The Mystery Behind New Friends For Thomas (A Fan Documentary)

This, is a documentary about a Thomas and friends release that raised more questions than anyone could comprehend.
This took me SO long to make, hours of editing and script writing. But it was all worth it.
Thank you SO MUCH to the people who participated!
Trainboy - / @itstrainboy
Carty - / cartycinema
Oliver11GWR - / oliver11gwr
Legolover117- / legolover117
BlackLochVillage (Production Designer) - em...
Special thanks to Stuie101 for a lot of the Angelis footage! - / @stuie1012
My Socials:
🟪 Instagram - ...
🟦 Twitter - x.com/seantf26...
🟩 Letterboxd- boxd.it/5mhtT
A Thomasfan261 Production (2021)

[@LegoLover117]

This turned out so good Sean, honored to have been a part of it!

[@Thomasfan261]

It was an honour to have you be apart of it, thank you!

[@doctorstevens7552]

@@Thomasfan261 could you please review Peep Peep Hooray, Next?

[@Thomasfan261]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYa7iZeogpuDeLs

[@doctorstevens7552]

@@Thomasfan261 What about Tales from the Tracks?

[@Slyarno2795]

@@Thomasfan261 This is pretty good I like this documentary I have the DVD of New friends of Thomas and also Thomas and the jet engine I also appreciate Michael Angelis as the narrator of Thomas and friends uk dub.

[@RobTheGreenEngine]

“I don’t know why I narrate for the US. The terminology is shocking.” Michael Angelis, 2004. Absolutely beautiful tribute. One Michael himself would have adored.

[@skarloeythomas5172]

Absolutely true, Mr Angelis.

[@roberttreacy8271]

May he RIP.

[@therwsgeek683]

What's even more interesting is that some of HIT's shows kept the British actors and terms when aired in America, such as Kipper the Dog and Angelina Ballerina. So if HIT was so keen on rebranding Thomas to fit their vision of the show and Baldwin supposedly left at the worst time possible, then why not simply have Angelis be the narrator for both dubs? Not only would S7 be allowed to release in America the way it was intended, but because it's Michael Angelis, the Hit Era would've been slightly less of a headache.

[@lukegoldstonofficial1614]

The ending had me tearing up.

[@rmn070]

I don’t think Alex Baldwin is bad in Season 6. Sure he’s not trying as hard, but he’s still nice to listen to, plus the new characters got some unique and fun voices.

[@JosephRailwayStudios2000]

It was actually because he had a nasty divorce at the time

[@roberttreacy8271]

I agree.

[@ChristianEvans-p2t]

I also agree with that

[@ChristianEvans-p2t]

He Alex Baldwin did good as narrator in season 6

[@MrDankEngine1999]

Michael was one legendary narrator, I used to LOVE hearing his energetic voices when I was a child.

[@thomasagozmozdonycsakangol6292]

This is easily one of if not the best fan made documentarys i've ever seen!

[@Gondarth]

The only thing I can assume is that New Friends was a test to see whether or not Angelis could take the role of American narrator after Alec Baldwin left, maybe as a cost-cutting measure. It was Season 7 after all, so that would make sense... That being said, they evidently said no when Michael Brandon came on board, so the "Save money" excuse goes out the window, unless of course the two Michaels took a pay cut... It's certainly a mystery! 😃

[@helloneighborfan5139]

Maybe they had to get the DVD out and they didn't have anyone and they used Angelis because he was narrating in the uk

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

Angelis was probably just a placeholder while they auditioned Brandon. No idea what led them to seek him out.

[@elirosen1391]

As a US-citizen and lifetime Thomas fan, I say it's such a shame that we never had more time to experience the magic that Angelis put into his narration, than the one-off Thomas video described in this video. I think it can be surmised from the comments of everyone involved, both British and American, that Michael Angelis was the defining voice of the series. He lived for Thomas and still had faith in the series even when HIT let him go. Thank you for making this video.

[@usualblokeluke]

Very well made documentary. May the legendary narrator himself continue to rest in peace.

[@Shmeat8590]

hey its luke

[@strasburgrailfan90]

I love Michael Angelis he’s my favorite narrator if I didn’t officially joined the community in 2020 I would have never known he had died till this video.

