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Series 12

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The twelfth series of Thomas & Friends aired in September 2008 in the UK and from October to December 2008 in the US. With narration by Michael Angelis in the UK and Michael Brandon in the US, this was the first series to both have 20 episodes and to feature prominent elements of CGI animation, the only one to use a mixture of both CGI and live-action models, and the final with live-action models.

Production

The twelfth series marked the beginning of the show's transition into wholly-CGI visuals. Although previous series had employed CGI animation for minor effects - most frequently locomotive steam - this series was the first to utilize the process to prominently and consistently animate the movements and facial expressions of its characters, albeit to varying degrees. Although engine characters' forms continued to be represented by live-action models, their facial expressions were now animated through CGI, aided by a motion-capture process in which the models' moulded faces were replaced by white targets with triangles to fix a computer-animated face in post-production. The CGI animation was managed with the use of a mirror ball, a common industry technique. The characters' traditional resin faces were primarily used only in background shots or scenes where the CGI faces proved difficult to convincingly superimpose (e.g. if there was too much smoke blocking the motion-capture triangles). The static figures traditionally utilized to depict the show's human and animal characters were likewise fully replaced by mobile CGI elements, as were vehicle props whose faces were integrated into their body (most notably Harold), presumably due to the technical challenges of meshing CGI facial features with an identically-coloured and continuous model body. Backgrounds and environments, conversely, continued to be depicted through physical modelwork, albeit with recurring CGI embellishments, such as flocks of birds.

Animation director Dino Athanassiou was initially asked to consult with executives at HiT Entertainment to find out if it was possible to include CG elements to the show. He was then asked to supervise two pilots afterwards.

HiT Entertainment was originally keen on producing more hybrid model-and-CGI series, but the plans fell through because of low finances and budget cuts in the UK - possibly due to the combined effects of the 2008 recession and the introduction of increased government tax breaks for UK animation in 2007 - thus concluding Shepperton Studios' involvement with the series more rapidly than initially intended. As the final series in which Stephen Asquith, David Eves and Terence Permane were involved, this is also the final series to share any crew members with the show's first series in 1984.

There are twenty episodes in this series, all of which were narrated by Michael Angelis in the UK and Michael Brandon in the US, marking the final series in which the show's narrator "voiced" every character. Pierce Brosnan was originally meant to narrate this series in both English dubs, and the lips of the characters were animated to sync up with his narrations, but ultimately Angelis and Brandon returned, meaning they had to try and match the already completed lip syncing.

During production of this series, Toby received two new brass models due to his original plastic model being twenty-four years old at this point. Emily also had new model built as a backup model. For unknown reasons, this model did not have brake-pipe outlets. It would be used in the Brendam Docks scene in the episode Steady Eddie, the Knapford scene in the episode Rosie's Funfair Special and in the episode Excellent Emily. This model was used as either a stunt double, or a primary model.

