Why Season 12 Of Thomas Was Inherently Broken

[@PepsiTrain26]

Fun fact: Season 11 came out in 2007 before Breaking bad’s first season aired in early 2008. So this means Season 11’s lighting basically inspired the Mexico breaking bad we all know.

[@eastlancsesteem]

@@PepsiTrain26 🤯

[@EmpireofStantnowa.]

Thomas: Percy.... we need to cook

[@NitroIndigo]

Hero of the Rails' clunky script makes so much more sense now!

[@joshuav875]

I came back to watch this after unlucky tugs recommendation

[@HungarianNomadNM4856]

Me too

[@PICTUREYFROMBFTSG]

Me three

[@Steph-T-45]

season 12 confused the absolute hell out of me as a kid because i was like "...why are some episodes animated but with a narrator....why are some voice acted...why are some of them both animated and models....why are some just models...why are some all animated....." the season 12 crisis LMAO

[@ryanfuller912]

I’m really looking forward to the Season 12 retrospective by Unlucky Tug, I’ve got all my anger ready for it along for the first four CGI seasons.

[@giulianodervelociraptorder734]

For me, season 12, like seasons 7 and 21, is a transitional season. It is part of the “Hit Era” or “New Series”. Models are part of this season, the episodes are 7 minutes long, it has the music of the previous seasons/movies and also has the same continuity as the previous seasons and movies. However, it has elements of the next era. For example, CGI is used frequently and Sharon Miller is the Head Writer.

[@thomasj219]

She who must not be named. 😂

[@peloea8718]

Same continent?

[@fridaynightfunkinfan5627]

Season 7 had 5 and 6’s music in the UK dub, & 8-12’s music in the US dub. But I think it’s 18 that was the other transit-ional season, not 21. It had the voices of 13-17, and the visuals of 19-24. Anyway, I don’t think any season is particularly bad, aside from a few stupid or predict-able scenes. Even 25 has some decent stories, although the songs are kinda cringe. Is season 26 out yet btw?

[@giulianodervelociraptorder734]

@@peloea8718 I fixed it.

[@joshuaW5621]

@@fridaynightfunkinfan5627there is no season 25 and 26. That’s All Engines Go, which is a different show set in a different universe.

[@theAstarrr]

Just want to say I saw this around a month or two before seeing Tug's recommendation. It was a good thumbnail and title hook on its own. And a great video!

[@loogiman8491]

I hope Pierce Brosnan's narrations for this season are found one day because I think Pierce is a very underrated narrator and would love to to hear the voices he gave Duck, Donald, Douglas and Oliver.

[@stepneydr_n.5561]

Me too

[@jayo1212]

I would be really interested in hearing the voices he gave for them as well... I'd also like to hear the voice he gave Hank...

[@thecartoonmanist956]

This season is the absolute worst of Thomas by far. The CGI and model clashing is absolutely horrific and the three strikes formula is absolutely tiring and done to death.

[@TotoDG]

I don't recall who said it, but I remember a tweet that said filming Season 12 must've been a depressing experience, and showed the BTS pictures of the models with the face targets. To be honest, while I definitely agree with the sentiment, even just _looking_ at the models is already pretty sad; I genuinely don't think I'd have the heart to film those for solid months.

[@VestedUTuber]

Wait, if Hero of the Rails was originally going to be "model with CGI faces", does that mean there's a 1 gauge JNR D51 lying around somewhere unused in a prop warehouse?

[@jayo1212]

I don't know... I would think no because they probably decided to go all CG before the special was that far along... Or if they did start a Hiro model, it might have just been little more than a modified Murdoch or Arthur chassis... I suspect Victor would have been a modified Skarloey model...

