UK series saw for the first time 4 episodes on each tape, bringing the total down to eight volumes. The running order stayed the same with volume 1 containing the original film format of "Countdown to Disaster" and "In Outer Space", volume 2 containing "To The Rescue" and volume 4 from the 1991 releases. The remainder stayed in the same order as before.

This series was also released (at the same time) as a box set, all artwork remained the same.

Reel Corporation, Australia 1993[]

Reel Corporation acquired the licence to the Thunderbirds episodes in 1993, and continued the Australian format of one episode per volume, releasing just ten episodes.

A comprehensive study of this series can be found here.

In 1994 the ten tapes had the "Reel" logo replaced with new "Vision" logo, all other details remained the same.

SMV Enterprises, Netherlands 1993[]

Thunderbirds on VHS was now starting go worldwide. Also in 1993, SMV Enterprises of the Netherlands released 14 episodes on tape without volume numbers. After Translation into Dutch some of the titles were changed: Atlantic Inferno became The Sea of Fire, Martian Invasion was renamed Invasion from Mars, Terror in New York City became Panic in New York, 30 Minutes after Noon changed to Race Against Time, Desperate Intruder changed to Drowned Treasure, Danger at Ocean Deep was renamed Tanker in Distress, End of the Road became known as No Way Back, and finally Lord Parker's 'Oliday became Parker's Holiday.

In 1994 SMV issued at least four promotional tapes, each containing two episodes. The exact number of tapes in this series is unknown.

"De Cham-Cham" and "Spoor van Vernieling" (Path of Destruction) was a promotional item for "Aviro". "Kluis des doods" (Vault of Death) and "Vals Alarm" (Cry Wolf), was produced exclusively for the Dutch toy store chain - Intertoys. Two other volumes are known, the first, "Naderend Onheil" (Brink of Disaster) and "Stad van Vuur" (City of Fire) . The second title contained the episodes, Alias Mr.Hackenbacker" and "Gevaarlijke Diepte" (Danger at Ocean Deep).

Malofilm of Canada 1994 (English Version)[]

French-Canadian company Malofilm released a series of single-episode volumes, both in English (1994) and French (1996), As far as it is known the English release consisted of only seven volumes.

A+E Home Video, USA 1994[]

In 1994, Four episodes were released for sale by A+E Home Video, (a American TV network), and were the basis for "Fox Kids" television series. Live actors and short scenes, made up a show of only 20 minutes. The show received very poor ratings, and the sales of these tapes were also poor, making them rare items in this format.

PolyGram Video, USA 1994[]

Poor sales of the "A+E dubbed versions, prompted PolyGram (a joint company) to re-release the tapes in their original 45 minute format. The box design remained the same, except for the removal of the "Fox Kids" logo.

PolyGram Video, Australia 1994[]

In 1994, PolyGram released a set of 4 Tapes which were snippets of episodes put together to form "Great Disasters", "Great Rescues", "The Machines" and "Heroes and Villains". They were also released in the UK (1996). study of this series can be found here at Australia.

Bandai Japan 1995[]

These tapes had Japanese dialogue, all other information is currently unknown.

Malofilm of Canada 1996 (French Language Version)[]

Unlike the original English Malofilm releases from 1994, 17 episodes were offered for sale with a French-language dub-over in 1996.

Sony Music Series - France 1996[]

This French series was released by Sony Music in 1996. It is not known how many volumes were released..

Karussell - Germany 1996[]

The number of volumes in this series is unknown. Released by "Universal/Karussell" in 1996.

Video Log, Spain 1996[]

Spanish company Video Log released 12 volumes in 1996. The first three were the film format, volume 10 only had two episodes and the remaining 8 all had three episodes on each.

The first volume was re-issued as a promotional item, the new art work on the video sleeve and the "Volume 1" title, would suggest others were released. Although none have been seen, It is possible that other volumes were planed as promotional items, but not released.

PolyGram Video, UK 1996[]

To Celebrate thirty years since Thunderbirds first appeared on TV, PolyGram released the same set of 4 Tapes which were snippets of episodes put together to form "Great Disasters", "Great Rescues", "The Machines" and "Heroes and Villains", that had been previously released in Australia in 1994.

Columbia House, Canada 1997[]

This series was unique in the fact that all the covers were the same except for the title on the spine. There were 10 tapes, and each tape had two episodes in a different running order than before. The series was also widely available in the U.S.A.

