Thomas and Friends - Season 12
Encyclopedia
Thomas and Friends
is a children's television series
based on Rev. W. Awdry's
children's books, The Railway Series
.
Season 12 premiered on 1 September, 2008 in the United Kingdom , with Michael Angelis
as the narrator. Michael Brandon
narrated the same episodes in the United States.
. Characters' faces were animated through CGI with the aid of motion capture animation - the physical models' molded faces were replaced by targets in order to fix a computer-animated face in post-production
. Static models of people and animals were replaced by 3D animations. The animation was provided by Nitrogen Studios, the studio contracted for future full-CGI episodes. This change marked the movement of production of the show from the United Kingdom to Canada, , although the model scenes were still filmed at Shepperton Studios
.
HIT Entertainment's Senior Vice President of Production and Programming, Christopher Skala, stated that the change, aside from budgetary reasons, was intended to convey more emotion and flexibility through the stories. Skala claimed that, of his focus group, even those who felt that Thomas, as an institution, should not be changed in this way ultimately responded positively to the demonstration of the new animation techniques.
had been contracted to narrate the show. Beginning with the Great Discovery
special, HIT Entertainment's release stated that Brosnan was on board for three series and three specials. As Great Discoverys release approached, his billing was changed to "guest" narrator, both in press releases and on the DVD artwork. However, behind-the-scenes footage featured on the Region 1 Great Discovery DVD shows Brosnan recording lines from Series 12 episodes, indicating that at some point he was intended to continue working on the show.
's Five during the Milkshake! block, airing one story in each broadcast. In the United States, two episodes were aired in each twenty-eight-minute block, a format introduced with Series 8. The new episodes aired in a different order from the United Kingdom. Additionally, the first three blocks with Season 12's production codes featured the six episodes of Engines and Escapades
.
Closed captioning for the 30-minute version of the show was produced by CaptionMax
.
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...
is a children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
based on Rev. W. Awdry's
W.V. Awdry
Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE , was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, better known as the Reverend W. Awdry and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.-Life:Awdry was born at Ampfield vicarage near Romsey, Hampshire in 1911...
children's books, The Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
.
Season 12 premiered on 1 September, 2008 in the United Kingdom , with Michael Angelis
Michael Angelis
Michael Angelis is an English actor and voice actor.Michael Angelis was one of the stars of the famous 1982 BBC drama serial Boys from the Black Stuff and another Alan Bleasedale drama G.B.H.. He also starred in comedies such as Luv and The Liver Birds, in which he appeared between series 5 and 9...
as the narrator. Michael Brandon
Michael Brandon
Michael Brandon is an American actor who resides in the United Kingdom and United States.-Life and career:Brandon was born Michael Feldman in Brooklyn, New York to Miriam and Sol Feldman...
narrated the same episodes in the United States.
Filming and animation
Season 12 marked the beginning of Thomas & Friends transition into CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
. Characters' faces were animated through CGI with the aid of motion capture animation - the physical models' molded faces were replaced by targets in order to fix a computer-animated face in post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
. Static models of people and animals were replaced by 3D animations. The animation was provided by Nitrogen Studios, the studio contracted for future full-CGI episodes. This change marked the movement of production of the show from the United Kingdom to Canada, , although the model scenes were still filmed at Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
.
HIT Entertainment's Senior Vice President of Production and Programming, Christopher Skala, stated that the change, aside from budgetary reasons, was intended to convey more emotion and flexibility through the stories. Skala claimed that, of his focus group, even those who felt that Thomas, as an institution, should not be changed in this way ultimately responded positively to the demonstration of the new animation techniques.
Talent
In Series 12, Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon continued their roles as narrators in their respective regions. However, a 2007 press release indicated that Pierce BrosnanPierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
had been contracted to narrate the show. Beginning with the Great Discovery
The Great Discovery
The Great Discovery is a 2008 film and feature spin-off of the TV series, Thomas and Friends. The film is a follow up, not a direct sequel to Thomas and the Magic Railroad and a sequel to Calling All Engines! The DVD was released on September 9 2008 in the United States and October 6 2008 in the...
special, HIT Entertainment's release stated that Brosnan was on board for three series and three specials. As Great Discoverys release approached, his billing was changed to "guest" narrator, both in press releases and on the DVD artwork. However, behind-the-scenes footage featured on the Region 1 Great Discovery DVD shows Brosnan recording lines from Series 12 episodes, indicating that at some point he was intended to continue working on the show.
