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- “I must keep up with the runaway kite! I'll puff, and I'll huff with all of my might! I'm the fastest engine on Sodor!”
- ― Thomas
Thomas and the Runaway Kite is the thirteenth episode of the thirteenth series.
Plot
It is the day of the Sodor Kite Festival and Thomas - who likes kites the most out of all the engines - must collect the winner's cup from Brendam Docks and take it to Knapford. After being told by the Fat Controller that Lady Hatt will present the cup to the winner of the kite festival, Thomas puffs out of the docks.
Thomas and Charlie both stop on Gordon's Hill, where they watch Stephen and Bridget Hatt flying their kite with interest. Suddenly, they spot Thomas and wave to him. In doing so, Stephen loses the kite to the wind. Thomas volunteers to find the kite, thinking of himself as the fastest engine on Sodor, which Charlie offers to help with. However, Thomas turns him down, saying he is much faster than Charlie.
Thomas chases the kite down the line and around a bend, where the wind suddenly blows it out of sight. While Thomas tries to regain sight of the kite, Edward pulls up next to him and offers to help. Again, Thomas maintains that he can do it by himself and pulls ahead. He catches up to the kite again when the wind changes directions and Thomas comes to a screeching halt as the kite flies over and past him. Thomas is forced to race backwards past Edward to a junction and then change tracks to continue chasing after the kite. He chases the kite underneath a bridge, turning down another offer of help from Emily in the process, and is approached by Percy, who notices that Thomas' cheeks are as red as James' boiler. Thomas, through exhausted panting, explains to Percy about the kite. Percy offers to help, but Thomas still insists that he is the fastest engine on Sodor and can catch the kite by himself, so Percy continues on his mail route.
An exhausted Thomas finally sees the kite land on the ground near an overhead junction and puffs towards it, only to suddenly grind to a halt - he has run out of coal. As the kite flies away again, Thomas realises how big of a mistake he has made thinking he was the fastest engine on Sodor. Charlie arrives and gloats over Thomas having to admit defeat. Thomas finally accepts help from Charlie, who gives Thomas enough of his coal to get puffing again. Knowing he is late to deliver the winner's cup to Knapford, Thomas lets Charlie look for the kite while he makes his delivery.
On route to Knapford, Thomas stops at the Knapford Iron Bridge near Edward, Emily and Percy, who notices that Thomas looks sad. Thomas explains about his failure to catch the kite. He finally accepts help from all three engines, who happily and immediately puff off to help.
Thomas finally delivers the winner's cup to Knapford, where the Fat Controller and his grandchildren are waiting. Thomas explains to Stephen and Bridget about his friends helping him find the kite and offers them a ride in his cab, which the Fat Controller allows. Thomas is uncoupled from the flatbed containing the winner's cup and puffs away with the children.
Thomas, Emily, Percy, Edward and Charlie all corner the kite at a signal, on which the kite's tail gets snagged on. The engines whistle and the children clap in cheer. Thomas is happy to be helped by his friends, and he is also happy to watch Stephen and Bridget fly their kite at the festival.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Percy
- Emily
- Charlie
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Stephen Hatt
- Bridget Hatt
- James (does not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
- Diesel (cameo)
- Mavis (cameo)
- Cranky (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Dark Uniformed Children (cameos)
- The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
- Gordon (mentioned)
- Lady Hatt (mentioned)
Locations
- Brendam Docks
- Maron
- Kirk Ronan Junction
- Knapford
- Whispering Woods
- Gordon's Hill
- Great Waterton (poster)
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Edward, Percy and the Fat Controller
- Teresa Gallagher as Emily and Bridget Hatt
- Matt Wilkinson as Charlie and Stephen Hatt
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas and Percy
- William Hope as Edward
- Jules de Jongh as Emily and Bridget Hatt
- Glenn Wrage as Charlie
- Kerry Shale as Sir Topham Hatt and Stephen Hatt
Trivia
- This episode was shown in select US theatres in January 2010.
- This episode could have been inspired by the magazine story, Thomas and the Kite.
- This is the only episode where Stephen Hatt is voiced by Matt Wilkinson in the UK dub.
- This episode marks a few things for Stephen Hatt:
- His first appearance since The Great Discovery.
- His first speaking role since the tenth series episode, Which Way Now?
- His only appearance in the thirteenth series.
- The Korean title of this episode is the same on both dubs.
Goofs
- When Edward passes Thomas, he loses one of his flatbeds.
- Charlie has James' whistle sound.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UKDVD PacksUS/THA/MYS/SWE/NOR/DNK/FIN/ITA
US DVD Packs
AUSAUS DVD Packs
FRA
JPNGERDVD BoxsetsCHNKOR |
| #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 | |