Episodes

Screenshot Title Written by Original UK release date Episode number #
ThomasAndTheBillboard99 Thomas and the Billboard Mark Robertson 1 September 2008 #01
Diesel accidentally obscures Thomas in a photograph of the engines, causing Thomas to think he did it on purpose.
SteadyEddie17 Steady Eddie Sharon Miller 2 September 2008 #02
Edward takes a brass water wheel on the scenic route to Great Waterton to show off to his friends, and as a result, loses it.
Rosie'sFunfairSpecial87 Rosie's Funfair Special Andrew Viner 3 September 2008 #03
Rosie and Emily are pulling a train for a funfair, but Rosie wants to pull it alone.
MountainMarvel73 Mountain Marvel Sharon Miller 4 September 2008 #04
Peter Sam is about to hear a tale about Proteus from the famous storyteller, Miss Marvel, when he finds a very special statue of the magical engine himself. He wants the statue to be a wonderful surprise, but he ends up carrying too much and things go wrong.
HenryGetsItWrong13 Henry Gets It Wrong Abi Grant 5 September 2008 #05
Henry worries that the workmen are going to cut down the wishing tree, so he blocks the tracks, only to find that the workmen are actually trying to save the tree.
HeaveHoThomas!36 Heave Ho Thomas! Sharon Miller 8 September 2008 #06
A large new engine called Hank arrives, but Thomas is determined to prove how strong he is.
Toby'sSpecialSurprise69 Toby's Special Surprise Sharon Miller 9 September 2008 #07
Toby wants to make an impression by searching the railway for something special.
ExcellentEmily45 Excellent Emily Paul Larson 10 September 2008 #08
Emily is the only one who finishes her jobs on time, and thus "excellent" by the Fat Controller. This goes straight to her smokebox, and she ignores the advice of all the other engines which gets her into trouble when she ends up getting stranded in muddy water.
ThePartySurprise71 The Party Surprise Simon Spencer 11 September 2008 #09
Freddie decides to reorganise a Christmas party from the Thin Controller's house to the wharf as a surprise for Colin the Crane.
SavedYou!52 Saved You! Paul Larson 12 September 2008 #10
Thomas wants to prove his heroism when he learns a fireman is to be honoured, but instead causes trouble for his friends.
DuncanAndTheHotAirBalloon78 Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon Mark Robertson 15 September 2008 #11
The Thin Controller's twins are getting a ride in the hot air balloon for their birthday, but Duncan wants to take them himself, just as he does every year.
JamesWorksItOut47 James Works It Out Simon Spencer 16 September 2008 #12
James gets caught in a snowstorm when he ignores Hector's advice.
TramTrouble55 Tram Trouble Sharon Miller 17 September 2008 #13
Toby and a new steam tram named Flora are leading a parade at Great Waterton, but Thomas thinks Toby would rather lead the event on his own and tries to distract Flora.
Don'tGoBack11 Don't Go Back Simon Spencer 18 September 2008 #14
Diesel and Thomas race backwards instead of doing their work, causing them to crash into their friends.
GordonTakesaShortcut28 Gordon Takes a Shortcut Wayne Jackman 19 September 2008 #15
Gordon wants to collect some VIPs from Great Waterton, but in order to arrive there before Stanley, he decides to take a shortcut.
TheManintheHills72 The Man in the Hills Sharon Miller 22 September 2008 #16
It is the Thin Controller's birthday, and when Sir Handel tells Thomas about someone called the Man in the Hills, Thomas is determined to find him in order to give the best present of all.
ThomasPutsTheBrakesOn44 Thomas Puts the Brakes On Mark Robertson 23 September 2008 #17
Thomas' brakes squeak while delivering special blocks to repair the Sodor River Bridge, and he also declines help from Stanley.
PercyandtheBandstand65 Percy and the Bandstand Paul Larson 24 September 2008 #18
Percy is tasked with bringing Lady Hatt to a surprise party at the new Great Waterton bandstand, but the unknowing Lady Hatt tells him to go elsewhere.
PushMe,PullYou69 Push Me, Pull You Sharon Miller 25 September 2008 #19
Skarloey refuses help to pull a train for a puppet show and ends up becoming a runaway engine.
BestFriends73 Best Friends Anna Starkey 26 September 2008 #20
Thomas tries to avoid telling Percy he has been given a job that Percy himself wants to do.

