Thomas & Friends (series 13)

Thomas & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry.

Thomas & Friends
Series 13
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes20
Release
Original networkFive
Original release7 November 2009 (2009-11-07) –
9 January 2010 (2010-01-09)
Series chronology

This article lists and details episodes from the thirteenth series of the show, which was first broadcast from 2009 to 2010. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the United Kingdom audiences, although Michael Brandon narrates the episodes for the United States audiences. Mark Moraghan later re-narrated "Snow Tracks" for the Santa's Little Engine DVD.

This was Marion Edwards' first series as executive producer.

Following the release of the feature-length special DVD Hero of the Rails in September 2009 and the theatrical and video releases of select episodes, this series introduces computer-generated imagery as a replacement for the show's long-standing model animation, as well as a voice cast rather than an individual actor's narration.[1]

Production

Beginning with this series, Nitrogen Studios began providing the animation.

Director Steve Asquith had left the show after the previous series after working on twelve series and directing five series, while Simon Spencer also stepped down as producer. Christopher Skala was joined by Marion Edwards as executive producer. Ed Welch left after The Great Discovery, while Robert Hartshorne remained. Greg Tiernan and Nicole Stinn replaced Asquith and Spencer as the director and producer.

Episodes

On 7 November 2009, 4 select episodes were screened theatrically in an event called "Splish, Splash, Splosh". The episodes were then released on DVD of the same name in the United States, which was later released in the UK on 1 March 2010. Another event, "Thomas and the Runaway Kite" screened on 9 January 2010 showed a further 4 episodes, again in the United States Series 13 forgot to put the same Play-Along game, Dots-to-Dots, telling which engine it is, the same music video from Series 8-10, and a recurring mini-story which features major locations and recaps episodes from Series 8-11 that take place at the location during the middle of Series 13 in the United States The two songs, "Sounds" and "Determination" by Ed Welch, were introduced during Series 13 after the story. The thirteenth series aired in the United States on 25 January 2010.[2]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateTV Order
3091"Creaky Cranky"Greg TiernanSharon Miller7 November 2009 (2009-11-07)601a
After Thomas teases him for creaking, Cranky boasts that he is stronger than the little tank engine. Thomas attempts to prove him wrong by bringing heavy loads for Cranky to lift. When that fails, he suggests that Cranky attempts to lift him, which ends in disaster.
3102"The Lion of Sodor"Greg TiernanMark Robertson7 November 2009 (2009-11-07)601b
Thomas is given the job of transporting a crate containing a very special statue called "The Lion of Sodor". Believing it to be a real lion, Thomas vows to take extra special care of it, making sure it is comfortable.
3113"Tickled Pink"Greg TiernanAllan Plenderleith14 November 2009 (2009-11-14)602a
James is sent to the Steamworks to have a new coat of paint. However, an emergency forces him to take a train before he has been finished, leaving him covered in his pink undercoat. Believing the others will laugh at him, James attempts to hide wherever he can.
3124"Double Trouble"Greg TiernanSharon Miller14 November 2009 (2009-11-14)602b
It's the Fat Controller's birthday, and Thomas is sent to Maithwaite early to collect the Fat Controller and Lady Hatt to take them to the party. However, when Thomas arrives, he is very surprised to see the Fat Controller already there - and that he has a moustache and a strange change in personality.
3135"Slippy Sodor"Greg TiernanMark Robertson21 November 2009 (2009-11-21)603b
Thomas has a cracked funnel and goes to the Sodor Steamworks for a replacement. The only funnel left is both strangely shaped and brightly coloured and Thomas feels embarrassed. This leads to more problems when he is asked to take some bubble liquid to Mr. Bubbles' clown show.
3146"The Early Bird"Greg TiernanDavid Richard Fox21 November 2009 (2009-11-21)603b
Percy is at the Sodor Steamworks for repairs, so the Fat Controller puts Thomas in charge of the mail run. Thomas is excited about doing it and ignores Gordon's advice to ask Percy how he does it. Attempting on his own, Thomas makes the crucial mistake of whistling loudly, disturbing the sleep of others.
3157"Play Time"Greg TiernanSharon Miller28 November 2009 (2009-11-28)604a
