A very well-written thesis. I particularly like how you brought up Thomas' world is just our world; these engines aren't hidden in sight like the Toy Story characters, etc, and that's what makes it so unique and believable. It's a take on an anthropomorphized world that is unlike any other! Thoroughly enjoyed this
Wilbert Awdry was a genuinely good person and genuinely loved his creation. This is something that he put his heart and soul into. It was purely meant to entertain children. I’d say the purity of it. It’s why the older stuff when Wlbert was alive and shortly after he passed away are the best examples.
“There was no doubt in my mind that steam engines all had definite personalities. I would hear them snorting up the grade and little imagination was needed to hear in the puffings and pantings of the two engines the conversations they were having with one another” - The Rev W Awdry “I can’t do it!” “Oh yes you can!” “I can’t do it!” “Oh yes you can!”
The other thing that makes steam locomotives in particular so easy to anthropomorphise is that ever steam engine is unique. They each have their own preferences, idiosyncrasies, and things that make them not want to perform. Some days they just don’t want to work as well, like they feel sluggish, or ill. It’s because of this complex nature that steam locomotives are very much alive in nature, and the only thing we need to do is to put faces and interpret speech to identify fully with their motives, passions, and personalities. It’s something that makes Thomas just that bit more real.
I can also say that the thing that attracted me to the books and tvs was how real it felt. Unlike all the other shows, I felt like I could actually visit the places in the show, whereas I can’t really suspend much disbelief at all for most other shows and movies. The details and colours were so intricate, vibrant, and vivid, but not over the top and fake. The sets are beautiful in an artistic way that nothing else on tv really can match, with the style of many scenes reminding me of the Hudson River School movement that has that same sense of romanticised realism, but then there were also the industrial sets which were dead realistic and everything came together with the perfect music. I’d say that it’s the combination of having all its parts be top notch, that it allows the show especially to be greater than it’s already wonderful parts.
I 100% agree with you. Liking it’s always been hard for me (I’ve been bullied out of a school for it etc) and I think that more people should try get this out to those who don’t know. If a show aimed for kids like SpongeBob can appeal to all ages globally, why can’t Thomas?
Thomas using models that made steam in its golden years is what made the show so real and physical, something you could actually touch, and that's what made it so special to me when I was little.
I’ve loved Thomas & Friends ever since I was little and my Dad and Grandmother who are sadly no longer with me are the reason for introducing me to this franchise and there were times when I wanted to distance myself from Thomas & Friends but as a 17 year old I’m glad that I like Thomas & Friends and gives me a sense of comfort. Although my family like to ridicule me and say horrible things just for being a fan of Thomas & Friends still in all honesty this franchise is my comfort zone, my creative outlet, my magnum opus, it’s me and I love it.
As someone who is way older, don't ever feel the need to distance yourself from what you enjoy, (if it's not harmful of course) just embrace your passion instead and it'll be something "too young" for you!
Is it me, or every few seconds I can see the Sixth Doctor in this video ? Anyways, a very good analysis on Thomas the tank engine and Friends and why it's loved by so many people nowadays. Me, at 30 years old, can still say that Thomas the tank engine and Friends is still among my favourite shows from my childhood.
In connection to the ASD point, as someone who grew up with that and loved the show, I honestly wonder if maybe the static faces helped me learn to understand the basics of human expression by simplifying it. Happy? They each have a face for happy. Angry? They each have one for that. Sad? They each have a face for that and etc.
You've kind of summed up something which I accidentally said to my sister-in-law about 10 years ago. She was asking me what the attraction of Thomas was. So I said "Because it's very realistic." I'd meant all the RL stories that ended up in the Thomas books and subsequent TV episodes. But what she heard was a grown man defending talking trains. I realised then there's no REAL way to quantify it. There's a realistic unreality, particularly in the first few series, of Thomas, and that's the point. It's talking trains doing normal real steam train stuff, including the accidents and mishaps.
I've recently started to think that, at least in the original stories, all the locomotives are really just normal locomotives (i.e. they don't actually have faces) and their anthropomorphisation is projected onto them by the engine crews etc... in an animistic 'machine spirit' kind of sense as they regale their stories to the audience, in a similar fashion that sailors used to refer to their ships like another person too. Like some sort of industrial neo paganism which I think is really cool.