[@JamesIsHere5]

Sean, I am blown away! This is by far, your best video!

[@jackieblue122]

Interestingly enough this VHS was actually my introduction to Thomas and Friends. I was just born a few months after TATMR was released, so I never got to watch it until I was much older. This VHS is my earliest memory of watching Thomas and Friends so I didn't question Michael Angelis being the narrator. Surprisingly I didn't question the switch in narrators once the VHS It's Great To Be An Engine came out with Michael Brandon as the narrator. Then again I was only about 4.

[@josephmarrison4606]

Michael Angelis was my favourite narrator. I grew up with him in the UK. Was devastated to hear he had died. But his narration will always be loved and cherished forever. R.I.P. Michael.

[@brightredmogul1912]

man the beginning and end of this just hit different ✊

[@steamdragon8550]

This man didn’t have to go as hard as he did with this video. And yet he did. Mad props!

[@_KOBuS_]

Are we gonna get any word about how the cover designer duplicated spencer?

[@duckthegreatwesternengine4340]

Yea I also noticed that like why did they do that

[@margogoralski6294]

Yeah. I just now saw that.

[@Jade2781]

Error in the photo editing software.

[@jmredguppy2799]

I literally just noticed that the day before I commented this....HOW DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO REALIZE?!?!

[@clairehoskin7632]

Yeah I noticed that,WTF?

[@therustyfox420]

This explains why i remember hearing Angelis before discovering the uk dub

[@connorstratton5961]

This was a release that my family rented from Blockbuster as a young one. Particularly because I really loved the Five New Engines in the Shed song(or as i call it now "Five New Products You Can Buy"). I didnt mind his voice that much, and thought he did well on episodes like Gordon and Spencer.

[@alexanderjarvis2008]

There are five new products you can buy 5 new products you can buy

[@dexstewart862]

This is very fascinating! I'll have to track down some of these dvds.

[@mikeavila1054]

R.I.P Michael Angelis, Gone....But not forgotten. 😞

[@youngchillymusic2507]

Fun fact, I actually had the dvd and still have it today.

[@DaiKaijyuu]

You know, listening to this video, I think I didn't give Angelis a chance. I remember getting the New Friends for Thomas DVD when I was younger too and being very confused as to who this was because I was so used to Carlin and Baldwin. I understand why a lot of the UK fans say he is their favorite, but I still think I prefer Baldwin's S5 narration because to me it was top notch. The only other time I heard Angelis was S7 and that didn't give me a good impression, but I should go and seek Angelis seasons during his prime and give him another chance. Thanks for changing my perspective, this is a very thoughtful video.

[@stuie1012]

Nice video! It's documentaries like this that really get me back into Thomas, so thanks for making it. And thanks for crediting me for the Michael Angelis footage. I've got more footage of him, so if you're ever to make another video that needs Angelis footage let me know and I can provide it :)

[@Thomasfan261]

Man, without you, this documentary wouldn’t exist! So thank YOU! And I’ll definitely get in contact if I ever need more footage, thanks again man 😄

[@stuie1012]

@@Thomasfan261 No worries :)

[@skarloeythomas5172]

You're a great person

[@kbeasley447]

I was 3 or 4 when this VHS came out, so I didn't really notice too much that it was a different narrator. I liked his voice, most of the time lol. I loved all these episodes growing up and they're very nostalgic for me. Thanks for this doc with many different perspectives and its' cool history!

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

TATMR deserves more awards and credit, it’s wonderful

[@marcusperez3118]

I think that a lot of people out there might agree with the follow statement, if not that's fine too. When George Carlin passed away, it was very sad. A big loss for sure. But when Michael Angelis passed away, it literally left people heart broken. Even though I grew up as a fan in the US, I still completely understand the loss. I nearly teared up watching this video.

