Thomas the Tank Engine



Thomas and Friends, previously known as Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, is the name of the television series based on the Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry. It was adapted for television by Britt Allcroft using original stories from the Railway Series before using television-exclusive stories written by indepenent writers. The series has spawned thirteen television seasons, a movie and two feature-length episodes, with two more seasons planned for the next two years, along with another special.

The series is currently being filmed by HiT Entertainment, who have filmed the series since its acquisition of Gullane Entertainment in 2003.

In April 2008, news was discovered that filming of the series would transfer to Canada. What's more, faces for the engines, people and animals in the twelfth season would be CGI-animated, although characters in background shots would still have the traditional plastic faces.

The thirteenth season aired in January 2010. The series will be fully CGI-animated from this season on.