Yeah! I think it's totally valid to see it that cause you're right! People do that all the time (I mean the way people will refer to any machine as a she is all too common). I think it's super cool too!
2:00 As soon as you said that I immediately thought of the lyric from the song 'Night Train' (which always stuck out to me since the first time I heard the song), the line "Pulling, heaving, big engine breathing". So, I think it's safe to say the show itself agrees with your assessment there! Very nice video, btw. Quite thought-provoking :)
Because Engines and Locomotives are cool and the classic seasons they have theit own charm also the characthers personality and the show score and tone and the railway series as a hole was amazing this is why
Wilbert Awdry was such an amazing writer and storyteller. I loved his little limerick he wrote for the sad story of Henry. There once was an engine attached to a train. Who was afraid of a few drops of rain. He went into a tunnel. And whooshed through his funnel. And didn't come out again. Really grabs the attention of the reader/consumer of the story. Only the Reverend Awdry could create a hook for a story that can be that appealing that fans all across the globe can recite it, and every Thomas fan would know the story. You don't even have to watch it anymore in those cases, yet you still enjoy listening to them.
As someone who volunteers with steam locomotives at a museum railway, the anthropomorphization of steam locomotives is pretty rampant. We project these personalities and identities onto these mechanical objects, treating them in the ways genuine, living things with these personalities and identities would be treated. For example, one of our locomotives, #40, is the oldest and smallest of our locomotives, so we always tend to treat her in a far more gentle way, like one would treat an older lady... even if #40 can be a bit of a pain sometimes.
First of all, I'm so jealous! I wish I worked on a railwayyy! And yeah, it's the same with kids and their toys, or people with their cars, but I definitely think engines just have so much personality
Ive always wondered about what got me into Thomas for a long time since I was a smol boi. I sometimes fantasize my parents shopping things for baby me and wonder what is something that I can be interested in and they were in the toy section at Walmart or Target and when they looked at the Thomas section they thought sentient steam and diesel locomotives would keep me entertained.
I like it because it’s a form of escapism. I had a traumatic and difficult childhood, so until I discovered music, drinking and girls, Thomas and his friends took me to a place where I felt normal.
Another amazing video. It's just so amazing how, though, out and tight thomas is, and i love the age range it's made for didn't decrease it quality when it's at its best.
Well I like it because -The plot of the episodes are good -It's just nostalgic to me because I watched Season 5's DVD "Races Rescues and Runaways" when I was 4 and had 3 discs because the others scratched and it didn't play correctly -The crashes are satisfying -The characters are just perfect -It uses actual sets and train toys to make the episodes -I liked my own comment because nobody cares
I always loved and still love Thomas and the fan content because it's amazing when fans understand the source material and what makes it good! That's especially apparent with Thomas Fan Content and why I love it so much!
Why I like Thomas is the same reason why i like Sonic, Transformers, Hey Arnold, Ace Attorney etc: Characterization, Dialogue, Arcs, and the feel of Depth. EMOTION. Do I like the climax in the MLP: FiM series finale where the main 6 (and others) blast the enemies with a gaint rainbow lazer? Yeah. Do I like the final fight/showdown between Megatron snd Starscream in Transformers Armada? Hell yeah! Do I love it everytime Shadow kicks butt? Capital Y to the E to the S! But it's not my favorite thing. I love the pep talk the main 5 give to Twilight in her time of need in the season finale, then following to the lesson that twilight's future student learns in the series finale. I LOVE the little speech Starscream gives to his leader after being run through by the Star Saber, basically going though Star's arc in the show. Shadow's development through Sonic Adventure 2 to Sonic 06 (wanting to fulfill Maria's wish and finally doing so with his sacrifice in sa2, him finally moving on from the past and choosing to fight for the world as his own person in STH, and finally working with GUN and cementing his place as a protector of earth in 06). I could list so many moments/episodes from so many franchises, too many to. Thomas had these simple conversations between characters in it's blood. In Hiro of The Rails and Blue Mountain Mystery, did I like the action scenes of the climatic chase with Spencer and when Luke saves Thomas from falling off the cliff? Yes! But Hiro's interactions with Thomas throughout HOTR and Luke's confession to Thomas in BMM is what i await for. I come for the crashes but stay for the compelling world and characters. That and, this show, was one of the first pieces of media i remember consuming and i fell in love with it instantly. I grew up with a mix of all eras of Thomas and i am forever grateful. This is my comfort show, and it will always have a special place in my heart as my favorite thing. Might not have been my first fandom experience, but will always be in my number one spot. Oh yeah, the fact T&F is as close to real life as you can get is cool too. Nice video/analysis btw
@@tiernantalks Dude me neither! It’s rare enough seeing my name out there (as a fellow Tiernan, I’m sure you’re aware lol), so I agree with you totally! Thomas played a huge part in solidifying my love for railroading (heck, I even had a special table to build my wooden sets on lol). Thank you for the response as well! You seem a pretty cool guy! Well… apart from your name, that automatically is a win in my book lmao.
