Thomas, the Tank Engine & Friends : Annual

Product Information

Mattel Television Greenlights 104 New 'Thomas & Friends' Television Episodes and 2 Specials". Mattel (Press release). El Segundo. BusinessWire. 12 October 2020 . Retrieved 25 October 2020.

Timber! - The old elm tree in Wellsworth Orchard has to come down because it is too dangerous and Trevor and Jem Cole help out when the tree-cutting machine breaks down.

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a b c d Edwards, Michael (April 1993). "The making of Thomas the Tank Engine". Model Railroader. Kalmbach Media. pp.86–87. Characters of the Railway Series: Thomas the Tank Engine". PegnSean. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Since series 12, there has been a head writer for the series. Prior to the introduction of a head writer, the script editor performed similar duties. Sharon Miller served as head writer from series 12–16, when she was replaced by Andrew Brenner. Brenner had written many "Thomas" stories for various magazines, as well as his own original stories (several of which were later adapted for television episodes in Series 3 and Series 5, and for which he had remained uncredited). Brenner had been a writer of several other children's animated series, such as Angelina Ballerina, Tractor Tom, Fireman Sam, Spot, Poppy Cat, and Binka, as well as being the creator of Caribou Kitchen and Humf, and writer for several magazines featuring children's characters such as The Real Ghostbusters, Fireman Sam, and Thomas's sister series Tugs. He took over as head writer for Thomas for King of the Railway, serving in this capacity until leaving during the twenty-third series. David Stoten succeeded him as head writer for the twenty-fourth series. Sharon Miller has also been the voice director since the second CGI animated film Misty Island Rescue, and continues to work on the series in this capacity. Thomas has been referenced, featured and parodied in popular culture. In 1988, he was parodied on ITV's Spitting Image where he was portrayed as a drunk who went "completely off the rails." [18] In 2009, he appeared in " The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" where he was voiced by Ringo Starr, who narrated the first two series of Thomas and Friends. [19] In the British comedy show Bobby Davro's TV Weekly, a spoof was created titled "Thomas the Tanked Up Engine" involving Jeremy, the pink engine. Bobby Davro provided the narration by impersonating Ringo Starr. Double Trouble - Thomas helps tell two boys named David and Danny apart with help from Donald, Douglas, Bill and Ben.

During production of Series 16 (2012), Sharon Miller stepped down as head writer, and Andrew Brenner (who had written some Thomas stories in the third series) assumed the role, after serving as script editor for "Blue Mountain Mystery". Additionally, Sam Barlow stepped down as story executive after the sixteenth series, and the production of the CGI animation was moved from Nitrogen Studios (of Vancouver) to Arc Productions (of Toronto). [30] King of the Railway and Series 17, both released during 2013, served as the first special and series, respectively, developed by the new animation and production teams, respectively. Thomas and the Sunday School Outing - Thomas has to take the Sunday School on their outing into the mountains when Bertie breaks down, but he nearly misses his "path" when the school is late returning to Ffarquhar. Lost in the Snow - Thomas is cross about having to wear his snowplough. Meanwhile, a cat has gone missing at Dryaw, where Thomas has to stop for water. His crew have to use melted snow to refill his tank because the water column is frozen and they find the cat in a pile of snow. The series in Portugal is known as Thomas e os Seus Amigos, and is dubbed into European Portuguese. a b Roake, Jessica (26 July 2011). "Thomas the Imperialist Tank Engine". Slate . Retrieved 13 July 2021.Thomas the Tank Engine stamps launched on East Lancs Railway". Lancashire Telegraph . Retrieved 21 September 2022. A new theme song and new incidental music was composed by Ed Welch and Robert Hartshorne, respectively. The episode runtime was increased to seven minutes. The series was produced using digital video cameras, creating a somewhat different look for the show. Other changes included the additions of CGI educational sequences and transitions between stories. Executive producer Peter Urie also left, while Jocelyn Stevenson remained in her role as executive producer. Sam Barlow became the story executive, while Abi Grant and Paul Larson served as script editors. This series saw the adoption of a centralised cast, including Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby and Emily.

The Engine Which Disappeared - A recount of Awdry's inspiration for Down the Mine, the Barrow and Furness incident in which an engine (Furness Railway locomotive no. 115) fell down a mine and was never found. Friends of Thomas - A list of Thomas' human friends. Including: The Fat Controller, the Thin Controller, drivers, firemen, guards and stationmasters. Amatangelo, Amy (3 October 2018). "At Last, Thomas & Friends Discovers a Key Demographic: Girls". Paste. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019 . Retrieved 20 July 2019. THOMAS & FRIENDS Announcement". WNET. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018 . Retrieved 26 June 2023.In the United Kingdom, Thomas & Friends was originally broadcast on ITV until 2006. Since then it has been broadcast on Channel 5's Milkshake! strand. Haring, Bruce (31 May 2020). "Michael Angelis Dies: Voice Of 'Thomas The Tank Engine' Was 76". Deadline . Retrieved 5 June 2020.

In 2004, Robert Hartshorne took O'Donnell and Campbell's place as composer, while Ed Welch became the show's songwriter from Series 8 to The Great Discovery. Welch left after The Great Discovery. Hartshorne took his place as songwriter from Series 12 and onwards. From Day of the Diesels/2011-2016, Robert's son Peter Hartshorne helped him with the music. Other major changes included a move to production in CGI (done for budgetary reasons), rather than the use of physical models, and the addition of a voice cast to support the established narrator. The DVD feature Hero of the Rails was the first Thomas & Friends production to showcase these changes, and Series 13 was the first television series in the new format. The CGI animation for the series was provided by Nitrogen Studios of Vancouver. Mattel Television Announces "Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go"and Unveils New Creative Approach to Thomas Content". Mattel, Inc. Thomas was the only fictional character included in The Independent on Sunday's 2009 " Happy List", recognised alongside 98 real-life adults and a therapy dog for making Britain a better and happier place. [16] In 2011, Thomas the Tank Engine featured on a series of 1st class UK postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail to mark the centenary of the birth of its creator, Reverend Wilbert Awdry. [17] In popular culture A Thomas the Tank Engine themed JNR Class C11 train in Japan, 2014Very Special Engines - A famous photographer is taking pictures to be used for Sodor's latest holiday poster. But the Fat Controller and the Mayor have difficulty deciding which photograph to use.