[@marcusperez3118]

@Jason The Tank Engine but that's another story...😉😁

[@marcusperez3118]

@Jason The Tank Engine but that's another story...😉😁

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

2008 also had been a rough time for us fans since David Mitton had passed away himself too while attempting another show of his with talking animals that'll sadly never be completed and The Great Discovery came out which sadly would be the last time the models would be used in their original form before the slow move over into full CGI starting with that awkward hybrid that is S12

[@coolfinel]

Interestingly, this technically wasn’t the first US release to feature Michael Angelis. In 2002 (2 years prior to New Friends For Thomas), a music album was released in the US called Thomas’ Train Yard Tracks. At the beginning of track 3 (Come For The Ride), Angelis’s voice can be heard. This is due to most of the audio on the album being sampled from the UK audiobook Surprise Adventures.

[@ThomasAndRandomRobloxGames]

wonderful tribute to angelis. angelis is no doubt my favourite narrator

[@ShiningTimeStudios475]

Yesterday from 12:15 and onward, I started crying, this was so beautiful! I'm sure he would have loved this! He would have loved this honor!

[@frankgraham5211]

It feels good to be a fan of Thomas and friends. This is the most emotional Thomas-related video I’ve ever seen on KZbin!

[@srilankanflyer1527]

"He is the voice of my childhood"' Period

[@leonkfox3606]

I think a more fitting title for this would have been “Micheal Angelis Tribute” but either way this was absolutely fantastic. I grew up with the first 3 series but I mostly remember Series 3 VHS’s so Angelis was my narrator, easily my favourite and dearly underrated by the wider fanbase. The conclusions to episodes like Henry’s Forest and All at Sea are some of the most emotional pieces of narration in the entire show. RIP Micheal Angelis. Thank you.

[@Jokerfan45]

This was a very beautiful tribute to Michael Angelis. When I first heard about the video, I still watched Thomas and collected toys despite the fact that I was no longer the target age. I saw we were getting a new video on an online store, and that we were getting a new narrator. It made me sad that Alec Baldwin wasn't going to be the narrator anymore. But Michael Angelis did a good job and I expected him to stay (I was unaware that things were different in the UK at the time). Then Brandon came along and I got confused. What happened to Angelis? A few years later I learned all about his UK career. I was impressed with how long he had narrated the series in the UK, and checked out his narrations. I like his voice, and can appreciate his dedication to Thomas for so many years. RIP Michael Angelis.

[@thecartoonmanist956]

Michael Angelis was by far the best narrator in all of Thomas & Friends history. No matter if I find a bad episode during Series 8 through 16, I will never, ever, ever hate his narration. And despite the fact he didn't have the energy in Seasons 7 to 12 and awfulness of Season 13 to 16, he didn't even care about the criticism of the fans and he never gave up. And he gave his all during his time as the narrator. And the fact that Angelis died last year is just heartbreaking to say the least. And no matter how bad Thomas is going to get in the next few years, everyone will still remember Angelis' voice and what he did in the Thomas fandom for 21 years. R.I.P. Michael Angelis. You will always be remembered as a really useful narrator.

[@isaiahwilliams2642]

This was beautiful, what I thought would be a simple fun look at a crazy VHS turned out to actually be a love letter to one of the greatest storytellers of our childhoods.

[@jade1jadefriends974]

A DVD Documentary, my lucky day!

[@BlueCometEntertainment347]

As for me, I thought Michael Angelis' narrating was a bit boring as it sounded like he was talking a bit too slow. But I give respect to him for becoming the long-time running Thomas narrator from 1991-2012 and for those who grew up with his narration. RIP Michael Angelis.

[@connerhills5665]

A piece of trivia that some of you may not know is that Michael Angelis's older brother Paul Angelis was the voice of Ringo in Yellow Submarine.

[@Badumpop]

One of the Best fan Documentary's, Michael Angelis brought me back into Thomas back in 2019 and what a way to bring me back I loved his energetic narrations and it is tuely a shame he is gone forever now... Rest In Peace man..

[@victorgaminglounge3967]

I came back to Thomas because my 11th Grade year in High School was terrible and the fact that I still remember Michael Angelis's voice ever since I was a kid and hearing his voice again many years later when returning to this franchise, really did made me feel like a kid again alongside Ringo Starr and Michael Brandon who were also my Childhood narrators.

