Thomas & Friends official Japanese facebook launches

The official Thomas & Friends facebook page has opened for Japanese fans.

Today marked the launch of the page in association with the country's official website and blog.

The first status posted perceives information for products, events and other updates on the horizon.

Within 12 hours of launch time, it has seen over 35 likes supporting.

Harold, Percy, Thomas, James and the citizened Hiro are resided on the header image.

VISIT THE OFFICIAL THOMAS & FRIENDS JAPANESE FACEBOOK PAGE

TV models and Railway Series in Yokohama museums

Several TV series models used throughout the New Series have gone on display in Yokohama, Japan.

The forms of Edward, Gordon, Henry and Thomas with Annie and Clarabel are currently placed in the Hara Model Railway Museum from today alongside others including Oliver, Salty and five of the Narrow Gauge Engines.

Until April 7th, the nine day exhibition of the models are part of the museum's spring collaboration. A video of Thomas and his coaches was uploaded onto YouTube earlier this week.

From April 26th to May 6th, Koyto's Railway Series Painting Exhibition from 2013 will return, instead nearby in the Sogo Museum of Art, hosted by Hara.

Presenting the many illustrations of the books and a video gallery, more of the TV models are to appear.

'New Friends' and 'Surprise' April DVDs due for Japan

Two DVDs detailing subjects from the show and each holding a single episode are due for Japan in April.

Made to promote the dubbed version of King of the Railway heading to cinemas is New Friends Come to the Castle of Sodor! (ソドー島のお城にあたらしいなかまがやってきた！).

The release revolving around Sodor's inception, including scenes from Season 17's Bill or Ben?, The Switch and others, is to come with the full The Phantom Express episode.

The Doki Doki with the Surprise (ビックリにもつでドッキドキ) looking at special deliveries, using clips from Pingy Pongy Pick Up, Merry Winter Wish and more, will see Charlie and Eddie as the featured story.

New Friends Come to the Castle of Sodor! and The Doki Doki with the Surprise from Sony Creative Products Inc. hit Japanese DVD shelves on April 9th.

READ MORE ON THE DVDS FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS JAPANESE WEBSITE

NEW FRIENDS COME TO THE CASTLE OF SODOR

THE DOKI DOKI WITH THE SURPRISE

'King' heads to Japanese cinemas with summer release

King of the Railway: The Movie is to make its way over to Japanese audiences in the summer.

The seventh feature-length special in the Thomas & Friends franchise will debut in select cinemas in Japan this May.

Ahead of King's arrival, translated as キング オブ ザ レイルウェイ, comes its website with character profiles, activities and a synopsis already available.

A trailer mirroring the original UK version has also been released with more scenes added.

It follows Blue Mountain Mystery's (ブルーマウンテンの採) DVD release, which was launched in the country last October.

King of the Railway: The Movie premieres in Japanese cinemas from May 17th.

VISIT 'KING OF THE RAILWAY'S JAPANESE WEBSITE

Hit sells more Thomas seasons to global broadcasters

Hit Entertainment have sold newer series of Thomas & Friends for global distribution.

Hot on the heels of the forthcoming Tale of the Brave movie and the 18th Series, the children's brand makers have granted multimedia company Lagardere the rights to air Series 13, 16 and 17 on Gulli and Tiji in France.

For Spain, Series 15 to 17 have been picked up by Boing together with King of the Railway: The Movie.

Various seasons will make their way onto DVD and On Demand content for Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Meanwhile, Australia, who are currently airing the 17th Season on ABC2, will also transmit King with Latin America to follow suite for Discovery Kids.

The initiative by Hit has also allowed Fireman Sam, Mike the Knight, Bob the Builder, Pingu and Angelina Ballerina to adopt similar phases

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON KIDSCREEN

Thanks to Hawk01 for the alert.

New character teased on Thomas Japan website blog

The Thomas & Friends Japanese website has posted an image of a new character on its blog.

Promoting Series 17 on the country's television network NHK, a collage featuring promo shots of Stephen, Connor, Caitlin and Millie is included in the post.

Beside Millie is a screenshot of an unknown dark green engine from an unknown episode placed at The Docks.

