"Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" (1984) TV series

Creator:

Britt Allcroft
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | unknown

Genre:

Animation | Short | Family

Plot:

Follows the adventures of a group of train-engines on the Island of Sodor.

Plot Keywords:

Train Engine | Island | Friendship | Friend | Train

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. June 4	12:00 PM	PBS
Tue. June 5	12:00 PM	PBS

Cast

Michael Angelis	...	Narrator / ... (289 episodes, 1991-2010)
Michael Brandon	...	Narrator (US) / ... (163 episodes, 2004-2011)

Series Directed by
David Mitton		(181 episodes, 1984-2007)
Steve Asquith		(141 episodes, 2003-2008)
Greg Tiernan		(21 episodes, 2010)

Series Writing credits
Rev. W. Awdry		(38 episodes, 1984-2010)
Paul Larson		(25 episodes, 2003-2007)
Britt Allcroft		(16 episodes, 1984-2010)
David Mitton		(8 episodes, 1991-1995)
Andrew Viner		(2 episodes, 2008-2012)
Sharon Miller		(2 episodes, 2010-2011)

Series Produced by
Britt Allcroft	....	producer (34 episodes, 1984-1995)
David Mitton	....	producer (34 episodes, 1984-1995)
Angus Wright	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1991-1995)
Robert D. Cardona	....	producer (11 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Original Music by
Junior Campbell		(20 episodes, 1984-1995)

Series Cinematography by
Terry Permane		(10 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Film Editing by
Michael Dixon		(6 episodes, 1984)
John Wright		(6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Rebecca De Burgh Mound		(4 episodes, 1986)
Lindsey Dillion-Massey		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Andreas Fehrle	....	production manager (unknown episodes, 2003)
Graeme MacArthur	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Asquith	....	second unit director / first assistant director (11 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Art Department
Leigh Grosch	....	stagehand (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Adam Cook	....	stagehand (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Steve Asquith	....	models supervisor (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Michelle Wraight	....	sculptor / set dresser (2 episodes, 1991-1994)

Series Sound Department
Marty O'Brien	....	dialogue editor / foley recordist/editor (60 episodes, 2010-2011)
Robert Bourke	....	sound effects editor (44 episodes, 2010-2011)
Jm Finch	....	adr mixer / dubbing mixer (40 episodes, 2010-2011)
Christopher Swaine	....	assistant sound editor / sound assistant (32 episodes, 2010-2011)
Gavin Beckwith	....	sound effects / dubbing / ... (11 episodes, 1991-1992)
Gary Dixon	....	sound effects / dubbing / ... (10 episodes, 1991-1992)
Mike Erander	....	dubbing mixer (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
James Perry	....	assistant sound mixer (unknown episodes, 2004)
Mark DeSimone	....	narration recording engineer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Steve Knowles	....	senior special effects technician (104 episodes, 2002-2005)
David Payne	....	special effects supervisor (52 episodes, 1984-1986)
David Eves	....	special effects / special effects model maker (24 episodes, 1991-1995)
Martin Gaskell	....	chief model maker (2 episodes, 1995)
Duncan Orthner	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes, 2002)
Julian Parry	....	special effects crew (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Peter Eves	....	specialist model maker / model maker (19 episodes, 1991-1995)
Martin Gaskell	....	model crew / chief model maker (18 episodes, 1991-1995)
Conrad Ayling	....	model crew (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Gareth Hutchinson	....	model crew (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Mark Dorsett	....	model crew (10 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jennie De Naeyer	....	model crew (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jeremy King	....	model maker (9 episodes, 1991-1992)
John Piper	....	model crew (7 episodes, 1994-1995)
Benjamin Tse	....	lighter/compositor (7 episodes, 2010-2011)
Jamie Bowering	....	models and sets / electronic effects / ... (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bernard Carr	....	specialist model maker (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ben Cain	....	models and sets (4 episodes, 1984)
Jamie Jackson Moore	....	models and sets (4 episodes, 1984)
Tom Vane	....	models and sets (4 episodes, 1984)
Ian Kerr	....	specialist model maker (3 episodes, 1984)
Rex Lai	....	visual effects artist (3 episodes, 2010-2011)
David Lillie	....	model maker (2 episodes, 1984)
Chris Noulton	....	model maker (2 episodes, 1984)
Tim Staffell	....	model maker / model supervisor / ... (2 episodes, 1984)
Steve Asquith	....	models supervisor (2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Dave Poole	....	senior animatronic model designer (unknown episodes)
Ken Robinson	....	colourist (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Terry Permane	....	lighting camera / camera operator / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1992)
Nigel Permane	....	camera operator (23 episodes, 1991-1995)
Colin Davidson	....	focus puller (13 episodes, 1984-1986)
Steve Dempsey	....	gaffer (11 episodes, 1984-1986)
David Watkins	....	camera operator (9 episodes, 1991-1995)
John Attwell	....	focus puller / assistant camera (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Flynne	....	gaffer (5 episodes, 1991)