[@TUGSFAN-tp6cm]

This Documentary seems very interesting

[@BigLightning4360]

So, even after the Reverend W. Vere Awdry and Ringo Starr, Michael Angelis was the heart and soul of the "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" franchise. I wholeheartedly appreciate his storytelling in the sixth and seventh series, regardless what others think of their quality.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Let’s calmly vote to Mattel continue the original Thomas series

[@JosephRailwayStudios2000]

With the original models

[@JamesDaffyBenderDonald]

A magnificent tribute to one of my favorite narrators ever. Like most Thomas fans in the US, I had no Idea who Mr. Angelis was until I saw this DVD and I began spelunking the web. Thank you for such a glorious tribute to the longest serving and most beloved Thomas narrator.

[@saadahmad913]

24:30 It sounds so real!😭😭😭😭

[@expithesocfurry4099]

I remember getting this DVD from the library a few times as a kid, and while I'm not entirely sure of how I thought of Michael Angelis as a narrator, his narration on the DVD always made it feel more unique to me since it was really the only time I was exposed to it aside for maybe catching a few episodes on KZbin and whatnot, and I didn't know he actually did more episodes than what was on the DVD. I remember even catching the episodes on PBS Sprout here and there and being surprised when I heard Brandon and even Baldwin narrating (in the case of Jack Jumps In and A Friend In Need). To be honest, he's not my personal favorite narrator for the classic seasons (honestly still too used to Carlin's and Baldwin's narrations lol), but I definitely have a lot of respect for the guy, the fact that he stuck with the series so long, and just the fact that he and his narration influenced so many people and played a part of their childhoods, as George Carlin did for me.

[@SmurfyDan1991]

Fascinating and unique for a detailed fan documentary about an interesting piece of home media from Thomas & Friends. Fantastic work! Will be adding this to the next episode of #TheStationMastersOffice for my fan video recommendations in a few weeks!

[@tardis5179]

I don’t remember the first time that i heard Michael Angelis’ narration, but the first memory i have of it was on a train ride going to Saint Louis, Missouri. After all, I was born in 2008, But I do remember watching Thomas and the Jet Engine, and laughing the whole way through. It was probably the funniest Thomas episode I’ve ever watched. I was really sad when I heard that he’d died. And, like TrainBoy, I also played with my Trackmaster, but also Wooden Railway, Take Along, Take & Play, and Trackmaster 2, with his voice narrating what the trains were doing in my head. It was really fun, and I wish I had as much space in my house as I did then to play with them again. I have fond memories of watching Thomas DVDs at my grandma’s house, in about 2012 - 2015. I wish I could find those DVDs, and watch them again. I miss Michael, and rewatch the episodes he narrated a lot on KZbin. He was the best narrator I can remember.

[@jaredfranco10]

Honestly Michael Brandon is my childhood narrator hearing people bash him annoys me. I didnt grow up with Angelis but he is the ultimate Thomas narrator.

[@victorgaminglounge3967]

Same here, Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon were both my childhood narrators. However now that I'm older I understand why people really despise Brandon, I mean he does have the potential but unfortunately but he dropped the ball on being the narrator for the US Dub of the show.

[@jalyntate7965]

I agree too. MB has always been a thing to me, and even so when he has his own Yt channel (well, two), I love to imatate his accents and stuff.

[@newguy186]

Honestly, I do respect everything Michael Angelis has done for the franchise, and I can admit that there are really good bits of narration at times, sometimes even better than the US, especially in season 6, but overall, he just felt slower and more sluggish than say George Carlin or Alec Baldwin, even in the classic seasons. That's just how I feel, and I don't blame anyone for liking, or disliking his narration.

[@fanofeverything30465]

I like Michael Brandon's narrations too

[@aphotographerfromcaliforni2661]

Oh man, this was relatable. I was born in 02, and some years later my grandparents bought some T&F DVDs. Well, one of them was New Friends for Thomas. During this time, I was used to hearing the US narrators and Ringo on rare occasions (like watching YT). But whenever I’d watch New Friends for Thomas, hearing Angelis was so odd bc it was the only DVD w/ Agelis’s narration. I didn’t prefer him as a kid, most likely because I wasn’t exposed to enough UK versions of T&F on account that my parents and grandparents noticed I began developing an English accent lol

[@mariobabbo3497]

I was born in 2003, and I had the Hit Entertainment era DVDs and some classic era vhs tapes (Spills & Chills and Best Of James for example) and I had that VHS and it was strange because the UK narrator was kinda confusing to me.

