- "I have found the perfect thing to paint!"
"What is it?"
"I am going to paint... Percy!"
"Bust my buffers! You want to paint me?!"
"Percy is honest, hardworking and helpful... and he is not afraid to speak his mind. He is truly the Spirit of Sodor!" - ― The Famous Artist announcing his decision to paint Percy
Percy and the Oil Painting is the first episode of the ninth series.
Plot
The Mayor of Sodor has invited a famous artist to paint a picture called The Spirit of Sodor. The Fat Controller chooses Percy to collect him and show him around. Percy is curious to know what The Spirit of Sodor is, and Thomas tells him that it is something special about Sodor. Percy is unsure as no one knows the Island better than Thomas, but Thomas reassures Percy that he is the right engine for the Job, making Percy feel better.
Percy collects the famous artist at Brendam Docks and takes him to Shen Valley, which is known for its beauty. The famous artist, however, dismisses it as being "too green", to Percy's surprise. Percy takes him to Norramby Beach, where children are playing in the sand and going on donkey rides. Once again, the famous artist is very critical and calls the sand "too yellow", which makes Percy upset.
As they travel around the Island, Percy tries to take the famous artist different sites, which makes Percy cross - The famous artist calls the viaduct "too tall", the windmill "too round" and Knapford Station "too busy" and that there is no place on Sodor that is special. This ends up being the last straw, as it infuriates Percy so much his boiler bubbles and his face turns red as James, while Gordon, who is collecting his passengers on another platform, thinks that the famous artist is very rude for saying these things. Percy tells the famous artist off, then he accidentally lets off steam, blowing off the famous artist's beret. The famous artist states that he wants to see the Fat Controller immediately, which makes Percy think that he is going to be in big trouble.
However, the famous artist tells the Fat Controller that he is going to paint a picture of Percy; because he is honest, hard-working, helpful and not afraid to speak his mind - he is The Spirit of Sodor. That night at Knapford Station, Percy and the other engines see the painting for the first time and Percy is very happy to be The Spirit of Sodor.
Characters
- Thomas
- Percy
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Famous Artist
- Gordon (does not speak)
- James (does not speak)
- The Second Mayor of Sodor (does not speak)
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- Toby (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
- Caroline (cameo)
- Lady Hatt (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- One Railway Society member (cameo)
- The Storyteller (cameo)
- The Tidmouth Lighthouse Keeper (cameo)
- The Donkey Riding Girl (cameo)
- Two Railway Board members (cameos)
- The Tailor (cameo)
Locations
- Shen Valley
- The Pine Forest
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Brendam Docks
- Norramby Beach
- Ballahoo Viaduct
- Tower Windmill
- Knapford
- The Three-Track Tunnel (deleted scene)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the sixth episode of the ninth series.
- Stock footage from Too Hot for Thomas is used.
- The episode aired before Calling All Engines! was released in most regions, so the audience would not have known about the rebuilt Tidmouth Sheds yet.
- In the individual version of the episode, the music at the end is omitted.
- This episode marks the first of several things:
- The first episode where the title cards are read in the English dubs. This becomes a permanent fixture of the show.
- The first episode to have Sharon Miller as the script editor.
- The first episode dubbed by Jon Kabira in Japan as well as the new Japanese voice cast and the first episode dubbed by Saverio Ingrio in Italy.
- The first episode an engine turns red with anger (in this case, Percy).
- The Railway Society's first appearance since the fifth series episode, Baa! This also marks his final appearance.
- The Mayor of Sodor's first on-screen appearance. Previously, he was only mentioned in the episodes James and the Queen of Sodor and As Good as Gordon.
- Abi Grant stated on her website that this was one of her favourite episodes centered around Percy, her favourite character.
- This episode is one of her favourite episodes to be written by her, alongside the eighth series episodes; Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Edward the Great and Percy and the Magic Carpet and the ninth series episodes; Thomas and the Rainbow and Thomas and the Golden Eagle.
- The figure used to portray the Mayor of Sodor is the same one used to portray the Vicar of Wellsworth in the seventh series episode, Harold and the Flying Horse.
- According to an interview with Abi Grant in the episode Thomas and the Storywriters Part 1 of the 80th Anniversary Podcast, this episode could have been originally called Percy and the Famous Artist.[1]
Goofs
- Throughout the episode, Percy's cab appears both blacked out and unblacked during scenes with his crew and the artist.
- Gordon has Henry's whistle sound at the beginning of the episode.
- When Percy leaves the docks, the puffing sound can be heard before he moves.
- The mayor is said to pull the cord that unveils the painting, but he is missing in the close-ups.
- On Latin American Spanish TV broadcasts, the title card reads Thomas y el óleo, which translates to Thomas and the Oil Painting, despite how the dubber still reads the original title "Percy y el óleo" (Percy and the Oil Painting). The title is shown correctly on DVD.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
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DVD Boxsets
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References
| #01 Percy and the Oil Painting | #10 Rheneas and the Dinosaur | #19 Thomas' New Trucks |
| #02 Thomas and the Rainbow | #11 Thomas and the New Engine | #20 Duncan and the Old Mine |
| #03 Thomas' Milkshake Muddle | #12 Toby Feels Left Out | #21 Bold and Brave |
| #04 Mighty Mac | #13 Thomas Tries His Best | #22 Skarloey the Brave |
| #05 Molly's Special Special | #14 The Magic Lamp | #23 Saving Edward |
| #06 Respect for Gordon | #15 Thomas and the Statue | #24 Thomas and the Golden Eagle |
| #07 Thomas and the Birthday Picnic | #16 Henry and the Flagpole | #25 Keeping Up with James |
| #08 Tuneful Toots | #17 Emily Knows Best | #26 Flour Power |
| #09 Thomas and the Toy Shop | #18 Thomas' Day Off | |