@@bean_bttf3 Bro, I would put my Thomas toys anywhere and everywhere around the house, much to everyone else's inconvenience lol. And thanks! We Tiernans gotta stick together
We all like Thomas bc it was unique and understood how to tell stories. I always loved Thomas even as I got older despite some people telling me "Thomas is for babies" or "it's just a kids show" but Thomas was never just a kids show, Awdy made the original stories for both kids and adults to enjoy and that's why people liked Thomas bc everyone could learn from it and not feel like they are dumb and talked down to. Thomas was one of those shows that stood out and it's a test of time to other kids shows that don't have the charm Thomas did.
I'm a ttte fan. if somebody asked me why i love Thomas The Tank Engine, my answer is... Because it's the history of the whole island and i will likely to proceed explaining the battle of Crovan Gate where king Crovan and his man killled Norman soldiers in a narrow passage brutally between a hill/mountain, and also medieval Sodor are actually pretty crazy but sadly there are no many much fan talking about it
Yeah! That's so often overlooked, cause how many shows can you say have that much depth to their lore... and it never even gets a throwaway line in the show!
The puppetry of the trains with moving eyes and many little figures with different heads and limbs in the older series was amazing to look at. The transition of the trains having moving faces as they talk in the 3D series is kinda meh, depending on how you look at it. The 2D cartoon shenanigans the latest series has? No thank you.
This thesis is dope! I consider myself an honest fan but my lifestyle is off compared to many fans i guess im "ghetto by default" grew up in projects black n proud n all that lol broken the law in many ways drug user xyz regular go to work smoke a blunt drink a beer n chill with the homies type of dude my social life is lively aff girls here n there.... not a crazy life just not uppity n on the spectrum as much as most fans but my im 28 but my earliest memories involved thomas for some reason read the books rented every vhs that would come out toys merchandise galore thru the years as i got older the idea of Thomas me getting over or forgetting thomas never left sometimes id wonder why im still on the ttte page or catching up with the show in my free time years on and off i thought i was weird...this somes it up the genuine make up of Thomas's reality connect with fundamental comfort matched with a leveled stimulation that doesn't dilute our perception of reality while still maintaining a realistic idea of reality its a genuine puzzle piece many of us found comfort in exploring imagintion and creating morals i ask my self si many times why do i keep tabs thru the years why does it bring such comfort to see these specifics characters expeess them selves out of all tv shows ...weird but cool thank u for analyzing this thought deeply
The Question is Is Thomas The Tank Engine Tokusatsu? Though interesting point about children with ASD liking Thomas. I was a child with ASD and I also really liked Thomas and still like the OG series and that idea of dissonance. A lot of the fiction I like mostly have something in common. They use the real world as a backdrop. Like they use familiar locations or set in fictional cities or towns that still keep that familiarity.
Ooh I love that question! Yeah, now that you mention it, Thomas kind of is a Tokusatsu (which I just looked up lol), and I think it's what can really enhance a fiction into making that connection with that audience because it takes that question of "what if.." that I think we all wonder.