[@VestedUTuber]

@@jayo1212 It'd be really difficult to convert a BR 9F (Murdoch) or an LMS Ivatt (Arthur) into a JNR D51. The 9F is a 2-10-0 Decapod and the Ivatt is a 4-6-2T Pacific Tank (would be a possible basis for a JNR C11 conversion, but that makes even less sense than Hiro already does in terms of character lore), whereas the D51 is a 2-8-2 Mikado. There's also the fact that the D51 is actually quite small even compared to UK standard gauge equipment, as it's primarily a 3ft 6in gauge locomotive with standard-gauge export models produced for Taiwan and the Korean peninsula. As a result a physical Hiro would need smaller drive wheels, or would otherwise need to be made out of scale. (For the record, an actual D51 measures 64ft 8.5in long. For comparison, an LB&SCR E2 Tank Engine measures around 33ft 3in long and an LNER A1 is 70ft 10in. CGI Hiro is massively overscaled)

[@jmredguppy2799]

I remember in Smurfydan’s Steaming to Legacy documentary series, he mentioned and showed images of the molded faces for Hiro, Victor and Kevin were shown at a special event, but never made any clarifications if models for them were ever built.

[@jayo1212]

@@VestedUTuber yeah, I think they decided to go CGI before any models were made...

[@joshuaW5621]

@@VestedUTuberI believe Arthur is a 2-6-2T. I can’t remember if a pacific version of the Ivatt tanks exists, it probably does.

[@tudorbrancuturcu5996]

The Unlucky Tug shouted this video out!!!!

[@Gondarth]

Oh boy, here we go 🤣 I still remember where I was when S12 aired. I was on a family cruise, I went to the ship's internet cafe to check out the new stuff. This was the old days of KZbin when you could casually post old TV shows without any ramifications. I saw Thomas and the Billboard and the CGI was a weird change, and I remember it was when Pierce Brosnan was still believed to be narrating the TV show, so you can imagine my surprise when I realised Pierce sounded a hell of a lot like Michael Angelis... When it comes S12 fifteen years later, the stories are terrible, a foreshadowing of what's to come in the Nitrogen era, but I really do like the CGI/model hybrid style they went for. I can tell the budget was limited, so they had to go back to the facemasks for long shots or just flat out filming the models from the back so they don't even have to do anything with the face. You rewatch S12, you'll see the latter happen A LOT, and I guarantee it's down to budget. No doubt HiT was pushing for it to be done faster than the production of an average Pokémon game... I really do feel like the style could've worked if the time and budget were there. That would've given them time to fine tune how the CGI humans look, to make sure they don't look like the characters from Pet Alien... So overall, I call Season 12 "Interesting". It has a good idea, but it just needed more time, more money and better writers.

[@trakkKonnektin]

good gracious this is a long one

[@Gondarth]

@@trakkKonnektin Yeah, I'm just a guy with some thoughts 🤣

[@thecaledoniansleeper2648]

@@GondarthYou think this post is long? Wait until you see mine, I’m on the same boat as Sean was for explaining why Season 12 was dogshit.

[@joshuaW5621]

Usually my posts aren’t that long, unless I really have a lot to say with something. I tend to be as short and to the point as possible since my vocabulary can get a little messy at times.

[@nintendoguy0342]

I felt like Pierce Brosnan should’ve narrated this season so it wouldn’t sound off. I do like the idea of a hybrid season of models and cgi but it was executed horribly of how bad and creepy the faces were on the characters. I feel like Season 12 should’ve been released before the Great Discovery since TGD felt like a finale or after when TGD was released they stop using the models and jump to CGI.

[@jayo1212]

I wonder how Brosnan's voices for Hank and the Scottish twins would have sounded...

[@SeanChukwuezi]

Honestly he narrated he really made great discovery his own Honestly was the reason the movie was great by his suprsingly charismatic narrating and he always have the best duncan voice but anyways you can't tell angelies and brandon while both still did excellent just sound enthusiastic and just lost faith in the show even angelies who kind stopped caring after season 7 sounds bored I think it was probably a good choice to give it to pierce brodsman he would have killed it and honestly carried the season despite its flaws

[@TheAdventuresOfJimiJaden]

He actually did narrate Season 12, I think possibly all of the episodes. I’m thinking he left after he found about the CGI. Correct me if I’m wrong though.

[@carloso5910official]

@@TheAdventuresOfJimiJadenI think he left because he found out that they would be installing a voice cast into the show and by that point, he would have only voiced the narrator

[@ryanfuller912]

I wish they didn’t use CGI or Miller in Season 12, and if we got Brosnan’s narration then 12 would’ve been so bad.

