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Thomas Wooden Pilot[note 1] is a 2 minute Thomas & Friends short animated by Spider Eye Animation, based on the Wooden Railway line of toys. The short was produced in 2015,[2] and released on Vimeo on 7 August 2025.
According to director Morgan Francis, the animation was done as a test commissioned by Mattel for a potential new production in the Spring of 2015, but ultimately nothing came of this.
Plot
The opening consists of sunlight shining into a child's bedroom. A Wooden Railway Thomas is woken up and rolls into Tidmouth Hault, where he talks with Sir Topham Hatt, telling him that he's going to take goods to Ulfstead Castle. Thomas then fills up with water and coal, and approaches Gordon's Hill. Despite his best efforts, Thomas keeps rolling down the hill, with his last attempt causing him to roll down so fast that he crashes into the buffers at Tidmouth Hault, much to the amusement of Sir Topham Hatt.
Characters
- Thomas
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Gordon (sticker only; does not speak)
- James (cameo)
- Spencer (cameo)
- Annie (cameo)
- Mr. Bubbles (poster cameo)
Locations
- Cronk
- Wellsworth Crossing
- Tidmouth Hault
- Crosby Coal Hopper
- Maron Bridge
- Gordon's Hill
- Ulfstead Castle (mentioned)
- Knapford (mentioned on signpost)
- Crosby (mentioned on signpost)
Cast
- Joseph May as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Sir Topham Hatt
Trivia
- During the live-action opening scene, many Thomas & Friends toys (both from Wooden Railway and other product lines) can be seen in the background.
- A toy of the Mystery Machine from the Scooby-Doo! franchise also appears.
- Despite the short being produced in 2015, Thomas is modelled after his older Wooden Railway toy from Learning Curve, specifically his 2004-2012 model.
Notes
- ↑ The official name of this short is currently unknown, but the Vimeo upload titles it "Thomas Wooden Pilot".