Unveiling the Enigmatic Realm: Rediscovering an Eccentric and Neglected British Comic Book
Step into the extraordinary world of Candy, Andy and the Bearandas, a truly unique British comic book from 1967 Explore the peculiar lives of two life-sized mannequin children and their humanoid panda parents in this bizarre and fascinating domestic setup Prepare to be captivated by a comic unlike any other
Dive into the pages of the new book "Candy, Andy & The Bearandas" and enter a surreal world that combines the strange with the familiar. Publisher Richard Embray describes it as a "family photo album from another dimension." Originally published in 1967 as a weekly comic book called "Candy," the unusual household featuring two life-sized mannequin children and their "parents" - a pair of humanoid pandas - was created by the renowned production studio Century 21, founded by British TV producer and film director Gerry Anderson.
"Thunderbirds" and "Captain Scarlet" are celebrated comic-turned-TV-series with a dedicated fanbase that continues to grow through reruns and remakes. In contrast, "Candy" never had the opportunity to make it to the screen as it was shelved after just a year.
Renowned production studio Century 21, founded by British TV producer and film director Gerry Anderson, who also created hit shows "Thunderbirds" and "Captain Scarlet," came up with the idea. Alan Dein/Anderson Entertainment/Courtesy Four Corners Books
Jamie Anderson, the creator's son, informed CNN in an interview, "It's very strange, dad never once mentioned Candy. I was aware of most of the stuff he had done, even the stuff he was less proud of; I knew about the shows that were no longer in existence. But it was only after he died (in 2012), somebody sent me an eBay listing (of a "Candy" comic) and said, did you know this is one of your dads as well? I thought it was a joke, then I started looking into it."
Nestled in a picturesque English village, the model children and the two pandas reside above a charming toy shop in a vibrant apartment. Complete with a quaint striped Mini car parked in the garage and ample outdoor space for leisure, the family partake in wholesome pursuits such as cycling and berry-picking. What truly set their world apart in the Century 21 comic strip universe was the use of photography instead of traditional illustrations.
The comic was revolutionary for the time due to it's use of photography rather than illustrations.
Alan Dein/Anderson Entertainment/Courtesy Four Corners Books
Not your average comic
Initially captured by photographer Doug Luke, who had previously worked on The Beatles' "Help!" in 1965, and later by Roger Perry, the art editor at Century 21, this imagery featuring inquisitive dummies in otherwise idyllic familiar scenes, sometimes alongside real children, imbued the comic with its surreal charm, undoubtedly influencing its latest book release by Four Corners Books.
During an interview with CNN, Embray expressed, "I couldn't shake the strangeness of the photographs." His introduction to the series came from British historian and documentarian Alan Dein, with whom he had collaborated in the past. "Without getting too pretentious, they read to me like an unintentional satire on the idealized families prevalent in children's entertainment in the 1960s."
Gerry Anderson's son commented, "When you compare Candy and Andy and Thunderbirds, you can hardly believe they were made by the same company."
Dein's introduction to the series came in the mid-1980s when he purchased a book about the characters for ten pence (thirteen cents) from a thrift store. This event sparked a research project that has lasted for decades. In 2013, Dein wrote about the characters in a blog post, which caught the attention of Jamie Anderson. "I wouldn't say that Candy and Andy are your average hobby or interest, so for anyone to know anything about it in any degree of depth was a real surprise," Jamie recalled of connecting with Dein. Vintage photos provide a rare glimpse of Mumbai's 1970s red-light district.
"I stumbled upon a treasure trove of absurd images through Alan," he explained. "It's almost comical how different they are - when you juxtapose Candy and Andy with Thunderbirds, it's hard to believe they came from the same company."
Some scenes feature the Candy and Andy mannequins with real people.
Alan Dein/Anderson Entertainment/Courtesy Four Corners Books
The two are truly different. While "Thunderbirds" took place in the 2060s and followed the Tracy family's mission to rescue human lives using advanced machines, "Candy and Andy," aimed at a younger, kindergarten-aged audience, led a more traditional lifestyle and wore clothes from the high-end British department store Harrods. "I still can't wrap my head around what my dad was thinking when his studio was creating this thing that some may consider a borderline horror show," said Anderson, clearly amused by the discovery and the resulting cult following. Although Candy's popularity was limited, the characters have been known to make appearances on specific social media threads from time to time.
Additionally, in 1994, eight photographs were featured in an exhibition at the Barbican in London titled "Whos Looking at the Family?". The work was noted for drawing comparisons to artists Jake and Dinos Chapman, as well as Jeff Koons.
Those involved with the book decided to lean in to the surrealism of the imagery.
Alan Dein/Anderson Entertainment/Courtesy Four Corners Books
Alan Dein's new book, "Candy, Andy and the Bearandas," is a unique time capsule of a moment on the brink of fading away. Dein's exhaustive introduction delves into the captivating story of the protagonists, offering a bold and fresh perspective. Embray elaborated, stating, "It's not a book steeped in nostalgia, but rather a subversion of the idyllic mid-century families and English charm. Access to original transparencies, previously printed on cheap comic book paper, inspired us to present the images in a new light as a high-quality photo book, highlighting the surrealism captured in the photographs." Published by Four Corners Books, the book is now available.
