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Thomas & Friends (series 13) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Thomas & Friends
Thomas and Friends - Series 13 DVD.jpg
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 20
Release
Original network Five
Original release 7 November 2009 (2009-11-07) – 9 January 2010 (2010-01-09)
List of Thomas & Friends episodes

Thomas & Friends is a popular children's television series. It's all about the engines and other fun characters who work on the railways of the Island of Sodor. The show is based on The Railway Series books, written by the Reverend W. Awdry.

This article tells you all about the thirteenth series of the show. It first aired between 2009 and 2010. For viewers in the United Kingdom, Michael Angelis was the narrator. In the United States, Michael Brandon narrated the episodes. Later, Mark Moraghan re-narrated one episode, "Snow Tracks," for a special DVD called Santa's Little Engine.

This series was also the first one with Marion Edwards as the main producer.

A big change happened with this series! After the special DVD Hero of the Rails came out in 2009, the show started using CGI. This meant the engines and characters were made with computers instead of the old model animation. Also, instead of just one narrator, many different actors started doing the voices for each character.

How the Show Was Made

Starting with this series, a company called Nitrogen Studios began making the animation. They used computers to bring Thomas and his friends to life!

The director, Steve Asquith, left the show after working on it for many years. Simon Spencer, who was the producer, also stepped down. Christopher Skala and Marion Edwards became the new executive producers. Greg Tiernan became the new director, and Nicole Stinn took over as producer.

Episodes of Series 13

On November 7, 2009, four special episodes were shown in movie theaters. This event was called "Splish, Splash, Splosh". These episodes were then released on a DVD with the same name in the United States. The DVD later came out in the UK on March 1, 2010.

Another event, "Thomas and the Runaway Kite," showed four more episodes on January 9, 2010. This also happened in the United States. The thirteenth series officially started airing in the United States on January 25, 2010.

No.
overall		 No. in
series		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date TV Order
309 1 "Creaky Cranky" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 7 November 2009 (2009-11-07) 601a
Thomas teases Cranky for making creaking noises. Cranky boasts he is stronger. Thomas tries to prove him wrong by bringing heavy loads. When that fails, Thomas suggests Cranky lift him, which causes a big mess!
310 2 "The Lion of Sodor" Greg Tiernan Mark Robertson 7 November 2009 (2009-11-07) 601b
Thomas has to carry a special statue called "The Lion of Sodor." He thinks it's a real lion and tries to take extra special care of it.
311 3 "Tickled Pink" Greg Tiernan Allan Plenderleith 14 November 2009 (2009-11-14) 602a
James goes to get a new coat of paint. But he has to leave before he's finished, so he's covered in pink! James tries to hide so no one will laugh at him.
312 4 "Double Trouble" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 14 November 2009 (2009-11-14) 602b
It's the Fat Controller's birthday! Thomas is surprised to see the Fat Controller already at Maithwaite, but he has a mustache and acts differently.
313 5 "Slippy Sodor" Greg Tiernan Mark Robertson 21 November 2009 (2009-11-21) 603b
Thomas gets a strange, brightly colored funnel at the Steamworks. He feels embarrassed. This causes problems when he has to take bubble liquid to a clown show.
314 6 "The Early Bird" Greg Tiernan David Richard Fox 21 November 2009 (2009-11-21) 603b
Thomas takes over Percy's mail run. He's excited but ignores Gordon's advice. Thomas makes a mistake by whistling loudly, waking everyone up!
315 7 "Play Time" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 28 November 2009 (2009-11-28) 604a
Thomas is going to pick up Allicia Botti. Percy tells him about Charlie, "The most fun engine ever!" Thomas tries to prove he is just as fun.
316 8 "Thomas and the Pigs" Greg Tiernan Allan Plenderleith 28 November 2009 (2009-11-28) 604a
Farmer Trotter asks Thomas to get straw for his new piglets. On the way, Thomas collects other things he thinks the piglets will like. He collects so much that he runs out of room for the straw!
317 9 "Time for a Story" Greg Tiernan Miranda Larson 5 December 2009 (2009-12-05) 605a
Thomas has to deliver new storybooks to the library. He's so excited that he leaves before the books are properly secured. This causes problems on a bumpy track.
318 10 "Percy's Parcel" Greg Tiernan Robyn Charteris 5 December 2009 (2009-12-05) 605b
It's Dowager Hatt's birthday. Percy is sad when he doesn't get an important job. After talking to Mavis, he gets a special job: to deliver a parcel to Knapford Station. But he decides to show Mavis first.
319 11 "Toby's New Whistle" Greg Tiernan Louise Kramskoy 12 December 2009 (2009-12-12) 606a
Toby's bell is broken, so he has to use a loud whistle instead. Toby doesn't like loud noises, and James tells him it's a very loud whistle.
320 12 "A Blooming Mess" Greg Tiernan Miranda Larson 12 December 2009 (2009-12-12) 606a
Knapford Station is getting redecorated. Emily thinks Mavis is sad because she didn't say hello. Emily tries to cheer her up with flowers, but this causes Edward and Thomas to crash.
321 13 "Thomas and the Runaway Kite" Greg Tiernan Louise Kramskoy 19 December 2009 (2009-12-19) 607a
It's the Sodor Kite Festival. Thomas needs to get the winner's cup. But he takes a detour when Stephen and Bridget Hatt lose their kite. Thomas tries to catch it himself, ignoring help from his friends.
322 14 "Steamy Sodor" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 19 December 2009 (2009-12-19) 607b
Thomas is in charge of the Sodor Steamworks while Victor is away. Thomas is very excited. He doesn't listen to Victor's advice or ask Kevin for help. This leads to a big mess at the Steamworks.
323 15 "Splish, Splash, Splosh!" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 26 December 2009 (2009-12-26) 608a
Thomas and Rosie invent a new game: running through puddles and splashing other engines! Thomas gets an important job, but he can't resist playing the game again. Not everyone likes getting splashed!
324 16 "The Biggest Present of All" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 26 December 2009 (2009-12-26) 608a
Hiro, the Master of the Railway, is coming back to Sodor. Thomas wants to find him the best present. He's so eager that he forgets to tell everyone to meet at Knapford Station.
325 17 "Snow Tracks" Greg Tiernan Alan Hescott 2 January 2010 (2010-01-02) 609b
A snowstorm covers Sodor. Thomas and Gordon have important jobs. Gordon takes a shorter, hilly route because he thinks he's special. This quickly gets him into trouble.
326 18 "Henry's Good Deeds" Greg Tiernan Alan Hescott 2 January 2010 (2010-01-02) 609b
After Thomas helps Farmer McColl, Henry decides to do a good deed too. He's carrying a nesting pole for a rare bird. But all his attempts to help others go wrong! In the end, he does a good deed without even knowing it.
327 19 "Buzzy Bees" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 9 January 2010 (2010-01-09) 610b
Thomas has to deliver beehives to Farmer Trotter. He decides to take a route past a field of flowers. This causes the bees to escape!
328 20 "Hiro Helps Out" Greg Tiernan Sharon Miller 9 January 2010 (2010-01-09) 610b
The Fat Controller is very busy. He doesn't tell the engines their jobs. Hiro decides to help by giving out the jobs himself. But this only causes a big muddle!

