Synopsis

Thunderbirds 2086 takes place roughly twenty years after the original series (generally accepted as taking place around 2065, though other dates are seen on screen) and chronicles the adventures of the Thunderbirds, a rescue team working for the International Rescue Organisation. Unlike the original International Rescue, which was small-scale and family-oriented, the IRO is a vast organisation comprising numerous branches and overseen by the Federation, the 2086 equivalent of the United Nations. No direct historical connections are identified between the two series, but it can be assumed that the original International Rescue evolved into its 2086 incarnation over those thirty years. The Tracy family are not mentioned in the animated series. In the animated series, the actual team is known as the Thunderbirds, whilst in the original series the name merely referred to their vehicles. The animated series is otherwise very similar to the original, with most episodes revolving around a natural or man-made disaster which the Thunderbirds team must investigate and help resolve. Unlike the original series, Thunderbirds 2086 also has an on-going story arc revolving around a breakaway independence group known as the Shadow Axis, led by the mysterious Star Crusher. There is a heavy intimation in the series that Star Crusher is not human and may be some kind of alien entity. (Source: Wikipedia)

Episodes

24 episodes
  1. 24 U.F.O. TBA
  2. 23 Child's Play 5 Jun 1982
  3. 22 Trial TBA
  4. 21 Stardive TBA
  5. 20 Crusader TBA
  6. 19 Nightmare 10 Jul 1982
  7. 18 Big Deal 24 Jul 1982
  8. 17 Thunderbolt 31 Jul 1982
  9. 16 Mind Meld TBA
  10. 15 Kudzilla 3 Jul 1982
  11. 14 Cloudburst 24 Apr 1982
  12. 13 Metal Head TBA
  13. 12 Guardian 14 Aug 1982
  14. 11 Shockwave 17 Apr 1982
  15. 10 Star Crusher 11 Sep 1982
  16. 9 Shadow Axis 12 Jun 1982
  17. 8 Fault Line 15 May 1982
  18. 7 Fear Factor 8 May 1982
  19. 6 Sunburn 4 Sep 1982
  20. 5 Space Warriors 28 Aug 1982
  21. 4 Snowbound 17 Jul 1982
  22. 3 One Of A Kind 29 May 1982
  23. 2 Computer Madness 19 Jun 1982
  24. 1 Firefall 1 May 1982

Characters & Staff

Edkins Jr., Sammy
Main
Ryusei Nakao (Japanese)
Hansen, Gran
Main
Takeshi Aono (Japanese)
Hidaka, Raiji
Main
Junichi Takeoka
Jones, Eric
Main
Kei Tomiyama (Japanese)
Simpson, Gerard
Supporting
Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Japanese)

Information

Japanese 科学救助隊テクノボイジャー
Studios Toei Animation
Source Unknown
Licensors None found, add some
Rating 6.6
Broadcast Saturdays at 19:30 (JST)
Aired 17 Apr 1982 – 11 Sep 1982
Synonyms Kagaku Kyujotai Techno Voyager, TechnoBoyger Scientific Rescue Team Techno Voyager, Scientific Rescue Team TechnoVoyager, Thunder Birds

Last updated: 04 Sep 2026