Volume 1: Trapped in the Sky and City of Fire
Volume 2: Brink of Disaster and Terror in New York City
Volume 3: 30 Minutes After Noon and Path of Destruction
Volume 4: Martian Invasion, and The Man from MI-5
Volume 5: End of the Road and The Imposters
Volume 6: Pit of Peril, and Sun Probe
Volume 7: The Mighty Atom and A Day of Disaster
Volume 8: Operation Crash Dive and The Cham-Cham
Volume 9: Vault of Death and Atlantic Inferno
Volume 10: The Edge of Impact and Security Hazard

Carlton Home Video UK 1999[]

In 1999 the Thunderbirds license moved again, this time to Carlton Media, and for the first time "Trapped in the Sky", "Operation Crash Dive", "Terror in New York City", "Atlantic Inferno", "Sun Probe" and "Ricochet" were all released in there original TV one hour episodes. This series was issued on 16 tapes in the 1965 TV running order, recommended running order (in brackets) followed all future TV broadcasts.

NET 5 Video, Netherlands 2000[]

This was a copy of the Carlton 1999 release, repackaged and in the same running order. All sixteen tapes were advertised in the inner sleeve, but by 2000, DVD was fast outselling VHS, and only the first six tapes were released for sale. The discussion was made to cancel the remaining ten volumes, in favour of a DVD release.

Reel Corporation, Australia 2000[]

VHS Tapes were issued in Australia by Reel Corporation in 2000. Again released in sixteen volumes, two episodes each. The sleeves were designed so that, when placed together, they form a picture spelling out the word "Thunderbirds" across all sixteen volumes. Availability suggests that very few of these tapes were sold in favour of the growing popularity of the DVD format.

Carlton Home Video, UK 2000[]

With the decreasing sales of VHS tapes in favour of the DVD format, Carlton made the decision to have one last try at the VHS market by reducing the number of volumes by half, putting the whole series on to eight tapes. An extra volume containing The Brains Behind Thunderbirds was added, the description of it read: "The F.A.B. introduction to all your favourite characters and machines.". All eight tapes were also sold in a box set. A comprehensive study of box sets can be found here: Video and DVD Boxsets.

A+E Home Video, USA 2001[]

Twelve volumes were released in 2001 for the American market, each had one episode per tape. Originally sold in a three pack box set. There has been some confusion to as weather these were sold individually, as these can often be found for sale on auction sites such as Ebay as a single item.

Thunderbirds Are Go[]

The feature film Thunderbirds Are Go was first released in 1983 in America by MGM/UA Home Video. The film was released for the UK and the Netherlands in 1989, also by MGM/UA; Warner Home Video released the film concurrently in Australia (at the time having an international distribution pact with MGM/UA). It was repackaged in 1991 for the UK and US, and was re-released in Australia in 1994. Japan and the Netherlands had subtitled versions for sale in 1994.

Thunderbird 6[]

The feature film Thunderbird Six was released side by side with the first film (Thunderbirds Are Go). For release dates see above. Notably, the 1983 American release contains a typo on the box, calling the movie "Thunderbirds 6".

Miscellaneous VHS Tapes[]

Toy and video box set, released by Precision Video 1993. Consists of a model of Thunderbird 2 and a VHS Tape.
Toy and video box set, released by Polygram 1993. Includes a matchbox Thunderbird 1, a boxtree book and a VHS Tape.
Blue Peter Tracy Island. A VHS tape of the Blue Peter Program were they show you how to make a Tracy Island.
Trapped in the Sky. Released by the Daily Mirror Newspaper as a send away offer.
Security Hazard. Given away at Argos Stores when purchasing a Matchbox Tracy Island in 1999.
The Impostors. Given away when purchasing a Matchbox Tracy Island.
Thunderbirds Special Movie Double Bill. Released by MGM UK 1998. Both feature films on one tape.
Bumper value pack. Released by PolyGram, 4 episodes on one tape.

Thunderbirds (2004 film)[]

The 2004 Thunderbirds film also came out on VHS from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Special features were included after the movie, including a mini-documentary on "Creating the Ultimate Action Sequence" and the music video "Thunderbirds are Go" by Busted, both of which were included on the DVD. The American copy also contains Macrovision copy-protection.