Thomas is going to the docks to collect Alicia Botti when Percy tells him about a new engine named Charlie - "The most fun engine ever!" When Thomas meets Charlie, he decides to prove how fun he really is.
3168"Thomas and the Pigs"Greg TiernanAllan Plenderleith28 November 2009 (2009-11-28)604a
Farmer Trotter asks Thomas to collect some straw for the piglets, which are soon to be born. But on the way, Thomas sees other things he thinks the piglets will like. He collects so much of them that he runs out of room on his flatbeds to put straw on.
3179"Time for a Story"Greg TiernanMiranda Larson5 December 2009 (2009-12-05)605a
A batch of new storybooks are to be delivered to the library for the schoolchildren's storytime and the Fat Controller gives this special job to Thomas. Thomas is so excited about delivering the books that he leaves before they are properly restrained, which leads to disaster as he travels along a bumpy track.
31810"Percy's Parcel"Greg TiernanRobyn Charteris5 December 2009 (2009-12-05)605b
It is Dowager Hatt's birthday and Percy feels upset when The Fat Controller doesn't give him an important job. After being comforted by Mavis, Percy is given an important job - to deliver a parcel to Knapford Station. Because she told him to do so, however, he goes to show Mavis first.
31911"Toby's New Whistle"Greg TiernanLouise Kramskoy12 December 2009 (2009-12-12)606a
Toby's bell is broken, and as there are no spare bells, he has to work with a whistle instead. Toby is even more put off when James explains that it is a very loud 3-chime steam whistle, as the old tram engine hates loud noises.
32012"A Blooming Mess"Greg TiernanMiranda Larson12 December 2009 (2009-12-12)606a
Knapford Station is being redecorated. When Mavis does not say hello, Emily assumes she is sad and chuffs to the quarry to cheer her up with some of the new flowers, only to cause Edward and Thomas to crash.
32113"Thomas and the Runaway Kite"Greg TiernanLouise Kramskoy19 December 2009 (2009-12-19)607a
It is the day of the Sodor Kite Festival and Thomas must collect the winner's cup. However, he ends up taking a detour when Stephen and Bridget Hatt lose their kite, which Thomas offers to catch, ignoring his friend's offers to help whilst doing so.
32214"Steamy Sodor"Greg TiernanSharon Miller19 December 2009 (2009-12-19)607b
While Victor is visiting the narrow gauge engines at the Transfer Yards, Thomas is put in charge of the Sodor Steamworks. Thomas feels very excited; so excited in fact that he doesn't listen to Victor's instructions to ask the engines about their problems or to ask for advice from Kevin. As a result, he ignores the engines and confuses Kevin so much, he ends up making a mess of the Steamworks.
32315"Splish, Splash, Splosh!"Greg TiernanSharon Miller26 December 2009 (2009-12-26)608a
After shunting the troublesome trucks in the yards with Rosie, Thomas has invented a new game called "Splish, Splash, Splosh", which involves running through puddles and splashing other engines. When he is given an important job, he finds himself unable to resist playing it again, but not every engine he passes finds getting splashed very fun.
32416"The Biggest Present of All"Greg TiernanSharon Miller26 December 2009 (2009-12-26)608a
Hiro, the Master of the Railway, is returning to Sodor for a visit. Thomas is eager to find a present for him - so eager, in fact, he forgets to tell everyone to meet at Knapford Station.
32517"Snow Tracks"Greg TiernanAlan Hescott2 January 2010 (2010-01-02)609b
A snowstorm has covered Sodor, and Thomas and Gordon are given important jobs. While doing his job, Gordon decides to take the shorter, hilly route because he thinks he is special and stronger. This promptly leads him into trouble.
32618"Henry's Good Deeds"Greg TiernanAlan Hescott2 January 2010 (2010-01-02)609b
After Thomas performs a good deed for Farmer McColl. Henry, who is taking a nesting pole for a rare bird called the Sodor Warbler, decides to try and do a good deed too. However, all of his attempts go horribly wrong. In the end, however, he manages to do a good deed without even realizing.
32719"Buzzy Bees"Greg TiernanSharon Miller9 January 2010 (2010-01-09)610b
Thomas is given the task of delivering beehives to Farmer Trotter. He decides to take the route past a field of flowers, only for the bees to escape.
32820"Hiro Helps Out"Greg TiernanSharon Miller9 January 2010 (2010-01-09)610b
The Fat Controller is rather busy - so busy he does not tell the other engines their jobs. Hiro decides to help him by giving the others their jobs, but this only results in a big muddle.