[@Robowil]

I think the real reason as to why the CG elements look so out of place is the complete lack of proper light bouncing that makes them blend into the scenery. Basically, think of a stage in a Sonic game that uses Hedgehog Engine or Hedgehog Engine 2 (so Unleashed onwards), but without the light-field added in just yet. In fairness, the software Nitrogen's staff was using to animate them probably wasn't quite there yet, and/or they likely didn't have the time or budget to do something like that.

[@DC4260Productions]

S12 is my least favourite Thomas season. I never liked the way CGI was incorporated (especially when the faces where at the wrong angle relative to the locomotives, like in one shot of Thomas and Hank and the end of Heave Ho Thomas). Even back in the day, I cringed at the poor writing, especially in the case of episodes like Saved You and Push Me, Pull You. The latter is especially awful due to Skarloey and Rheneas being completely out of character. Don't even get me started on Michael Angelis' weird inflections in his narration; it's a massive downgrade from his peak in Season 5. And then there those bizarre one-off characters like Flora, Hank and Colin. I know that they were introduced solely for merchandising, but it still seems like a massive waste of time to build those models, only to use them in one episode each.

[@PepsiTrain26]

Tug’s pick of the week comment.

[@mmx3374]

For what’s supposed to be a sendoff to the models, boy did they butcher it.

[@donaldthescotishtwin]

I remember when season 12 first came out. The whole community loved it, the new CGI mixed with the practical models was new and fresh. The stories weren’t as bad as they were in previous seasons and they finally brought back some legacy characters. Now we have all these new fans who probably weren’t there coming in telling us it’s awful. And even veteran members who now say it’s bad, remember I was there with you back then and you loved it.

[@StuartStudios5]

Thanks for making my birthday better, Sean

[@P-Star7511]

This season scared the shit out of me as a little one!

[@tanyaburton3122]

3:26 the Welsh accent and the fireman being mentioned could be a nod to Fireman Sam 😂 😄 lol

[@Elliottblancher]

Season 12 was pretty much a test of CGI

[@IGuessIDoThings]

I grew up watching, mostly, HiT model seasons. Now, I basically didn’t remember anything from Season 12, or so I thought. One point, around a year ago maybe, I was watching some eps of Season 12 and when I saw specific shots I got blasted with nostalgia and memories of watching the season as a kid, I was kinda amazed I had forgotten it almost entirely.

[@RailRocketRicky]

When Season 12 first came out, I was quite surprised when I saw Michael Angelis credited as narrator instead of Pierce Brosnan. It is a shame that Pierce Brosnan's one and only narration was in "The Great Discovery"; it was never revealed why he left as he was going to narrate the TV series from Seasons 12 to 14. I agree that Michael Angelis' narration seems to be rather rushed as he talks too quickly. It must've being quite a headache for him and Michael Brandon to voice the characters when having to change from one character to another. No wonder they decide to get voice actors in for the characters from "Hero of the Rails" onwards.

[@PepsiTrain26]

Season 12 isn’t the worst season of the show. In fact, I can find several things I love. Those being Stanley (of course), all the old returning characters, Michael Brandon’s Spanish accent he gave hector, the faces on some characters aren’t too bad.

[@jeanstevens502]

Thank you!

[@camoshun1]

Yeah hectors voice was hilarious

[@PepsiTrain26]

It wasn’t hilarious. It was perfection!

[@PepsiTrain26]

I’m not joking when I said perfection!

[@camoshun1]

@@PepsiTrain26 shut up I know just shut up

[@MonikaTrains]

You take back what u said about my boi S11, it's camera work, camera quality and visuals were amazing

[@tudorbrancuturcu5996]

No one’s gonna mention that Sean called Sodor’s legend of the lost treasure an episode?

[@jayo1212]

@8:56 Sodor Island Fansite interviewed one of the script editors from that era, and that's exactly why they stuck to that style! To pad out the runtime, and to give the narrator more to say than just stage directions.

