| Thomas & Friends Series 8 | |||
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DVD cover art |
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| Country of origin | UK | ||
| Broadcast | |||
| Original channel | Channel 5 | ||
| Original run | 3 September 2004 – 26 November 2004 |
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| Season chronology | |||
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Thomas and Friends (previously known as Thomas the Tank Engine and 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 season of this series, which was first broadcast in 2004. This season is narrated by Michael Angelis, although Michael Brandon narrates the episodes for American audiences. The season was codenamed "Series 800" for unknown reasons.
Contents |
A number of significant changes took place. Britt Allcroft was no longer involved with the product. The series was taken over by HIT Entertainment (the owners of Bob the Builder).
Beginning with this season, the episodes, originally four and a half minutes, were extended to 7 minutes.
The series was produced using digital video camera, which creates 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.
Other changes include the additions of CGI sequences in mini-segments between episodes, transition effects, book opening intro section.
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.
| # | Total | UK/US Title | Writer(s) | Original airdate | TV order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 183 | "Thomas and the Tuba" | Dave Ingham | September 3, 2004 | 101a |
| 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. | |||||
| 2 | 184 | "Percy's New Whistle" | James Mason | September 3, 2004 | 101b |
| 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. | |||||
| 3 | 185 | "Thomas to the Rescue" | Abi Grant, Paul Larson | September 10, 2004 | 102a |
| 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. | |||||
| 4 | 186 | "Henry and the Wishing Tree" | Abi Grant, Paul Larson | September 10, 2004 | 102b |
| 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. | |||||
| 5 | 187 | "James Gets a New Coat" | Abi Grant | September 17, 2004 | 103a |
| 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. | |||||
| 6 | 188 | "Thomas Saves the Day" | James Mason | September 17, 2004 | 103b |
| 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. | |||||
| 7 | 189 | "Percy's Big Mistake" | Abi Grant | September 24, 2004 | 104a |
| 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. | |||||
| 8 | 190 | "Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough" | Abi Grant | September 24, 2004 | 104b |
| 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. | |||||
| 9 | 191 | "Don't Tell Thomas" | Paul Larson | October 1, 2004 | 105a |
| 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. | |||||
| 10 | 192 | "Emily's New Route" | Paul Larson | October 1, 2004 | 105b |
| 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. | |||||
| 11 | 193 | "Thomas and the Firework Display" | Paul Larson, Abi Grant | October 8, 2004 | 106a |
| Thomas is jealous of James, as he gets the job of delivering the fire-crackers. But James runs out of steam midway, and Thomas can help him. | |||||
| 12 | 194 | "Gordon Takes Charge" | Paul Larson | October 8, 2004 | 106b |
| 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. | |||||
| 13 | 195 | "Spic and Span" | Marc Seal | October 15, 2004 | 107a |
| 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. | |||||
| 14 | 196 | "Edward the Great" | Abi Grant | October 15, 2004 | 107b |
| 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. | |||||
| 15 | 197 | "Squeak, Rattle and Roll" | Marc Seal | October 22, 2004 | 108a |
| 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. | |||||
| 16 | 198 | "Thomas and the Circus" | Abi Grant | October 22, 2004 | 108b |
| Thomas is excited about pulling the Circus Train but has to share it if he needs help taking it. He wants to do it alone, but he does need the help. | |||||
| 17 | 199 | "Thomas Gets It Right" | Robin Rigby | October 29, 2004 | 109a |
| 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. | |||||
| 18 | 200 | "As Good as Gordon" | Abi Grant | October 29, 2004 | 109b |
| 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. | |||||
| 19 | 201 | "Fish" | Paul Larson | November 5, 2004 | 110a |
| 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. | |||||
| 20 | 202 | "Emily's Adventure" | Paul Larson | November 5, 2004 | 110b |
| 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. | |||||
| 21 | 203 | "Halloween" | Dave Ingham | November 12, 2004 | 111a |
| 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. | |||||
| 22 | 204 | "You Can Do It, Toby!" | Paul Larson | November 12, 2004 | 111b |
| 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. | |||||
| 23 | 205 | "James Goes Too Far" | James Mason | November 19, 2004 | 112a |
| 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. | |||||
| 24 | 206 | "Chickens to School" | Paul Larson | November 19, 2004 | 112b |
| 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. | |||||
| 25 | 207 | "Too Hot for Thomas" | Paul Larson | November 26, 2004 | 113a |
| 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. | |||||
| 26 | 208 | "Percy and the Magic Carpet" | Abi Grant | November 26, 2004 | 113b |
| 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. | |||||
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