The Steam Team Fan Art Thomas and Friends

British children's television series

Doubting Thomas & Friends
Also known as	Thomas the Tank locomotive & Friends (innovational title; series 1–6) Thomas & Friends (series 7–21) Thomas & Friends: Big Worldwide! Big Adventures! (series 22–24)[1]
Musical style	Animated series
Created by	Britt Allcroft
Supported	The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry Christopher Awdry
Directed by	David Mitton (1984–2003) Steve Asquith (2002, 2004–2008) Greg Tiernan (2008–2012) David Baas (2013–2014) David Stoten (2014–2018) Rob Silvestri (feature length specials 2013–14) Don Spencer (2014–2015) Dianna Basso (2015–2021)
Voices of	Visit List of Thomas & Friends sound actors
Narrated by	Ringo Starr Michael Angelis[2] George Carlin[3] Alec Baldwin Michael Brandon Pierce Brosnan Stigmatise Moraghan[4] John Hasler Chief Joseph May
Composers	Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell (1984–2003) Robert Hartshorne (2004–2016) Ed Welch (2004–2008) Saint Peter the Apostle Hartshorne (2011–2016) Chris Renshaw (2016–2020) Oliver Davis (2016–2017)
Country of origin	GB
No. of series	24
No. of episodes	584 + 14 films and 6 double-length specials (list of episodes)
Production
Executive director producers	Britt Allcroft (1984–1986, 2002) Angus Wright (1991–1998) St. Peter the Apostl Urie (2002–2003) Jocelyn Stevenson (2003–2006) St. Christopher Skala (2007–2011) Marion Edwards (2009–2015) Lenora Hume (2009–2010) Karenic Barnes (2011–2013) Kallan Kagan (2013–2017) Jeff Four-year-old (2013–2015) Steven Hecht (2013–2015) Michael Carrington (2013–2014) Christopher Keenan (2014–2021) Edward Catchpole (2015) Marianne Culbert (2016) Kyle MacDougall (2016–2020) Jamie LeClaire (2016–2020) Phil LaFrance (2016–2020)
Producers	David Mitton (1984–1998) Robert D. Cardona (1984–1986) Britt Allcroft (1991–1998) Phil Fehrle (2002–2003) Simon Spencer (2004–2008) Nicole Stinn (2008–2012) Ian McCue (2011–2017) Halim Jabbour (2013) Robert Anderson (2013; 2022–2017) Brian Lynch (2013–2015) Jennifer Hill (2014–2015) Lynda Craigmyle (2016) Jane Sobol (2016) Spencer Tracy Blagdon (2016–2020) Micaela Winter (2016–2018)
Production locations	Clapham Junction (1984) Clearwater Studios Battersea (1984) Shepperton Studios (1986–2008) Nitrogen Studios (2008–2012) Discharge Productions (2013–2016) Cram Filled Toronto (2016–2020)
Running clock	5 minutes, 30 seconds (Series 1–7) 10 transactions[a] (Series 8–12) 11 minutes[b] (Series 13–24)
Production companies	Clearwater Features (1984–1986) Brit Allcroft Ltd./Brit Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd. (1984–1986) The Brit Allcroft Company/Gullane Entertainment (1991–2003) HIT Entertainment (2003–2017) Mattel Television receiver (2017–2021)
Distributor	Mattel Television
Release
Original network	ITV/ITV1 (Series 1–3)[c] Direct-to-video (Series 4–5)[d] Nick Jn. (Series 6–11)[e] Television channel 5 (Series 12–24)
Figure data formatting	PAL (recorded) (Series 1–7) PAL (video) (Series 8–10) HDTV 1080i (video) (Serial publication 11–12) HDTV 1080p (CGI) (Series 12–24)
Audio initialise	Mono (1984-1992) Stereo (1995-2017) Dolby Member 5.1 (2018–2021)
Initial shown in	United Realm
Unconventional release	October 9, 1984 (1984-10-09) – January 20, 2022 (2021-01-20)
Chronology
Followed by	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go
Outer links
Internet site

Thomas & Friends (in the beginning known As Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends or simply Thomas the Tank Railway locomotive until series 7; later called Dylan Marlais Thomas & Friends: Big World! Largish Adventures! ) is a drawn-out-running British people children's television series created away Brit Allcroft. Based on The Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry and later his son Christopher, it follows the adventures of Thomas, an anthropomorphised storage tank engine, on the fictitious Island of Sodor with boyfriend engines Edward, Patrick Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and several different anthropomorphised vehicles. Thomas usually gets into trouble away doing jobs best left to large and more sensible engines, but ne'er gives up on being a "Very Effective Railway locomotive".

In the U.K., it had its first pass aroun on the ITV electronic network in 1984. In the United States of America, it had its first broadcasting with the gyrate-off series Shining Time Station on PBS in 1989. The series aired from 9 October 1984 until 20 Jan 2022.

The rights to the series are currently closely-held by HIT Amusement (a secondary of Mattel), having acquired Gullane Entertainment in July 2002.

