Thomas & Friends Windmill

Product Information

Gordon's happy face model was never released with blue wheels with siderods, though his gold plated, rainbow, shooting star and 2010 plated variants depict him with a happy face and siderods. Gordon's Wind-up toy also has a happy face and blue wheels with siderods. When Junior is flung into the air, the scene shifts to the right. This goof occurs in the full screen version only. Sodor was realised using models and chroma key. The models were animated using live-action remote control, as on the television series. The model sequences were shot in Toronto instead of Shepperton Studios, the "home" of the original show; however, several of the show's key staff were flown over to participate. The Magic Railroad was created using models, CGI and water-coloured matte paintings.

The film aired on the US channel Sprout on 3rd July and 11th July 2015 and like with the UK DVD was fitted as a cropped widescreen image. In the trailers, Mr. Conductor is heard saying "I've run out of gold dust and because of that I'm losing my energy as well", a line originally from the Director's Cut. At Knapford, Mr. Conductor reads the note Sir Topham Hatt left him. After trying on his top hat and returning it after he notices the portrait of the Controller appears angry, then smiling, he receives a phone call from Sir Topham Hatt and receives his instructions.This is the first film to feature separate voice actors for the characters in the English dub and the first Thomas production to use this format. This would not be done again until 9 years later, with 2009's Hero of the Rails, the first full CGI Thomas production. The first-person narration would not be reused until 18 years after that, in the twenty-second series, in which it became the standard for all future Thomas productions. The last time in the franchise where a character says "stupid" and "Shut up!," likely to reduce more crass language on the show. Later that night, Mr. Conductor has a nightmare of Shining Time in ruins and realises that his universe is in danger and that he needs more gold dust, Percy overhears this.

Scrap models of Thomas, Gordon, City of Truro, Toad and one of the Scottish twins appear in the smelters yard scenes. The models for Edward, James and Duke have their tenders moulded with the cab, similar to Motorized Railway, Railway Pals and Minis.

Mr. Conductor has also been a regular character at Day Out with Thomas events at the Battlefield Railway in the UK. Sam Wilkinson played him at some of these events, leading Mattel to eventually hire him.