Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor | |
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![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | David Stoten |
Written by | Andrew Brenner |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Narrated by | Mark Moraghan |
Music by | Chris Renshaw Oliver Davis |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Mattel Creations Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (US) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 75 minutes |
Countries | United Kingdom Canada |
Language | English |
Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor is a 2017 animated musical adventure film and feature-length special based on the British television series Thomas & Friends , based on The Railway Series by Wilbert Awdry. This is the first Thomas film to be produced by Mattel Creations and animated by Jam Filled Toronto. It was released on 22 August 2017 in the US and on 16 October 2017 in the UK. [1] [2]
The film stars the voices of Joseph May in the US and John Hasler in the UK voice of Thomas the Tank Engine. It also stars the voices of Rob Rackstraw, Christopher Ragland, Nigel Pilkington, Keith Wickham, Kerry Shale and Teresa Gallagher, with Mark Moraghan narrating for the final time. Hugh Bonneville, Lucy Montgomery, Darren Boyd, Jim Howick, Sophie Colquhoun, Colin McFarlane and Nicola Stapleton join the cast. The film deals with many traits that children have such as autism, through the Experimental Engines. [3]
On his way to deliver a goods train to Bridlington on the Mainland, Henry the Green Engine suffers an accident, due to a faulty signal, and has to stay at the Steamworks until he is fully repaired. Thomas the Tank Engine is upset that Sir Topham Hatt has chosen James the Red Engine, who has been teasing him, thinking he’s Sir Topham Hatt’s favorite engine, to take the train in Henry's place. To prove to James he’s Sir Topham Hatt’s favorite, Thomas collects the goods train before James does so he can take it to Bridlington himself. However, some Troublesome Trucks distract his driver, causing them to go the wrong way. Along his journey, Thomas meets Beresford, a crane, and two experimental engines, Lexi and Theo, who help him get more coal and water. They also tell him about another engine named Merlin, who believes he has the power to become invisible.
Thomas eventually finds himself at a massive Steelworks factory run by two engines, Hurricane and Frankie, who invite him to stay. The next day, Thomas learns that Hurricane delivered his train to Bridlington overnight and Frankie convinces him to help out at the Steelworks to return the favor. However, they refuse to let Thomas leave and continue to force him to work for them. Thomas escapes during the night and meets Merlin, who does not appear then though. Meanwhile, back on Sodor, James is assigned to work on Thomas’ branch line, but he soon grows fed up with it. James suggests to Sir Topham Hatt that he go to the mainland himself and search for Thomas, but Sir Topham Hatt refuses to let him as he can’t afford to lose another engine. Percy later suggests to James that he find Thomas. Liking the idea, James heads off to the mainland. He comes across Hurricane, who takes him to the Steelworks.
On his way home the next day, Thomas encounters Beresford again. When he hears Frankie and Hurricane coming, Beresford hides him using his hook, only to see them taking James to the steelworks. Thomas enlists the help of the experimental engines to rescue James. Theo and Lexi act as a diversion while Thomas and Merlin try to help James escape. The plan quickly goes downhill; a chase ensues in the Steelworks in which James is saved but Thomas is almost melted by slag. Hurricane pushes Thomas out of the way, but melts his own wheels. Frankie breaks down crying and explains that she and Hurricane only enslaved Thomas and James because of the overload of work. The experimental engines decide to henceforth join them at the Steelworks.
Afterwards, Thomas and James apologize to each other. Thomas tells him that being friends is more important than being the favorite, and they happily return home. Henry also returns from the steamworks and asks what he missed in his absence.