Mattel has announced a 2D-animated reboot, St. Thomas &adenylic acid; Friends: All Engines Go, which premiered on Sept 13, 2022. Originally announced as a lengthiness of the original series,^[5] it was later designated a new series altogether by Mattel.^[6]

History

Predecessors

Before the airing of the first episode of Thomas & Friends in 1984, late attempts had been ready-made to adapt Awdry's stories for goggle bo.^[7] The kickoff was in 1953, when the editor of the Railroad Serial books, Eric Marriott, was approached past the BBC, who wished to use live-fulfill model trains to copy two stories from Awdry's first book, The Deuce-ac Railway Engines.^[7]

The engines were delineate by 00 gauge Hornby Dublo models and driven happening authentic sets in the style of the original illustrations. The first episode, founded happening "The Sad Story of Henry", was send live on the eve of Sunday 14 June 1953 from Lime Grove Studios.^{[7] [8] [9]} The live broadcast did not fare well. Reportedly, a failure to exchange the points caused the example of Henry to derail and TV audience of the vital broadcast witnessed a human hand, said to constitute one of a crew member, picking him up and placing him back connected the track. Models moved jerkily, and all personal effects and music had to follow superimposed.^{[7] [8] [9]}

By 23 June, word of the broadcast hit the front pages of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Get off. Awdry himself branded the episode as "unprofessional", and the point-switching debacle Eastern Samoa an "elementary mistake".^{[7] [8] [9]} As a resultant role, the indorsement instalment regular for 28 June 1953 was put along cargo hold, and then afterwards cancelled.^{[7] [8] [9]} Later the "Sad Story of Henry" fiasco, the BBC did try to rescue the stick out past oblation to give Awdry and the Railway Series publishers greater ingenious control over the production of the episodes, just the publishers declined the offer, preferring to center on publishing new books for the series.^[7]

Almost twenty dollar bill years later, the BBC featured Awdry's stories in the television story-telling show Jackanory. Xiv age before Norman Thomas and Friends was airy, Ted Beam of light, sitting in a station agent's office, read taboo five Railway Series books in episodes that airy between 20 September to 2 Oct 1970.^[7]

In 1973, Saint Andrew the Apostle Harold Lloyd Webber, who had read The Railroad line Series As a kid, approached publisher Kaye &adenylic acid; Ward with a marriage offer for his own musical television serial publication, with songs from himself and lyricist Simon Peter Reeves.^[11] Nevertheless, the publishers and the author refused to give Lloyd Webber's troupe "control of almost everything", which Lloyd Webber's lawyers argued was needed in order to "secure the investment money from America which would be requisite to pay for the animation and the film-making." The status of the project seemed uncertain, and while Stanley Pickard, Kaye & Ward's director at the time, told Awdry that he was "maintaining personal contact with Andrew and still had a tenuous hope that there might be a way out", Wilbert remained discerning, saying that "Once the Americans come up of it the whole series would be vulgarized and ruined." Eventually, an agreement was reached and Awdry received an advanced payment of £500. A pilot episode was authorized from Granada, which would feature 2D cutouts of the engines riding along a background in a style remindful of Ivor the Engine, with involvement from animator Brian Cosgrove. The cutouts and backgrounds would be based upon illustrations from The Railway Series. The pilot sequence was completed by early 1976, but Granada ultimately definite not to produce a full serial publication, as they feared that at the time Awdry's stories were non popular sufficiency outside the UK to justify investment the time and money required to make the series.^[12] Andrew Lloyd Webber later established the Really Useful Group in 1977, a name derived from the phrase "Really Useful Engine". He would go connected to process a musical loosely inspired by The Railroad line Series, called Starlight Show, which premiered in 1984, and became one of his most well-known works.

Early years and the series' success

In 1979, British television producer Britt Allcroft was producing a documentary on the Bluebell Railway,^{[7] [8]} a heritage railroad line in Sussex which featured in the Railway line Series book of account Stepney the Bluebell Engine.^[13] As voice of her research before filming, Allcroft read some books in The Railway Serial and was extremely diverted and affected with the stories which Awdry had codified, later remarking that "there was something in the stories that I felt I could develop that would connect with children. I proverb a strong emotional content that would carry with little children's experiences with life story."^[8]

Allcroft worked to win over Awdry that she could, with funding, change over the stories into a prospering television show. Her efforts were successful, and she purchased the television rights from the publishers of The Railway syste Serial at a cost of what was then £50,000 ($74,000 in U.S. dollars at the time).^{[7] [8]} Allcroft still had to work to raise the money to finance output and, despite showing a good interest, wanted A level of creative ascendance which she did not privation to forego. In the oddment, after various years of searching and having to place a second mortgage happening her dwelling, Allcroft raised sufficient funding from her local bank manager.^{[7] [8] [14] [15]}

Past 1981, Allcroft had secured the pecuniary resourc to produce the appearance, she started to tack together the crew, including producer and director David Mitton, also the founder of Clearwater Features Ltd.; crew appendage Steve Asquith; American-dropped producer Robert D. Cardona; and composers and songwriters Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell, who are also musicians.

The series started production in 1984 by Clearwater Features Ltd. (Mitton and Cardona's company) and ITV's Central Independent Television region.^[16] The serial was in the first place shot and produced with live action models at the Clearwater in business firm studio in Battersea, a suburban area of London, for Series 1. Information technology later settled to Shepperton Studios, Middlesex, southwest of London for subsequent series. The use of unreeling models was seen at the time of the series' conception as an effective method acting of animating the stories. Locomotives and opposite vehicles were operated by radio set controls, while humans and animals were static figures. Stop-motion was occasionally employed for instances in which a human or animal character would move. Hand-drawn animation was used asynchronous 3 to create bees (as seen in the installment "Buzz Buzz").

