The thirteenth series of Thomas & Friends began airing in January and February 2010 in the UK and in the US in April 2010. From this series onwards, the entire series has been CGI animated.
Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon narrated all twenty episodes, but, like Hero of the Rails, voice actors provided the voices for the characters. Mark Moraghan later re-narrated one episode specially for the Santa's Little Engine DVD in 2013.
Production
Development
In order to cut costs and maximise profits, HiT Entertainment decided to retire the models and have the show be turned into a CGI product. They enlisted Nitrogen Studios to provide the visuals. Nitrogen had already created CGI elements for Series 12. Christopher Skala also added that additionally it was to add more emotion and flexibility through the stories. Previously Skala claimed that, of his focus group, even those who felt that Thomas, as an institution, should not be changed in this way but ultimately responded positively to the demonstration of the new animation techniques.
Reception
Series 13 had proven to popular around the world with ratings up 86%* in the UK (FIVE Milkshake!), 50%** in the US (PBS), and 47%** in Australia (ABC)2.
Episodes
| Screenshot | UK title (top) US title (bottom) |
Written by | Original UK release date | Episode number # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Creaky Cranky | Sharon Miller | 25 January 2010 | #01 |
| Cranky teases Thomas about being small, but when he breaks down it is up to Thomas to save him. | ||||
 |
The Lion of Sodor | Mark Robertson | 26 January 2010 | #02 |
| Thomas has to deliver the Lion of Sodor to Knapford, but he thinks that the lion is real and tries to feed it, but this only causes confusion and delay. | ||||
 |
Tickled Pink | Allan Plenderleith | 27 January 2010 | #03 |
| James is sent to the Steamworks to be repainted, but he is repainted into a pink livery to keep the water out of his paintwork and the other engines laugh at him. | ||||
 |
Double Trouble | Sharon Miller | 28 January 2010 | #04 |
| Thomas thinks he is taking the Fat Controller to his birthday party, but it turns out to be his brother. | ||||
 |
Slippy Sodor | Mark Robertson | 29 January 2010 | #05 |
| Thomas is teased about his "funny funnel" and causes trouble for the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles. | ||||
| File:TheEarlyBirdpromo.jpg | The Early Bird | David Richard Fox | 1 February 2010 | #06 |
| While Percy is at the Steamworks for repairs, Thomas must pull the mail, but he does not want to ask for his advice. | ||||
 |
Play Time | Sharon Miller | 2 February 2010 | #07 |
| Charlie, the new engine, challenges Thomas to race him around the Island, causing Thomas to neglect his jobs. | ||||
 |
Thomas and the Pigs | Allan Plenderleith | 3 February 2010 | #08 |
| Thomas is to bring straw to Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm for the piglets who are soon to be born, but Thomas thinks they will like other things better. | ||||
 |
Time for a Story | Miranda Larson | 4 February 2010 | #09 |
| After ignoring warning signs about track repair, Thomas' trucks of books derail, so he brings the children to the books. | ||||
 |
Percy's Parcel | Robyn Charteris | 5 February 2010 | #10 |
| After Percy ruins Dowager Hatt's birthday parcel, he hides in a siding. When he overhears Mavis, he gets an idea of how to fix his mistake. | ||||
 |
Toby's New Whistle | Louise Kramskoy | 8 February 2010 | #11 |
| Toby's bell needs repairs, so he is given a very loud whistle while it is being mended. | ||||
| File:ABloomingMesspromo.jpg | A Blooming Mess | Miranda Larson | 9 February 2010 | #12 |
| Emily thinks that Mavis needs to be cheered up, so she brings her some flowers but winds up causing confusion and delay. | ||||
| File:ThomasandtheRunawayKitepromo.jpg | Thomas and the Runaway Kite | Louise Kramskoy | 10 February 2010 | #13 |
