| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the German audiobook or the Chinese DVD. |
- “Hello, Thomas. Ha! That's a funny funnel. Ha ha!”
- ― James, Gordon, Henry and Edward
Slippy Sodor is the fifth episode of the thirteenth series.
Plot
Mr. Bubbles the clown is coming to perform a bubble show, but Thomas is upset as he has a cracked funnel and goes to the Sodor Steamworks for a replacement. The first funnel is too tiny and the second is too large, so Kevin collects the only spare funnel left. Unfortunately, it looks very funny and makes Thomas feel embarrassed. Thomas is then sent to the docks to collect Mr. Bubbles' special bubble liquid for his show. At the docks, Thomas gets laughed at by James for his funnel, enraging him and so attempts to puff away quickly.
Along the way, Gordon also laughs at Thomas’ funnel which enrages him more and makes him go faster in an attempt to avoid everyone. Unfortunately, he puffs so quickly that he does not realise the bubble liquid splished out of the barrel and sploshed onto a level crossing. This causes the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles to slip and crash into a muddy ditch. Thomas soon comes across Henry who also teases him, which makes Thomas want to go faster. However, the bubble liquid again spills out and causes the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles to crash into a haystack. Thomas soon has to stop at a signal when the last of the bubble liquid spills out and causes the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles to crash into a pond.
By the time Thomas reaches Knapford, the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles inform him about how he spilled all of the liquid. Luckily, there is another barrel of it at the docks and Thomas rushes away to collect it. This time, he goes slowly and sees Edward, who laughs and compliments Thomas' funny funnel, but Thomas does not mind his laughing and makes it to Knapford safely. Mr. Bubbles is pleased that Thomas has not spilled one drop of his special bubble liquid. The show is a great success, and all the children realise that Thomas' funny funnel looks just like Mr. Bubbles' hat.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Victor
- Kevin
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Mr. Bubbles
- Cranky (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- A Dark Uniformed Girl (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)
- Percy (dropped)
Locations
- Sodor Steamworks
- Brendam Docks
- Three-Track Level Crossing
- The Hay Field Bridge
- Knapford
- Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
- Town Square
- The Coal Hopper
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles
- Matt Wilkinson as Victor and Kevin
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas
- William Hope as Edward
- Kerry Shale as Henry, Gordon, James, Kevin and Sir Topham Hatt
- David Bedella as Victor
- Michael Brandon as Mr. Bubbles
Trivia
- This episode was screened in select US theatres before the first UK broadcast of the thirteenth series.
- According to The Little Blue Book, Thomas was going to blow a big bubble through his funnel. This idea was carried over for the 4-D attraction, Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling Boilers
- According to descriptions for the Wooden Railway merchandising for the Splish, Splash, Splosh! DVD, Percy was meant to play a role in the episode, getting splashed at one point by the bubble liquid. This was carried out to merchandising descriptions for the "Slippy Sodor" Gift Pack.
- In this episode, the Fat Controller's car crashes into a haystack for the second time, with the first being the eleventh series episode, Thomas and the Runaway Car.
- In Poland, this episode premiered before Hero of the Rails, so the audience would not know about Victor, Kevin or the Sodor Steamworks.
- This episode is similar to Special Funnel, as engines make fun of the protagonists' unusual funnels.
- Despite being the main character, Thomas has very little dialogue throughout the episode; he does not speak whenever the engines make fun of him and whenever he spills the bubble liquid.
Goofs
- In one scene, Gordon's brake coach is at the front of his train, and later is at the back.
- In some shots, the inside of Mr. Bubbles' mouth is blue.
- When both the Fat Controller and Mr. Bubbles are messy, the hay is static.
- In the Latin American Spanish dub, the narrator says that Thomas stopped at a red signal, when he actually stopped at a crossing.
- In the first shot of Thomas at the Steamworks, he is derailed on the turntable.
- After Thomas spills bubble liquid for the third time, the Fat Controller veers his car to the right instead of going straight.
- When Thomas applies his brakes, chuffing sounds can still be heard although he's stopping at a signal.
- The third time Thomas spills the bubble liquid, it manages to land on the road, despite the fact that realistically, the road is too far away from the rails for the liquid to spill onto it.
Quotes
- Kevin: Oops! Sorry, Thomas! It was a slip of the-
- Thomas: Hook. I know, Kevin. I know.
- Thomas: This funnel makes me feel silly.
- Victor: Not at all, my friend. It's... It's... splendid! It will help you puff very well until your old funnel is fixed. Now chuff along! I hear that Mr. Bubbles has a very special special for you at Brendam Docks.
- The Fat Controller: Now you mustn't spill any of the liquid, Thomas. Puff slowly and carefully.
- Thomas: Yes, sir.
- The Fat Controller: Thomas, you were going much too fast! The special bubble liquid splished and sploshed out of the tank.
- Mr. Bubbles: And now the tank is empty. And it's almost time for my show to start. The children will be very disappointed.
- Thomas: I'm sorry, sir.
- Mr. Bubbles: The only special bubble liquid left is at Brendam Docks. Now there isn't time to pick it up before the show.
- Thomas: Yes, there is. I'm sure I can puff to Brendam and back in time for your show.
- Mr. Bubbles: Very well, Thomas. But this time, you must be careful.
- Thomas: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway - Slippy Sodor 4-pack (discontinued)
- TrackMaster - Thomas In "Slippy Sodor" (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail - Thomas with red funnel, flatbed with barrel of bubble liquid and Mr. Bubbles
- Connected DE Colocoro Collection - Thomas with red funnel
- Books - Bubble Trouble and Holiday Gift Set
- Magazine Stories - Bubble Trouble
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UK/IRLDVD PacksUS
DVD PacksAUS
AUS DVD Packs
NOR/SWE/DK/MYS/FIN/LATAM
LATAM DVD BoxsetsFRA
POL
DVD BoxsetsCHNJPNGERKORDVD BoxsetsITATHA |
| #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 | |