The first series (1984) used stories from the first eight books, along with one particularly written by the Rev. W. Awdry, Thomas's Christmas Party. The second series (1986) used stories from Book No.9 (Edward the Blue Engine) to Book Ordinal number30 (Sir Thomas More Near Thomas the Tank Engine). The latter book was unusual, as it was written specifically by Christopher Awdry to be adapted by the show. At that prison term, it was a contractual obligation that the serial publication could only adjust stories that appeared in print. The serial also used a news report from a Thomas Period, "Thomas and Trevor", and a specially written stand-solely story, Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree. Peerless episode ("The Missing Coach") was in the process of being filmed, but was cancelled mid-way through filming as Allcroft distinct information technology was too confusing for childly viewers. The production team went on to use "Better Late Than Never" instead.^[17] The story "Gordon Goes Foreign" from the Railroad track Serial Holy Scripture The Eight Noted Engines was also planned to be altered but was scrapped due to budgetary limitations.

In between yield of the second and third series, the production team were focused in producing two other boob tube serial publication: Tugs, which ran for cardinal serial in 1989 for TV South (TVS);^[18] and the American television serial publication Shining Time Post, which repackaged Thomas the Cooler Locomotive & Friends for the Land television market from 1989 to 1996.

Just before production of series triad, Clearwater closed on 31 December 1990, with The Britt Allcroft Company becoming the sole manufacturer. Series iii was broadcast in 1992 on CITV. It was made at a cost of £1.3 million (approximately $9.3.million in U.S. dollars at the time).^{[19] [ check needed ]} The series was a combination of episodes derived from The Railway Series, stories in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends magazine (written by Andrew Brenner, who would later become the picture's head writer starting in Series 16), and a few original stories past Allcroft and Mitton.^[19]

One of the primary reasons for diverging from the original books was that many of the stories not yet ill-used featured large numbers of new characters, which would be expensive to produce. Another reason was that the producers wanted more stories about Thomas, the nominal main character. Awdry complained that the new stories would be unrealistic (see Henry the Green Engine for more details).^[19] Robert D. Cardona left A producer, piece Britt Allcroft coupled David Mitton as Colorado-producer. Angus Wright took over As executive director producer.

Serial publication four was archetypal released directly to video betwixt 1994 and 1995 before its disseminate debut on ITV. The producers deep-laid to introduce some new female characters, including motor gondola Caroline, Nancy, and The Recreation Madam.^[20] Some commentators took this As a response to accusations of sexism levelled against the serial ii years earlier.^[21] In reality, these were not "new" characters, merely creations of Awdry from the original Railroad line Series books. Serial quaternity was almost entirely supported The Railroad Series. The narrow gauge engines were introduced, and were the centerin of a numerate of episodes. Only one original story ("Rusty to the Rescue", written by Allcroft and Mitton) was used, but this took certain elements of plot and dialogue from Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine.

The fifth series (1998), also first released directly to video before its TV airings on Toon Network, was a radical faulting, as all episodes were written by Allcroft and Mitton with none advance stories being adapted from the Railway Series. This series saw the introduction of newly characters, such as Cranky, The Bad Lorries and Senior Slow Coach. IT as wel convergent on more spectacular and action-oriented plot of ground-lines, with more severe accidents, than in the sooner series.^{[ citation requisite ]} Afterward serial publication 5, Angus Wright stepped cut down As executive producer. It was also the final serial publication broadcast on Cartoon Network, as Nickelodeon UK would eventually acquire the broadcast rights to the show for it to air on their newly created Nick Jr. line in 1999. CN continued to air travel older series until their broadcast rights amply expired in 2001.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad was released in July 2000 in the UK, US, and Canada. Information technology featured hot characters created by Allcroft, on with characters from the show that introduced Lowell Thomas to the U.S., Shining Time Station. Despite high-topped production values and the popularity of the show, the take was criticised by Island reviewers who were unfamiliar with Shining Clock Station. The movie was well received by young children happening some sides of the Atlantic, but ready-made single $19.7 million at the ticket booth,^[22] against a toll of $19 cardinal to produce. ^{[ citation necessary ]} The film was broadcast on BBC1 on 1 January 2004 and once more happening 29 December 2008.^{[23] [24]}

By and by years

The Britt Allcroft Company (which changed its figure to Gullane Entertainment in 2000) was purchased by Stumble Entertainment in September 2002,^{[25] [26]} a company specialising in children's entertainment.

The sixth and seventh serial publication continuing to introduce action-compact storylines and new characters, and saw the introduction of a writing staff. The sixth series in 2002 was an attack to create a gyrate-off supported the successful Dock the Constructor series. Two episodes introduced a group of construction motorcar characters called "The Pack". The spin-off did not materialize for some time. Eventually, in 2006, 13 episodes were discharged straight to DVD in two collections: On Site with Thomas and Thomas' Faithful Friends. Information technology was the first of all serial publication send on ITV since series 3.

The fact that aged sets were used and the episodes were shooting on 35mm camera (as opposed to the digital camera old at the time of the episodes' release) suggest it was recorded some sentence before Series 8. Asynchronous 7 (2003) the plan title was officially shortened to Thomas & Friends, this name having been used on merchandise and video covers for triplet years previously. Phil Fehrle replaced Allcroft and Mitton as manufacturer, though Mitton remained as the conductor. Executive producer Oengus Wright was replaced by St. Peter the Apostl Urie and Allcroft as executive producers for Series 6.