Broadcast
Twenty episodes aired on the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Five during the Milkshake! block, airing one story in each broadcast. In the United States, two episodes were aired in each twenty-eight-minute block, a format introduced with Series 8. The new episodes aired in a different order from the United Kingdom. Additionally, the first three blocks with Season 12's production codes featured the six episodes of Engines and Escapades
Engines and Escapades
Engines And Escapades was a VHS/DVD of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, containing episodes unseen on TV. These episodes were the 3rd of the annual straight to VHS/DVD releases by HiT Entertainment, and are considered to be part of Season 11 of 2007...
.
Closed captioning for the 30-minute version of the show was produced by CaptionMax
CaptionMax
CaptionMax is one of the largest North American media accessibility companies. It is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with additional locations in New York City and Burbank, California...
.
Episodes
| # | Total | Title (Top) US Title (Bottom) |
Written by | Original airdate | TV order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New
- Hank (Heave Ho Thomas)
- Flora (Tram Trouble)
- Colin (The Party Surprise)
- The Bargeman (The Party Surprise)
- The Tree Specialists (Henry Gets It Wrong) (do not speak)
Returning
- ThomasThomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
- EdwardEdward the Blue EngineEdward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
- HenryHenry the Green EngineHenry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off children's television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.Henry lives on the fictitious...
- GordonGordon the Big EngineGordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
- JamesJames the Red EngineJames the Red Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. James is a mixed-traffic engine, which means he is just as capable of pulling coaches as trucks...
- PercyPercy the Small EnginePercy the Small Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam engine from The Railway Series of children's books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry...
- TobyToby the Tram EngineToby the Tram Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tram engine in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son, Christopher; he also appears in the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends...
- DuckDuck the Great Western EngineDuck the Great Western Engine is a fictional steam engine from The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends. He is a green 0-6-0 pannier tank locomotive and lives and works on the Island of Sodor....
- Donald and Douglas
- Oliver
- EmilyEmily (Thomas the Tank Engine)Emily the Stirling Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from the television series Thomas and Friends. She was the first female steam engine to be featured in the television series, and is the only female member of the "Steam Team", the eight core characters of the series...
- Murdoch
- Neville
- Ben
- Rosie
- Whiff
- Stanley
- Diesel
- Mavis
- Salty
- Skarloey
- Rheneas
- Sir Handel
- Peter Sam
- Rusty
- Duncan
- Fearless Freddie
- Mighty Mac
- Toad
- Hector
- Troublesome Trucks
- Bertie
- Jack
- Harold
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Lady Hatt
- Dowager Hatt
- Stepney (does not speak in UK Version)
- Harvey (does not speak)
- Arthur (does not speak)
- Arry and Bert (do not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Henrietta (does not speak)
- Rocky (does not speak)
- Trevor (does not speak)
- Alfie (does not speak)
- Farmer McColl (Does not Speak)
- Bulgy (Cameo)
- Jeremy (cameo)
- Cranky (cameo)
- Diesel 10 (Film, Cameo)
- DennisDennisDennis or Denis is either the first or last name of a male derived from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius meaning "servant of Dionysus", the Thracian god of wine, which is ultimately derived from the Greek Dios combined with Nysos or Nysa , where the young god was raised.Alternative forms and...
(Film, Cameo) - TerenceTerence the TractorTerence the Tractor is a fictional anthropomorphic crawler tractor from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
(Film, Cameo) - GeorgeGeorge-People:*See George *See George *See Saint George -Places:Australia*Lake George, New South WalesCanada*George's Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador*George Street, St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorSouth Africa...
(Film, Cameo) - ProteusProteusIn Greek mythology, Proteus is an early sea-god, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea", whose name suggests the "first" , as protogonos is the "primordial" or the "firstborn". He became the son of Poseidon in the Olympian theogony In Greek mythology, Proteus (Πρωτεύς)...
(Mentioned)