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Kayo action figure most wanted Thunderbirds toy, say makers Vivid

By John Freeman on September 5, 2015

Thunderbirds Are Go’s covert ops specialist Kayo, and her “Shadow” craft. Image © ITV

Kayo, the Thunderbirds Are Go character who serves as International Rescue’s security chief, looks like she’ll be a runaway success – as an action figure.

Vivid’s Thunderbirds Are Go Scott Tracy figure

Vivid, who currently hold the master toy licence for ITV’s Thunderbirds Are Go animated TV series, say they have seen huge demand for the show’s female character, confirming her success with viewers, even though she did not feature in the original 1960s show by that name.

The company has told ToyNews that due to popular demand, it is gearing up to launch Kayo’s own action figure in spring/summer of 2016, a move that comes after earlier reports that pre-sales of its Thunderbirds Are Go toy line have been “overwhelming”, with demand from both consumers and retailers alike suggesting that as with the original show, its toys will be a popular Christmas buy.

“What is new, is the popularity of female characters, particularly Kayo who we have already seen a large demand for in the toy range,” Mary Wood, marketing director at Vivid told ToyNews.

“As a result, we have been quick to react and are now launching a Kayo figure in spring/summer 2016.”

Raised on Tracy Island, Kayo (voiced by Angel Coulby) has her own Thunderbird craft and has shared a number of adventures with the five Tracy brothers she grew up with during the first 13 episodes of the new show screened to date. While not a Tracy by blood, she is treated as a sister by the boys, and a member of the family.

Image © ITV

Unknown to all but her, the still missing Jeff Tracy and Grandma Tracy, her uncle is the Hood, just as with the original Thunderbirds show.

When the original show was rebooted as Thunderbirds Are Go, the decision was taken not to name her Tin-Tin, but Kayo’s full name is Tanusha Kyrano, confirming the Tin-Tin Kyrano link.

13 episodes of Thunderbirds Are Go‘s first season will air this autumn in the run up to Christmas. A second season of 26 episodes is already in the works and DC Thomson have the licence to publish a magazine based on the show , but a launch date for that is still unknown.

• Official Thunderbirds web site: www.thunderbirds.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.