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Filmed in Supermarionation, a documentary about the work of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, directed and produced by Stephen La Rivière, is coming this autumn from Network Distributing.

Based on his book of the same name, the documentary features previously unseen archive footage, as well as new interviews and clips from the Supermarionation shows – the term for the puppetry and animation technique developed for shows such as Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds.

Tim Beddows, MD at Network Distributing, said: “Having grown up with the series they created, I’m thrilled to present the story of how Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and their team of extraordinary filmmakers brought the most spectacular children’s television to audiences around the world. They were genuine pioneers and it’s a testament to their skills that, decades on, the shows continue to thrill new generations.”

Director Stephen La Rivière added: “Despite being made in the Sixties, the Supermarionation shows have continually found new audiences. A large part of this is down to the incredible care with which they were made.

“For a long time it’s been my hope to make this film and tell the pioneering story of the small team of filmmakers behind these shows; a team that was so desperate to make ‘proper’ grown up films that they utilised all their ingenuity to push forward the then limited arts of puppetry and special effects and in the process inadvertently changed film history.”