I used to watch Thomas a lot when i was little,i mean by i grew up with the hit/ nitrogen era. Yeah thoese badly written episodes but it's not my fault tho, they introduced me to the thomas brand. I did watch a lot of classic series episodes along side it,i was little at the time so i didn't know which was the good written episodes and which where the bad ones. But when i got older and started rewatching these hit and nitrogen episodes, i realized how AWFUL they are. Then i stumbled across james a Williams and unlucky tug videos explaining the good Thomas era and the bad era that was my clear exposure on how many people see Thomas. Seeing how good the classic episodes are i can see why there are adult fans of the show other than the target audience.
@@tiernantalks I don't get why they recommend me Thomas stuff either. I usually just watch videos about real engines, but I guess the algorithms thinks train = Thomas. What makes the show less appealing to me the more I work with real steam engines is how inaccurate it is and how people treat it like it is the bible and everything presented is a fact, completely disregarding actual facts. It is a nice introduction to railfanning, but it shouldn't be seen as a accurate source and a encyclopedia of how steam engines (and diesels) and railways work. Also the grey skin and soulless beady eyes has always been creepy to me, ever since I was a kid. XD But that's just me. It would help if they had irises. However I do agree that steam engines as a whole are fascinating as they are so "alive". They breathe, they live, they have personalities, they can have good days and bad days. I can totally see why Rudyard Kipling brought them to life in his short story ".007", and why other authors after him has continued doing so. I even catch myself talking to them when I work with them... XD
@@LittleRedToyota Ah! That's so interesting, I think there is a definitely a point even in the classic era where they start to pull further away from the realism (like how Awdry was upset at the lack of rule 55 in henry' forest and stuff). I agree that it definitely make for a good introduction to railfanning, especially the early stuff, but I'm still okay with not everything being perfectly accurate if it's for a good story. And I have heard many people on the internet talk about the "creepy faces" and I respect that, but I also just chalk that up to different perspectives and stuff like how some people find dolls or puppets creepy. It's an interesting conversation!!
@@tiernantalks I like the early stuff better, yes, even if that too can be inaccurate, the model era wasn't as looney as the newer stuff. I think I have more of a problem with people treating it like it is the truth and facts about steam engines. I do agree that realism sometimes need to be bent to make a good children's story. The problem is when people believe it also applies to real engines and they know everything just because they have watched this show. Weird faces has always creeped me out. When I was a kid there was a box of paint in the basement I didn't dare to walk past because it had a rather spooky image on it. XD I suppose it is the combo of grey skin and entirely black eyes.
@@LittleRedToyota Yeah I think we can all agree the newer stuff is way different lol. It is interesting that yeah children's shows do have some impact on how we start to learn things and perceive things, but I think that danger can come from any show and it's up to parents or just the person themselves to figure out how what they're watching is or isn't realistic and stuff. But what I like about the early seasons and books is that they really try to make the world seem as real as possible, which feels pretty unique when you look at other children's shows like this. You know what's weird? I actually find the black eyes are better than like with irises but hey that's just me.
A very well-written thesis. I particularly like how you brought up Thomas' world is just our world; these engines aren't hidden in sight like the Toy Story characters, etc, and that's what makes it so unique and believable. It's a take on an anthropomorphized world that is unlike any other! Thoroughly enjoyed this
OH MY GOSH THANK YOUUU! It's an honor to get such praise from one of the many creators who inspired me to write about my passions!
Hello unlucky tug
Wilbert Awdry was a genuinely good person and genuinely loved his creation. This is something that he put his heart and soul into. It was purely meant to entertain children. I’d say the purity of it. It’s why the older stuff when Wlbert was alive and shortly after he passed away are the best examples.
Yeah I really like his quote about making the show entertaining for everyone, I think that's what helps it stand the test of time
“There was no doubt in my mind that steam engines all had definite personalities. I would hear them snorting up the grade and little imagination was needed to hear in the puffings and pantings of the two engines the conversations they were having with one another”
- The Rev W Awdry
“I can’t do it!”
“Oh yes you can!”
“I can’t do it!”
“Oh yes you can!”
