Thomas and the Billboard

"I've never been on a billboard before!"

- Thomas

"Thomas and the Billboard" is a twelfth season episode narrated by Michael Angelis.



Plot
It was Knapford Station's birthday, and all the engines were preparing for the festivities. When a photographer comes to photograph the engines for a billboard Diesel accidentally obscures Thomas; Thomas thinks this was on purpose and is so distracted he goes the wrong way and knocks the billboard over. This gives an opportunity for all the engines to be in a new photo, but when Diesel isn't told, he has to do all the others' jobs. Everything is soon rectified and the new photo is put up at Knapford.

Featured Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Emily
 * Diesel
 * Edward (cameo)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Toby (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Sodor Brass Band



Trivia

 * First appearance of Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby, Emily and Diesel's faces in CGI.
 * First appearances of Sir Topham Hatt, the Famous Photographer, Mr. Giggles the Clown, and the Brass Band in CGI.
 * The billboard features the characters with their original model faces.
 * First appearance by the Photographer and Mr. Giggles the Clown.
 * The Photographer is given an Italian accent in the US version.

Goofs

 * Michael Angelis narrated this episode in the UK, even though Pierce Brosnan was touted to narrate all twelfth season episodes - in both the UK and US regions.
 * When the eyelids blink, you can sometimes see through them.
 * Michael Angelis says, in one shot, that Diesel puffed past Thomas, when he's a diesel.
 * Michael Brandon gives Sir Topham Hatt a different voice than how he sounded from the past seasons.
 * The narrator says that Thomas takes a branch line back to Tidmouth Sheds. A "branch line" runs from the junction to the main line to an inland village (like Ffarquahar) or a harbour (like Brendam), so it finishes at a dead end - not a through route.
 * When the first billboard is seen, it is covering Gordon's face but when it is seen closer gordon's face is not covered.