[@TheBoComanofficial]

Me in the middle of the trailer: HOLY SSSSHHHHIIIIIIIITTTTT

[@JoshProductions07]

All the work went into this is amazing

[@bartholomew_41]

Absolutely Incredible, Michael Angelis Would've Enjoyed This RIP Michael 💗💗🙏🙏

[@jmredguppy2799]

I’m happy someone like you made a whole documentary on this Thomas Home Video and DVD release. This one for me was the one that stuck out like a black sheep. When I first got it on VHS, I wasn’t a big fan of Angelis’ narration. Plus being the only American Thomas release to feature him as the narrator for these selected Season 6 and 7 episodes has always got me wondering to even this day, “what the heck happened behind the scenes with this?”

[@mmayfield1994]

New Friends for Thomas was my introduction to Angelis and I think this was at the akward time between Baldwin leaving and Brandon becoming the Narrator for the US

[@imok2570]

New Friends For Thomas is my favorite DvD or Vhs release. Every single time I remember any of the episodes on the DvD, I can only Remember his narration. I have watched this release the most, to the point that I have 3 DvD copys and 2 Vhs. I'm glad that this video is here to not only to be a big thanks to Michael but a critique of my favorite Thomas and friends Dvd or Vhs release. Great video I will be rewatching this video just as much as New Friends For Thomas.

[@thomasthecornishtank]

3:30 thats kinda sad cause i think of it as a way that the engines think that nobody wants them

[@2DIttyBitty]

Holy shit the ending has me in tears 😭 rip my man I saw him through KZbin when I got an I pad back in 2009 I loved him he became my favorite narrator and I wish he continued with the franchise

[@kiwiontheinternet5810]

I grew up with Michael Angelis narrating Thomas because in New Zealand they would just show the British version. So anyway I actually never knew they got re-dubbed for the US. This was a Great Video, hearing Angelis voice was Nostalgic, 10/10

[@skarloeythomas5172]

Well of course, the English version of the English show is the international release, and most of the English-speaking world is the Commonwealth or former Commonwealth. It's always the USA that needs special releases because their media culture is xenophobic and solipsistic. Look at all the non-US media entities online that clarify things they say with US alternatives, like saying 'crisps, or chips for the Americans'.

[@JAProductions494]

This was absolutely incredible and beautiful and I did well up at the end. I always like documentaries and this turned out SO good. I never even knew about this because I’m a British boi who watched the Classic series on YT so this was fascinating to learn

[@thejammycollector8512]

Michael Angelis is the definition of Thomas the Tank Engine. He provided so many childhoods with those 20 years narrating the show. Similarly to the US listening to Angelis in "New Friends for Thomas", in the UK, I was confused when listening to Brandon's narration in "Fergus Breaks the Rules" for the "Hit's Favourites: Groovy Collection" DVD. The impact probably wasn't that great compared to the US. It's something I thought to bring up, though. Rest in peace, Michael.

[@thomasfriendsfan4334]

New Friends for Thomas was my first DVD of Thomas & Friends. And this was my first introduction to Michael Angelis and it shows. I was confused because it was a different narrator, not Ringo, George, and Alec. I can see the problems with it.

[@apersonnamedjune7410]

I distinctly remember renting this dvd at a Blockbuster and snapping the disc trying to get it out because I was a stupid child

[@MATT2productions]

I ain't much of Angeles. But I know that I have a huge and deep respect for him. He has done this narrating more than Any narrator of all time in Thomas. Also he did some good narrations too.Even afterwards. I feel like watching the UK versions to hear and catch up to his voicing

[@Thatkrillnguy]

This was my favorite Thomas dvd I can not express how much I loved it I would always play with my take along of the new characters when I was watching it it in my opinion is a top tear Thomas dvd

[@kayzeaza]

I never cared who was narrating the stories because they all did such a great job at it

[@ianschwartz08]

thank you, Michael, even if I was born in the states, I always liked you as the narrator. And I will always remember you, now that you're gone, I feel so odd knowing you won't be back. Rest easy, Michael Angelis.