[@FamilyEntertainmentStudios]

Series 12 is also completely worthless to the thomas & friends show in general, if you ignore it and act like it doesn’t exist, the show’s continuity would still be the same, none of the new characters from series 12 ever appear again in the show, none of the episodes are ever mentioned again Etc. Every other season still impacts the show in some way. Series 8 - Series 11 for example regardless of what people think of it, still can’t be ignored in the continuity of the show because some of the new characters like Rosie, Rocky, Whiff Etc do appear in the CGI series, it’s no wonder Japan didn’t ever show it 😂

[@TheProfessional15]

Yeah, this deserves to be in the garbage airlock of the WALL-E movie

[@jayo1212]

As much as it should have been great to see some classic characters return, I found their appearances disappointingly limited and unfulfilling. Duck was luckier than many of them, being in, like, 4 episodes, but Oliver only got two episodes and Donald and Douglas only appeared once in the season, as did Ben and Arthur. When they did appear, it was really for a bit part that pretty much any engine could do, with the narration just going on like everybody knows who they are! What disappointed me was that we didn't get to see them alongside the other newer characters that came up in their absence! So it really didn't seem like the classic characters were really back.

[@carolmckenna5567]

Season 12 is a bit interesting! But Michael Brandon's Spanish accent he has given Hector doesn't suit Hector but Michael angelis;s cockney accent he has given Hector is awesome! But the three newbies in this season Hank Flora and Colin they along with the season 9 Dennis are the only characters that have been introduced in the Hit era not to be made in Capule playrail

[@zlatanzjajo254]

I looked at the research of the season and apparently Sharon Miller is the head writer.

[@CB-xh8zl]

Season 12 was my childhood

[@ashertheking5023]

I sometimes feel like this should have been the Season where all the characters had individual voice actors. The steam team would have they're TATMR voice actors, while the characters that were retconed would have new ones. I know there are like, millions of characters, but it would have been better than whatever the hell that other stuff was.

[@TRUMPmyOSHI]

I actually love the CGI series, but the Japanese version. I request everyone to check out the Japanese version which seems a bit more mature then the US/UK ones, reminding me of the first seasons!

[@loganentertainment1814]

I remember when the series first introduced the CGI faces. Thinking about it now, it seemed like a bad idea. The full transition to CGI was cool, but the whole re-theme was where I draw the line.

[@DanielChannel57]

On the subject of voices and dialogue, Magic Railroad also has a different yet similar problem. It has the classic static faces, but the characters all have their own voice. In hindsight, it's also a clashing of styles, one which I've seen some people call creepy.

[@anchorsaway9500]

I can name one thing I like about season 12 just one. The cgi on Rusty’s face made him look good one last time. That’s it

[@wadeyhyena1657]

Ngl, I wouldn't mind seeing a full edited season without the narration. Don't get me wrong, I love all the narrators from this franchise, but it feels more like a group of buddies bouncing back and forth between themselves. :)

[@weebsaiyan]

Season 12 is probably the worst season in all of Thomas and Friends and what bothered me the most about it was the faces of them and how weird they looked if they made a specific face and how the narrator was still voicing all the characters and season 12 overall just looks like a concept version of cgi that should never have aired

[@BrendanBarney]

I got introduced to this season through a DVD, but for some reason, the theme song and closing credits were lower pitched.

[@reedbradwahnnatahvera3883]

That is from railway friends. Also the low tone opening and endings were also like that in high speed adventures and team up with thomas in the spanish dvds

[@JamieBoy-ij2ri]

I watched a few eps of season 12 during first lockdown and let me just say this it was torture!!!!! Every episode felt the same and was written poorly- the closest we got to an ok ep was Percy and the bandstand and even that was still dull

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

As a guy who was born in the late 2005 and i was lucky that i seen the classic thomas instead of the hit era

[@jayo1212]

I was born in 1987, so I really hold that distinction!

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

@@jayo1212 Bro your an og fan i guess

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

@@jayo1212 also do you have some merchandise from the show?

[@jayo1212]

@@andreiemanueltudose2445 plenty!

