Thomas and His Friends Help Out, re-released as Friends Help Out in 2009, is a US VHS/DVD featuring five first series episodes, three second series episodes and three third series episodes narrated by George Carlin. It was distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment in 1996, again in 2002 and released on DVD in 2003. In Mexico, it was released as Thomas in Action Again in 2008 and in Brazil it was released as Helping the Friends.
Description
1996 VHS
Thomas, Gordon, Sir Topham Hatt, and the rest of the gang have learned many lessons about lending a helping hand. They have selected their favorite stories to create this special "best of" collection - all about helping.
PEEP! PEEP! Hop on board as a heavy snowfall strands the villagers-and Harold, Terence, Thomas, and Percy come to the rescue. Watch as Percy brings Annie and Clarabel home safely through a thunderstorm, and cheer on James as he tries his best to pull a very long train.
2002 VHS
PEEP! PEEP! According to Sir Topham Hatt: "Helping out is one of the best ways to show that you're Really Useful Engine." That's why it's so important for Thomas to race to the rescue when one of his friends needs a "helping hand," or in Thomas' case, a "helping buffer." This special collection of stories highlights your Sodor friends proving that sometimes friendship is stronger than fear as they help out those in need. Remember when Trevor was almost scrapped? Cheer on Thomas, Harold, Terence and Percy as they rescue villagers from a heavy snowfall, and find out what happens down at the mine. All Aboard!
2003/2009 DVD
PEEP! PEEP! According to Sir Topham Hatt: "Helping out is one of the best ways to show that you're a Really Useful Engine." That's why it's so important for Thomas to race to the rescue when one of his friends needs a "helping hand," or in Thomas' case, a "helping buffer." This special collection of stories highlights your Sodor friends proving that sometimes friendship is stronger than fear as they help out those in need. Remember when Trevor was almost scrapped? Cheer on Thomas, Harold, Terence and Percy as they rescue villagers from a heavy snowfall, and find out what happens down at the mine. All aboard for non-stop DVD fun and excitement!
2008 DVD
ALL ABOARD! According to Sir Topham Hatt, "Helping out is one of the best ways to show that you're a Really Useful Engine." That's why it's so important for Thomas to race to the rescue when one of his friends needs a "helping hand," or in Thomas' case, a "helping buffer." This special collection of stories highlights your Sodor friends proving that sometimes friendship is stronger than fear as they help out those in need.
Portuguese
PIUIIIII! PIUIIIII!
Segundo Sir Topham Hatt, "Ajudar é uma das melhores maneiras de mostrar que você é realmente um trem prestativo." Por isso, é tão importante para Thomas correr para resgatar um amigo quando ele precisa de uma "mão amiga," ou neste caso, de um "pára-choque amigo." Esta coleção especial de histórias mostra seus amigos de Sodor provando que a amizade é mais forte que o medo quando eles ajudam quem precisa. Lembra-se quando o Trevor quase foi parar no ferro-velho? Junte-se a Thomas, Harold, Terence e Percy enquanto eles socorrem pessoas de uma forte nevasca e descobrem o que acontece na mina. Todos a bordo para esta viagem sem escalas em um DVD divertido e empolgante!
English Translation (for Portuguese release)
PEEEEEP! PEEEEEP!
According to Sir Topham Hatt, "Helping is one of the best ways to show that you are really a helpful train." So it is so important for Thomas who runs to rescue a friend when he needs a "helping hand," or in this case, a "bumper friend." This special collection of stories shows your friends of Sodor proving that friendship is stronger than fear when they help those in need. Remember when Trevor was almost stop in the junkyard? Join Thomas, Harold, Terence and Percy as they rely upon people of a heavy snowfall and discover what happens in the mine. All aboard for this nonstop trip on a fun and exciting DVD!
Spanish
La famosa serie basada en los libros que escribió Wilfred Awdry muestra las divertidas aventuras de Thomas, un gracioso tren que se convertirá en ¡el mejor amigo de los niños!
En una isla llamada Sodor, donde los vehículos tienen personalidad propia, Thomas comparte aventuras con sus amigos entre los cuales se encuentran otras locomotoras, un autobús, un tractor y un helicóptero.
"Ayudar a los demás es la mejor forma de ser una verdadera y auténtica máquina". Thomas aprende la importancia de rescatar a sus amigos cuando se les complica. esta colección especial prueba que la amistad siempre es más fuerte que el miedo, ya que Thomas y sus amigos siempre ayudan a los que más lo necesitan sin importar la situación en la que estén. ¡Piip! ¡Piip! Todos a bordo para compartir con Thomas, Harold, Terence y Percy sus divertidas aventuras.
English Translation (for Spanish release)
The famous book-based series that Wilfred Awdry wrote shows the fun adventures of Thomas, a funny train that will become children's best friend!
On an island called Sodor, where vehicles have their own personality, Thomas shares adventures with his friends, among which are other locomotives, a bus, a tractor and a helicopter.
