CR Blog

Lenticular Thunderbirds stamps are GO!

Graphic Design, Illustration

Posted by Mark Sinclair, 22 November 2010, 15:01    Permalink    Comments (21)

Last month, we blogged about a new lenticular stamp designed by KesselsKramer for the Dutch Post Office. We've just heard from GBH in London that they're also about to launch a whole Thunderbirds inspired set for the Royal Mail in the UK using similar technology. You can see the stamps here...

In October we showcased the new lenticular Dutch stamp created by KesselsKramer and director Anton Corbijn. Using similar processes over a series of stamps, London-based GBH's Special Stamps Issue: FAB – The Genius of Gerry Anderson set has been created for the UK's Royal Mail to honour the work of Supermarionation legend Gerry Anderson MBE and his team at Century 21 Productions.

GBH's lenticular stamps feature the countdown and launch sequence of all the legendary Thunderbirds craft from the iconic 1960s series' title sequence. And as part of the special edition pack, who better than Brains himself to take fans through how the "m... m... MotionStamp" itself was made:

"The stamps were created by GBH with a process that fused film-making, editing and post production techniques with graphic design," say GBH.

"Sequences were meticulously trialled from the original master 35mm print at ITV, and the final frames were carefully selected, exported to HD quality, digitally re-mastered and then re-edited back into an all-new 36 frames sequence, for use in the complex micro-lenticular process."

The lenticular stamps are joined by a Royal Mail Special Stamp Issue of six landscape stamps featuring all of Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation TV shows from the 1960s: Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90:

"The stamp format allows the full 35mm frame to be shown exactly as it was shot by Gerry Anderson for the first time, as it was cropped to 4:3 when originally aired on British TV," say GBH, who have been clearly been meticulous about the detailing here.

Indeed, the presentation pack for the stamps features an interview with original puppet sculptor, Terry Curtis, by Supermarionation expert Chris Bentley (Captain Scarlet deconstructed, below) and a special pull-out four-page comic telling the story of the creation of the Thunderbirds through the illustrations of original TV21 comic artist, Gerry Embleton, with text by Stephen La Rivieire.

The stamps, micro-lenticular mini-sheet and all collectible products will be available from January 11 2011.

21 Comments

I just Nostalgiaed
Joseph
2010-11-22 16:47:01


Fantastic, something to stick on those invoices to make them a little easier to swallow!
web design chester
2010-11-22 17:36:56


How great is this...... And how crazy was I in the 60s.... I had a crush on one of the Thunderbirds guys.... and Captain Scarlet......
Diane Marsland
2010-11-22 19:37:50


F A B Me Lady
Parker
2010-11-22 23:03:22


Would be a shame to post them. Great work
designer etc
2010-11-23 13:35:54


Brains is teh hott.
Katy McDevitt
2010-11-23 13:36:25


Shame there isn't one of Lady P firing up another ciggie.
Boz
2010-11-23 14:32:29


FABulous! Why did I ever give away those Thunderbird Dinky Toys...
Cyan-Sky.com
2010-11-23 14:34:42


The stamps are nothing new. Australia did them about ten years ago with surfers on the stamps. Pretty fab they were too.
Super Marion, Asian
2010-11-23 14:41:09


Asweome! Great use of the medium.
web design bedfordshire
2010-11-23 14:46:50


I like lenticulars, love stamps, and respect the excellent 3D design found in all Thunderbirds transportation. So they are a winner for me.
They also reminded me that the theme tune to Joe 90 featured on mod-revivalist dancefloors in the early 80's.
Keech
2010-11-23 14:47:41


Ver cool!
Sam
2010-11-23 14:57:09


Cool!!!!!!!!!!!
GEORGE VRANJKOVIC
2010-11-23 15:25:30


how do you get these puppies? pre order?
ror
2010-11-23 16:25:29


@ror Sadly not, according to Royal Mail. They'll be on sale from Jan 11 though, presumably for RM's website (and Post Office's)
CR Mark Sinclair
2010-11-23 16:38:38


Excellent!
Graphic Design Manchester
2010-11-24 10:40:37


FAB
Look forward to seeing em!
jim watters
2010-11-25 13:14:42


Good stuff, see this 2010 Fireball XL5 Makeover, watch it all they
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxIW-G5z_g0
Dominic
2010-12-01 23:16:48


I love this !
web design Kent
2010-12-07 16:00:34


Brilliant , and about time,
I will be buying them
See Fireball XL5 new version here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxIW-G5z_g0
Dominic Halpin
2010-12-07 23:14:22


These sure are creative and fun. I like that an interview is included in the package.
Heath Jordan
2011-01-17 19:36:00


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