This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the magazine story or the DVD. |
- "A little engine's 'toot toot' isn't going to bother a big engine like me."
- ― Gordon after Thomas tries to surprise him.
Sodor Surprise Day is the thirteenth episode of the sixteenth series.
Plot
It is Sodor Surprise Day, which involves everyone trying to surprise each other. At Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas and Charlie are surprising each other. Gordon thinks they are being very silly indeed when the Fat Controller arrives to inform the engines of a party at Callan Castle. Thomas is given the job of collecting bunting from Maithwaite and Gordon is told to collect fireworks from the docks.
On the way to Maithwaite, Thomas decides that he must surprise Gordon and make him laugh so that he does not think Sodor Surprise Day is silly. So, Thomas does not go to Maithwaite; he instead puffs off to find Gordon. At the coal hopper, Thomas meets Rosie and it is not long before Gordon thunders down the line. As he approaches, Thomas blasts his whistle. Rosie charges forwards, surprised and bashes her coal trucks. Coal dust flies everywhere, covering Thomas and Rosie in soot. Rosie laughs, but Gordon does not; he still thinks Sodor Surprise Day is silly. Thomas thinks of another way to make Gordon laugh to show him that Sodor Surprise Day is fun.
Thomas puffs up to a siding where Whiff is shunting rubbish trucks, which Thomas hides behind. He waits until Gordon approaches and emerges from behind them, blowing his whistle. Gordon does not laugh, but Whiff is surprised and bashes his trucks so hard that he sends rubbish flying everywhere. Whiff laughs, as rubbish rains down on him and Thomas. While Gordon leaves in a huff, Thomas still wants to make him laugh and sets off.
At the docks, Thomas hides behind some troublesome trucks. Presently, Gordon steams into the docks just as Harold arrives. Cranky lifts Gordon's crate of fireworks, just as Thomas comes out of hiding, blowing his whistle loudly which startled Cranky, who drops the fireworks, which ignite. Harold, Gordon and Thomas are left dodging the exploding fireworks. Thomas is shocked, as he never meant for that to happen. Gordon is furious with Thomas and scolds him for spoiling his special and states that he always thought Sodor Surprise Day was silly, but now he does not like it one bit. To make matters worse for Thomas, the Fat Controller arrives. He is also very cross at Thomas and scolds him for not doing his job and having destroyed all the fireworks and that without decorations and entertainment, the party will have to be cancelled. Thomas feels terrible, but then looks at the broken fireworks crate and then at Harold and gets an idea. Thomas asks the Fat Controller not to cancel the party, which he agrees to and tells Thomas to go to the washdown to be cleaned while Gordon picks up Thomas' bunting.
At the washdown, Rosie and Whiff are being cleaned too. Rosie and Whiff wonder if Thomas will play another trick, but Thomas is serious; he has a party to save. After being washed, Thomas puffs quickly to Harold to put his plan into action.
Later, at Callan Castle, the Fat Controller is anxiously waiting for Thomas so he can start the party. Just in time, Thomas clatters in. The Fat Controller inquires about the fireworks, but Thomas tells him he has something better. He blows his whistle and a brightly-lit Harold flies overhead, covered in colourful lights. Gordon thinks Harold looks splendid and laughs loudly. Thomas asks if Gordon was surprised by Harold, to which Gordon has to admit that he was. Thomas is delighted when Gordon admits that Sodor Surprise Day is not so silly after all.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- Rosie
- Whiff
- Charlie
- Cranky
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Troublesome Trucks (do not speak)
- Harold (does not speak)
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Spencer (cameo)
- Hiro (cameo)
- Mavis (cameo)
- Salty (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Birdwatcher (cameo)
- One of Dowager Hatt's Friends (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
- Lord Callan (mentioned)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Gordon, Whiff and the Fat Controller
- Teresa Gallagher as Rosie
- Matt Wilkinson as Charlie and Cranky
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas
- Kerry Shale as Gordon and Sir Topham Hatt
- Jules de Jongh as Rosie
- William Hope as Whiff
- Ben Small as Charlie
- Glenn Wrage as Cranky
Trivia
- This is the only episode with two things:
- The only episode written by Jessica Kedward and Kirsty Peart.
- The only episode of the sixteenth series not to be released on DVD in the US.
- This is the first time Hisayo Mochizuki voices a character other than Rosie in the Japanese dub, in which are some children. This is the only occurrence of this until the twenty-second series episode Outback Thomas.
- This episode marks the last of several things:
- Rosie's last speaking role until the special, Journey Beyond Sodor, five years later, her last speaking role in an episode until the twenty-first series episode, The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor and thus, her last speaking role in the Miller era.
- The last episode to have Rosie be voiced by Teresa Gallagher in the UK dub and Jules de Jongh in the US dub. Nicola Stapleton takes over her role in both dubs starting from Journey Beyond Sodor through the twenty-fourth series.
- Hiro's last appearance in the Miller era.
- Gordon, Charlie and Cranky's last speaking roles in the Miller era.
Goofs
- When Thomas puffs in and out of the siding by Whiff, the points are set against him.
- It is said that "Cranky dropped the crates of fireworks," but there is only one crate.
- Just before Harold dodges from the fireworks, the left side of his face is missing.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
Language | Title |
---|---|
Brazilian Portuguese | O dia de surpresa de Sodor |
Chinese Mandarin | 多多岛惊喜日 |
French | Le Jour des Surprises |
Galician | O Día das Sorpresas |
German | Der Sodor-Überraschungstag |
Hungarian | A Sodor-i meglepetés nap |
Italian | La Giornata Delle Sorprese di Sodor |
Japanese | ソドーとうのサプライズ・デー |
Korean | 소도어 깜짝 웃음 날 (dub) 소도어 섬의 서프라이즈 데이 (subtitles) |
Latin American Spanish | El Día Sorpresa de Sodor |
Norwegian | Sodors overraskelsesdag |
Polish | Dzień Pełen Niespodzianek |
Romanian | Ziua Surprizelor |
Russian | День сюрпризов |
Home Media Releases
#01 Race to the Rescue | #08 Thomas Toots the Crows | #15 Muddy Matters |
#02 Ol' Wheezy Wobbles | #09 Bust My Buffers! | #16 Whiff's Wish |
#03 Express Coming Through | #10 Percy and the Calliope | #17 Welcome Stafford |
#04 Percy and the Monster of Brendam | #11 Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor | #18 Don't Bother Victor! |
#05 Ho Ho Snowman | #12 Salty's Surprise | #19 Happy Birthday Sir! |
#06 Flash Bang Wallop! | #13 Sodor Surprise Day | #20 The Christmas Tree Express |
#07 Thomas and the Rubbish Train | #14 Emily's Winter Party Special | |