Thomas & Friends (series 8)
| Thomas & Friends (series 8) | |
|---|---|
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DVD cover art | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Release | |
| Original network | Five |
| Original release | 1 August – 24 October 2004 |
Thomas & Friends (previously known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends) is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
This article lists and details episodes from the eighth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 2004. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the U.K. audiences, while Michael Brandon narrated the episodes for the U.S. audiences.
Production
Starting with this series, Thomas & Friends broadcast in the United States for the first time as a whole television program. It had first appeared as sequences from the American television show Shining Time Station from 1989 to 1995.
For the eighth series, Steve Asquith, after 20 years as a crew member, took over as director from David Mitton, who had directed the show since its first series, and Simon Spencer became the producer. In addition, Robert Hartshorne and Ed Welch took over as composers and songwriters after Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell departed. Paul Larson and Abi Grant were the script editors for this series.
This was the first series to introduce new opening and closing credits, plus a brief description of the Island of Sodor before each episode began.
Also starting with this series, the length of the episodes were increased to seven minutes from the original four-and-a-half minutes.
The series was produced using digital video cameras, which created a somewhat different look for the show. There was also a subtle shift towards the use of CGI elements, provided by HiT Entertainment's subsidiary HOT Animation,[1] although filming remained at Shepperton Studios.
For the U.S. broadcasts, other changes include the additions of CGI sequences in mini-segments between episodes, transition effects, and a book opening intro section.
30-minute episode version
This is an episode format that includes 2 to 3 mini-episodes, with the 3-episode version including a shorter episode in the middle. In addition, it also includes segments introducing elements of Sodor railways using stock footage or additional songs, and CGI mini-segments. This version only airs in the United States on PBS Kids, of which Thomas premiered as a whole television program in 2004.
Episodes
| # | Total | UK/US title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | TV order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 183 | "Thomas and the Tuba" | Steve Asquith | Dave Ingham | 1 August 2004 | 101a |
| Thomas is taking the brass band, but he leaves the tuba player behind. As Thomas goes across the Island, the tuba player finds ways to catch up to him. | ||||||
| 2 | 184 | "Percy's New Whistle" | Steve Asquith | James Mason | 1 August 2004 | 101b |
| Percy is overjoyed to receive a brand new whistle. He boasts about it by peeping it at all the other engines, even though it is for emergencies only. | ||||||
| 3 | 185 | "Thomas to the Rescue" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant and Paul Larson | 8 August 2004 | 102a |
| Diesel starts a rumour that the Fat Controller plans to scrap the steam engines. The next day, however, the diesels get faulty oil and fall ill. | ||||||
| 4 | 186 | "Henry and the Wishing Tree" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant and Paul Larson | 8 August 2004 | 102b |
| Henry wishes upon a sacred tree to pull the Express like Gordon, but he learns to be careful what he wishes for when he sees how hard it is to pull it well. | ||||||
| 5 | 187 | "James Gets a New Coat" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 15 August 2004 | 103a |
| James is very proud of his splendid red coat, and he spends his time looking at his reflection in the canal. To make up for time, he takes on jobs that soon ruin his coat. | ||||||
| 6 | 188 | "Thomas Saves the Day" | Steve Asquith | James Mason | 15 August 2004 | 103b |
| Annie and Clarabel help Thomas across a tight bend on a new route. But when Annie and Clarabel go for repairs, Thomas must face the curve on his own. | ||||||
| 7 | 189 | "Percy's Big Mistake" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 22 August 2004 | 104a |
| Percy jumps to conclusions when he overhears the Fat Controller saying that Percy is going to the Scrapyard tomorrow, and thinks he is getting scrapped. | ||||||
| 8 | 190 | "Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 22 August 2004 | 104b |
| Thomas ignores Emily's warning about snow, and her instruction to use his snowplough. But he learns the hard way to listen to her advice. | ||||||
| 9 | 191 | "Don't Tell Thomas" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 29 August 2004 | 105a |