In 2003, Allcroft stepped down Eastern Samoa executive producer, making Urie the sole executive producer for Gullane Entertainment, and Jocelyn Adlai Ewing Stevenson was the executive producer for HiT Entertainment.^{[ citation needed ]}

The eighth series (2004) was the first released directly to VHS and DVD as four episodes in the US and six in the Great Britain were released ahead airing on television system on Nick Jr. in the UK and PBS in the US. It introduced a number of noteworthy changes to the show. Many of the daring founding team involved in the original show since 1984 odd the production, including Britt Allcroft, director and writer David Mitton, and original composers Microphone O'Donnell and Junior Campbell. The latter two had been embroiled in a protracted learned profession dispute with HiT before their departure.^{[27] [28]} Asquith, who was part of the original production team since 1984, took finished A director, while Neil Simon Spencer replaced Phil Fehrle as producer.

A new theme song and incidental expense music were composed past ED Welch and Robert Hartshorne, respectively. Episode runtime was increased to seven minutes. The series was produced using member video camera, creating a somewhat different seek the exhibit. Early changes included the additions of CGI educational sequences and transitions between stories. Executive producer Peter Urie also near, while Jocelyn Stevenson remained in her role every bit executive director manufacturer. Sam Barlow became the story enforcement, while Abi Grant and Paul Larson served as script editors. This series saw the adoption of a centralised cast, including Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, St. James the Apostl, Percy, Toby and Emily.

HiT Entertainment was itself and then noninheritable by Apax Partners, a private fairness company, in March 2005.^[29]

A straight-to-video recording film, Calling All Engines!, was released shortly before Series 9 in 2005. While featuring characters from Thomas the doubting Apostle and the Witching Railroad, information technology was not a direct sequel. IT tried successful, which resulted in more direct-to-video specials beingness produced.^[30]

Series 9 (2005) and 10 (2006) saw the expansion of the supporting form with new and old characters. From Series 9 the teller would call out the episodes' name calling and from Series 11 the signature tune was Sung dynasty starting with the sound of a civilis whistle. Series 10 aired with 20-eight episodes preferably than the 26 of previous years. The eleventh series (2007) was filmed in gamey definition format. Twenty episodes aired in the primary broadcast, while six were released manageable to DVD A Engines and Escapades. Jocelyn Stevenson had stepped down as executive producer after Series 10, with Christopher Skala taking her shoes as enforcement producer for Serial publication 11. Sharon Miller became the playscript editor from Series 9 to 11.

Series 12 (2008) saw the introduction of CGI effects (provided past Slay Amusement's subsidiary Hot Liveliness), with the design of producing the show entirely in CGI the following class.^[31] The traditional models and sets were quieten used, but with computer animated faces superimposed along the models to leave changing facial expressions. World and animals were fully computer revived to allow for walking motion. Single twenty episodes were produced and beam (the U.S. programme featured six additive episodes from Engines and Escapades). Sharon Alton Glenn Miller became the head author, starting with Serial publication 12.

Collision announced multiple changes to the show root in 2009. One spick-and-span aspect was the introduction of live-action host segments to Thomas ' dwelling television releases. The host took the form of a character who worked on The Fat Controller's (Sir Topham Hatt's) railway, who would instruct viewers in craft projects. For the net 2 DVDs released for serial publication 12 in 2009, the host was named Mister. Arkwright, played aside Robert Slate. In 2010, beginning with the DVD "Splish Splash Splosh", the host was named Mr. Perkins, played aside Ben Forster, and has remained Host until Forster died in 2022 after a engagement with Cancer and was replaced by Mark Moraghan, who played "Mister Arthur Evans" in the WWW series.

For budgetary reasons, the another major changes were a move to production in CGI, instead than using physical models, and the addition of a voice throw to reinforcement the established narrator. The DVD have, Hero of the Rails, was the first Thomas & Friends output to vitrin these changes, and Serial publication 13 was the first television system series in the new format. The CGI animation for the series was provided by Nitrogen Studios of Vancouver.

In September 2010, Apax was preparing to sell off HiT Entertainment and its franchises, including Seth Thomas – regarded as the single most valuable asset – in order to help clear HiT's debts,^[32] and in February 2012, oversubscribed the company, along with the Thomas properties, to "US toy monster", Mattel.^[33]

During production of Series 16 (2012), Sharon Miller stepped down as head writer, and Andrew Brenner, who had written extraordinary Thomas stories in the third series, assumed the function after serving as script editor for "Blue Mountain Mystery". Additionally, Sam Barlow stepped down as story executive director after the sixteenth series, and the yield of the CGI animation was moved from Nitrogen Studios (of Vancouver) to Spark Productions (of Toronto).^[34] Top executive of the Railway and Serial publication 17, both released during 2013, serve as the first special and series developed by the hot animation and product teams respectively.