| After Stephen and Bridget Hatt's kite flies away and Thomas tries to catch it, but realises that he needs to ask for help. | ||||
 |
Steamy Sodor | Sharon Miller | 11 February 2010 | #14 |
| When Thomas is put in charge of the Steamworks, havoc ensues. | ||||
 |
Splish Splash Splosh | Sharon Miller | 12 February 2010 | #15 |
| Thomas and Rosie play "Splish, Splash, Splosh", but when Thomas splashes the Fat Controller and Allicia Botti he must put things right. | ||||
 |
The Biggest Present of All | Sharon Miller | 15 February 2010 | #16 |
| Hiro is visiting Sodor and the Fat Controller is planning a welcome party for him. Thomas is told to tell the other engines, but looks for a present for Hiro instead. | ||||
 |
Snow Tracks | Alan Hescott | 16 February 2010 | #17 |
| Gordon is told to not go up any hills, but when he does, he creates a giant snowball. | ||||
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Henry's Good Deeds | Alan Hescott | 17 February 2010 | #18 |
| Henry attempts to help people but ends up scaring away the Sodor Warbler, a very famous bird. | ||||
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Buzzy Bees | Sharon Miller | 18 February 2010 | #19 |
| Thomas' special of bees escape when he goes by a flowery meadow. So he takes Hiro's flower truck to try to lure them back to their hive. | ||||
 |
Hiro Helps Out | Sharon Miller | 19 February 2010 | #20 |
| Hiro gives the engines orders when he thinks the Fat Controller is too busy to do it himself. | ||||
Songs
- Roll Along
- Thomas, You're the Leader (CGI version; Stanley, The Pack and the Skarloey Railway removed)
- Sounds (CGI version)
- Determination (CGI version)
- Engine Roll Call (CGI version)
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Emily
- Spencer
- Rosie
- Hiro
- Diesel
- Mavis
- Victor
- Rocky
- Kevin
- Cranky
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Lady Hatt
- Dowager Hatt
- Stephen Hatt
- Bridget Hatt
- Farmer Trotter
- Farmer McColl
- Allicia Botti
- The Mayor of Sodor
- The Teacher
- The Schoolchildren
- The Bird Watcher
- The Maithwaite Stationmaster
- The Knapford Stationmaster
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Henrietta (does not speak)
- Bertie (does not speak)
- The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (do not speak)
- The Dairy Manager (does not speak)
- The Ginger-haired Boy (does not speak)
- Anopha Quarry Manager (does not speak)
- Big Mickey (cameo)
- The Tree Specialists (cameo)
- The Welsh Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- Barrow Football Fan (cameo)
- The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)
- The Little Engines in the Hills (mentioned)
- Mr. Percival (mentioned)
- Billy (role cut)
Characters Introduced
- Charlie
- Sir Lowham Hatt
- Mr. Bubbles
- Bridget Hatt's friends
- The Bakers (do not speak)
- The Dock Manager (does not speak)
- The Mainland Engines (mentioned)
- The Mainland Controller (mentioned)
Half Hour Format
When the thirteenth series aired on PBS Kids in the US and Nick Jr. in the UK, each broadcast aired two episodes, a song and a Down at the Station segment.
Friends and Family
- Creaky Cranky
- Song: Go, Go Thomas
- Down at the Station: Passengers
- Double Trouble
Slips and Trips!
- Tickled Pink
- Song: Go, Go Thomas
- Slippy Sodor
Working Well
- Play Time
- Song: Sounds (CGI version)
- Down at the Station: The Railway Line
- The Early Bird
Marvellous Moments!
- Thomas and the Pigs
- Song: Sounds (CGI version)
- Down at the Station: The Steam Engine
- The Lion of Sodor
Best Times
- Time for a Story
- Song: Thomas, You're the Leader (CGI version)
- Down at the Station: The Driver
- Percy's Parcel
Giving and Sharing
- Steamy Sodor
- Song: Thomas, You're the Leader (CGI version)
- The Biggest Present of All
Wild Weather
- Splish, Splash, Splosh!
