Thomas and Friends: The CGI Series

Thomas and Friends: The CGI Series refers to the television series as it was produced from the twelfth season onwards. In 2008, HiT Entertainment announced that Thomas and Friends would be undergoing a radical change in production. The company announced its intent to relocate production of the series from the United Kingdom to Canada. With this change, HIT announced that future Thomas productions would be animated with Computer-Generated Imagery.

Background
HiT Entertainment's Senior Vice President of Production and Programming, Christopher Skala, stated that the change, aside from budgetary reasons, was intended to convey more emotion and flexibility through the stories. Skala claimed that, of his focus group, even those who felt that Thomas, as an institution, should not be changed in this way ultimately responded positively to the demonstration of the new animation techniques.

Season 12
As part of a transitional period, the twelfth season would see computer-animated faces and characters superimposed over the live-action environment of earlier seasons. Characters could now display a variety of new expressions and their mouths would move in sync with the storyteller's voice when they are talking, whilst their thinking is evident when their mouths aren't moving in sync! People, animals, and certain other characters became wholly CGI elements.

This change was made possible by motion-capture animation. When a character's face needed to move, the moulded faces of earlier seasons would be replaced by a target, to which the computer could attach a face in post-production. The animation for this and future seasons would be provided by Nitrogen Studios, based in Canada.

This season saw the return of old favourites such as Duck, Oliver, Toad, Arthur, Neville, Stepney, Jack, and Alfie.

Three new characters were introduced:
 * Hank - a strong American engine.
 * Flora - a yellow steam tram.
 * Colin - a green wharf-side crane.

Hero of the Rails
The first feature of the overhauled series was Hero of the Rails, released in autumn 2009. Trailers, DVD covers and a music video called Go, Go Thomas all from this feature-length special were shown on YouTube prior to its official release. Book merchandise tying into the special have also appeared on online retailers. It introduced three new characters and a new location - the Sodor Steamworks.

Three new characters were introduced in Hero of the Rails:
 * Hiro, an old Japanese engine, whom Thomas helped restore.
 * Kevin, a yellow four-wheeled mobile crane who belongs to the Sodor Steamworks.
 * Victor, a red tank engine who is in charge of the Sodor Steamworks.

Season 13
The thirteenth season was the first season to feature computer-animation exclusively. Two images were originally found - two recreations of scenes from the eleventh season episode Thomas and the Stinky Cheese.

One new character was introduced in this season:
 * Charlie, a purple tank engine.

Misty Island Rescue
Misty Island Rescue is a special that was released on September 7th, 2010 in the US and October 11th in the UK.

Highlights
Characters introduced:
 * The first appearances of Diesel 10, Harold, Salty, Whiff, Stanley, and Butch in a fully CGI environment.
 * Bash and Dash, mischievous grey and yellow tank engine twins.
 * Captain, a brave lifeboat.
 * Ferdinand, a teal class C Climax.

Season 14
The fourteenth season is the second to use CGI exclusively. It began airing on October the 11th, 2010 in the UK and in November in the US.

Highlights
Characters introduced:
 * The first appearances of 'Arry, Bert, Mr. Percival, and Jem Cole in a full CGI season.
 * Scruff, a dirty boxy Sentinel engine who works at Whiff's Waste Dump.

Season 15
The fifteenth season is the third to use CGI exclusively. It began airing on March 1st, 2011 in the UK and on April 2nd in the US. The twenty episode season was supposed to air after the release of Day of the Diesels, but was brought forward for unknown reasons. Rupert Degas joined the voice cast.

Highlights
Characters introduced:
 * Butch spoke for the first time.
 * The first speaking roles of Bertie and Stanley in the CGI series.
 * The return of Arlesdale End, Castle Loch, the Fishing Village, and Wellsworth.
 * The first appearance of Trevor in a CGI episode.
 * The first appearance of the Sodor Dieselworks.
 * Belle, a blue tank engine with a brass bell and water cannons.
 * Flynn, a road-rail fire engine who joins the Search and Rescue Team.
 * Den, a stately Diesel who works at the Sodor Dieselworks.
 * Dart, a clumsy Diesel who works with Den at the Sodor Dieselworks.
 * Norman, Dennis' twin. He often breaks down, but would be a Really Useful Engine if fixed properly.
 * Paxton, a gullible Class 08 shunter who likes steam engines.