2014 saw Tale of the Brave and Series 18, the second special and series vital by Spark, severally. 2022 adage The Adventure Begins, a special coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the franchise, and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure; Series 19 began airing that same year. 2022 saw some changes; longtime composers Robert and Peter Hartshorne, father and boy team, left the series and Chris Renshaw and Oliver Bette Davis took ended. 2022 also saw Lowell Thomas &ere; Friends: The Bully Race and Series 20 began airing the same year. Serial publication 20 was the last series of the show to publicize on PBS Kids; when Series 21 began airing in 2022, the American broadcast of the show was moved to Nick Jr., conclusion a period of almost 28 years of Dylan Thomas & Friends on North American nation public idiot box. 2022 also saw Journey On the far side Sodor.^[35] The exhibit was pulled away from Nick Jr. at the end of 2022.^[36]

A ordinal series of Thomas and Friends was announced consisting of 26 episodes with, among many other changes, so much as Edward, Henry and Toby being removed from the Steam Team to make room for two new female steam engines named Nia (Africa) and Rebecca (UK),^[37] and the narrator has been replaced with Thomas talking to the audience (however, Mark Moraghan, the previous narrator has same that he will still work at the series). Series 22 is set after Big Domain! Macro Adventures!,^[38] which came out along 20 July 2022.^[39] It introduced gender-balanced and multicultural characters, and features a modern root word tune.^[1] The serial is split into two-halves; the basic incomplete sees Thomas travelling close to the world and visiting India, Australia, and China, while the second half takes post indorse on the Island of Sodor.^[1] The series was released on Netflix, Amazon and Hulu in the late half of 2022.^[40]

Thomas & Friends was revived for a 23rd series which debuted in 2022.^[41]

The 24th serial publication was released in September 2022. The series was also the final series alive by Jam Filled Toronto.

A second live-natural action/animated Thomas & Friends film is in development at Mattel with Marc Forster service American Samoa conductor.^[42]

Reboot

Connected 12 Oct 2022, it was announced by Mattel that the series would be rebooted with Norman Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go and that Nelvana would co-produce and animate the series. The deal consists of 104 11-minute episodes and 2 60-minute specials, and that the animation would transition from 3D full CGI animation to 2D animation since its conversion to full CGI in 2009, with new refreshed redesigns for Thomas and his Friends.^[43] Happening 5 February 2022, information technology was announced that Cartoon Meshing and Netflix had jointly picked up the broadcast and streaming rights to the serial publication in the U.S.A, severally.^[44]

Drop

Originally, narrating was used American Samoa the only voice in the series until 2008. Britt Allcroft cerebration it essential to convey the sequence atomic number 3 a story that would be read from a book at home. Singular representative-over actors were presented to both the UK and US dubs of the series, favorable the switch to weighed down CGI animation in 2009.

List of productions

Television series

Films, specials, and miniseries

Home video history

Over the history of the programme, the TV episodes and specials have been released for location viewing in a sort of compilations, formats and languages, by a change of publishing houses.

Product

Characters

Storytelling

Upwards until series 12, narration and talks were performed by a single storyteller. Starting from serial 22 up until serial 24, Thomas the Army tank Locomotive himself takes over as the narrator.

Models

The original live action models were filmed connected an extensive model railway layout built at the studios. The models were built to the 1:32 scale, proverbial in manikin railway circles as "Gauge 1". From Series 1 to 3, the locomotives used chassis made by Märklin with specially ready-made bodies. Along with the moving-middle and eyelid mechanisms and resin faces, these bodies as wel included smoke generators. Coaches and trucks were made exploitation Tenmille kits. Later models were constructed entirely from scratch. Some of the models from the sister television serial Tugs were reused in later episodes of the series.

From Series 5 to 12, some larger-scale models were used for the narrow gauge characters, to more easily fit the complex mechanisms into them while retaining a sufficient level of item. In Series 6, the characters known as "the Pack" (construction machines) were also constructed along a large scale, and larger models of Thomas and Sir Henry Percy were made to interact with them. In the ninth series, some other larger Thomas posture was built to the same scale atomic number 3 the narrow gauge engines to provide greater possibilities for interaction. It was joined by a large version of James in the tenth series. In 2009, some of these models were befool display in a special exhibit at Drayton Manor house Theme Park's Thomas Land.^[45] Nitrogen Studios, who provided the animation for the series from series 12 to 16, as wel had some of the original models on display.

Face movements

At the show off's conception in 1984, live natural process model animation could not utilise lip sync, but she atomic number 27-Almighty Britt Allcroft and model director David Mitton did not see this as an inhibition. About 20 years afterward however, with advancement in technology, the show power saw the entry of CGI by HIT Amusement's subsidiary HOT Animation.^[46] At first off this was used to generate smoke and other effects, but later, HIT (and so current owners of Lowell Jackson Thomas) announced its intent to introduce a to the full CGI serial in 2009.^[47] With Serial publication 12, CGI by Nitrogen Studios was used to animate characters' faces and to clear mass and animals mobile within the stories. The succeeding serial (the show's 13th) saw a conversion to full CGI animation.

Music

Mike O'Donnell and Lower-ranking Campbell composed the testify's original of import title subject, incidental music and songs, which were used for series 1–7 comprising 182 episodes betwixt 1984 and 2003. The instruments for serial 1–2 was the Roland Jupiter-6 and instrumentals for series 3–7 was the E-mu Genus Proteus sound module.^[48]

In 2004, Robert Hartshorne took O'Donnell and Campbell's place equally composer, patc Ed Welch became the show's songwriter from Serial publication 8 to The Expectant Discovery, and Welch socialist after The Slap-up Discovery. Hartshorne took his place as ballad maker from Serial 12 and onwards. From Day of the Diesels/2011-2016, Robert's son Simon Peter Hartshorne helped him with the euphony.

In 2022, the Hartshornes left the series and Chris Renshaw and Oliver Davis took their places.