[@edwardkennedy8494]

The answer to this mystery is simple. Brandon was discovered some time after Angelis recorded for the release. Bigger mystery is: why weren’t Baldwin’s narrations included on the release? If it’s for the sake of consistency, why not have Brandon narrate the S6 eps for the Jet Engine DVD in addition to the S7 eps. My answer would be to heck with it. They had Brandon on board. Two American narrators is fine

[@Beadedbyoscarlailah]

i came back to this video again after remembering about michael,and now i am sobbing.miss you Michael r.i.p

[@MegadethFan9000]

May he and George Carlin rest in peace.

[@fridaynightfunkinfan5627]

Michael Brandon also narrated all of season 7 in the US.

[@thecartoonmanist956]

I love how you used the current HIT Entertainment logo in this video. Great job.

[@splonko9788]

Me seeing double Spencer on the dvd box art: *don’t think about it, don’t see it*

[@Kidsmtvslvback]

I thought Michael Angelis was ok when I first saw New Friends For Thomas but when Michael Brandon took over I began to question it until I realized he was the UK Narrator.

[@slovakpanniertank81]

Americans are ranting about this, whilst czechs are not complaining about changing through 11 of their dubs of Looney Tunes like pairs of old socks. (I´m not exaggerating about the number, it is true.)

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Thomas and Mr. Coductor both are the main character of TATMR

[@knuckles1206]

This makes me wanna rewatch seasons 5-7, well done. I don't agree on season 6 and 7 being downgrades tho, i find alot of people praise season 5 for its action packed nature, and season 6 and 7 are shrugged off for being more calm like the first four seasons.

[@lucasmemorialchapel3780]

While being in U.S. I grew up with Carlin, Baldwin, and Brandon. I have always respected Angelis's narration from the show in the UK. Though he isn't as nostalgic for me as Carlin, Baldwin, or Brandon I still like Angelis. I bet if I grew up in UK I would like him as much I do Carlin or Baldwin.

[@karenwright1735]

Hi Thomasfan261, Zak Wright from England here again. This, as well as your narrators ranked video are perfect tributes to the GOD of UK Thomas narration, Michael Angelis! And in my opinion, All Americans who have a Thomas DVD collection should have at least some UK Thomas DVDs with his narration to honour his legacy!

[@Billyvids_]

That ending, damn that got to me....

[@samstudios9455]

Great work!!! This was a awesome documentary!

[@eazy5485]

Alec Baldwin was a great narrator, well at least in season 5

[@Darian-mk1bw]

I have new friends for thomas and as a kid I was so confused by the accent I was hearing but I really liked it

[@tobyno7tramengine267]

New Friends For Thomas is My Thomas The Tank Engine First VHS Tapes

[@JintyGreen]

I remember this VHS. Personally, at the time, I didn't really understand the concept of different narrators, either. But I never figured it had this much lore. Great video. P.S. I love Angelis on this VHS.

[@whackyzachy1482]

This video needs more attention

[@Jonathan-zw8nb]

Interesting very interesting

[@jack_bench]

As a kid, I never even connected in my head that the narrators sounded different until I was about seven or eight years old - except for this release! So simply for the fact that it was different, I really enjoyed it a lot as a child, and looking back, it's still one of my favorite releases from childhood (putting aside the 4:3 Aspect Ratio, but that wasn't confined to just this release anyways). I never owned it, but rented the VHS edition from the library a lot. Once while watching it I got my leg stuck in a bunk bed's bar, so it also stands-out because I associate it with that memoryXD Also, this release actually was not the only time a territory got a narrator which was out of the norm! Series 3 was narrated by George Carlin when it debuted on Home Video in New Zealand, a region which was meant to receive U.K. narrations, and on a U.K. HiT Favorites DVD called "The Groovy Collection", Fergus Breaks the Rules was narrated by Michael Brandon instead of Michael Angelis! I think that those would make for some interesting discussions too!! As always - excellent work Mate!!:D (Edit: All of Series 3 was narrated by George Carlin on its home video debut in New Zealand, not just the first half)

[@jasonbrockwell2278]

Rest In Peace Michael Angulas I Loved Your Thomas Voices and Worm Narrative I Will always Remember You. PS RIP Angulas.