Day of the Diesels
Day of the Diesels is a special that was released in September 2011 and officially introduced new engines and a new location - the Sodor Dieselworks.

Characters introduced: This marked the official introduction of Belle, Flynn, Den, Dart, Norman, Paxton, the Sodor Dieselworks, the Fishing Village, and Wellsworth in CGI even though they were seen in the fifteenth season.
 * Sidney, a forgetful and absent minded Class 08 shunter.

Season 16
The sixteenth season first aired in February and March 2012 in the UK and April and June in the US. Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, and Rusty returned along with the Skarloey Railway Depot, the lighthouse, the Sodor Suspension Bridge, and trucks with faces. Steven Kynman joins the voice cast as Peter Sam (albeit uncredited in the UK broadcast) and William Hope is added to the UK voice cast for the first time. This was the last season animated by Nitrogen Studios.

Characters introduced: Owen and Merrick both cameoed in The Christmas Tree Express.
 * Stafford, a wooden battery-electric shunting engine.
 * Winston, a red track inspection vehicle that belongs to Sir Topham Hatt.

Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery is a special that was released in 2012. The Skarloey Railway engines feature heavily. Flashback recreations from A Scarf for Percy, The Sad Story of Henry, and Down the Mine are made and Michael Legge joins the voice cast as Luke. This is the last special animated by Nitrogen Studios.

Characters introduced: This special also marks the official introduction of Winston.
 * Luke, a green, narrow gauge, Irish tank engine.
 * Merrick, a crane.
 * Owen, an incline traction engine.

King of the Railway
King of the Railway is a special that was released in September 2013. This special marks the return of Jack. Bob Golding and David Menkin joined the voice cast, although the latter went uncredited. Four of the new characters were first seen in the seventeenth season. This will be the first special animated by Arc Productions.

Characters introduced: Characters officially introduced:
 * Stephen, based on Stephenson's Rocket
 * Caitlin, a pink-purple streamlined tender engine
 * Millie, a light blue tank engine
 * Connor, an aquamarine streamlined tender engine
 * Sir Robert Norramby, an Earl of Sodor

Season 17
The seventeenth season started airing in June 2013. This season is the first to use a new writing style for the series and is also the first animated by Arc Productions. Mark Moraghan takes over narration duties from Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon and Rupert Degas are no longer part of the series. This season marks the return of Kellsthorpe, Dryaw, Duck, Harvey, Bill and Ben. Diesel 10 and Sidney also appear in an episode for the first time. As ten episodes of this season were released ahead of King of the Railway, this season marks the first appearances of Millie, Connor, Caitlin and Sir Robert Norramby and their voice actors Miranda Raison, Jonathan Forbes, Rebecca O'Mara, and Mike Grady respectively. Although this is their first appearance, they wouldn't be officially introduced until King of the Railway. Jonathan Broadbent also joins the voice cast and Teresa Gallagher takes over the role of Mavis in the US version.

Characters introduced:
 * Porter

Tale of the Brave
Tale of the Brave is a special released in September 2014. It was the second special to feature animation from Arc Productions. Clive Mantle joined the voice cast as Gator.

Characters introduced: Highlights:
 * Gator
 * Timothy
 * Marion
 * Reg
 * The Castle Tunnel returns
 * The Scrapyards return
 * The Sodor China Clay Company return

Season 18
The eighteenth season began airing in late August 2014 in the UK and is slated to be released in November in the US. It will be the second season animated by Arc Productions.

Characters introduced: Highlights:
 * Samson
 * Oliver, Toad, and Duncan return.
 * Henrietta appears for the first time in the television series with a face.
 * Crovan's Gate, Sodor Castle, Skarloey, Rheneas Viaduct, and Glennock return.
 * Maggie Ollerenshaw, Tim Whitnall, Tom Stourton, Joe Mills, and Robert Wilfort join the voice cast.

The Adventure Begins
The Adventure Begins is a forty-four minute special that will be released in March 2015 in the US. It will be released sometime in April 2015 in the UK.

Characters introduced: Highlights:
 * Glynn
 * Jerome and Judy
 * The Breakdown Train gains faces and names.
 * Rob Rackstraw, Christopher Ragland, John Hasler and Joseph May join the voice cast. John Hasler takes over the voice of Thomas from Ben Small.
 * The first time since the fourth season that Railway Series stories have been adapted for the television series and the first time the North Western Railway has been referred to by name.