Screenshot Title Written by Original US release date Episode number #
BestFriends73 Best Friends Anna Starkey 26 October 2008 #01
Thomas tries to avoid telling Percy he has been given a job that Percy himself wants to do.
HenryGetsItWrong13 Henry Gets It Wrong Abi Grant 26 October 2008 #02
Henry worries that the workmen are going to cut down the wishing tree, so he blocks the tracks, only to find that the workmen are actually trying to save the tree.
ThomasAndTheBillboard99 Thomas and the Billboard Mark Robertson 2 November 2008 #03
Diesel accidentally obscures Thomas in a photograph of the engines, causing Thomas to think he did it on purpose.
SteadyEddie17 Steady Eddie Sharon Miller 2 November 2008 #04
Edward takes a brass water wheel on the scenic route to Great Waterton to show off to his friends, and as a result, loses it.
HeaveHoThomas!36 Heave Ho Thomas! Sharon Miller 9 November 2008 #05
A large new railroad locomotive from North America named Hank arrives, but Thomas is determined to prove how strong he is.
Toby'sSpecialSurprise69 Toby's Special Surprise Sharon Miller 9 November 2008 #06
Toby wants to make an impression by searching the railway for something special.
Don'tGoBack11 Don't Go Back Simon Spencer 16 November 2008 #07
Diesel and Thomas race backwards instead of doing their work, causing them to crash into their friends.
PercyandtheBandstand65 Percy and the Bandstand Paul Larson 16 November 2008 #08
Percy is tasked with bringing Lady Hatt to a surprise party at the new Great Waterton bandstand, but the unknowing Lady Hatt tells him to go elsewhere.
ThomasPutsTheBrakesOn44 Thomas Puts the Brakes On Mark Robertson 23 November 2008 #09
Thomas' brakes squeak while delivering special blocks to repair the Sodor River Bridge, and he also declines help from Stanley.
GordonTakesaShortcut28 Gordon Takes a Shortcut Wayne Jackman 23 November 2008 #10
Gordon wants to collect some VIPs from Great Waterton, but in order to arrive there before Stanley, he decides to take a shortcut.
TheManintheHills72 The Man in the Hills Sharon Miller 30 November 2008 #11
It is Mr. Percival's birthday, and when Sir Handel tells Thomas about someone called the Man in the Hills, Thomas is determined to find him in order to give the best present of all.
ExcellentEmily45 Excellent Emily Paul Larson 30 November 2008 #12
Emily is the only one who finishes her jobs on time, and thus "excellent" by Sir Topham Hatt. This goes straight to her smokebox, and she ignores the advice of all the other engines which gets her into trouble when she ends up getting stranded in muddy water.
TramTrouble55 Tram Trouble Sharon Miller 7 December 2008 #13
Toby and a new steam tram named Flora are leading a parade at Great Waterton, but Thomas thinks Toby would rather lead the event on his own and tries to distract Flora.
JamesWorksItOut47 James Works It Out Simon Spencer 7 December 2008 #14
James gets caught in a snowstorm when he ignores Hector's advice.
Rosie'sFunfairSpecial87 Rosie's Carnival Special Andrew Viner 14 December 2008 #15
Rosie and Emily are pulling a train for a carnival, but Rosie wants to pull it alone.
PushMe,PullYou69 Push Me, Pull You Sharon Miller 14 December 2008 #16
Skarloey refuses help to pull a train for a puppet show and ends up becoming a runaway engine.
DuncanAndTheHotAirBalloon78 Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon Mark Robertson 21 December 2008 #17
Mr. Percival's twins are getting a ride in the hot air balloon for their birthday, but Duncan wants to take them himself, just as he does every year.
MountainMarvel73 Mountain Marvel Sharon Miller 21 December 2008 #18
Peter Sam is about to hear a tale about Proteus from the famous storyteller, Miss Marvel, when he finds a very special statue of the magical engine himself. He wants the statue to be a wonderful surprise, but he ends up carrying too much and things go wrong.
SavedYou!52 Saved You! Paul Larson 28 December 2008 #19
Thomas wants to prove his heroism when he learns a fireman is to be honored, but instead causes trouble for his friends.
ThePartySurprise71 The Party Surprise Simon Spencer 28 December 2008 #20
Freddie decides to reorganize a Christmas party from Mr. Percival's house to the wharf as a surprise for Colin the Crane.

Songs

Screenshot Title Composers Original release date
EngineRollCall(Season11)1 Engine Roll Call (CGI face version) Ed Welch 1 September 2008 (UK)
They're two, they're four, they're six, they're eight,
Shunting trucks and hauling freight...
TheOfficialBBCChildreninNeedMedleyPromo The Official BBC Children in Need Medley Nigel Wright 21 November 2009 (UK)
Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it!
If you look around...

