Blog Post # 12- Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends

One thing I noticed while doing this blog is that everytime I look on any the other classmates blogs, they have at least one post devoted to an animated TV show from there childhood.  I guess it’s about time I did mine.

The animated TV show from my past is one that has a very special place in my memories.  For all of us Train lovers (myself included!) how can we forget the number one tank engine of all!  Why that blue colored with a red stripe and a big old gold “1″ on his sides named Thomas of course!!!!

The story of how this little tank engine and friends ride the rails of the Island of Sodor began in 1945, just as WWII was coming to a close.  Inspired by his childhood growing up by the railroads in England, Rev. Wilbert Awdry wrote the first of what would be called “The Railway Series” of books.  The book was titiled “The Three Railway Engines”- the three being Edward, Gordon, and Henry (Thomas was not introduced yet in this book).  It was published in 1945 to an instant sucess among children’s books.  This prompted Rev. Awdry to write a second book, titled and introducing the most famous engine of them all “Thomas The Tank Engine”.  Rev. Awdry would go on to write 26 titles for the series, stopping in 1972.  His son Christopher would write 14 more between 1983-2007, as well as another one slated to come out either this year or next year.

The TV series

In 1984, Brit Allcroft began producing the “Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends” series for the British TV broadcaster ITV (BBC’s rival).  The first episode aired on September 4, 1984, and was titled “Thomas and Gordon”.

The first narrator was indeed that of Ringo Starr (yes, the Beatles drummer, THAT Ringo Starr).  He would go on to narrate the first two seasons  (1984- 1986).  The other big name narrators include:

Michael Angelis (1991-present)

George Carlin (1991-1995)

Alec Baldwin (1998-2002)

Michael Brandon (2003-present)

Pierce Brosnan (2008)

The series was shot on 35mm film at a place called Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England.  Animation used was a mix of both live action model animation (for the trains,vehicles,and other accessories) and stop motion (for figures and facial expressions).  The trains made the German toy train manufacture Märklin in 1:32 scale.

The only bad thing I say about show is that each of the characters could only produce facial expressions, and no lip-syncing everytime there was a speaking part.  But to keep in mind that this is 1984, and CGI was still in its infantcy, and not good enough for stuff like lip-syncing to give the look and feel of speech every time any of the characters talked.  Besides,  with a guy like Ringo Starr doing the narrating, how can you go wrong with that?

Here is the intro to each episode

Here is the very first episode Sept 4, 1984. *Note: This is the whole episode.  Back then, episodes lasted an average of 4 mins. 30secs for the 7 seasons. For season 8, they got extended to 7 mins. in length.  Currently, with season 13 and beyond, episodes last 9 mins.

Update: Blog Spicimen # 1

Up until now, the show was filmed using model trains and stop-motion for the facial expressions.  Starting in 2007, that was all going to change…

*Sorry for bad appearence of the clip, that is way the person uploaded it.  It is the good clip rom this season I could find.

In 2007 for season 11 (or Series 11 in Britain),  this was the first season to be filmed and broadcasted in High-Definition. 

Season 12,Ep. 12 “James Works it Out”

Season (Series) 12 (2008)-  This was the first season to CGI. This was a gradual change to CGI.  For Season 12, only the faces were shot with CGI, to give more human-like facial expressions to the engines.  Although they still used models, this was last full season using model trains, putting an end that era in use since 1984.

*These two clips are the only good ones I could find for Season 13, which these are just promo pictures of what the characters look like in full Full CGI.  No actual clips from any episodes.

Season (Series)13 (2010)- This is the first season shot entirely in CGI, meaning no more models used.  Plus, instead of one narrator speaking a whole episode, there will be a cast to voice all the characters.

Sources

http://www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/Thomas.mvc/Home

http://www.sodor-island.net/index.html

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