I personally love a single fictional addition in a realistic world... Something that's less fantastical and therefore less annoying
The other thing that makes steam locomotives in particular so easy to anthropomorphise is that ever steam engine is unique. They each have their own preferences, idiosyncrasies, and things that make them not want to perform. Some days they just don’t want to work as well, like they feel sluggish, or ill. It’s because of this complex nature that steam locomotives are very much alive in nature, and the only thing we need to do is to put faces and interpret speech to identify fully with their motives, passions, and personalities. It’s something that makes Thomas just that bit more real.
I can also say that the thing that attracted me to the books and tvs was how real it felt. Unlike all the other shows, I felt like I could actually visit the places in the show, whereas I can’t really suspend much disbelief at all for most other shows and movies. The details and colours were so intricate, vibrant, and vivid, but not over the top and fake. The sets are beautiful in an artistic way that nothing else on tv really can match, with the style of many scenes reminding me of the Hudson River School movement that has that same sense of romanticised realism, but then there were also the industrial sets which were dead realistic and everything came together with the perfect music. I’d say that it’s the combination of having all its parts be top notch, that it allows the show especially to be greater than it’s already wonderful parts.
YESSS that's what I mean exactlyyy, like it's just comes so easy to relate cause they're so animated and unique!!
Yeah! Thomas really struck that balance so well!
because I like it
Definitely that too
U getting chadistic
I 100% agree with you. Liking it’s always been hard for me (I’ve been bullied out of a school for it etc) and I think that more people should try get this out to those who don’t know. If a show aimed for kids like SpongeBob can appeal to all ages globally, why can’t Thomas?
YEAH EXACTLY!!
“Why does everyone like Thomas?”
Proceeds to show Edward in the thumbnail
that was my first thought too
"you'll know i did my senior thesis on Thomas"
okay, dude
Edward is simply that GOATed
Edward was also the very first character created by Awdry as well interestingly enough
There are so many reasons why I love Thomas, but my main is the realism the Engines feel they would fit right into real life.
Thomas using models that made steam in its golden years is what made the show so real and physical, something you could actually touch, and that's what made it so special to me when I was little.
I’ve loved Thomas & Friends ever since I was little and my Dad and Grandmother who are sadly no longer with me are the reason for introducing me to this franchise and there were times when I wanted to distance myself from Thomas & Friends but as a 17 year old I’m glad that I like Thomas & Friends and gives me a sense of comfort. Although my family like to ridicule me and say horrible things just for being a fan of Thomas & Friends still in all honesty this franchise is my comfort zone, my creative outlet, my magnum opus, it’s me and I love it.
As someone who is way older, don't ever feel the need to distance yourself from what you enjoy, (if it's not harmful of course) just embrace your passion instead and it'll be something "too young" for you!
Idk why thomas..is so appealing to me... beacuse how cool the models are and the stories is simple yet enjoyable to listen and wacth too
Those are some of the best reasons to enjoy it!!
Imagination is what gives the soul meaning!
Yeah man! That's what I'm saying! I did a review of the episode "All at sea" where that's kind of my central point too.
Aye true to that
@@tiernantalks can we see it please? 🙏🏾
@@achingforstrength My all at sea video? It's on my channel! Hey, if you wanna see it, I won't stop you lol
Is it me, or every few seconds I can see the Sixth Doctor in this video ? Anyways, a very good analysis on Thomas the tank engine and Friends and why it's loved by so many people nowadays. Me, at 30 years old, can still say that Thomas the tank engine and Friends is still among my favourite shows from my childhood.
Oh no you've caught on!!! lol sorry he's just so expressive
But thank you! And yeah, I'm glad all these comments continue to prove how Thomas lasts
In connection to the ASD point, as someone who grew up with that and loved the show, I honestly wonder if maybe the static faces helped me learn to understand the basics of human expression by simplifying it. Happy? They each have a face for happy. Angry? They each have one for that. Sad? They each have a face for that and etc.
You've kind of summed up something which I accidentally said to my sister-in-law about 10 years ago. She was asking me what the attraction of Thomas was.
So I said "Because it's very realistic." I'd meant all the RL stories that ended up in the Thomas books and subsequent TV episodes. But what she heard was a grown man defending talking trains. I realised then there's no REAL way to quantify it.
There's a realistic unreality, particularly in the first few series, of Thomas, and that's the point. It's talking trains doing normal real steam train stuff, including the accidents and mishaps.