Characters

Characters Introduced

Locations

Half Hour Format

When the twelfth series was airing on Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. 2. in the UK and Ireland, PBS Kids in the US and Treehouse TV in Canada, each broadcast had two episodes from the twelfth series, a segment called "Thomas' Favourite Friends", which was dedicated to one of Thomas' friends and past animated learning segments and songs from the eighth, ninth and tenth series.

Good Friends

Being Careful

Good Turns

Right Track

Courage

Presents and Prizes

Kindness

Pulling Together

Adventures

Mistakes

Trivia

  • Nitrogen Studios were first approached by HiT Entertainment to work on the show in June 2007 and began production on this series in November that year.[1] Additionally, according to writer Andrew Viner's website, the episode Rosie's Funfair Special was commissioned/written in 2007. Every episode is copyrighted 2008.
  • The face reference book for this series is now owned by Twitter user TomsProps. It was released on 9 November 2007.
  • It cost around £2.5 million to produce all 20 episodes, with a filming cost of about £1,000 an hour, which took the crew about five days to film each episode.
  • This was the first series of several things:
    • The first series where all engines' faces, human characters, animals and environmental surroundings are in full CGI and have animation.
    • Sharon Miller's first series as head writer.
    • Claire Waxler's first series as supervising producer, albeit uncredited, while being her first and only series as animation coordinator.
    • The first series to be in 1080p progressive scan full high definition.
    • The first series to have twenty episodes.
    • The first series since the ninth series where James does not go to the Skarloey Railway with Thomas.
    • The first series produced and to contain CGI by Nitrogen Studios.
    • The first series since the eighth series where Henry speaks in two episodes.
    • The first HiT series recorded and edited in 25 FPS (aside from the end credits).
    • The first Thomas & Friends production since Thomas and the Magic Railroad in which humans and animals are shown walking onscreen.
    • The first and only series where James speaks in two episodes until the fifteenth series.
    • The first series since the tenth series where Annie and Clarabel do not speak.
    • The first series since the ninth series in which Spencer does not appear.
    • The first series to premiere on Milkshake! before the half hour airings on Nick Jr. in the UK.
    • The first series since their debuts where 'Arry and Rocky appear, but do not speak in any of their appearances.
    • The first series since the fifth series where Bert appears, but does not speak.
    • The first series where Stephen Hatt does not appear.
    • The first series to have Mark Robertson write episodes for the series.
    • The first series in which Molly, Billy, Madge and Butch do not appear since their debuts. Although, Molly does appear in a learning segment and Butch appears in a behind-the-scenes shot.
    • The first series where each of the characters has their own voices in Italy, Poland and for EBS in South Korea.
    • The first series where Ffarquhar Quarry does not appear.
    • The first series not dubbed in Norwegian since the seventh series.
    • The first series not dubbed in several languages like European Spanish, European Portuguese, Romanian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Russian, Taiwanese Mandarin, and Greek.
    • The first series to have two Korean dubs since the fifth series.
    • The first series aired by EBS after the tenth series in South Korea.
    • The first series recorded and mixed in Korean by POPES for EBS in South Korea.
    • The first series directed by Ji Min-jeong for EBS in South Korea.
    • The first series translated by Jin Deok-joo for EBS in South Korea.
    • The first series to have Shin Yong-u, Um Sang-hyun, Jeon Tae-yeol, Oh Byeong-jo and Kim Eun-a as part of the voice cast for EBS in South Korea.
    • The first series that released completely on DVD since the tenth series in South Korea.
    • The first series to have two dubs since the fifth series in South Korea.
    • The first series that not aired on JimJam (except for Italy) and Minimax until the twenty-first series.
    • The first series aired on Italia 1 and Cartoonito in Italy.
    • The first series not released on DVD in Nordic countries.
    • The first series and only series to have model and CGI.
    • The first series to be originally presented by WNET on PBS Kids airings.
