movies/tv Thomas the Tank Engine. Opinions on it?

[Candy Blaze 119]

So what are your opinions on Thomas the Tank Engine? What about the toys? Did you all ever watched the TV show? Do you find them creepy?

I used to

[Scootaloodle 1,623]

I recall having it on VHS as a child: I thought it was ok, but I don't remember much about it. I was more into Fireman Sam

[Aniki 386]

I never watched it as a kid because the faces freaked me the fuq out. 

But then again this is coming from the guy who reeled at the sight of Gumby. (Guh, claymation is just terrifying)

[Malinter 3,065]

I loved the original thomas the tank engine episodes XD

[Celtore 2,770]

Thomas the tank engine was great. I watched the TV show and collected the toys. The track for the toys was pretty expensive back then, so my grandfather actually made me tracks for them out of wood. It was just as good as the original I'd wager; looking back at it now, the quality is quite stunning.

 

There was also this event at a farmers market a long time ago where they had a train that they decorated to look like Thomas. They had a sir toppem hat as well. I got a picture with the engineer

[Trekkard 49]

Can't believe it's still on TV today, next year is its 30th year. Seasons 1-7 are good, then came the mediocre writing of HIT Entertainment. Thankfully they have a new head writer after receiving complaints from older fans, on how it's not in spirit with the books and throws everything good about the classic series out the window. At least the computer animation is decent. Funny thing is that on Youtube the most episodes uploaded are from seasons 1-7, rarely they put up season 8 onward. Definitely shows that the fans prefer a kids show with smart writing rather than relying on messages, morals and the infamous three strikes formula.

 

I recommend visiting the websites http://www.sodor-island.net/ & http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Thomas_%26_Friends (where you can actually watch episodes of the show), for both old and new fans. It's also the first children's TV show to have an adult fanbase, way before Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and MLP: FIM. 

Edited December 14, 2013 by Trekkard

[Rainboom Dash 1,057]

Loved it when I was a kid. Still watch it today. The new season has been the best in years.

[Blue Moon 6,345]

Oh, I remember that show! I watched it a few times when it was on TV, but I mainly enjoyed the toys. They were more interesting to me. Nothing wrong with the show though, but how can that show beat toy trains? Seriously.

[The Blades Shadow 445]

I used to love Thomas the Tank Engine! I have no idea how I completely forgot about that show until just today though... It's all I used to watch when I was younger.

[Scootalove 10,692]

I used to watch it when I was a kid. Now, I question why their lips never move sometimes.

[Sweet Dreams 1,893]

I don't think I ever watched that show too much as a child. Personally I think the designs looks kinda creepy. Spoiler for language.

 

 

[ReverseFaller 2,484]

I loved it as a kid. Now that I look back on it, it's kind of a creepy show. Trains with creepy faces going around doing god-knows what.

[Moonlight 7,291]

I used to watch the show, it's an alright show but I always found it rather dull. The designs of the faces on the characters are a bit on the weird/disturbing side as well. 

[Dark Qiviut 22,681]

I'm a very big fan, but more so the Classics (series one through seven) than when HiT acquired it. The first four series are almost completely associated with The Railway Series (with a few episodes comprised by Allcroft and Mitton). But Series five through seven focused more on stories independent from TRS, but were believable enough to not disrespect the books. It was ehen HiT took over did the series take a sharp turn downhill in the storytelling and railway realism. Series 15 is considered, by many, to be the worst for very good reasons. The one bright spot from the HiT era is the CGI, which is almost always top notch.
 
However, Series 17 arrived, and I must say that for the first time since Series 6 (not a fan of Series 7 due to the editing), I actually look forward to it. There's a completely new team comprised of some great writers (several of whom know the series and know what they're doing, like Paul Larson and new head writer Andrew Brenner). Combined with a brand new Railway Consultant, I actually feel the characters as if they're characters. The animation from Arc isn't as refined as Nitrogen, but it's forgivable because they do very well. David Bass's direction is so fresh with the camera angles, from the first-person point of view in The Thomas Way to The Lost Puff's worm-eye view during the conversation between Paxton and Stephen (one so accurate, it scared the shit outta me!).
 