Characters
  • Thomas
  • Edward
  • Henry
  • Gordon
  • James
  • Percy
  • Toby
  • Emily
  • Spencer
  • Rosie
  • Hiro
  • Diesel
  • Mavis
  • Victor
  • Rocky
  • Kevin
  • Cranky
  • Sir Topham Hatt
  • Lady Hatt
  • Dowager Hatt
  • Stephen Hatt
  • Bridget Hatt
  • Farmer Trotter
  • Farmer McColl
  • Allicia Botti
  • The Mayor of Sodor
  • The Teacher
  • The Schoolchildren
  • The Bird Watcher
  • The Maithwaite Stationmaster
  • The Knapford Stationmaster
  • Annie and Clarabel
  • Henrietta
  • Bertie
  • The Duke and Duchess of Boxford
  • The Dairy Manager
  • The Ginger-haired Boy
  • Anopha Quarry Manager
  • Big Mickey
  • Troublesome Trucks
  • The Tree Specialists
  • The Welsh Bird Watcher
  • The Lady with the Big Hat
  • Barrow Football Fan
  • The Female Puppet Show Entertainer

Introduced
  • Charlie ("Play Time")
  • Sir Lowham Hatt ("Double Trouble")
  • Mr. Bubbles ("Slippy Sodor")
  • Bridget Hatt's Friends ("Tickled Pink")
  • The Bakers ("Splish Splash Splosh")
  • The Dock Manager ("The Early Bird")

Voices

After the release of Hero of the Rails, almost all of the voice cast's character roles have been confirmed.

Actor/ActressRegionRole(s)Notes
Michael AngelisUKThe Narrator
Michael BrandonUSThe Narrator
Ben SmallUKThomas and Toby
Keith WickhamUKEdward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, The Fat Controller, Sir Lowham Hatt, Dowager Hatt, The Mayor of Sodor and Mr. Bubbles
Kerry ShaleUKDiesel
Stephen HattThomas and the Runaway Kite only
Teresa GallagherUKEmily, Rosie, Mavis, Bridget Hatt, Lady Hatt, Some Children, School Children, The Teacher, and Bridget Hatt's friends
Jules de JonghUKAlicia Botti
Matt WilkinsonUKSpencer, Charlie, Rocky, Cranky, Victor, Kevin, Farmer McColl, Farmer Trotter, The Maithwaite Stationmaster, The Knapford Stationmaster and The Bird Watcher
Stephen HattThomas and the Runaway Kite only
Togo IgawaUK/Hiro
Pierce BrosnanThe NarratorOriginally
Mark MoraghanUSRe-dubbed Snow Tracks for "Santa's Little Engine" DVD only

A HiT Entertainment press release from 2007 stated that "3 upcoming Thomas & Friends television series" would be narrated by Pierce Brosnan.[3] Although the statement was made prior to Season 12, HiT confirmed that Brosnan would only appear as a guest narrator on The Great Discovery.

Music videos
  • Roll Along
  • Go Go Thomas
  • You're the Leader
  • The Sound Song
  • Determination
  • Engine Roll Call

iTunes Release

'Thomas and Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh' was released in the United Kingdom iTunes Store on 1 March 2010. It consisted of four episodes, which were:

  • Splish Splash Splosh
  • Slippy Sodor
  • Snow Tracks
  • Play Time

The programme can be bought as a series or individual episodes.

References
  1. Gary Strauss (18 June 2009). "All aboard a refurbished 'Thomas the Tank Engine'". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  2. http://www.ket.org/tvschedules/episode.php?nola=THOF++000601&layout=popup&framed=1
  3. "Pierce Brosnan Announced As New Narrator For Thomas & Friends" (pdf). (Press Release). HIT Entertainment. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
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