    • The first series since the seventh to have only one Hebrew dub.
  • This was also the last series of several things as well:
    • The last series to use live-action models and resin faces, however, the resin faces were used in background shots and scenes where objects obscured the faces.
    • The last series to feature Thomas' shocked face without the bucktooth before the subsequent transition to CGI.
    • Simon Spencer's last series as producer and showrunner.
    • The last series filmed at Shepperton Studios.
    • The last series to feature songs composed by Ed Welch.
    • The last series in which the Sodor Island intro is used at the start of individual UK broadcasts.
    • Steve Asquith's final series as director.
    • The last production to have all of the characters (apart from Diesel from the thirteenth to sixteenth series in the US) voiced by the narrator until Thomas Goes to New York.
    • This last series where all the characters are voiced by Michael Angelis in the UK, Michael Brandon in the US, Aku Laitinen in Finland, Bohuslav Kalva in the Czech Republic, etc. Though, Michael later voiced Diesel from the thirteenth to sixteenth series in the US.
    • The last series to have Abi Grant, Simon Spencer and Wayne Jackman as a part of the writing team.
    • The last production to feature the up-scrolling end credits.
    • The last time Paul Larson writes an episode until the seventeenth series as well as the last series where he writes an episode by himself.
    • The last series until the eighteenth series episode, Samson Sent for Scrap to use the brake sound from the 1964 film The Train.
    • The last series until the nineteenth series episode, The Other Side of the Mountain in which any members of the Pack are seen in an episode in the main television series.
    • The last series until the fifteenth series where Henry speaks in only two episodes.
    • The last series until the twenty-second series to introduce more than one engine.
    • The last series to have songs sung by children until The Adventure Begins.
    • The last series to have seven minute episodes until the twenty-second series.
    • The last series to have Takafumi Kawakami as part of the Japanese voice cast as well as the last series where he voices Bertie. Mitsuhiro Sakamaki took over the role in the fifteenth series.
    • The last series until the seventeenth series to not feature Thomas or any Steam Team member in every episode.
    • Marc Seal and Sharon Miller's last series as Additional Material Written.
    • The last series released in the 2000s. However, episodes from the thirteenth series seen on Splish, Splash, Splosh! were released early in theatres in the US.
    • The last series to feature Thomas' unused anxious face from the third series.
    • The last series to use 1999 PBS Kids Dash, Dot, Dash Transformation, Dot Transformation, Snowglobe and Fishbowl IDs on PBS Airings.
    • The last series aired by Kids 1 in South Korea.
    • The last series narrated by Diego Brizzi in Latin America, Dário de Castro in Brazil and Yu Dong-kyun for Kids 1 in South Korea.
    • The last series directed by Shim Sang-bo and Choi Ok-joo for Kids 1 in South Korea.
    • The last series recorded and mixed in Korean for Kids by STORM Studios in South Korea.
    • The last series translated by Seo Seung-hee for Kids 1 in South Korea.
    • The last series video edited by Shin Seon for Kids 1 in South Korea.
    • The last series imported (copyrighted) and DVD released by C4U Media for the original Korean dub in South Korea.
    • The last series re-imported (re-copyrighted) in 2018 to early 2022 by Cocomix for the original Korean dub in South Korea.
    • The last series released a Korean dub on DVD in South Korea.
    • The last series that not released on DVD until the twenty-second series in Italy.
    • The last series aired by JimJam in Italy.
    • The last series dubbed in Croatian until the seventeenth series.
  • This is also the only series of several things as well:
    • The only series to use a hybrid model/CGI mix.
    • Dino Athanassiou's only series as CGI director.
    • Pete Atkin's only series as voice director.
    • The only series where Stepney speaks in the US dub, but not the UK dub.
    • The only series where Stepney appears, but does not speak (in the UK dub).
    • The only series where Ben appears without Bill.
    • The only series where Mighty speaks, but Mac does not.
    • The only series where Alfie, Cranky and Arthur appear, but do not speak since their introductions.
