Thomas & Friends (series 8)

Thomas & Friends (series 8)

DVD cover art
Country of origin United Kingdom
Release
Original network Five
Original release 1 August (1 August 2004) – 24 October 2004 (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
1183"Thomas and the Tuba"Steve AsquithDave Ingham1 August 2004101a
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.
2184"Percy's New Whistle"Steve AsquithJames Mason1 August 2004101b
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.
3185"Thomas to the Rescue"Steve AsquithAbi Grant and Paul Larson8 August 2004102a
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.
4186"Henry and the Wishing Tree"Steve AsquithAbi Grant and Paul Larson8 August 2004102b
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.
5187"James Gets a New Coat"Steve AsquithAbi Grant15 August 2004103a
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.
6188"Thomas Saves the Day"Steve AsquithJames Mason15 August 2004103b
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.
7189"Percy's Big Mistake"Steve AsquithAbi Grant22 August 2004104a
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.
8190"Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough"Steve AsquithAbi Grant22 August 2004104b
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.
9191"Don't Tell Thomas"Steve AsquithPaul Larson29 August 2004105a
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.
10192"Emily's New Route"Steve AsquithJames Mason29 August 2004105b
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.
11193"Thomas and the Firework Display"Steve AsquithAbi Grant and Paul Larson5 September 2004106a
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.
12194"Gordon Takes Charge"Steve AsquithPaul Larson5 September 2004106b
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.
13195"Spic and Span"Steve AsquithMarc Seal12 September 2004107a
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.
14196"Edward the Great"Steve AsquithAbi Grant12 September 2004107b
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.
15197"Squeak, Rattle and Roll"Steve AsquithMarc Seal19 September 2004108a
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.
16198"Thomas and the Circus"Steve AsquithAbi Grant19 September 2004108b
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.
17199"Thomas Gets It Right"Steve AsquithRobin Rigby26 September 2004109a
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.
18200"As Good as Gordon"Steve AsquithAbi Grant26 September 2004109b
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.
19201"Fish"Steve AsquithPaul Larson3 October 2004110a
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.
20202"Emily's Adventure"Steve AsquithPaul Larson3 October 2004110b
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.
21203"Halloween"Steve AsquithDave Ingham10 October 2004111a
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.
22204"You Can Do It, Toby!"Steve AsquithPaul Larson10 October 2004111b
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.
23205"James Goes Too Far"Steve AsquithJames Mason17 October 2004112a
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.
24206"Chickens to School"Steve AsquithPaul Larson17 October 2004112b
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.
25207"Too Hot for Thomas"Steve AsquithPaul Larson24 October 2004113a
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.
26208"Percy and the Magic Carpet"Steve AsquithAbi Grant24 October 2004113b
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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