Logan image revealed on Official Website's Depot

The Thomas & Friends website has revealed a new image of Logan the Strong Little Shunter.

The physical appearance of the character was made available to view on his Engine Depot profile today in the US, originally billed as a new friend mystery.

The image went live two days after missing the proposed July 7th. Painted in yellow, and blue along boiler and wheels, he is based on a Sentinel 0-4-0 Steam Shunter.

A Logan and the Big Blue Engines Wooden Railway and book combo, all images of which now online, is coming soon.

Logan's cartoon appearance rather than CGI has been questioned by fans. A forthcoming addition to the series will star in a future Dinos & Discoveries DVD.

MEET LOGAN ON THE THOMAS & FRIENDS US WEBSITE

'Tale of the Brave' story and sticker books pushed back

Tale of the Brave's story and sticker books for the UK have been pushed back.

The two guides of the 2014 feature-length special were intended for release on July 31st.

Both will come out almost a month later in late August on the day of the last screenings at Vue cinemas.

It now allows UK fans the chance to avoid spoilers from the special in book format before the DVD release.

The Tale of the Brave Storybook and Sticker Books from Egmont hit UK book shelves at the new date of August 28th.

PRE-ORDER THE 'TALE OF THE BRAVE' BOOKS FROM AMAZON.CO.UK

THE MOVIE STORYBOOK

STICKER ACTIVITY BOOK

Thanks to SodorSteamworks for the alert.

Thomas & Friends official account opens on Vine

The official Thomas & Friends account for Vine users has opened on the social website.

The channel for the six second videoing network posted its first Vine on July 2nd.

Wooden Railway models of Thomas and James appear under the subtitle, Thomas & Friends come along with you no matter where you go!.

The silent stop-motion clip earned over 100 loops within 20 hours of publication.

The channel shares its username with ThomasParent, the Twitter page for US fans.

VISIT THE OFFICIAL THOMAS & FRIENDS VINE CHANNEL AT THOMASPARENT

'Tale of the Brave' stars enter Website's Engine Depot

Tale of the Brave's four new stars to the series have been added to the Official Website.

Today, the quartet of Gator the Alligator Tank Engine, Marion the Steam Shovel, Timothy the Little Engine and Reg the Scrap Yard Crane were inducted onto the Engine Depot.

Their profiles, complete with images, speak of the friends' personalities and workings such as Marion and Timothy belonging in the China Clay Pits and Reg on Edward's Branch Line.

Tidbits of fun facts are seen alongside events mentioned due to unfold in the feature-length special.

Last week, a character guide was leaked detailing on ten characters appearing in the story.

MEET 'TALE OF THE BRAVE'S NEW FRIENDS ON THE THOMAS & FRIENDS WEBSITE

UK

US

AU

'Dinos & Discoveries' DVD and two new episodes due

New episodes and a DVD are to appear in the next year with the arrival of tie-in books.

The origins of the Dinos & Discoveries book double with Emily Saves the World are unveiled for a DVD release of the same name.

One of Random House's next books for January comes in the form of Thomas and the Volcano. Its artwork of Millie and Thomas places them against a backdrop of a dinosaur and an erupting volcano.

Teasing, As seen on DVD! Dinos & Discoveries, its summary tells more; Thomas and his friends see a volcano in the new Dinosaur Park! Could it erupt?

Boys who love trains will thrill to this Step into Reading adventure, featuring a shiny foil cover and two sheets of stickers, and based on an episode from the newest Thomas & Friends DVD release, Dinos & Discoveries!.

Another title due on the same date is Thomas and the Dinosaur, sharing the same themed setting.

Thomas the Tank Engine and his friend Percy are startled and scared to see a dinosaur in the forest! Train and dinosaur obsessed boys will get a double thrill from this Thomas & Friends Little Golden Book.

The three Dinos & Discoveries books from Random House hit US book shelves on January 6th 2015.

PRE-ORDER THE 'DINOS & DISCOVERIES' BOOKS FROM AMAZON.COM

DINOS & DISCOVERIES/EMILY SAVES THE WORLD

THOMAS AND THE VOLCANO

THOMAS AND THE DINOSAUR

Thanks to SteamTeam for the alert.

Vue confirms 'Tale of the Brave' cinema date week

Vue have confirmed the release date for Tale of the Brave: The Movie arriving at their cinemas.

The new adventure will be screened across 80 of Vue's cinemas across Britain and Ireland for one week only in late August.

It comes shortly after Hit Entertainment's plans for Tale's world release were divulged and the word of a blue carpet premiere for London's Leicester Square.

The Thomas & Friends UK YouTube has meanwhile uploaded a HD version of the second trailer. amazon.com's page for the US DVD meanwhile enlists award winning Olivia Colman of Broadchurch as cast.

An extended synopsis reads; Thomas is working at the Clay Pits when a storm closes in and the rain makes the clay cliffs unstable.

A flash of lightning reveals what looks like giant footprints on the slope above, but a landslide has begun and Thomas can’t stay to investigate. Bill and Ben push Thomas to safety just in time!

Unable to go back and confirm what he saw, Thomas tells Percy about it, but Percy quickly becomes convinced that there is a monster on the island. He even becomes frightened of taking the Mail Train at night.

When an unusual engine, with sloping boilers, first appears, Percy even thinks he must be the monster!

James teases Percy and tries to scare him even more, but the new engine, who’s called Gator, proves to be a good friend and ally, who helps Percy discover what it really means to be brave.