A summary of the new series' debut in the country translates as the following; New series starts broadcasting from Sunday, October 06, 2013. Fellow debuts Stephen, Millie, Connor, Caitlin, and Porter appear.

It is speculated that the upcoming character may either appear in the latest series or in the next Series 18 and its assisting special.

Series 17 of Thomas & Friends marks its Japanese premiere on NHK on October 6th with the episodes Steamie Stafford and Gordon Runs Dry.

Thanks to TheRollingThunder for the alert.

'Toy Train in Space' re-do promotes Portuguese Thomas

Popular YouTube video A Toy Train in Space has been remade for Portuguese audiences in a new commercial.

Promoting the country's dubbed version of Thomas & Friends for Canal 5, the TV spot sees a young boy upset at losing his Wooden Railway Thomas after a paper round launches the model from a see-saw to the boy's home roof.

Sharing the child's feelings overnight, the toy eventually lands back on to the ground after a storm looms. Uploaded by the Thomas e Seus Amigos YouTube, the trailer takes inspiration from Ron Fugelseth's A Toy Train in Space video.

Both Ron and his son Jayden along with their Stanley model became stars in the media and on television when the now four million hits viewed clip reached viral status around the world.

Meanwhile, the brand's foray in Mexico has elected Hit Entertainment to bring the show to newer audiences, with actress Galilea Montijo fronting the push.

My son Mateo loves Thomas, and when I was invited to be part of this project, I immediately said yes, she said.

Thomas and Friends is not only about fun but also about its stores that are full of positive messages and values for our kids, like friendship, teamwork and that we are all capable of achieving great things.

WATCH THE 'THOMAS E SEUS AMIGOS' TRAILER ON YOUTUBE
READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON LICENSING.BIZ

Thanks to Hawk01 and SiF for the alerts.

Season Fourteen and activity DVDs from Sony in Japan

Japan have gained another six DVD releases for 2013 under the auspices of Sony Creative Products Inc.

Out now to buy is the start of two activity titles. 高山鉄道と小さなきかんしゃたち 大解剖 sees the engines of the Narrow Gauge Railway defined in each of their roles in the high hills.
Despite their brief appearances, Duke, Smudger, Bertram, The Ghost Engine and Proteus are also detailed in similar fashion. Rheneas and the Dinosaur and the Blue Mountain Mystery trailer are included in the release.

ソドー島で1番をさがせ! follows the scenario by instead focusing on The Fat Controller's engines and vehicles commenting on their strengths. Thomas and the Jet Plane is the story testing the premise.
For March, ソドー島大パニック takes a look at the many incidents on Sodor while トーマスとくるまのなかま talks about the many road vehicles serving the island including Jack and the Sodor Construction Company.

Lastly, Season Fourteen returns in June when トーマスとスクラフ and ワクワクするぼうけん emerge. Thomas and Scruff and Jitters and Japes are just some of the episodes continuing the trend.

Sony Creative Products Inc.'s 高山鉄道と小さなきかんしゃたち 大解剖 and ソドー島で1番をさがせ! are available to buy on Japanese DVD.

ソドー島大パニック and トーマスとくるまのなかま follows on March 27th while トーマスとスクラフ and ワクワクするぼうけん are released on June 12th.

PRE-ORDER THE NEW DVDS ON AMAZON.CO.JP

'Thomas Classic Series' DVDs returns to Japan for two

Japan's Thomas Classic Series DVD range is to make a comeback for 2013 with two more titles.

Using the theme of accidents, たいへんだ!とまらない~ compiles six episodes with two from the Second Series, one from the Fifth and three from the Sixth Series.

A Close Shave, Percy's Predicament, Busy Going Backwards, Thomas the Jet Engine, Percy's Chocolate Crunch and Gordon Takes a Tumble star.

On the subject of being busy, いそげいそげ いそがしいぞ!! draws out one of each from the Third, Fourth and Seventh Series and three from the Sixth Series.

All at Sea, You Can't Win!, Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky, Jack Jumps In and The Grand Opening make up the collection.

