"New To Me" Thomas & Friends Show on PBS Kids

Here's a little thing about Thomas in recent years. After Hit Entertainment (the same company that owns Bob the Builder) bought the franchise off the original creators of the TV series - Britt Allcroft and David Mitton - in 2003, Thomas became a rather mundane and generic baby show where morals were shoved down the kids throats. It got more and more apparent well after the show went full CGI in 2009. It wasn't until 2013 when Mattel bought the majority of the franchise and Thomas started to get back to its roots of being a more grounded, unique show heavily driven by its excellent characters. Not to mention improved the animation.

Thomas,

Thank you for the scoop!  I was not aware of any of that until now!  I'm just glad to see Thomas on Television for the next generation to come to know.  I don't know what the previous animation was like, but I will say I like the current animation a lot!  

I have to admit to liking Thomas better when it was models instead of computer animation.

Bogie

I agree Oldbogie.  But then I have liked model trains for as long as I can remember.

I always like the original show with the real models back in the day when my kids were small. Admired the modeling done on the layout, too. Here's a youtube vid someone made, apparently shows the original models and set used in the TV show.

Penn-Pacific, that is great!  Here is a shortcut to the Behind the Scenes of the old layout used on the Shining Time Station program Island of Sodor

I have a very good friend even though he's into HO whose wife is a special ed teacher and child psychologist. She made an interesting remark on the the way to the show up in Lynden Washington a couple Octobers ago.

What she said is that a fascination with Thomas was one of the indicators of psychological problems in teenagers. It is not a test for preteens nor for adults which make Phil and I feel better being adults reliving our preteen years. Our teen years come out in our fascination for fast cars and motorcycles which we can now afford.

Bogie

Yes, we become too old for childhood things, then we become not too old for childhood things.  I'm glad the too old phase passed quickly. 

OldBogie posted:

I have to admit to liking Thomas better when it was models instead of computer animation.

Bogie

Agreed. It may just be nostalgia but I prefer the classic series with models over CGI

As much as I loved the original model era (at least before 2004) and felt that the classic era was a lightning in a bottle, I can't fault the current team for trying to recapture the magic, and is paying respect to the older generation while not coming off as complacent to its intended audience.

And BTW, this was the animation used from 2009 to 2012:

And this is the animation used now:

Thomas, Yes the animation is very good now!!!

The original series was the best. Especially the episodes narrated by Ringo Starr and George Carlin.

Thanks for posting Mark.

RSJB18 posted:

The original series was the best. Especially the episodes narrated by Ringo Starr and George Carlin.

Thanks for posting Mark.

Agreed, the show was the best when it was shot with actual models.  It has sucked since they went cheap/digital 

A friend of mine did the DVD menu's and artwork for the first 8 releases. It was an interesting experience.. The original layout was G gauge and was built in an airplane hanger in England.  The film makers seemed to be very serious about the production and the would get angry and start screaming at each other if things didn't quite go right... One of the guy's who did the voices lived in Toronto. Seems this Thomas production was global...

Some of the models and props for the show are open to viewing at Drayton Manor in England, which is a theme park -- and it has a thomas the tank themed section to it.  

A friend of mine did the DVD menu's and artwork for the first 8 releases. It was an interesting experience.. The original layout was G gauge and was built in an airplane hanger in England.  The film makers seemed to be very serious about the production and the would get angry and start screaming at each other if things didn't quite go right... One of the guy's who did the voices lived in Toronto. Seems this Thomas production was global...

Would those be the stories narrated by Ringo Starr and George Carlin?
We had them on tape. My kids loved those tapes, and would watch Shining Time Station on PBS when they could.
Both men did a very nice job narrating the stories, although I have to say that I thought Ringo was the better of the two. 

Would those be the stories narrated by Ringo Starr and George Carlin?
We had them on tape. My kids loved those tapes, and would watch Shining Time Station on PBS when they could.
Both men did a very nice job narrating the stories, although I have to say that I thought Ringo was the better of the two. 

 Not sure who narrated them.  He did the menu's and intros for the first 8 DVD's.  Then his company lost the contract.  It was interesting to hear how involved it was to do this type of project...

In the US, Ringo did the first two seasons, and then George did seasons 3 and 4. After that, Alec Baldwin narrated seasons 5 and 6. Michael Brandon narrated after up until season 17 when Mark Moraghan took over to the present.

Mikado 4501 posted:

In the US, Ringo did the first two seasons, and then George did seasons 3 and 4. After that, Alec Baldwin narrated seasons 5 and 6. Michael Brandon narrated after up until season 17 when Mark Moraghan took over to the present.

Thank you for the great information!!!  Our girls watched when Ringo and George narrated.  I think they must have stopped watching then, because I wasn't aware of Alec Baldwin being involved.  I liked Ringo because of his British accent which went well with the British origin of the stories.