Head author

Since series 12, there has been a head writer for the series. Prior to the introduction of a head writer, the script editor performed replaceable duties. Sharon Miller served as head writer from series 12–16 and stepped down after series 16 and was replaced past Andrew Brenner, WHO had written many "Seth Thomas" stories for several magazines too As his own original stories, several of which were later adapted for television episodes for Series 3 and Series 5, for which he had remained uncredited. Brenner had been a author of several other children's moving series, such as Angelina Ballerina, Tractor Tom, Fireman SAM, Spot, Poppy Cat, and Binka, as well as being the Lord of Caribou Kitchen, and Humf and writer for several magazines featuring children's characters such Eastern Samoa The Realistic Ghostbusters, Fireman Sam, and Thomas's sister series Tugs and has written scripts and took over as head writer for Thomas for World-beater of the Railway until the 23rd series. David Stoten succeeded him every bit head writer for the twenty-fourth series. Sharon Miller has also been the voice director since the second CGI animated film Foggy Island Rescue, and continues to work out on the serial in this capacity.

Script editors

• Abi Grant (series 6)
• January Paginate (series 7)
• Abi Grant and Paul Larson (series 8)
• Sharon Alton Glenn Miller (serial 9-11)
• Becky Evans (series 16, last some episodes)

Head writer

• Sharon Miller (serial publication 12–16)
• Andrew Brenner (series 17–23)
• David Stoten (series 24)

Broadcast

In the UK, Thomas & Friends was originally broadcast on ITV until 2006. Since then it has been broadcast on Channel 5's Milkshake! strand.

In the Suprasegmental States, the series had first appeared only American Samoa sequences on Shining Metre Station during the syllabu's run from 1989 to 1995 happening Phosphate buffer solution. The sequences of the series later airy in 1996 along Mr. Music director's Thomas Tales. The series aired as Storytime with Thomas connected Fox Family (now Freeform) from 1999 to 2001. When Thomas & Friends returned as a complete half-hour program on Phosphate buffer solution Kids, IT was first distributed from 2004 to 2007 by CT Public Television, and then by WNET from 2008 to 2022. It also aired on Sprout from 2005 to 2022. The rights to broadcast the series through PBS expired in December 2022,^{[49] [ not-primary source needed ]} thus ending a period of almost 30 years of programming correlate to Thomas & Friends on American open television. In 2022 and 2022, Nickelodeon held exclusive rights to the series in the United States. In 2022, the streaming rights were sold to Netflix, with traditional television rights (if any) socialist unresolved.^[50] IT also airs on Kabillion.^[51]

The program airs in Australia on ABC Kids and on Four in Young Sjaelland. In France and Spain, information technology plays on Disney Junior. In Canada, it formerly aired along TVOKids, Family Jr. and the Knowledge Net as a part of its Knowledge Kids cube, and currently airs on Treehouse Idiot box. In the In-between East, the exhibit pose on MBC 3 and Spacetoon, and in the United Arab Emirates on e-Junior.

Other dubs

Nomenclature	Title	Line	Notes	Country
Mandarin Chinese	托马斯和朋友/湯瑪士小火車	CCTV (Taiwan)/Momo Kids (Taiwan)	The serial publication is known in China as 托马斯和朋友 and in Taiwan as 湯瑪士小火車, and is dubbed in Mandarin dialect Chinese with Easy and Conventional Taiwanese subtitles. The serial publication is narrated by Jiang Guangtao in China and Guan Zhihong in Taiwan.	China and Republic of China
Japanese	きかんしゃトーマスとなかまたち	NHK Instructive TV	The series in Japan is known as Doubting Thomas the Tank locomotive and Friends (きかんしゃトーマスとなかまたち), and is dubbed in Nipponese.[52]	Japan
Brazilian Portuguese	Doubting Thomas e Seus Amigos	Discovery Kids (Brazil)	The series in Brazil is best-known as Thomas e Seus Amigos, and is dubbed in Brazilian Lusitanian.[ cite needed ] It even has an official YouTube channel far-famed as Thomas e Seus Amigos.[53]	Brazil nut
Latin North American nation Spanish	Thomas y Sus Amigos	Uncovering Kids	The serial publication in Spanish-speechmaking countries in Latin America, is known as Lowell Thomas y Sus Amigos, a.k.a. its English entitle as of individual episodes from the thirteenth season, and is dubbed into Latin American Spanish. IT even has an official YouTube channel called Thomas & Friends Latinoamérica.[54]	Mexico, Genus Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela
Azerbaijani	Tomas və Dostları	ANS TV	The series in Azerbaijan is identified as Tomas və Dostları, and is dubbed with audio in Asian country.	Azerbaijani Republic
European European country	Doubting Thomas e os Seus Amigos	Epithelial duct Cat bear/RTP2 ZigZag	The series in Portugal is known as Thomas e os Seus Amigos, and is dubbed into Continent European nation.	Portugal
European Spanish	Saint Thomas y Sus Amigos	RTVE Clan	The series in Spain, is called Thomas y Sus Amigos, and is dubbed into European Spanish.	Spain
Catalan	En Thomas i els Seus Amics	YouTube TV	The series in Catalonia, Spain is known as Nut Doubting Thomas i els Seus Amics, and is dubbed in Catalan.	Catalonia (Spain)
Balkan country	St. Thomas şi Prietenii Săi	Minimax TV	The serial in Romania is known every bit Norman Mattoon Thomas şi Prietenii Săi, Oregon Locomotiva Thomas şi Prietenii Săi, and is dubbed in Romanian.	Romania
Person	תומס הקטר תומס הקטר וחברים	Hop! Channel Israeli Educational Television	The serial in Israel is better-known as תומס הקטר and תומס הקטר וחברים, and is dubbed in Hebrew.	Israel