たいへんだ!とまらない~ and いそげいそげ いそがしいぞ!! from Sony Creative Products Inc. hit Japanese DVD shelves on January 30th 2013.

PRE-ORDER THE DVDS ON AMAZON.CO.JP

たいへんだ!とまらない~

いそげいそげ いそがしいぞ!!

September and October DVDs due for Japan audiences

Japan is to witness the releases of six new DVDs, three of which are due out on the same day later this month.

The first two are to feature five stories each from the Fourteenth Series while the third focuses on the differences between The Railway Series and their prospected TV versions. All are due on September 26th.

トーマスとキリン stars the first quarter of Season Fourteen in a 51 minute collection with an altered shot from the starter episode serving as the front cover.

Episodes include;

Thomas' Tall Friend

James in the Dark

Pingy Pongy Pick Up

Charlie and Eddie

Toby and the Whistling Woods

トーマスがおてほん on the other hand compiles the second quarter of the series with a specially composed cover based on one of the available episodes.

Episodes include;

Henry's Health and Safety

Diesel's Special Delivery

Pop Goes Thomas

Victor Says Yes

Thomas' Crazy Day

Moving on from the format is だいかつやくのきかんしゃたち!. The commemorative title shows the differences between Railway Series tales adapted for the small screen.

Episodes include;

Thomas and the Breakdown Train

Henry and the Elephant

Bulgy

Bulldog

Following on from a successful theatrical release, きかんしゃトーマス ディーゼル10の逆襲 will hit retailers on October 19th.

Serving as an alternative tour guide to the popular Thomas Land theme park, こんにちは日本の鉄道 ~トーマスといく富士急行線~ will be out on the same day as another title.

October 24th sees きみはどれだけ知っているかな? test Thomas fans on their knowledge of the Island of Sodor and the series.

The six new titles hit Japanese DVD shelves from September 26th 2012.

PRE-ORDER THE SIX NEW DVDS ON AMAZON.CO.JP

NHK secures deal to screen Thomas for several years

Broadcaster, NHK will screen the Animated Series of Thomas & Friends from now on in Japan, it has been revealed.

The channel have signed on a contract with Hit Entertainment to air Seasons Thirteen to Sixteen for a number of years.

This is to also applies to the three Nitrogen Studios feature-length specials currently made and released.

NHK have already transmitted a mixture of the episodes every Sunday at 7:00am and 7:20am respectively and continue to do so.

The announcement comes just a day before デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル (Diesel 10's Counterattack) is due to hit theatres in the country.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Sir Topham Hatt Japanese voicer Takeshi Aono dies

Takeshi Aono, best known to Thomas fans as the second voice of The Fat Controller in the Japanese version of the TV Series has died.

Aono had an extensive career as a voice actor in the nation of Japan, responsible for roles in many anime cartoons and shows such as Dragonball Z and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

The 75 year old who passed away in the city of Hokkaido due to cerebral infarcation, took on the reigns of Sir Topham Hatt's vocal performance during the late 20th and early 21st Century.

He replaced Kōhei Miyauchi to star in the Fifth to Eighth Seasons before leaving the show in the Ninth Series to hand the role to Rokuro Naya, who still voices the railway controller to this day.

One of his most noticebale dubs was translating the character of Doctor Emmett Brown, originally portrayed by Christopher Lloyd in the Back to the Future films.

Thanks to Anime Boy for the alert.

Classic and New Series collections coming to Japan

The Japanese Thomas fans are to recieve two DVDs in March, one containing episodes from the Classic Series and the other being the New.

The first called ようこそ！ソドー島へ　たのしいなかま 初登場編 is a sextet playlist of stories ranging from Season Two then fast forwarding to the Fifth to Seventh Series'.

The five minuters involve the moments when new friends came to Sodor such as Duck, Elizabeth and Arthur. An extra is included showing various scenes of other characters' arrivals.