Series 17 recommendations: Wayward Winston; Calm Down, Caitlin; Gordon Runs Dry; Henry's Hero; The Lost Puff; The Switch; The Thomas Way; Percy's Lucky Day; Bill or Ben? (best episode this season); Gone Fishing; Thomas' Shortcut; Too Many Fire Engines (first factually good episode with Belle and Flynn); and The Missing Christmas Decorations.
 
And watch King of the Railway. It's so good, gives you the insight for Series 17, and has one piece of dialogue that signifies how much the new writing team (Brenner especially) was rather pissed at Miller and company.
 
Here's what I mean:

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

I never got into it as a kid. I think I thought the way the trains' faces were looked kind of creepy to me. Instead I watched Blue's Clues.

[King Sejong 859]

   I was a big Thomas the Tank Engine fan when I was young, I had the VHS tapes and the toys, and I grew up on both the US and UK versions, from season one to seven I enjoyed them, then HIT Entertainment happened and fired Britt Alcroft from the show, and slowly but surely transformed it into a cartoon, and now it's an CGI incoherent cartoon, with lousy continuity, repetitive script, ridiculous plot and poor character development, plus it's now Thomas and Friends, and has become a product of the times we live in, yet the nostalgia I had watching the show with my parents, was some of the most tender moments in my youth, and if you like the show in its current form, I will question it, but I will not criticize, and if you did not enjoy the classical show I do understand. 

Edited December 13, 2013 by Emperor Peter

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

That show is my goddamn childhood. I still have a couple episodes on VHS, and I REFUSE to let go of my wooden Thomas trains!

[FirestormCAN 246]

Ohhhhhh man, getting flashbacks of childhood yet again. LOOOOOVED the original series, from its charming expressions, spectacular narration (George Carlin ftw) and so many memorable moments. Nowadays... ehhhh, I really shouldn't complain about it being it's for really young kids, but I have to question some of the decisions HIT made.

 

Most kids had the wooden sets, I had the ERTL die casts. Wasted sooooo many hours with those, and combining with blocks and Legos.

 

Hell, I loved it so much I made a whole Tumblr post about it not long after I started my blog: http://firestorm-can.tumblr.com/post/26217651452/saturday-morning-memories-thomas-the-tank-engine

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

Sure, I loved it as a little kid! It's currently my third favourite show!

[Apocalyptic_Unicorn 240]

I loved the show, it was one of my favourites as a kid! 
However, that film, that terrible Americanised film annoyed me so much. Being used to the British version with British terms and Ringo Starr narrating, it was just strange watching that film or watching the American version of the show. 

Oh, and I can't stand the new show with CGI. Its all about the models, man! 

Edited December 15, 2013 by Apocalyptic_Unicorn

[GONEFOREVER 518]

Yeah, I never watched thomas. The animations creeped me out.

 

So did clowns

And costume characters

And barney

[Gourgeist 262]

I never watched it but all my baby brothers are into it like crazy. I've seen so much of it I can name a bunch of the engines from the top of my head. If I were younger my favorite would be Gordon. It's sad though to see it end up like every little kids show, CGI animated

[Limey 524]

Thomas the Tank Engine was my childhood. I had boxes and boxes full of wooden track, the trains, VHS, everything. I loved Thomas the Tank Engine.

 

And those static faces. People complain about them, but they just made it iconic. It wouldn't be Thomas the Tank Engine without the soul piercing gazes.

[Skye 463]

Thomas and the whole gang owned my childhood.

<3 Freaking adore Thomas.

[Flank 14]

420 coal it thomas is king of blazin

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SGJvJHQLfM