| The engines decide to show their appreciation to Thomas by throwing a surprise party. But they are having a hard time keeping the secret from him. | ||||||
| 10 | 192 | "Emily's New Route" | Steve Asquith | James Mason | 29 August 2004 | 105b |
| Emily is desperate to keep her flour route after hearing that the Black Loch run has a monster in the lake; the trucks, however, give her a hard time. | ||||||
| 11 | 193 | "Thomas and the Firework Display" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant and Paul Larson | 5 September 2004 | 106a |
| Thomas and James fight over who should pull the firework cars to a party. But they both soon learn that they must work together when James breaks down at a red signal and soon learn the display might be cancelled when Gordon is taking the children home. | ||||||
| 12 | 194 | "Gordon Takes Charge" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 5 September 2004 | 106b |
| Gordon acts boastful around Percy as he shows the little green engine the way to pull passengers, but forgets the dangers of the icy track as he does so. | ||||||
| 13 | 195 | "Spic and Span" | Steve Asquith | Marc Seal | 12 September 2004 | 107a |
| A railway inspector is coming, and all the engines are determined to win the Cleanest Engine Award. Thomas and Percy find this difficult to do. | ||||||
| 14 | 196 | "Edward the Great" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 12 September 2004 | 107b |
| Spencer returns to take the Duke and Duchess to their holiday home, while Edward pulls their furniture. They have a race, but Edward is very old and sometimes slow. | ||||||
| 15 | 197 | "Squeak, Rattle and Roll" | Steve Asquith | Marc Seal | 19 September 2004 | 108a |
| Gordon worries that he will be scrapped due to the squeaking and rattling he makes. He tries to hide this from the Fat Controller, but has to take him on a run. | ||||||
| 16 | 198 | "Thomas and the Circus" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 19 September 2004 | 108b |
| Thomas doesn't listen to Percy and James's offers for help with the circus deliveries. But later pays the price when he breaks down and gets stranded by a field with the performers. | ||||||
| 17 | 199 | "Thomas Gets It Right" | Steve Asquith | Robin Rigby | 26 September 2004 | 109a |
| Thomas is cross about having to go slowly with his load of eggs. He decides to go fast after all, but pays with some eggs that got broken when he did. | ||||||
| 18 | 200 | "As Good as Gordon" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 26 September 2004 | 109b |
| Emily wants to prove that she can be as fast as Gordon. She tries to do as much work as he can, but it is too much for her and she runs out of water. | ||||||
| 19 | 201 | "Fish" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 3 October 2004 | 110a |
| Thomas wants to finish delivering the smelly fish as soon as possible, so he takes on too many trucks at once. He has to put up with the fish longer now. | ||||||
| 20 | 202 | "Emily's Adventure" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 3 October 2004 | 110b |
| Emily has to make her way past the storm damage obstacles to deliver wood for Farmer McColl. Crossly, she bosses her friends about to speed things up, which does not work. | ||||||
| 21 | 203 | "Halloween" | Steve Asquith | Dave Ingham | 10 October 2004 | 111a |
| Thomas and Emily are not scared to go to the Other Railway. However, 'Arry and Bert want to have some fun and decide to spook the steam engines, but accidentally spook themselves. | ||||||
| 22 | 204 | "You Can Do It, Toby!" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 10 October 2004 | 111b |
| Gordon ridicules Toby for being only a steam tram, so Toby mopes about not being a proper engine. But Gordon gets stuck on the hill, and Toby is his only hope. | ||||||
| 23 | 205 | "James Goes Too Far" | Steve Asquith | James Mason | 17 October 2004 | 112a |
| James takes too much pride in delivering an important load of coal, and ignores the others who need help. Salty has a word with him, and teaches him kindness. | ||||||
| 24 | 206 | "Chickens to School" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 17 October 2004 | 112b |
| Thomas takes on three jobs that take their toll and tire him out. He refuses help from Emily, but winds up mixing up all of his jobs. | ||||||
| 25 | 207 | "Too Hot for Thomas" | Steve Asquith | Paul Larson | 24 October 2004 | 113a |
| Thomas is disappointed to be taking ice cream ingredients rather than children. He gets into scrapes on the way, but does not realise this job is important, too. | ||||||
| 26 | 208 | "Percy and the Magic Carpet" | Steve Asquith | Abi Grant | 24 October 2004 | 113b |
| Salty tells Percy that the red carpet he is delivering is magical. The others refuse to believe this, but Percy thinks it is magic that is making it float up. | ||||||
Characters
Recurring character cast
References
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