    • The only series not shown on Japanese television, but some episodes have been shown exclusively at Thomas Land's 3D Theatre and VOD in Japan.
    • The only series to not be completely dubbed in Japanese.
    • The only CGI series not to have a full voice cast for the characters outside of Italy, France, Poland, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and for EBS in South Korea.
    • The only series to have Anna Starkey write an episode for the series.
    • The only series to have Andrew Viner write for the series until the sixteenth series.
    • The only series where 3 introduced characters (that being Flora, Hank and Colin) appear once in a episode. Colin was meant to appear in King of the Railway, but was cut due to the concept art being done by Guru Studios rather than Arc Productions.
    • Duck, Oliver, Toad and Stepney's only appearances in the HiT model era, excluding Duck's appearance in a music video and Toad's faceless appearance in Thomas and the Circus.
    • The only series where every non-human character introduced only appeared in one episode each.
    • The only series in which Jack has a round CGI face.
    • The only series that has been dubbed into Kannada.
    • The only series where all the characters are voiced by Christian Stark in Germany. However, Stark still voiced Thomas starting with the thirteenth series.
    • The only series to not be dubbed into Russian.
  • Aside from the Teacher and the tree specialists, all of the characters introduced in this series have only ever appeared in their debut episodes.
  • This series contained the 300th episode of the television series, which was James Works it Out.
  • Pierce Brosnan was originally hired to narrate this series after The Great Discovery, but he was withdrawn from the series and Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon returned to replace Brosnan. Brosnan is known to have recorded dub for, at the very least, several episodes of the series. The animation was made in sync with Brosnan's voice, which is why sometimes Michael Angelis' and Michael Brandon's narrations sometimes come out of sync with the animation.
  • The half-hour airings of the twelfth series aired on Nick Jr. on May 2009 in the UK.
  • In the UK, this series had been shown before The Great Discovery, meaning that the audience may not have known about Stanley or Great Waterton.
  • This series was never shown in Spain, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Greece and Japan, meaning audiences would not know about any of the new characters introduced in this series.
  • The Korean DVDs credit Michael Angelis as the narrator, even though they were re-dubbed in their respective language.
  • In Poland, this series was first shown in 12th December 2020, with an individual voice cast instead of a solely narrator. Also, this is the second series after the twenty-fourth where the Fat Controller is voiced by Przemysław Glapiński, following Mikołaj Klimek's death on 13th July 2020.
  • Harvey, Arthur, Cranky, Max, Monty, Annie and Clarabel were the only non-human characters not to utilize CGI face masks. However, three pictures from a magazine story show Harvey with a CGI face. Cranky, Harvey, Max and Monty would later utilize CGI in later seasons in the 2010s. Annie and Clarabel were going to have grey faces like the rest of the non-grey face characters. It would be impossible for Annie and Clarabel and other non-grey face characters to have face masks. because their faces would overlap the motion capture area and it would be impossible to blend CGI with real life.
  • Donald, Douglas, Mavis, Salty, Neville, Sir Handel, Rusty, Mighty Mac, Freddie and the large scale models of Thomas, James and Percy were the only non-human characters not to utilise resin face masks. However, the side of Mac's resin face can be seen in Mountain Marvel and the side of Thomas' can be seen in The Man in the Hills and Push Me, Pull You. Neville, Mighty Mac, and Freddie are the only HiT model era-only characters to have CGI seen on them in Series 12 without appearing in full CGI.

<< Series 11

Series 12

Series 13 >>

#01 Thomas and the Billboard #08 Excellent Emily #15 Gordon Takes a Shortcut
#02 Steady Eddie #09 The Party Surprise #16 The Man in the Hills
#03 Rosie's Funfair Special #10 Saved You! #17 Thomas Puts the Brakes On
#04 Mountain Marvel #11 Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon #18 Percy and the Bandstand
#05 Henry Gets It Wrong #12 James Works It Out #19 Push Me, Pull You
#06 Heave Ho Thomas! #13 Tram Trouble #20 Best Friends
#07 Toby's Special Surprise #14 Don't Go Back
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