Reception

Critical response

Good sense Media rated the evidenc a 4 out of 5 stars stating:

Parents stern be assured that this serial publication has educational aspects A comfortably as behavioural modelling. The Thomas the Tank Engine stories were conceived by a young British boy ahead of time in the 20th centred, who would listen to the trains atomic number 3 they chuffed through the countryside. The stories he told his son – who has consequently passed them on to his own boy – have been referenced in books and toy train models. Since the series was introduced to television viewers in the 1980s, Thomas the doubting Apostle & Friends has seen a healthy fan pedestal sprout worldwide.^[55]

Jessica Roake wrote in Slate that the series reflects "true "white man's burden" style British imperialism", and in regards to Hatt, "One suspects that Sir Topham Hatt spent some time in compound India."^[56] Roake putative that the show since 2003 had Thomas More diverse characters.^[56] Jia Tolentino in The Young Yorker acknowledged that as a girl she did non "take in anything that was actually happening", simply after reviewing the record and internet posts about it American Samoa an adult, criticised what she saw as the "evince's repressive, authoritarian soul."^[57]

University of Alberta professor Shauna Wilton wrote "A Very Useful Engine: The Politics of Dylan Marlais Thomas and Friends". Wilton, who justified her study by argumen that enculturation of children is an primal aspect, wrote that she received "a combination of outrage, mental rejection, and condescending dismissal" when she declared she was going to subject the politicization of the series, although many people gave her thanks.^[58] She expressed that contempt the inclusion of female characters by the 2000s, in the ERA after major sociable revolutions in real life the series was "largely unchanged" from when it was "created in a context of rigid cultural hierarchies, manlike dominance in the public sphere, and a strong social cultivation of genuine conduct, respecting authority, and following the rules."^[59]

Cyberspace popularity

In the 2010s, Thomas & Friends became the subject of several internet memes such as "Thomas' O-face" and "The Adipose tissue Restrainer Laughed"^[60] and was even the centrepiece of an clause for The New Yorker,^[61] which explored supposedly authoritarian subtexts pose in the show.

Notes

1. ^ These series also aired in a 30 minutes format.
2. ^ Until Series 20, these series as wel aired in a incomplete-60 minutes initialize. A of series 22, the episodes themselves only run for 7 proceedings, with the remainder of the episodes being used for educational segments.
3. ^ The first incomplete of series 3 was released aligned-to-video before airing along Idiot box. ITV also rebroadcast series 6–8 aft the Nick Jr. airings.
4. ^ These series were subsequent broadcast on Television through and through Cartoon Meshing, but they were first released to VHS in the United Kingdom.
5. ^ Series 6–8 were rerun on CITV, while series 9-11 were rebroadcast on Transfer 5.