- Song: Determination (CGI version)
- Snow Tracks
Good Deeds
- A Blooming Mess
- Song: Determination (CGI version)
- Down at the Station: Fireman
- Henry's Good Deeds
Out and About
- Thomas and the Runaway Kite
- Song: Roll Along
- Buzzy Bees
Helping Hands
- Toby's New Whistle
- Song: Roll Along
- Hiro Helps Out
Cast
UK, AUS and NZ
- Ben Small as Thomas and Toby
- Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, the Fat Controller, Dowager Hatt, Sir Lowham Hatt, the Mayor of Sodor and Mr. Bubbles
- Teresa Gallagher as Emily, Rosie, Mavis, Lady Hatt, Bridget Hatt and her friends and the teacher
- Togo Igawa as Hiro
- Matt Wilkinson as Spencer, Charlie, Victor, Rocky, Cranky, Kevin, Stephen Hatt, the Knapford stationmaster, the Maithwaite stationmaster, Farmer Trotter, the bird watcher and Farmer McColl
- Jules de Jongh as Allicia Botti
- Kerry Shale as Diesel
US and CAN
- Martin Sherman as Thomas, Percy and the bird watcher
- Kerry Shale as Sir Topham Hatt, Henry, Gordon, James, Kevin, Sir Lowham Hatt, Farmer Trotter and the Maithwaite Stationmaster
- William Hope as Edward, Toby, Rocky, Stephen Hatt, Farmer McColl, the Maithwaite Stationmaster (Double Trouble only) and the Knapford stationmaster
- Glenn Wrage as Spencer, Cranky and Charlie
- Jules de Jongh as Emily, Rosie, Mavis, Bridget Hatt and her friends, Allicia Botti and the teacher
- Togo Igawa as Hiro
- Michael Brandon as Diesel and Mr. Bubbles
- David Bedella as Victor and the Mayor of Sodor
- Keith Wickham as Dowager Hatt
Trivia
- This is the first series for numerous things:
- The first series animated exclusively in CGI by Nitrogen Studios.
- The first series to use individual voice actors instead of solely a narrator outside of Japan and France.
- Sharon Miller's first series as creative producer.
- Marion Edwards' first series as executive producer.
- Greg Tiernan's first series as director.
- Nicole Stinn's first series as producer.
- The first series in which Thomas appears and speaks in every episode.
- The first series to have all episodes eight minutes and forty-five seconds long in the television series.
- The first series where Harvey, Whiff, Stanley, Mighty Mac, Freddie, Hector and Jeremy do not appear since their debuts.
- The first series in which the Sodor Island intro is not used at the start of individual UK broadcasts.
- The first series and final series since the seventh series to have an episode written by Robyn Charteris.
- The first series to have episodes written by Miranda Larson and Louise Kramskoy.
- This is the only series for numerous things:
- The only series to date in which Salty does not appear since his introduction in the sixth series.
- The only series with Dave Peacock as voice director.
- The only series with Jo Jordan as creative executive.
- The only series where Mr. Percival was mentioned as The Thin Controller in the US dub.
- The only series to have episodes written by Allen Plenderleith, David Richard Fox and Alan Hescott.
- The following episodes were released in US theaters.
- The episodes, Splish, Splash, Splosh!, Playtime, Slippy Sodor and Snow Tracks were shown in November 2009.
- Thomas and the Runaway Kite, Buzzy Bees, Toby's New Whistle and The Biggest Present of All were shown in January 2010.
- The Lion of Sodor, Thomas and the Pigs, Time for a Story and Hiro Helps Out were shown in October 2010.
- This series was going to air on broadcast in 2009, but it was pushed to 2010 after production of the series ended.
- This series did not air in Canada until 2016.
- The steam engines' whistle now budges up and down every time they blow it.
- Edward is the only Steam Team member to not get a starring role this series.
- Billy was originally going to appear in this series while being rendered in CGI, but he was replaced by Charlie in the final scripts.
Series 13 |
| #01 Creaky Cranky | #08 Thomas and the Pigs | #15 Splish Splash Splosh |
| #02 The Lion of Sodor | #09 Time for a Story | #16 The Biggest Present of All |
| #03 Tickled Pink | #10 Percy's Parcel | #17 Snow Tracks |
| #04 Double Trouble | #11 Toby's New Whistle | #18 Henry's Good Deeds |
| #05 Slippy Sodor | #12 A Blooming Mess | #19 Buzzy Bees |
| #06 The Early Bird | #13 Thomas and the Runaway Kite | #20 Hiro Helps Out |
| #07 Play Time | #14 Steamy Sodor | |