[@iammaybeabro4598]

6:03 I have no clue why this freaked me out as a young lad. Maybe not freaked me out, but it felt uncomfortable to some extent.

[@ASmithsFunEntertainment]

Great documentary!

[@Enterprising11]

maybe i was a scared kid but the steamies vs diesels ad all ways scared me

[@Noriyaki_Kakyoin]

Ngl it was pretty ominous 😅 I wouldn’t blame you for your reaction

[@JoshProductions07]

12:18 I noticed that a few months ago and I was so confused. Why did they think it was a good idea to put the CGI series in 4:3? The CGI Series looks terrible in 4:3. It’s not just the CGI series, it’s also the HiT era. The HiT era looks incredibly bland in 4:3, it looks amazing in 16:9. By 2009, they should of switched to 16:9 in the US, as that was the year when they switched from 4:3 to 16:9 in the US, however, Europe switched from 4:3 to 16:9 when Series 6 was in production, as the first few episodes of Series 6 were filmed in 4:3. However, I kind of wish Series 5 was filmed in 16:9, as it would amazing in it. It’s kinda funny how people in the US and Canada had to watch them in 4:3, while the UK and Ireland got them in 16:9. Americans and Canadians missed out.

[@dannythehipster5644]

Series 6 wasn't filmed entirely in widescreen, many shots, especially in early episodes of the seasons, were shot in 4:3, but cropped into 16:9.

[@JoshProductions07]

@@dannythehipster5644 I know that. I said the first few episodes

[@newguy186]

The lack of proper 16:9 in the US is only half of the problem. The other half is that Anchor Bay Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Universal all insisted on releasing only single DVDs. The only time any of them bothered to give the US a complete season DVD was The Early Years DVD set (not counting the adventure pack which contained all 4 season 12 DVDs, all 4 combined included all the episodes from season 12).

[@JoshProductions07]

@@newguy186 Over in the UK, VCI distributed the DVDs, then 2Entertain took over in 2005, then HiT themselves took over in the late 2000s. I feel like the main reason why the US DVDs were in 4:3 Fullscreen was because 16:9 Widescreen TVs weren’t as common in the US then they were in the UK. But when the CGI series started, 16:9 Widescreen TVs were more common than 4:3 Fullscreen TVs in the US, but for some reason they kept cropping the US DVDs in 4:3 Fullscreen, but on US TV broadcasts, they were aired in 16:9 widescreen. It was ridiculous that the US DVDs were still in 4:3 Fullscreen in the 2010s.

[@newguy186]

Part of me wants to blame HiT Entertainment for the US 4:3 issue, but considering that most of the UK variants of these DVDs were in their proper aspect ratio, where HiT solely released them, I'd say the blame mainly goes the the American distributors. Ironically, this isn't the only show that has this issue. Astro Boy (2003) and Teen Titans (2003) were both produced in widescreen, but were released in full screen on their respective DVD releases. At least Teen Titans was released in widescreen on blu-ray, and at least both shows had complete season DVDs, even in full screen.

[@swiftengine]

I’ve always wanted New Friends for Thomas, but all the second hand copies I came across were wildly scratched.

[@UnearthlyTimelord2005]

RIP Michael Angelis (1944-2020) Gone But Not Forgotten 😔😔😔

[@dontcallmedirtypercy4147]

Overall, great video. I still miss Micheal Angelis. Btw, I think season 7 is good season. I grew up with some of the episodes and enjoyed them. Until this day, I still love this season.

[@LMS5935]

The ending made me cry😭😢🤧

[@daansstuff2952]

Somewhere in an alternate universe where alec Baldwin is the narrator in the us until season 16

[@jamestheredenginefan5268]

Gorgeous Splendid And Would Certainly Make A Grown Man Cry

[@ryanfuller912]

Thanks Sean, I've always wondered why Michael Angelis was the storyteller instead of Michael Brandon and Alec Baldwin. Maybe the creators wanted we Americans what Michael Angelis sounded like. Who knows.