References

• Wilton, Shauna (1 January 2022). "A Very Useful Locomotive: The Politics of Thomas and Friends". In Nieguth, Tim (ed.). The Government of Popular Culture: Negotiating Power, Identity, and Place. McGill-Queen's Press. pp. 19-. ISBN9780773596863.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Thomas the Tank locomotive launches gender-counterbalanced, multi-cultural Steam clean Team". The Independent. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
2. ^ Haring, Bruce (31 May 2022). "Michael Angelis Dies: Voice Of 'Dylan Thomas The Army tank Engine' Was 76". Deadline . Retrieved 5 June 2022.
3. ^ Allcroft, Britt (26 June 2008). "Los Angeles Times – "The George V Carlin I knew"". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 5 May 2012.
4. ^ "Former Brookside actor to be Lowell Thomas the Tank Engine narrator". The Guardian. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
5. ^ "Mattel Television Greenlights 104 New "Thomas & Friends®" Telly Episodes and 2 Specials". Mattel, Inc.
6. ^ "Mattel Television Announces "Saint Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go"and Unveils New Creative Approach to Dylan Thomas Happy". Mattel, Inc.
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "The Video Series – A History of Thomas on Screen". Sodor Island. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
8. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Mallory, Michael; Whitlock, Natalie (6 Nov 2006). "Thomas the doubting Apostle the Tank Engine and TV". Supreme Guide to Thomas the doubting Apostle the Tank Railway locomotive. TLC. Archived from the original on 30 Oct 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
9. ^ ^{a b c d} Clark, Rhodri (19 May 2005). "Still Edifice Steamer at 60". The Journal. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
10. ^ Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andrew. Unmasked. pp. Chapter 16: Syd.
11. ^ Lloyd Webber, Andrew. Unmasked. pp. Chapter 20: The Song That Cleared the Dance Floors.
12. ^ "Bluebell Railway – FAQ". Campanula rotundifolia Railway. Archived from the original happening 13 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
13. ^ "Norman Thomas the £1billion Tank Engine". Daily Mirror. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
14. ^ Thomas the doubting Apostle & Friends (Television system production). 60 Minutes. 1995. Event occurs at 2:50. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
15. ^ "Bfi | Film & Tv Database | Thomas The Tank Locomotive engine And Friends". Ftvdb.bfi.org.Britain. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
16. ^ "The Case for the Missing Double-decker". Archived from the avant-garde along 24 July 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
17. ^ "Who Drove Thomas To Success?". sodor-island.net. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
18. ^ ^{a b c} Sibley, Brian (1995). The Doubting Thomas the Tank locomotive Man. Heinemann. p. 318. ISBN0-434-96909-5.
19. ^ Sibley, p. 320
20. ^ Sibley, p. 309
21. ^ "Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) – Box Office Mojo". Retrieved 31 January 2022.
22. ^ "Lowell Jackson Thomas and the Magic Dragoon". BBC. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
23. ^ "Thomas and the Magic Railroad". BBC. 29 December 2008. Archived from the new on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 11 Honorable 2022.
24. ^ "FE Investegate |Gullane Ent. PLC Announcements | Gullane Ent. PLC: Offer by HIT Amusement". Investegate.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
25. ^ "HIT TAKES Ended GULLANE. | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. 5 September 2002. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
26. ^ "Barbara Dohmann QC". Blackstonechambers.com . Retrieved 16 October 2022.
27. ^ "Turkey cock Hickman QC". Blackstonechambers.com . Retrieved 16 October 2022.
28. ^ "Apax buys Hit for £490m | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. 21 March 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
29. ^ "Pierce Brosnan Announced As Parvenue Teller For Lowell Thomas & Friends" (Press waiver). HIT Entertainment. 19 July 2007. Archived from the groundbreaking on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 Oct 2007.
30. ^ "Thomas & Friends and Bobsled the Builder Move to CGI Animation in 2009 Broadcast Season" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 Revered 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
31. ^ "Thomas The Tank Engine' For Cut-rate sale Sleazy". Deadline London. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
32. ^ "Barbie maker Mattel to buy Thomas the Cooler Engine owner". BBC Intelligence. BBC. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
33. ^ "Arc Productions Comes on Board As Living Studio For HIT Amusement's Thomas & Friends". Hit Amusement. 6 February 2012. Archived from the seminal connected 26 February 2014. Retrieved 13 Feb 2014.
34. ^ "KUED Bids Farewell to Thomas the Tank locomotive". KUED (Press release). 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
35. ^ Whyte, Alexandra (13 February 2022). "Netflix picks up Thomas and Friends in the US". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
36. ^ Clarke, Stewart (14 October 2022). "Mattel Sets St. Thomas The Tank Engine Makeover With Eye happening Global Appeal". Variety. Archived from the pilot along 13 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
37. ^ Amatangelo, Amy (3 October 2022). "At Last, Thomas & Friends Discovers a Key Demographic: Girls". Paste. Archived from the original connected 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
38. ^ "Norman Mattoon Thomas & Friends™ Big World! Jumbo Adventures! The Movie". Fetch Publicity. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
39. ^ Bloodworth, Adam (24 January 2022). "St. Thomas &adenylic acid; Friends moves to Nick Junior. as show pushes to become 'more comprehensive and entertaining'". i News. Archived from the original on 11 Lordly 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
40. ^ Haller, Sonja (17 May 2022). "Exclusive sneak peep: 'Norman Thomas & Friends' pulls into station with season unveiling". USA Now. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 English hawthorn 2022.
41. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (6 October 2022). "Thomas & Friends New Movie In The Whole caboodle From Mattel Films &A; Marc Forster's 2Dux²". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 6 Oct 2022.
42. ^ "Mattel Television Greenlights 104 New 'Thomas & Friends' Television Episodes and 2 Specials". Mattel (Press press release). El Segundo. BusinessWire. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
43. ^ Whyte, Alexandra (5 February 2022). "Cartoon Network, Netflix snaffle original 2D Thomas". Kidscreen . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
44. ^ "Thomas Land demo". Thomaslanduk.co.uk. Archived from the new on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
45. ^ Mallory, Michael (6 November 2006). "How Thomas the Tank Railway locomotive Works". Entertainment.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
46. ^ "Shoot reveals new look for Curtsy and Thomas". (Press Release). Licensing.game. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original along 30 September 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
47. ^ "Microphone O' Donnell". Sodor Island Fansite . Retrieved 12 May 2022.
48. ^ "Celebrate the holidays with Thomas & Friends! New on Goug starting tomorrow, Friday 12/15!". Thomas and Friends Facebook page. Hit Entertainment.
49. ^ "Netflix picks up Thomas & Friends in the US". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
50. ^ "Saint Thomas and Friends". Kabillion. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
51. ^ "きかんしゃトーマスとなかまたち" [Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends]. nhk.or.jp . Retrieved 4 March 2022.
52. ^ "Thomas e Seus Amigos". YouTube . Retrieved 11 June 2022.
53. ^ "Doubting Thomas & Friends Latinoamérica". YouTube . Retrieved 21 February 2022.
54. ^ "Thomas & Friends – TV Review". 14 June 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
55. ^ ^{a b} Roake, Jessica (26 July 2011). "Thomas the Imperialist Tank Locomotive engine". Slate . Retrieved 13 July 2022.
56. ^ Tolentino, Jia (28 September 2022). "The Repressive, Authoritarian Soul of "Thomas the Armoured combat vehicle Railway locomotive & Friends"". The New Yorker . Retrieved 13 July 2022.
57. ^ Wilton, p. 20.
58. ^ Wilton, p. 21-22.
59. ^ "22 Funniest Things The Cyberspace Has Always Done With Thomas The Tank Engine". smosh. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
60. ^ "The Inhibitory Authoritarian Soul of Thomas the Tank locomotive". The New Yorker . Retrieved 24 October 2022.

External links

Official websites

• Official website
• Awdry Family Web site

Opposite sites

• Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at IMDb

The Steam Team Fan Art Thomas and Friends

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_%26_Friends

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