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

@@jayo1212 Nice i also have some but most of my old ones are lost sadly

[@pukenmg284]

I quite surprised that I'd never watch this season as a kid because most episodes I watched as a kid are in season 9,10,11,13,14,15 I think there are some from season 8 as well but I don't remember them this also make me surprised for CGI transition in Hero of the Rails

[@sliverturtlevids7104]

I remember watching this season back in like 2010 (2009? I’m not really sure), I definitely knew that something was amiss with the season, but I just went along with it anyway because I was probably like “Oh hey! Cool, more episodes!” And moved on with my life lol

[@ryanfuller912]

Holy gosh, Season 12 might be the worst of the model series I can’t stand it anymore. I think the smart thing to do here was to have Sharon Miller off the writing team, and still use models, and have Pierce Brosnan narrate these episodes.

[@NSWSteamFan]

I remember when I watched the show on ABC For Kids back when I was in the target age demographic. It was in 2008 and Series 8 had just finished premiering on the channel in Australia. Series 12 followed immediately, later sharing the slot with Series 9. I found it so weird and off-putting that the faces moved through clumsy CGI effects yet the characters were still voiced by the narrator. I assume that was the reason I lost interest in the show for a while until I got curious about the specials made after the transition to CGI was completed. The best impact this season had on my childhood was Heave Ho Thomas, because I got Wooden Railway merchandise of Hank.

[@maplesezmewo]

Adding to your hiro of the rails theory, a trackmaster talking thomas, hiro, and James were released to coincide with the movie. Hiro uses his normal in movie voice as you'd expect, but interesting James and Thomas actually used the narrator's voice.

[@theamazingadventureofeduardo]

Season 12 is definitely without a doubt the most odd shape that is not related in any of the seasons. Compared to other shows around that time like Word girl, Wow wow Wubbzy and A whole bunch of gems movies from Pixar, season 12 was definitely showing the Awful quality of Thomas and Friends. That was until they decided to make Thomas and friends the full CGI. And when Putting the pieces together with your theory of what happened, You're theory might just be the case for why. HIT Entertainment is known for changing production schedules and what happened during the production of season 7 and from the translation from season 12 to 13. Definitely well may be the case. But yeah season 12 was not that good Especially 13 to 16.

[@ASmithsFunEntertainment]

Well I personally don't mind Season 12. I'm pretty mixed on this season. There were a fair few episodes I like which are Rosie's Funfair Special, Gordon Takes A Shortcut, Don't Go Back, Percy and the Bandstand and Best Friends. All the Narrow Gauge episodes as well as Henry Gets It Wrong are bad episodes.

[@drevianedwardsproductions9244]

I remember season 12 end. I remember watching a few episodes such as Thomas and the Billboard, Steady Eddie, Rosie's Carnival special or fun fair special in the UK, saved you, Thomas, put the brakes on, Gordon takes a shortcut, James works it out, Mountain Marvel, push me, pull you And best friends Nowadays, looking back on the episodes one of them are OK at best or just average Or still hold up And about the CGI itself I think it's alright, and they did a good job at that even the humans and animal designs, as well as animating Harold rather than using his prop Some moments of the face's can be pretty crooked at times in sometimes, it could be a little bit uncanny or a little bit of nightmare fuel I could definitely understand why save you become a meme Overall season 12 is in all right season and I don't mind the mixes of models & CGI for the most part despite its age.

[@tobbs5410]

Seeing just how this one turned out honestly makes me appreciate the style of Tugs all that more. Every character voice is so strong and distinct that even if the character's lips don't move you can tell precisely who's speaking. Even when characters are speaking off screen you know who's saying what, and any narration is used sparingly to help move the story forward. Also badly animated CGI faces on model trains just looks really tacky.

[@SnazzyGoober]

6 year old tomy layout is crazy

[@dngr_4209]

Season 12 feels both lost and rejected

[@Antluvstrains]

Season 12 will always be the most oddball of the series. The fact that this was the season that was gonna bring Pierce Brosnan full time this season, and they removed him definitely messed with the production and narration.

[@Michaelm25]

What are your thoughts? On the narrow gauge episodes in the season push me pull you is an abomination for sure

[@selinapersaud7629]

I think that might be my least favorite episode in the whole season, oh wait, it is.

[@eastlancsesteem]

@@selinapersaud7629 It just mocks the audience.

[@SashaThomas954]

Great review on this season S12 is the worst model season ever for Thomas. The Great Discovery was a better send off to the model era. S12 definitely ruined it and is absolutely the worst along with S14-15, BWBA and All Engines Go!