Series Animation Department
Gary Hendry	....	layout supervisor (40 episodes, 2010)

Series Editorial Department
John Wright	....	editor: video tape (12 episodes, 1991-1995)
Andrea MacArthur	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 1984)

Series Music Department
Mike O'Donnell	....	compose & arrange: music (182 episodes, 1984-2004)
Junior Campbell	....	composer: original theme / music arranger / ... (28 episodes, 1984-1995)

Series Other crew
Larry Allen	....	production coordinator (43 episodes, 1991-1995)
Kenn Viselman	....	marketing executive (41 episodes, 1991-1995)
Jonathan Saville	....	figurinist (24 episodes, 1991-1995)
Leyla Mustafa	....	head production runner / production runner / ... (20 episodes, 2008)
Nasreen Khan	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1984-1986)
Nadine Schoen	....	production coordinator (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Rachel Roullier	....	production coordinator (9 episodes, 1991-1992)
Graeme MacArthur	....	program manager (8 episodes, 1994-1995)
Steve Asquith	....	production supervisor (6 episodes, 1991-1992)
Andreas Fehrle	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 2002)

Production Companies

• Clearwater Productions (1984-1986)
• HIT Entertainment (2003-)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd.
• Central Independent Television
• FilmFair
• Gullane Pictures
• Gullane
• Nitrogen Studios Canada
• Thames Television
• Woodland Animations

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2007) (UK) (all media)
• Children's Independent Television (CiTV) (1984-) (UK) (TV)
• Columbia Pictures Television (1984-1995) (worldwide) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001-2002) (worldwide) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Television (1995-2001) (worldwide) (TV)
• Fox Family Channel (1998-2000) (USA) (TV)
• Independent Television (ITV) (2009) (UK) (TV)
• Magna Pacific (2007) (Australia) (video)
• Nickelodeon (2000-) (UK) (TV) (repeats)
• Pony Canyon (200?) (Japan) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (USA) (TV) (1989-1998 and 2004-)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (worldwide) (TV)
• Strand Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (1995) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Fonic  sound post-production
• House of Blues  thanks
• Shepperton Studios  made at
• Technicolor Limited  special thanks

Also Known As:

"Thomas & Friends" - International (English title) (short title)
"Thomas the Tank Engine" - International (English title) (short title)

Runtime:

UK:67 min | 7 min (season 8-) | 5 min (seasons 1-7)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | USA:TV-G (1985-1995) | USA:TV-Y (1998-) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Clearwater Productions

Trivia:

Three real engines have been featured on the show - Stepney has made a number of appearances, and City of Truro and Flying Scotsman played minor roles in the third season.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Thomas:Well, bust my buffers!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Breakfast: Episode dated 11 June 2010" (2010)

Classic series, that kids are guaranteed to love

I admit it, while I am 17 now, I am still quite found of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. And I loved it as a kid, in fact my whole family did, so much so my brother was literally obsessed with it, having his own Thomas train set and everything. This series is simply put a classic, with outstanding story ideas, and stay true to the brilliant stories by Reverend Wilbert Awdry. The setting for especially the Island of Sodor itself is fantastically done, almost exactly as I would visualise it. And the characters are engaging, from the main character down to the secondary ones. The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt has a certain firmness but genuinely cares for the trains, who without a doubt steal the show. As much as I like James, Gordon and Percy, Thomas will always be my favourite. The music is memorable and easy for young toddlers to hum along too and the narration was perfect. If I did have a complaint, and a minor one, I do agree that the newer episodes are inferior in quality to the older ones, but they are still watchable. All in all, a must watch while you are growing up. 10/10 Bethany Cox