Episodes include;

ダックしごとをもらう (Duck Takes Charge)

クレーンのクランキー (Cranky Bugs)

ソルティーのひみつ (Salty's Secret)

ヴィンテージ・トラックのエリザベス (Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry)

あたらしいなかまエミリー (Emily's New Coaches)

アーサーのきろく (The Spotless Record)

Extras include;

みんなの初登場編 (The First Appearances of Everyone)

Another title is taking the idea of bedtime stories, with daydream and nightime themes implemented onto ベッドタイムストーリー　おやすみトーマスいい夢みてね！The disc holds up the Steve Asquith era of episodes.

Episodes include;

モリーのとくべつなにもつ (Molly's Special Special)

ヘンリーとはたのぼう (Henry and the Flagpole)

まほうのランプ (The Magic Lamp)

トーマスとかぜ (Topped Off Thomas)

トーマスとながれぼし (Thomas and the Shooting Star)

トーマスとうちゅうせん (Thomas and the Spaceship)

トーマスととうだいのあかり (Thomas and the Lighthouse)

ようこそ！ソドー島へ　たのしいなかま 初登場編 and ベッドタイムストーリー　おやすみトーマスいい夢みてね！both hit Japanese DVD shelves on March 7th 2012.

VIEW INFORMATION ON THE DVDS

ようこそ！ソドー島へ　たのしいなかま 初登場編

 ベッドタイムストーリー　おやすみトーマスいい夢みてね！

PRE-ORDER THE DVDS

ようこそ！ソドー島へ　たのしいなかま 初登場編

 ベッドタイムストーリー　おやすみトーマスいい夢みてね！

'Diesel 10's Counterattack' website opens for Japan

デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル also known as Diesel 10's Counterattack has had it's website open in Japan.

The website's homepage shows selected promotional stills from the 2011 produced film and original character profile scans for the newcomers that be Belle, Flynn, Den and Dart.

The trailer previewed at a convention is shown in it's entirety via it's own page section. Information for movie theatre screenings are available on a third page, building up to the late April release.

On the Downloads side which includes a specially made desktop wallpaper and a Steamies Vs. Diesels colouring page.

Finally is a merchandising page where images and descriptions of Diesel 10's Counterattack toys are presented.

デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル rolls into Japanese cinemas and theatres on April 28th 2012.

VISIT THE 'デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル' MINISITE

Thanks to PuffPuffThomasTV for the alert. 

Exclusive: Season Sixteen confirmed for Japan airing

The longly-awaited Sixteenth Series of Thomas & Friends has been confirmed for a start of broadcast, in Japan.

With no official dates given out for UK and US airings, the 2012 Season is expected to follow the British run in January 2013.

The NHK channel was contacted by PuffPuffThomasTV about the future for Japanese Thomas fans to see more series with the station giving out a brief statement.

About Thomas & Friends, we'll broadcast Series 14, Series 15, and Series 16. But we won't divide for each series.

However PuffPuffThomasTV has notified Roll Along Thomas that the Sixteenth run could well be the first to air in a non English speaking country.

The new seasons will be aired every Sunday at 7:00am to 7:20am and two episodes will be aired each time. Based on it, it is conceivable that Season 16 will be aired on next January in Japan if it follows original UK broadcast order.

But if all the series episodes are mixed, the Series 16's episodes will appear on April at the earliest.

Seasons Fourteen, Fifteen and Sixteen all make their debuts in Japan on NHK every Sunday starting from April 8th at 7:00am with the Sixteenth Series foreseeing a January 2013 transmission.

The 2012 Series is contemplating a UK broadcast on Channel 5's milkshake! slot sometime this Spring.

First signs of 'Diesel 10's Counterattack' begin to show

Japan's translated version of the Day of the Diesels film renamed for them as Diesel 10's Counterattack is building up to it's release.

The 2011 made special is not only heading it's way to Japan in April, but is also starting to become publicised.

On their Thomas & Friends website, the movie page has changed from it's Misty Island Rescue to a poster for デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル' release.

Over on YouTube, a video filming a customised Thomas Tomy Pla-Rail set display at a convention shows a trailer of the revised movie via a TV screen but with it's audio been muted and overlapped by library music.

デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル rolls into Japanese cinemas and theatres on April 28th 2012.