[@Reddy123-i8s]

3:37 Strangely, when I watched 3 of the episodes (Sandbox Surprise, Mail Mix Up and Pig’s Big Moonlight Feast) from WordWorld, it follows the same formula that seasons 12-16’s episodes do with that 3 strike formula.

[@Archiebugg]

I honestly liked a few sets in season 12 like the station from some episodes like Gordon takes a shortcut Toby’s special surprise best friends etc. sodor river bridge (in fact I think that’s the viaduct that got mentioned in Henry’s gets spooked) the factory set in heave ho Thomas. The sawmill from a few episodes like heave ho Thomas steady Eddie etc. And the bridge set that duck was on in Gordon takes a shortcut

[@TrevortheTrainFan]

Season 12 is okay in my opinion, but it could’ve been a lot better if it had individual voice actors in the first place.

[@billtherailfanner455]

Nice review Sean, S12 is definitely a poor season. While the three strikes formula was used before this season, S12 was actually the first season of the show to use this formula for every single episode, and this continued on until S17, where S17 only had the engines doing one to two mistakes instead of three, even though there are a very few episodes in S17 that use the three strikes formula like the Lost Puff for example. One of the only episodes between S12 to S16 that does not have an engine making three mistakes is Edward The Hero from S15 where Edward in that episode helps three people instead of making three mistakes. The episode was alright, but is one of the better S15 episodes in my opinion, even though Edward was not really in character in that episode. I think that episode would of worked better if it look place on Edward’s branch line, like a day of life on the branch line, and if Edward was in character in that episode in my opinion. I agree that the visuals form this season are the worst of the Hit Era, and some of the worst of the show, along with BWBA the movie and some of the episodes from the BWBA seasons, not all episodes but some, even though the animation from that era is big downgrade than the animation from S17 to S21 in my opinion. I can see why the narration from the season is worse than many other seasons, since MA and MB had to keep up with the animation that was recorded to match PB’s narration, which resulted in the narration from this season sounding really off. This is just my opinion and if you disagree, that is totally fine.

[@BattlePark92]

This season is wack! I know Season 14, 15, and BWBA are bad, 15 especially, but this season to me is so bad it's for...get...a...ble!

[@rondelleross6824]

I have the season 12 complete series dvd I watched it over and over looking for a jnr d51 model somewhere and I think I had seen Hiro's side barriers and I think that it is possible there was originally going to hiro of the rails in season 12 instead of the hit era

[@PCMan8922]

I was tired of the Michaels, Pierce would've been a great change.

[@daviddry3400]

The behind the scenes was unnervingly cursed absolutely weird

[@pakschannel4862]

But remember. It’s not all bad, I think Excellent Emily and James works it out are the rare good episodes in the season. The idea of a model and cgi hybrid season could’ve made the franchise greater, but Hit blew that chance. If only the quality was better, or if the season had voice actors of if the writing style was the same as season 11, this season could’ve been better. So I don’t criticize this season that much as other people.

[@ThomasSirHandel]

Only good thing of S12 was seeing old characters and Rusty's smaller face.

[@BriceInkling138]

I should have said this sooner. But one thing I hate the most from Season 12 out of all the aspects as to why this season sucks is that all of the SKR episodes are awful. Looking back at them, they're completely useless episodes that now have left no impact on me at this point that I just can't stand revisiting any of them. Seasons 9-11 were not perfect with the narrow gauge engines, but at least with those seasons, they do have a good story with the little guys every now and again like "Duncan and the Old Mine", "Duncan Drops a Clanger", "Mighty Mac", "Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out", the Madge episodes, etc. "Mountain Marvel" is a rather whatever episode, but there are at least some shots from that episode I do like. "The Party Surprise" is another boring episode and is also whatever. "Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon" is the only episode with Duncan I do not like looking back, "The Man in the Hills" being the typical "Thomas is an idiot" story is one thing, but I cannot get over the fact Thomas had to learn how to ask or tell other engines or people he needs help 3 fucking times in Season 12 (10 if you count how many times the show has done this crap), and "Push Me, Pull You!" is the most abominable, unwatchable, godawful, mindless episode out of all the five I have ever seen and now I just wish this episode centered on Bill and Ben than Skarloey and Rheneas. These five episodes have ruined the good perception the Skarloey engines had with the show. And one more thing, I dub these five episodes as the Skarloey Season 12 Five the same way Looney Tunes fans dub the Rudy Larriva Road Runner shorts as the Larriva Eleven as to why they were hated too, but they went as far back as the 1960's while the Skarloey Season 12 Five was only 15 years ago. And while Season 12 has regained a little bit of my respect, I will say it's just as bad as Season 15. Seasons 8-11 are not really worth the bashing (just my opinion) while Season 12 is not an underappreciated season at all and deserves the scorn it gets over the years. Hell, I can even go as far as to call it the true start of the first downfall for Thomas and Friends than Magic Railroad. Oh, I do like how Harold the Helicopter looked like in CGI, I'll give Season 12 that. :)