"Helping others is the best way to be a true and authentic machine." Thomas learns the importance of rescuing his friends when they get complicated. This special collection proves that friendship is always stronger than fear, since Thomas and his friends always help those who need it most regardless of the situation they are in. ¡Peep! ¡Peep! All aboard to share with Thomas, Harold, Terence and Percy their fun adventures.
Episodes
US
- Edward Helps Out (Vol. 1)
- Foolish Freight Cars (Vol. 2)
- Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train (Vol. 7)
- Thomas Breaks the Rules (Vol. 4)
- Down the Mine (Vol. 5)
- Percy's Promise (Vol. 6)
- Trouble in the Shed (Vol. 3)
- Donald and Douglas (Vol. 8)
- Saved from Scrap (Vol. 9)
- Bertie's Chase (Vol. 10)
- Thomas and Percy's Mountain Adventure (Vol. 11)
Brazil
- The Help of Edward
- Freight Cars
- The Mail Train
- Thomas Violates the Law
- Towards the Mine
- The Promise of Percy
- The Strike
- The Twins Scots
- New Beginning
- Help
- A Christmas Story
Latin America
- Edward to the Rescue
- The Silly Freight Cars
- Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train
- Thomas Breaks the Rules
- On the Mine
- The Promise of Percy
- A Problem for Sir Topham Hatt
- Donald and Douglas
- Back in Action
- Bertie to the Rescue
- Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
Bonus Features
- Character Gallery from Best of Thomas
- Link to The official website
Trivia
- This is the last US DVD to open with the Grace & Wild Interactive Development and Gullane Entertainment logos. This marks the last appearance of Gullane Entertainment shown on a DVD release. The Gullane Entertainment logo would be used again in the 2007 Anchor Bay and Starz re-releases of Best of Thomas, Best of James and Best of Percy DVDs with the 2007 HiT Entertainment logo shown at the end credits. This logo combination is extremely hard to find as limited versions of the DVDs contain this logo, with most of the DVDs with new slipcovers were re-releases of the original prints.
- The 2003 DVD was released along with Percy's Chocolate Crunch as one of the first DVDs to feature the HiT Entertainment logo on the cover.
- This release contains one episode from each of the first eleven Thomas videos released in the US from Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories to Percy's Ghostly Trick and Other Thomas Stories.
- This was the first release to feature two things:
- The prototype version of the 2002 VHS cover features Edward on the top and a scene from Bertie's Chase on the bottom. It shows the Britt Allcroft logo in the bottom right corner which was featured on several US releases between 1999 and 2000. It is likely that this re-release was planned for 2000 before being delayed until 2002.
- This & Best of Gordon are the only DVD releases not to feature any sing-along songs
- The original version with the Anchor Bay logo came in a 1996 box, which means it was released in 2000, but the 1999-2007 styled box was not released until 2002.
- On the front and back cover of the Latin American release, images from the second series episode, Dirty Work, the third series episode, No Joke for James and the eighth series episodes, Percy's New Whistle and Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough can be seen. Iron Bert and Cranky also appear on the front cover.
Goofs
- When this DVD is inserted into a computer, the disc is mistakenly titled "Chills and Spills."
- On the DVD cover there are paint chips on Thomas' roof.
- At the end of Foolish Freight Cars, the line, "After that performance, you deserve to keep your red coat" is cut out. It is restored in digital releases.
- Percy's Promise and Foolish Freight Cars are out of sync; the former is due to the audio being taken from Trust Thomas and Other Stories, where the first few seconds of the opening on said release are cut, while the episode on this release is shown in its full form.
- At the very end of Trouble in the Shed, as the ending theme starts, the top of the credits begin to appear over the picture, but it then cuts off to the nameboards.
- On the 2008 DVD and sound book covers, an image of Edward is used, albeit with Thomas' face over it.
- In the DVD menu, Gordon's tracks and Bertie's wheels are standing on top of the bushes.
- In some releases, when the narrator says "Long ago" in Down the Mine, the audio cuts out.
- The first five seconds of Saved from Scrap and the first three seconds of Foolish Freight Cars are cut out.
- On Netflix and Hulu, the credits from the New Series are used.
- The end credits are from series 4, but no episodes from that series are on this release.
- In digital releases, after Donald and Douglas, Duncan's nameboard is shown twice.
- In the DVD booklet, it is listed that Thomas' Trackside Tunes and Other Thomas Adventures was available on DVD, but that was not released on DVD until 2008.
- Henry is shown on the Brazilian DVD cover instead of Percy with the parachute in the water.
- George Carlin is credited as the narrator in the opening credits of the Brazilian DVD.
- In the Latin American description, Wilbert Awdry is mistakenly referred as Wilfred Awdry.
- On the 1999 tape label, Britt Allcroft's name is misspelled "Beth Allcroft."
DVD Packs
- Totally Thomas Volume 3
- Ultimate Thomas Collection
- Thomas and His Friends Help Out and Percy Saves the Day and Other Adventures 2-pack
- Thomas and His Friends Help Out and Stop, Train, Stop! 2-pack
- Thomas and His Friends Help Out and Thomas' Trackside Tunes Double Feature