Tale of the Brave: The Movie rolls into Vue cinemas across the UK from August 22nd to 28th.

VISIT VUE'S 'TALE OF THE BRAVE: THE MOVIE' PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS

Hit delivers world initiative for 'Tale of the Brave' film

Hit Entertainment have today revealed their plans for Tale of the Brave's worldwide debut.

The eighth feature-length special in the franchise is to be bolstered by cinema screenings for the UK, Australia and for Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Mexico until the end of 2014.

The first Thomas production to be executive produced by BAFTA and Emmy award winning Global Content President of Hit, Michael Carrington, is also on course for broadcast on Mexican and Brazilian television.

Booking from June 30th, 80 of Vue's cinemas are reaffirmed to bring Tale to the UK and Ireland after a blue carpet premiere at London's Leicester Square is held. A broadcast on PBS Kids stations across the US is incoming.

Promoting are a minisite in August with profiles, clips and games, activity sheets at UK Day Out with Thomas events and issues from Thomas & Friends magazines in the UK and US including a dedicated themed one in September.

More rafts of merchandising, including home video, will come through products of toys, homeware and accessories from Fisher Price, MEGA Bloks, Ravensburger and books from Random House and Egmont.

Hit's Vice President for Global Brands, Kate Schlomann, anticipated the special. We are extremely excited to introduce Tale of the Brave this September with new direction from Michael Carrington.

The movie lifts the bar offering viewers engaging storytelling with more dynamic and compelling animation.

Thanks to Puff Puff Thomas for the alert.

READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM HIT ENTERTAINMENT

Character guide previewed for 'Tale of the Brave' film

The cast of characters set to play important roles in Tale of the Brave has been leaked online.

A Hide & Seek page on the All Aboard Thomas & Friends website lists ten characters poised to play substantial roles in the special.

Initially as an unlockable feature for June 30th, the page had been accessed early by Thomas fans.

Among the likes of Percy, Cranky and Bill and Ben, hero shots and bios of Timothy, Reg, Marion and Gator tell more on the new Sodor friends.

Two colouring pages with Gator, Reg and the team of Thomas, Percy and James are included.

This week saw details of the US DVD/Blu-ray bundle and Hit Entertainment's initiative for Tale's debut to the world.

Thanks to Adam Abrahart for the alert.

'Tale of the Brave' songs and extras on US DVD/Blu-ray

The content due to feature on the Tale of the Brave US DVD/Blu-ray has been revealed.

The first foray for Thomas & Friends on home video by Universal Studios Home Entertainment will come in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack with Ultraviolet digital copy included for mid September.

A week prior will give US fans the chance to see the special early in digital HD on iTunes.

For extra content, two new music videos of Tale of the Brave and Monsters Everywhere are joined by four rounds of puzzles with Guess Who?.

Tale of the Brave: The Movie from Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Hit Entertainment hits US iTunes digital on September 9th and on DVD/Blu-ray shelves on September 16th.

'Tale of the Brave' US DVD/Blu-ray date confirmed

Tale of the Brave: The Movie's DVD/Blu-ray release date for the US has been confirmed.

The standard and high definition combo is scheduled for a mid September outing, according to VideoETA.

It leaves America the third country to receive the special after Australia's world premiere screenings and Britain's cinema date and DVD.

A second trailer showing more scenes from the action adventure tread online last week.

Tale of the Brave: The Movie hits US DVD/Blu-ray shelves on September 16th.

Official website depot hints at "new friend" reveal

The Thomas & Friends website has hinted at the full reveal of a new character.

The official portal in the US plays on the identity of a new friend on its Engine Depot.

It's unveiling for July 7th is simultaneous with a promo shot of the incumbent, currently as a silhouette. A description on the page spills more.

Coming in July, the newest engine to Sodor! This engine is a rough and tumble, strong little shunter, who learns the value of patience.

A bio from upcoming Wooden Railway book combo, Logan and the Big Blue Engines, shares similarities with the following below.

There is a new friend coming to the Island of Sodor. He is a steamie who looks like a diesel. And as a rough and tumble, strong little shunter, he is also a very friendly and a hardworking engine.

When he has a mishap with Edward and Gordon, he quickly discovers the value of patience and that if you really try, it is indeed possible to correct a mistake.

A nameless green engine recently appeared with Thomas on the cover of Dinos & Discoveries, one half of a forthcoming book double by Random House.

New 'Spills & Thrills Game Pack' app released on iTunes

A brand new app featuring the Spills & Thrills feature is now available for purchase.

Spills & Thrills Game Pack is an activity platform based on the six themed episodes from Season 17.

It begins with the player directing paint to shoot onto a background eventually blending into place on Sodor, while activities are unlocked.

Three rooms of levels see Brendam Docks, Sodor Steamworks and Tidmouth Sheds with three puzzles and colouring pages each. Each also hold a game using paint as an objective, not seen on the Spills & Thrills minisite.

The description says; Calling all little engineers! The Thomas & Friends: Spills & Thrills Game Pack features three interactive scenes, each with a mini game, three coloring activities and three jigsaw puzzles.

Easy and hard difficulty levels ensure that kids of every level enjoy the fun, and enhanced drawing activities will keep them coming back for hours of play.

Spills & Thrills Game Pack from Hit Entertainment and Funny Garbage is available to buy on the App Store on iTunes in the UK, US and Australia.

BUY THE 'SPILLS & THRILLS GAME PACK' APP ON THE APP STORE

UK £1.49

US $1.99

AU $2.49