[@hiattgrey9161]

This was when I was really turned off by Thomas as a kid. Because I really hated the CGI faces on the models.

[@eastlancsesteem]

I used to love it 😂 But now I can agree with you.

[@csxguy3002]

Nevilles CGI face at the Thomas wiki page gave me a weird feeling

[@mickeymouse-eb2qv]

What annoys me is that three of the genuine season 1 models were thrown away for no reason after this season (well not immediately after but two years later)

[@dorixom9052]

Not to mention that everyone in Season 12 is short-tempered.

[@FastFuriousFan-il8lr]

The voices on the characters were just creepy AF, good thing that this live-action and animation mix of Thomas & Friends ran for only 1 season.

[@brendalenderman4876]

This season is the home of the worst episode of the whole show Push Me Pull You

[@maplemiles3381]

Thomas in its later seasons is like how simpsons fans say how worse the show got from the "real" skinner, or after the simpsons movie. Now with Thomas from fans saying it's either the magic railroad, hit entertainment buying, moving from models to CGI (it made feel for lively and saved time building props), hit getting bought out by Mattel. Their is a lot of crazy factors but the ip is still alive and well but it's in a shell of it's former self correct me but I think all engines good would be better off as it's own show instead of having the Thomas name on it. The ip can get a proper reboot but I think Mattel is now allowing the staff to show their full potential even if it means going back to the basics. Superman even goes to a reboot from the very beginning time and time again it's repetitive but that is how you bring back old ip's for a newer audience with a twist.

[@W.G1]

Did you know that for Hero of the rails model series they were going to re paint Murdoch’s model for Hiro and Sir Handel or Peter Sam’s for victor

[@nwrxj9264]

Wrong.

[@joshuaW5621]

If they were planning to do that then Hiro would have been a BR Standard 9F and Victor would be Hughes Falcon class or Kerr Stewart Tattoo class in the show.

[@jayo1212]

@@nwrxj9264 what makes you so sure...?

[@ABellEngine]

​@@jayo1212 I think it might be the "Murdoch and Sir Handel/Peter Sam's recolored for Hiro and Victor" claim. There isn't any proof the modelers would recolor pre-existing models for two of the new characters for HOTR.

[@Reddy123-i8s]

Every time I see the characters talk, it sounds like Michael Brandon (I Live In The US BTW) sounds like he’s talking to himself. Also I remember seeing these episodes on PBS Kids Sprout.

[@S69films]

I usually grew up with season 1-13 and I love 12 for some reason and never had a problem while watching

[@eastlancsesteem]

I used to be excited about S12 when it first came out because of the moving faces. Now I see how shit it is 😂

[@jaysendejesus7019]

i wish they keep it like this until season 22

[@ThatTrackmasterGuy]

yea, just imagine how Sam would look

[@carloso5910official]

@@ThatTrackmasterGuyHe would have been expensive to make

[@ThatTrackmasterGuy]

@@carloso5910official yea i know but still. if they would of made sam a model Just scrap hank and make him sam

[@eastlancsesteem]

@@ThatTrackmasterGuy Why not both?

[@splendidredscrapiron]

Half the time I completely forget season 12 exists honestly.