Characters in Series 13

  • Thomas
  • Edward
  • Henry
  • Gordon
  • James
  • Percy
  • Toby
  • Emily
  • Spencer
  • Rosie
  • Hiro
  • Diesel
  • Mavis
  • Victor
  • Rocky
  • Kevin
  • Cranky
  • Sir Topham Hatt
  • Lady Hatt
  • Dowager Hatt
  • Stephen Hatt
  • Bridget Hatt
  • Farmer Trotter
  • Farmer McColl
  • Allicia Botti
  • The Mayor of Sodor
  • The Teacher
  • The Schoolchildren
  • The Bird Watcher
  • The Maithwaite Stationmaster
  • The Knapford Stationmaster
  • Annie and Clarabel
  • Henrietta
  • Bertie
  • The Duke and Duchess of Boxford
  • The Dairy Manager
  • The Ginger-haired Boy
  • Anopha Quarry Manager
  • Big Mickey
  • Troublesome Trucks
  • The Tree Specialists
  • The Welsh Bird Watcher
  • The Lady with the Big Hat
  • Barrow Football Fan
  • The Female Puppet Show Entertainer

New Characters Introduced

  • Charlie (in "Play Time")
  • Sir Lowham Hatt (in "Double Trouble")
  • Mr. Bubbles (in "Slippy Sodor")
  • Bridget Hatt's Friends (in "Tickled Pink")
  • The Bakers (in "Splish Splash Splosh")
  • The Dock Manager (in "The Early Bird")

Voice Actors

After the movie Hero of the Rails came out, we learned who voiced almost all the characters.

Actor/Actress Region Role(s) Notes
Michael Angelis UK The Narrator
Michael Brandon US The Narrator
Ben Small UK Thomas and Toby
Keith Wickham UK Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, The Fat Controller, Sir Lowham Hatt, Dowager Hatt, The Mayor of Sodor and Mr. Bubbles
Kerry Shale UK Diesel
Stephen Hatt Thomas and the Runaway Kite only
Teresa Gallagher UK Emily, Rosie, Mavis, Bridget Hatt, Lady Hatt, Some Children, School Children, The Teacher, and Bridget Hatt's friends
Jules de Jongh UK/US Allicia Botti
Matt Wilkinson UK Spencer, Charlie, Rocky, Cranky, Victor, Kevin, Farmer McColl, Farmer Trotter, The Maithwaite Stationmaster, The Knapford Stationmaster and The Bird Watcher
Stephen Hatt Thomas and the Runaway Kite only
Togo Igawa UK/ Hiro
Pierce Brosnan The Narrator Originally planned
Mark Moraghan US Re-dubbed Snow Tracks for "Santa's Little Engine" DVD only

A press release from 2007 said that Pierce Brosnan would narrate three upcoming Thomas & Friends TV series. However, it was later confirmed that Brosnan only appeared as a guest narrator for the movie The Great Discovery.

Music Videos

  • Roll Along
  • Go Go Thomas
  • You're the Leader
  • The Sound Song
  • Determination
  • Engine Roll Call

iTunes Release

The collection "Thomas and Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh" was released in the United Kingdom on the iTunes Store on March 1, 2010. It included four episodes:

  • Splish Splash Splosh
  • Slippy Sodor
  • Snow Tracks
  • Play Time

You could buy the whole series or individual episodes.