Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas and Friends is one of the children’s television show broadcasted on central television for first time in June 1984. In the year 2003, Thomas and Friends series was named as Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and this series was shot in Shepperton and Isle of Man.
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is based on the The Railway Series of book written by the Reverend W. V. Awdry. He wrote this story for his son Christopher. The story is all about the adventures of a group subanthropomorphised trains and road vehicles that live in the imaginary Island of Sodor. Reverend W. V. Awdry has written many stories based on his personal experience.
Britt Allcroft is the one who started producing the television series during 1980s. Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is first premiered in U.K in 1984 and it was narrated by Ringo Starr (1984-90), Michael Angelis (1991-2008), George Carlin (1991-97), Alec Baldwin (1998-03), Michael Brandon (2003-08) and the forthcoming series is expected to be narrated by Pierce Brosnan.
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is been broadcasted in many different countries with different languages like in Japanese-Leo Morimoto is the narrator, Mexican/Spanish, Denmark, Hungary, and in German with title Thomas und seine Freunde, Netherlands-Erik de Zwart is the narrator, with title Thomas de stoomlocomotief, Portuguese, Romanian version - narrator Daniel Vulcu, with title Thomas si prietenii sai.
| Thomas the Tank Engine and FriendsFormat |
Children's television series |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Created by |
W. V. Awdry
Britt Allcroft Robert D. Cardona (1984-1986) David Mitton (1984-2003)
Simon Spencer (2004-present)
Steve Asquith (2004-present) |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Starring |
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Narrated by |
Ringo Starr (1984–1991) (UK and US series)
Michael Angelis (1991–2008) (UK series) George Carlin (1991–1997 (US series) Alec Baldwin (1998–2002) (US series) Michael Brandon (2003–2008) (US series) Pierce Brosnan (2009–present) (UK and US series) |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Composer(s) |
Junior Campbell
Mike O'Donnell (1984–2003) |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Country of origin |
United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes |
322 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Production |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Running time |
four and a half minutes (season 1-7) seven minutes (season 8-12) |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Broadcast |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Original channel |
ITV (1984-1991) (2002-2003) (2009-Present), Cartoon Network (UK & Ireland) & TCC (1994-2002), (1984-1998), Nick Jr., Noggin, Milkshake and Disney Cinemagic
PBS, PBS KIDS Sprout
ABC, Nick Jr. Australia
Tokyo MX
Rede Manchete,
TVO, BBC Kids, Treehouse TV
Super RTL
Rai Due, Rai Tre
RTM2, Astro Ceria, Playhouse Disney Channel Asia
Azteca 7, Azteca 13, Proyecto 40 Discovery Kids
Nickelodeon
TV3
NRK 1
3ABN, Cartoon Network Philippines, Playhouse Disney Channel Asia
Telenyanya (First Channel Worldnet)
TV4, MiniMini
Cadena Tres
Okto, Playhouse Disney Channel Asia
Minimax TV, JimJam, Cartoon Network Romania
Playhouse Disney |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Original run |
September 4, 1984 – Present |
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends UK and USA DVD & Video History
- UK
- Guild Home Video (1985)
- Screen Legends / Pickwick Video (1986-1991)
- Video Collection International (1985-2005)
- 2 Entertain (2005-2008)
- HiT Entertainment (2008-present)
- Fairtrade (1980-2006)
- USA
- Strand VCI Entertainment (1990-1992)
- Strand Home Video (1993-1994)
- Quality Family Entertainment (with Strand Home Video) (1994)
- Video Treasures (1994-1996)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998-2008)
- HiT Entertainment (2004-Present)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (with HiT Entertainment) (2006-2008)
- Lionsgate Entertainment (with HiT Entertainment) (2008-Present)
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Characters
- Railway Engines – standard gauge engines, including the Steam Team
- Narrow Gauge Engines – from the Skarloey Railway
- Rolling Stock – coaches and trucks (US: 'cars')
- People and animals
- Non-rail vehicles
- Movie Characters
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Locations
The stories are all set on the fictional Island of Sodor.
List of productions
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series |
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Release |
Episodes |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 1 |
1984 |
26 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 2 |
1986 |
26 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 3 |
1991-1992 |
26 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 4 |
1994-1995 |
26 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 5 |
1998 |
26 |
| Thomas and the Magic Railroad |
2000 |
— |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 6 |
2002 |
26 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 7 |
2003 |
26 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 8 |
2004 |
26 |
| Calling All Engines! |
2005 |
— |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 9 |
2005 |
26 |
| On Site with Thomas Series |
2006 |
13 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 10 |
2006 |
28 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 11 |
2007 |
26 |
| The Great Discovery |
2008 |
— |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 12 |
2008 |
20 |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Scheduled |
| Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Series 13 |
2009 |
(*) |
|