Starscream reference. Always did love the prime design
I've recently started to think that, at least in the original stories, all the locomotives are really just normal locomotives (i.e. they don't actually have faces) and their anthropomorphisation is projected onto them by the engine crews etc... in an animistic 'machine spirit' kind of sense as they regale their stories to the audience, in a similar fashion that sailors used to refer to their ships like another person too. Like some sort of industrial neo paganism which I think is really cool.
Yeah! I think it's totally valid to see it that cause you're right! People do that all the time (I mean the way people will refer to any machine as a she is all too common). I think it's super cool too!
2:00
As soon as you said that I immediately thought of the lyric from the song 'Night Train' (which always stuck out to me since the first time I heard the song), the line "Pulling, heaving, big engine breathing".
So, I think it's safe to say the show itself agrees with your assessment there!
Very nice video, btw. Quite thought-provoking :)
Because Engines and Locomotives are cool and the classic seasons they have theit own charm also the characthers personality and the show score and tone and the railway series as a hole was amazing this is why
Wilbert Awdry was such an amazing writer and storyteller. I loved his little limerick he wrote for the sad story of Henry.
There once was an engine attached to a train.
Who was afraid of a few drops of rain.
He went into a tunnel.
And whooshed through his funnel.
And didn't come out again.
Really grabs the attention of the reader/consumer of the story. Only the Reverend Awdry could create a hook for a story that can be that appealing that fans all across the globe can recite it, and every Thomas fan would know the story. You don't even have to watch it anymore in those cases, yet you still enjoy listening to them.
As someone who volunteers with steam locomotives at a museum railway, the anthropomorphization of steam locomotives is pretty rampant. We project these personalities and identities onto these mechanical objects, treating them in the ways genuine, living things with these personalities and identities would be treated. For example, one of our locomotives, #40, is the oldest and smallest of our locomotives, so we always tend to treat her in a far more gentle way, like one would treat an older lady... even if #40 can be a bit of a pain sometimes.
First of all, I'm so jealous! I wish I worked on a railwayyy! And yeah, it's the same with kids and their toys, or people with their cars, but I definitely think engines just have so much personality
Ive always wondered about what got me into Thomas for a long time since I was a smol boi.
I sometimes fantasize my parents shopping things for baby me and wonder what is something that I can be interested in and they were in the toy section at Walmart or Target and when they looked at the Thomas section they thought sentient steam and diesel locomotives would keep me entertained.
I like it because it’s a form of escapism. I had a traumatic and difficult childhood, so until I discovered music, drinking and girls, Thomas and his friends took me to a place where I felt normal.
Another amazing video. It's just so amazing how, though, out and tight thomas is, and i love the age range it's made for didn't decrease it quality when it's at its best.
RIGHT! That's how you know it's a good show, cause it never talked down to you
Well I like it because
-The plot of the episodes are good
-It's just nostalgic to me because I watched Season 5's DVD "Races Rescues and Runaways" when I was 4 and had 3 discs because the others scratched and it didn't play correctly
-The crashes are satisfying
-The characters are just perfect
-It uses actual sets and train toys to make the episodes
-I liked my own comment because nobody cares
I always loved and still love Thomas and the fan content because it's amazing when fans understand the source material and what makes it good! That's especially apparent with Thomas Fan Content and why I love it so much!
Omg you got Tug himself in your comments. That’s amazing! Great video! I love it!
Why I like Thomas is the same reason why i like Sonic, Transformers, Hey Arnold, Ace Attorney etc:
Characterization, Dialogue, Arcs, and the feel of Depth. EMOTION.
Do I like the climax in the MLP: FiM series finale where the main 6 (and others) blast the enemies with a gaint rainbow lazer? Yeah. Do I like the final fight/showdown between Megatron snd Starscream in Transformers Armada? Hell yeah! Do I love it everytime Shadow kicks butt? Capital Y to the E to the S!
But it's not my favorite thing.
I love the pep talk the main 5 give to Twilight in her time of need in the season finale, then following to the lesson that twilight's future student learns in the series finale. I LOVE the little speech Starscream gives to his leader after being run through by the Star Saber, basically going though Star's arc in the show. Shadow's development through Sonic Adventure 2 to Sonic 06 (wanting to fulfill Maria's wish and finally doing so with his sacrifice in sa2, him finally moving on from the past and choosing to fight for the world as his own person in STH, and finally working with GUN and cementing his place as a protector of earth in 06).