Actor/Actress | Region | Role(s) |
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Mark Moraghan | UK/US | The Narrator |
John Hasler | UK | Thomas |
Joseph May | US | |
Rob Rackstraw | UK/US | James and the Troublesome Trucks |
UK | Toby | |
Nigel Pilkington | Percy and Trevor | |
Christopher Ragland | US | |
UK/US | Jem Cole and the Troublesome Trucks | |
Keith Wickham | Sir Topham Hatt | |
UK | Edward, Henry and Gordon | |
Kerry Shale | UK/US | Kevin and the Troublesome Trucks |
US | Henry and Gordon | |
William Hope | Edward and Toby | |
UK/US | 2 Troublesome Trucks and Farmer McColl | |
Teresa Gallagher | Annie and Clarabel | |
UK | Emily | |
Jules de Jongh | US | |
Steven Kynman | UK/US | Some workmen |
Rasmus Hardiker | Philip | |
John Schwab | Ulli and a Bridlington Diesel | |
David Bedella | Victor | |
Nicola Stapleton | Rosie | |
Hugh Bonneville | Merlin | |
Lucy Montgomery | Lexi and the Troublesome Trucks | |
Darren Boyd | Theo | |
Jim Howick | Hurricane | |
Sophie Colquhoun | Frankie | |
Colin McFarlane | Beresford |
Common Sense Media gave it 3/5 stars, calling it a "Suspenseful adventure," that had "positive messages, and the addition of some spirited new characters who add fun to the tale." They however noted it being darker than other Thomas films. [4]
The Fat Controller is a fictional character in The Railway Series books written by Reverend W. Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director, and as of the third book he becomes The Fat Controller, as the railway has been nationalised. In the foreword to the 1951 book Henry the Green Engine, his real name is revealed to be Sir Topham Hatt.
James the Red Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic red tender locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Reverend Awdry and the TV series adaptation Thomas & Friends. He has a 2-6-0 ("Mogul") wheel arrangement and is engine number 5 on the North Western Railway, the Fat Controller's railway on the Island of Sodor.
The Railway Series is a series of British books about a railway known as the North Western Railway, located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first published in May 1945 by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry. Twenty-six books were written by Awdry, the final one being written in October 1972. Sixteen more were written by his son, Christopher Awdry, between September 1983 and July 2011. The series features many anthropomorphic vehicles, including Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas became the most popular and famous character in the series and the titular character of the television series Thomas & Friends from 1984 to 2021. The children's television series originated as adaptations of these stories.
Hugh Richard Bonniwell Williams, known professionally as Hugh Bonneville, is an English actor. He is best known for portraying Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in the ITV historical drama series Downton Abbey from 2010 to 2015. His performance on the show earned him a nomination at the Golden Globes and two consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He reprised his role in the feature films Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022). He also appeared in the films Notting Hill (1999), Iris (2001), The Monuments Men (2014), and the Paddington films (2014–present).
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 Reverend W. Awdry.
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 Reverend W. Awdry.
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 Reverend W. Awdry. The 10th Series of this show was first broadcast in 2006. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the UK audiences, and Michael Brandon in the US. Most episodes in this series had different titles in UK and the US.
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 Reverend W. Awdry.
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Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels is a 2011 animated adventure film and feature-length special of the British television series Thomas & Friends. It is the first special to be a spin-off around a character from the series; so the star is Thomas' best friend Percy. The film is produced by HIT Entertainment and animated by Nitrogen Studios.
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Thomas & Friends is a media franchise created by Rev. W. Awdry and Britt Allcroft. The franchise revolves around a railway, called the North Western Railway, located on the fictional Island of Sodor. The current title character of the franchise is Thomas, an anthropomorphised steam locomotive, who works with other engines, including Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby and many others. The franchise began with stories told from Wilbert Awdry to his son. In 1984, it was turned into a television series, which spawned a reboot series, titled Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.
Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins is a 2015 British animated adventure comedy film produced by HIT Entertainment and animated by Arc Productions. It serves as a prequel to the British television series, Thomas & Friends. It is based on the first two books of The Railway Series: The Three Railway Engines and Thomas the Tank Engine, which were previously adapted into the first seven episodes of the show's first season in 1984. It commemorates the 70th anniversary of The Railway Series, making it the first instalment to officially adapt a story from The Railway Series since series 4.
Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure is a 2015 British animated fantasy adventure comedy film and the ninth feature-length special movie of the British television series, Thomas & Friends. The film is produced by HIT Entertainment and animated by Arc Productions.
Thomas & Friends: The Great Race is a 2016 British animated musical comedy adventure film and feature-length special of the British television series, Thomas & Friends. The film was produced by HIT Entertainment and animated by Arc Productions.
Thomas & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry.