Fireball XL5
Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show was produced in 1962 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the "-5" added as the title seemed a bit flat without the numeral.
The show featured the Andersons' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls and Supercar and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet. Thirty-nine black and white half-hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film: all future Anderson series were produced in colour.
Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network. NBC ran the series in its Saturday morning children's block from 1963 through to September 1965.
A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 is Space Patrol, produced by Gerry Anderson's ex business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis due to a number of similarities and settings.
Year: 1963
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Country:
Studio: Associated Television
Director: Sylvia Anderson, Gerry Anderson
Cast: Gerry Anderson, David Graham, Sylvia Anderson
Crew: Reg Hill (Associate Producer), Arthur Provis (Producer), Gerry Anderson (Producer)
First Air Date: Oct 28, 1962
Last Air date: Oct 27, 1963
Season: 1 Season
Episode: 39 Episode
Runtime: 25 minutes
IMDb: 6.10/10 by 11.00 users
Popularity: 11.406
Language: English
Keyword :
Episode
Planet 46
The Doomed Planet
Space Immigrants
Plant Man From Space
Spy in Space
The Sun Temple
XL5 to H2O
Space Pirates
Flying Zodiac
Space Pen
Space Monster
The Last of the Zanadus
Planet of Platonia
The Triads
Wings of Danger
Convict in Space
Space Vacation
Flight to Danger
Prisoner on The Lost Planet
The Forbidden Planet
Robert to the Rescue
Dangerous Cargo
Mystery Of The TA2
Drama At Space City
1875
The Granatoid Tanks
The Robot Freighter Mystery
Whistle for Danger
Trial by Robot
A Day in the Life of a Space General
Invasion Earth
Faster Than Light
The Day the Earth Froze
The Fire Fighters
Space City Special
Ghosts Of Space
Hypnotic Sphere
Sabotage
Space Magnet