Thomas & Friends (series 13)


Thomas & 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 thirteenth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 2010. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the U.K.audiences, although Michael Brandon narrates the episodes for the U.S. audiences. Mark Moraghan later re-narrated "Snow Tracks" for the Santa's Little Engine DVD.
This was Marion Edwards' first series as executive producer.
Following the release of the feature-length special DVD Hero of the Rails in September 2009 and the theatrical and video releases of select episodes, this series introduces computer-generated imagery as a replacement for the show's long-standing model animation, as well as a voice cast rather than an individual actor's narration.

Production

Beginning with this series, Nitrogen Studios began providing the animation.
Director Steve Asquith had left the show after the previous series after working on twelve series and directing five series, while Simon Spencer also stepped down as producer. Christopher Skala was joined by Marion Edwards as executive producer. Ed Welch left after The Great Discovery, while Robert Hartshorne remained. Greg Tiernan and Nicole Stinn replaced Asquith and Spencer as the director and producer.

Episodes

On 7 November 2009, 4 select episodes were screened theatrically in an event called "Splish, Splash, Splosh". The episodes were then released on DVD of the same name in the U.S., which was later released in the UK on 1 March 2010. Another event, "Thomas and the Runaway Kite" screened on January 9, 2010 showed a further 4 episodes, again in the U.S. Series 13 forgot to put the same Play-Along game, Dots-to-Dots, telling which engine it is, the same music video from Series 8-10, and a recurring mini-story which features major locations and recaps episodes from Series 8-11 that take place at the location during the middle of Series 13 in the U.S. The two songs, "Sounds" and "Determination" by Ed Welch, were introduced during Series 13 after the story. The thirteenth series aired in the U.S. on September 4, 2010.

Characters

After the release of Hero of the Rails, almost all of the voice cast's character roles have been confirmed.
Actor/ActressRegionRoleNotes
Michael AngelisUKThe Narrator
Michael BrandonUSDiesel, Mr. Bubbles and the Narrator
Ben SmallUKThomas and Toby
Martin ShermanUSThomas, Percy, and The Bird Watcher
Martin ShermanUSHenryOriginally
Keith WickhamUKEdward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, The Fat Controller, Sir Lowham Hatt, The Mayor of Sodor and Mr. Bubbles
Keith WickhamUK/USDowager Hatt
Kerry ShaleUKDiesel
Kerry ShaleUSHenry, Gordon, James, Kevin, Sir Bertram Topham Hatt, Sir Lowham Hatt and The Maithwaite Stationmaster
William HopeUSEdward, Toby, Rocky, Farmer McColl, Farmer Trotter, and The Maithwaite Stationmaster
William HopeUSStephen HattThomas and the Runaway Kite only
Teresa GallagherUKEmily, Rosie, Mavis, Bridget Hatt, Lady Hatt, Some Children, School Children, The Teacher, and Bridget Hatt's friends
Jules de JonghUSEmily, Rosie, Mavis, Bridget Hatt, Lady Hatt, Some Children, School Children, The Teacher, and Bridget Hatt's friends
Jules de JonghUK/USAlicia Botti
Matt WilkinsonUKSpencer, Charlie, Rocky, Cranky, Kevin, Farmer McColl, Farmer Trotter, The Maithwaite Stationmaster, The Knapford Stationmaster and The Bird Watcher
Matt WilkinsonUKStephen HattThomas and the Runaway Kite only
Glenn WrageUSSpencer, Charlie and Cranky
David BedellaUSVictor and The Mayor of Sodor
Togo IgawaUK/USHiro
Pierce BrosnanUK/USThe NarratorOriginally
Mark MoraghanUSThe NarratorRe-dubbed Snow Tracks for "Santa's Little Engine" DVD only

A HiT Entertainment press release from 2007 stated that "3 upcoming Thomas & Friends television series" would be narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Although the statement was made prior to Season 12, HiT confirmed that Brosnan would only appear as a guest narrator on The Great Discovery.

Music videos

'Thomas and Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh' was released in the U.K. iTunes Store on 1 March 2010. It consisted of four episodes, which were:
The programme can be bought as a series or individual episodes.