[@liamfitzgerald6311]

Yeah, this season was complete mess

[@mastermaker352]

Well,if you were to pick between season 12 or AEG,which one would you pick? (No other options)

[@jamesbowdenclassics]

All Engines Go, because at least it understood what it was, who it was for and what it had to deliver. I’d prefer All Engines Go simply because it was made extremely well and didn’t try to be anything else, unlike season 12 which was just abysmal in every area….

[@eastlancsesteem]

S12 any day F🦆 AEG

[@omegamaximus1727]

Season 12 of Thomas it looks so uncanny.

[@TankEngine97]

The line deliveries in season 12 always sounded off and weird. If you know anything about animation the voices are done first so it helps the animators match the pace and speed when doing lip sync. If you did this other way round then the line delivery will come off as strange.

[@MichaelS1995]

I don't mind the 3 strike formula. What I do mind, however, is the formula being used 100 times in a row.

[@zlatanzjajo254]

As for the cheap sets they used,I think they just had to because of how much it cost,a whopping 2.5 million dollars just to produce all 20 episodes.

[@jeremiahsisaias8677]

I honest to God think for some of the worst episodes of S8 to 16 in the UK dub Michael Angelis sounds like he was forced to narrate these moments after he reads the scripts for each bad episode. Only UK dub episodes I prefer are "Twin Trouble" and "Percy's chocolate crunch". TATMR had individual voice actors.

[@CTTE06]

For some reason S11-12 and TGD had this weird yellow tint to it, and I don’t understand why they did that, I’m guessing to suit the “vibe” better, that makes sense.

[@carloso5910official]

The yellow lighting wasn’t really there that much in Season 12. It was noticeable when they out stock footage from Season 11

[@reedbradwahnnatahvera3883]

Mister maker season 2 and 3 have the same production sets. And season 3 reused season 2 footage

[@Itz_Sonic57053]

I was amazed when I first saw season 12. Don't get me wrong, as a child it was new to me, but when Hero of the Rails was first shown, That's what made me prefer the upcoming CGI series than season 12.

[@toocooldarr_17]

Ok hear me out while season 12 is a bad season and the CGI hasn't aged well this is the most underrated season of the show in my opinion

[@joshuav875]

Thomas looks funny at 3:36 as he’s insulting at bring called bad

[@MarvelMTs]

I’ll just say it: My head-cannon is that S12 doesn’t exist and they went from all models straight to all CGI. So there’s only 23 seasons, not 24 in my AU

[@eastlancsesteem]

My head-cannon is slightly different to the official and completely different to the shitty HiT official. My head-cannon is a continuation of the original books by the Reverend himself. It still has TVS and HiT characters though.

[@Mamadudes]

I think that Series 12 should have voice like Voice Cast Ben small as Thomas Keith Wickham as Percy,James,Gordon and Etc At the end credit So audiences will understand the transition to CGI

[@White_sox_fan]

Season 12 when I first saw an episode by it guess I was used to the models I was like what happened to Thomas

[@ThatTrackmasterGuy]

0:46 what is that episode with Gordon and Donald

[@pukenmg284]

Gordon and the engineer

[@ThatTrackmasterGuy]

@@pukenmg284 thanks

[@thomasandrailfansavgeeks8702]

Season 12 is make me scared when i was a kid

[@DisneyMatthewSkunk]

To be fair , Rosie was a new character during this era so we didn't really know that much about her , although I'm certain she wouldn't do this in the bwba era

[@eastlancsesteem]

Pink Rosie over red Rosie any day.

[@maddalonefarms]

6:02 What episode?

[@Fanboyscottland]

Is A movie slotlt

[@shinycharizard6981]

I do agree a little bit but personally in my opinion, I'm mixed with season 12, I watched the whole episode, I like it and hate it at the same time, there was few things that I'm happy still is that, Stanley (of course), old characters returning, three new characters with the classic models use (aside from the CGI face) and all of the background, models and sets are still the same just like season 8-11 and it feels classic a bit, now the only two things I don't really like are the writing and the CGI faces/figures (Edward CGI face is the worst out of all and you can't tell me otherwise). Overall for season 12 in my opinion I would give it a 6/10

[@PurpleGuy661]

I agree

[@BigLightning4360]

I'm sorry you had to suffer through this. As a kid, I thought it visually looked interesting. But, as an adult, I can see where Thomas fans are getting at.