Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines!
| Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines! | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Steve Asquith |
| Produced by | Simon Spencer |
| Written by | Paul Larson Marc Seal |
| Narrated by | |
| Music by | Robert Hartshorne Ed Welch |
| Distributed by | HiT Entertainment |
Release date | September 6, 2005 |
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Language | English |
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Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines! is a 2005 special full-length film based on the British children's television series Thomas & Friends, released in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Railway Series, of which the television series is based on. It is the series' first hour-long special, the first Thomas & Friends film released on home media, and the series' second film after Thomas and the Magic Railroad in 2000. The film features the narration of Michael Angelis in the United Kingdom, and Michael Brandon in the United States.[1]
Production
In 2005, HiT Entertainment began production of original video releases of its various series on direct-to-video formats as part of a new strategy, which included Thomas & Friends, which they had owned after acquiring Gullane Entertainment in 2002. Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines would be released in September 2005, in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry, which led to the creation of the television series by Britt Allcroft. It would be the franchise's second overall film after Thomas and the Magic Railroad in 2000.[2][3] The film was shot at Shepperton Studios in Shepperton, England, where the series had been filmed since its second season.
Plot
As summer approaches the Island of Sodor, The Fat Controller announces to his engines that a new airport will be built on the island to accommodate new holidaymakers, to the delight of the engines, who begin working on refurbishing various parts of the island, including the favorited Sodor Suspension Bridge as well as the construction of the airport. As Thomas and Percy are working on the airport site, they encounter 'Arry and Bert, two identical twin diesel engines. The film then breaks into a "learning segment" in which the narrator explains the differences between steam engines and diesel engines. Thomas arrives at the Timber Yard later on, and encounters 'Arry and Bert, who immediately poke fun at him. Thomas then pushes their trucks out of the way of the crane lowering the timber, causing the planks to spill on the ground.
While Thomas and Percy are shunting trucks at the docks, Thomas is confronted by Diesel about what he had done at the Timber Yard. The film breaks into a CGI-animated learning segment, in which the narrator asks to help Thomas pull a prank on Diesel, which results in Thomas giving diesel trucks of bananas, instead of his intended construction equipment. Thomas and Percy then head to the scrapyard, where they encounter Diesel 10. Thomas and Percy then leave out of fear. As they head back to Tidmouth Sheds later in the night, they notice along the way that the Sodor Suspension Bridge hadn't been painted, nor had the airport been fully completed. As they approach Tidmouth Sheds, they discover they had been partially demolished, and they promptly learn the equipment they had compromised from the diesels was intended to go towards rebuilding the sheds.
As a result, the engines end up having to sleep at various spots around the island, including a coal mine for James, the smelter's yard for Henry and Percy, and a tent for Gordon. Thomas stays with Emily at Knapford Sheds. Later in the night, a storm rages across the island, which ends up compromising the airport construction side, and destroying the Sodor Suspension Bridge. As a result, the engines end up having to do extra work recovering from the storm damage. A third learning segment follows, in which the narrator asks for help assigning different engines different tasks across the island. As the engines continue their work, tensions rise between the steam engines and diesel engines, who blame each other for the sheds not being repaired. Thomas once again encounters Diesel 10, who is helping clear away damage from the storm, and runs from him out of fear.
The next morning, The Fat Controller sends Thomas to retrieve an iron beam for the Sodor Suspension Bridge. Despite Diesel's taunting, Thomas does end up retrieving the beam, but discovers it is very heavy. The fourth learning segment involves the narrator asking to help Thomas find the easiest, quickest route to the bridge. As Thomas approaches the bridge with the beam, Diesel offers to lower it into place, but is denied in favor of Thomas. Thomas successfully places the beam down, and declares that steam engines are better than diesels, angering Diesel. As Thomas is retrieving trucks of paint for the bridge, Diesel intentionally rams into the trucks, launching paint into the air which then splatters all over Thomas. Thomas then intentionally rams into 'Arry, who then rams into James, and starts a chain reaction of the steam engines and diesel engines intentionally ramming into each other. All are then reprimanded by The Fat Controller.
That night, as the engines begin to sleep, several of them have nightmares about what will become of them if they aren't useful. In Thomas' dream, however, he encounters Lady, a magical engine from the Magic Railroad, working with Rusty, a narrow-gauge diesel engine. Lady explains the importance of teamwork between steam engines and diesel engines, which inspires Thomas to conduct a meeting between steam engines and diesel engines, which begins with the fifth learning segment, where the narrator asks to help Thomas find Mavis. Thomas attempts to invite Diesel 10, but again aborts due to fear. As the meeting happens the next day, the steam engines and diesel engines begin bickering at each other, which Thomas then interrupts upon his arrival. Thomas encourages the engines to settle their differences for the sake of the island and the holidaymakers. The Fat Controller then arrives via Harold the Helicopter, curious as to why they're all there, which Thomas explains, to his delight. The sixth learning segment involves the narrator again asking for help assigning different tasks to different engines.
The engines eventually complete the construction of the airport, but as the first aeroplane is en route to the island, Thomas is shunting a train, which then derails, knocking over a water tower, which then falls onto the pavement below, cracking it. The airport manager determines the airplane cannot land unless the runway is cleared. Workmen attempt to recruit George the Steamroller, but he is on the other side of the island. With no other options at their disposal in sufficient time, Thomas decides to recruit Diesel 10. Thomas approaches Diesel 10, who is clearing branches from the tracks, and explains the situation. Diesel 10 is hesitant at first, but ultimately agrees. Thomas and Diesel 10 both approach the airport side, much to the shock of the engines. All the engines begin working to clear the runway, and upon completion, Thomas runs to retrieve George, who then fills the cracks in the pavement. As the first aeroplane touches down on Sodor, the engines begin to reflect on the importance of teamwork. The film concludes with the engines returning to the newly-build Tidmouth Sheds, which now include a seventh extra shed, which The Fat Controller reveals is for Emily, who had been sharing her shed with Thomas until then.
Reception
Common Sense Media rated the film 3 out of 5, stating that it offers "extremely positive messages about cooperation and teamwork in getting a job done."[4]
External links
References
- ↑ "Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines!" Letterboxd. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ↑ Raugust, Karen (March 25, 2005). "HIT Entertainment: A Vibrant Video Strategy". Animation World Network. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ↑ "Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines!" IMDB. Reteieved August 11, 2025
- ↑ Moore, Tracy. "Parents' Guide to Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines!". Common Sense Media. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
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