Thomas and Friends is a children's television series

Children's television series

Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...

 about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series

The Railway Series

The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...

 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

Michael Angelis

Michael Angelis is an English actor and voice actor.Michael Angelis was one of the stars of the famous 1982 BBC drama serial Boys from the Black Stuff and another Alan Bleasedale drama G.B.H.. He also starred in comedies such as Luv and The Liver Birds, in which he appeared between series 5 and 9...

, although Michael Brandon

Michael Brandon

Michael Brandon is an American actor who resides in the United Kingdom and United States.-Life and career:Brandon was born Michael Feldman in Brooklyn, New York to Miriam and Sol Feldman...

 narrates the episodes for American audiences. The season was codenamed "Series 800" for unknown reasons.

Production

A number of significant changes took place. Britt Allcroft

Britt Allcroft

Britt Allcroft is the multi- award-winning creator of a trio of children's entertainment produced in the 1980s and 1990s: "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends", , "Shining Time Station" and "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie".She was born Hilary Mary Allcroft, in Worthing, England and, at...

 was no longer involved with the product. The series was taken over by HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment

Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...

 (the owners of Bob the Builder

Bob the Builder

Bob the Builder is a British children's animated television show created by Keith Chapman. In the original series Bob appears as a building contractor specialising in masonry in a stop motion animated programme with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of...

).

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, although filming remained at Shepperton Studios

Shepperton Studios

Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...

.

Other changes include the additions of CGI sequences in mini-segments between episodes, transition effects, book opening intro section.

30-minute episode version

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.

Episodes

#	Total	UK/US Title	Writer(s)	Original airdate	TV order

Returning Characters

• Thomas
  Thomas the Tank Engine
  Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
  
  
• Edward
  Edward the Blue Engine
  Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
  
  
• Henry
  Henry the Green Engine
  Henry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off children's television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.Henry lives on the fictitious...
  
  
• Gordon
  Gordon the Big Engine
  Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
  
  
• James
  James the Red Engine
  James the Red Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. James is a mixed-traffic engine, which means he is just as capable of pulling coaches as trucks...
  
  
• Percy
  Percy the Small Engine
  Percy the Small Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam engine from The Railway Series of children's books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry...
  
  
• Toby
  Toby the Tram Engine
  Toby the Tram Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tram engine in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son, Christopher; he also appears in the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends...
  
  
• Emily
  Emily (Thomas the Tank Engine)
  Emily the Stirling Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from the television series Thomas and Friends. She was the first female steam engine to be featured in the television series, and is the only female member of the "Steam Team", the eight core characters of the series...
  
  
• Spencer
• Arthur
• Harvey
• Diesel
• Mavis
• 'Arry and Bert
• Salty
• Annie and Clarabel
  Annie and Clarabel
  Annie and Clarabel are fictional characters from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the related Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series...
  
  
• Troublesome Trucks
• Bertie
  Bertie the Bus
  Bertie the Bus is a small red bus character from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W Awdry and who also appears in the spin-off children's television series Thomas and Friends.-Book character:...
  
  
• Elizabeth
• Harold
  Harold
  Harold is an Old English name, meaning "heroic leader", same as the title herald. Diminutives of Harold are Harry and Hal.*Several kings of Denmark, England and Norway were named Harald or Harold*Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England...
  
  
• Cranky
• Sir Topham Hatt
• Farmer McColl
• Murdoch (does not speak)
• Trevor
  Trevor the Traction Engine
  Trevor the Traction Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic character from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
  
   (does not speak)
• Alicia Botti (does not speak)
• The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (do not speak)
• Henrietta
  Henrietta
  Henrietta may refer to:* Henrietta , a feminine given name, derived from the male name Henry- Places :* Henrietta Island in the Arctic Ocean* Henrietta, Missouri* Henrietta, New York* Henrietta, Ohio* Henrietta, Texas* Henrietta, Wisconsin...
  
   (cameo)
• Toad
  Toad
  A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
  
   (faceless cameo)
• George (Cameo)
• Caroline (Cameo)
• Butch (Cameo)
• Lady Hatt (Cameo)
• Stephen Hatt (Cameo)
• Bridget Hatt (Cameo)
• Jem Cole (Cameo)
• The Refreshment Lady (Cameo)
• Cyril the fogman (Cameo)
• Duck
  Duck
  Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
  
   (Music Video Cameo)
• Oliver
  Oliver
  The surname Oliver is of several different origins.-Etymology:The surname Oliver is derived from the Old French personal name Olivier. The Oliver surname seems to be French Norman in origin. The Olivers were probably part of William the Conqueror's Norman Invasion of Britain in 1066...
  
   (Music Video Cameo)
• Bill & Ben (Deleted Scene Cameo)
• Donald and Douglas
  Donald and Douglas
  Donald and Douglas are two fictional steam locomotives from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry. They also appear in Thomas and Friends, the television series based on the books...
  
  (Deleted Scene Cameo, Mentioned)
• Horrid Lorry (faceless cameo)