デイ オブ ザ ディーゼル' MINISITE

TAKE A BRIEF PEEK OF THE TRAILER

Four more DVD's coming to Japan on same day

A quadruple set of DVD's are heading their way to the Japanese population all on the same day in early March.

amazon.co.jp and Forest + have individually revealed two new releases totalling up to the four due to arrive in Japan's territory.

The DVD's are ベッドタイムストーリー　おやすみトーマスいい夢みてね！, ようこそソドー島へ たのしいなかま初登場編, きかんしゃ初めて大図鑑 and 楽しい企画版.

No content is known to feature on either of the titles although brief descriptions have emerged on the first two mentioned above, on amazon.

The four DVD's hit Japanese DVD shelves all on March 7th 2012.

PRE-ORDER

ベッドタイムストーリー　おやすみトーマスいい夢みてね！

ようこそソドー島へ たのしいなかま初登場編

きかんしゃ初めて大図鑑

楽しい企画版

The Classic Series makes return to Japan on two DVD's

The Japanese are being treated to two new DVD's already released and available to buy now.

いたずら大作戦!! and トーマスだけのメダル　たのしいソドー島のひとたち both feature six episodes each all from the Classic Series where the term is notably added onto their retrospective front covers.

Episodes included on いたずら大作戦!!;

パーシーのマフラー/A Scarf for Percy

いたずらはだめだよジェームス/No Joke for James
たんすいしゃがほしい/Tender Engines

まんなかのきかんしゃ/Middle Engine
ジェームスとソドーとうのじょおう/James and the Queen of Sodor

ファーガスときそく/Fergus Breaks the Rules

Episodes included on トーマスだけのメダル　たのしいソドー島のひとたち;

ボディをみがいて/Passengers and Polish

ゆうびんやとバン/Mind That Bike!
トップハム・ハットきょうのきゅうか/Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday

かわったきてき/Faulty Whistles
ピーター・サムとティールーム/The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop

トーマスだけのメダル/Three Cheers for Thomas

The DVD's both run at 32 minutes approximately with no episodes from the First or Second Series involved on the discs.

いたずら大作戦!! and トーマスだけのメダル　たのしいソドー島のひとたち are now available in Japanese stores.

READ THE DVDS' DESCRIPTIONS ON THE 'THOMAS & FRIENDS' JAPAN WEBSITE
 ORDER THE DVDS
いたずら大作戦!!
 トーマスだけのメダル　たのしいソドー島のひとたち

'Diesel 10's Counterattack' coming to Japan cinemas

The Japanese version of Day of the Diesels has had it's release date confirmed for next year in 2012.

The special over in the country is called, きかんしゃトーマス ディーゼル10の逆襲. Translated for the English, Diesel 10's Counterattack is the new name for the film in Japan.

It was revealed from a DVD in late October that the film would arrive in Japan by the Spring of 2012.

Sony Creative Products have issued out a press release which includes a revised version of the poster.

Changes include the Japaneses' retrospective logo for Diesel 10's Counterattack and images of Flynn and Belle added.

Also, in keeping in line with the special's correct main star, Percy is added to Thomas' left with The Fat Controller on his right.

きかんしゃトーマス ディーゼル10の逆襲 rolls into Japanese theatres and cinemas starting from April 28th 2012.

VIEW THE PRESS RELEASE

Thanks to PuffPuffThomasTV for the alert.

Season Fünfzehn arrives onboard Toggo Lino train

The Fifteenth Series is preparing for reactions from outside of English speaking countries with Germany now the first to broadcast.

The first episode of the 2011 Series has just aired on SUPER RTL's Toggo Lino slot with the James to the Rescue episode, known as Die Rettungs-Loks, being made the debuter.

Thomas & Seine Freunde's facebook page have published it's commercial showing various clips from certain stories such as Tree Trouble, Stop That Bus! and Big Belle.

Season Fifteen of Thomas & Seine Freunde is currently showing on SUPER RTL's Toggo Lino at 8:40Uhr on Monday to Friday's with the next episode Glücklicher Hiro airing Tuesday.

WATCH THE COMMERCIAL
VIEW THE SCHEDULE