I could list so many moments/episodes from so many franchises, too many to.
Thomas had these simple conversations between characters in it's blood.
In Hiro of The Rails and Blue Mountain Mystery, did I like the action scenes of the climatic chase with Spencer and when Luke saves Thomas from falling off the cliff? Yes! But Hiro's interactions with Thomas throughout HOTR and Luke's confession to Thomas in BMM is what i await for.
I come for the crashes but stay for the compelling world and characters.
That and, this show, was one of the first pieces of media i remember consuming and i fell in love with it instantly. I grew up with a mix of all eras of Thomas and i am forever grateful. This is my comfort show, and it will always have a special place in my heart as my favorite thing. Might not have been my first fandom experience, but will always be in my number one spot.
Oh yeah, the fact T&F is as close to real life as you can get is cool too. Nice video/analysis btw
Me: Looks at channel name
Me: …
Me: Yeah, this checks out.
If your name really is Tiernan… it’s nice to finally see someone who shares a name. It’s so cool.
Bro WHAT! The chance of a fellow Tiernan who enjoys Thomas?? I never would have imagined!!!
@@tiernantalks Dude me neither! It’s rare enough seeing my name out there (as a fellow Tiernan, I’m sure you’re aware lol), so I agree with you totally! Thomas played a huge part in solidifying my love for railroading (heck, I even had a special table to build my wooden sets on lol). Thank you for the response as well! You seem a pretty cool guy! Well… apart from your name, that automatically is a win in my book lmao.
@@tiernantalks Also, apparently I forgot to subscribe to you, so there you go!
@@bean_bttf3 Bro, I would put my Thomas toys anywhere and everywhere around the house, much to everyone else's inconvenience lol. And thanks! We Tiernans gotta stick together
We all like Thomas bc it was unique and understood how to tell stories. I always loved Thomas even as I got older despite some people telling me "Thomas is for babies" or "it's just a kids show" but Thomas was never just a kids show, Awdy made the original stories for both kids and adults to enjoy and that's why people liked Thomas bc everyone could learn from it and not feel like they are dumb and talked down to. Thomas was one of those shows that stood out and it's a test of time to other kids shows that don't have the charm Thomas did.
I'm a ttte fan. if somebody asked me why i love Thomas The Tank Engine, my answer is... Because it's the history of the whole island and i will likely to proceed explaining the battle of Crovan Gate where king Crovan and his man killled Norman soldiers in a narrow passage brutally between a hill/mountain, and also medieval Sodor are actually pretty crazy but sadly there are no many much fan talking about it
Yeah! That's so often overlooked, cause how many shows can you say have that much depth to their lore... and it never even gets a throwaway line in the show!
Video titled “why do we like Thomas.” Has James in the thumbnail.
This has to be the funniest one
Crazy how this is also wrong, it's Edward not james
@@Blank__000__BlankIkr I thought he changed the thumbnail after the fact to Edward but nvm lol
The Edward disrespect is crazy
@@nitomosquito3164 Edward’s the G.O.A.T.
Why do I like it?
*flippin locomotives*
Reason: Because it’s just like that 🗿
A great follow up to your first video.
"Why do we like Thomas?"
Well, that depends... why is Edward in the thumbnail? 🤔
Tiernantalks explains this discussion in an easy to follow format. Well scripted and sounds like he rehearsed the script a few times.
I remember seeing an article a long time ago asking whether fans of the franchise should be referred to as “Tommies” or “Tankies”
The reason that I like Thomas because it’s so appealing
To all the people because of simple stories and the cool models that they have
3:10 DOCTOR WH-
'Why do we like Thomas?'
Edward on the thumbnail ._.
Cause cause I already used Thomas for my other thumbnailll lol
Edward is the best character anyway.
No Duck is
@@ajclarke9189 At the very least, he *is* the original MC.
The puppetry of the trains with moving eyes and many little figures with different heads and limbs in the older series was amazing to look at.
The transition of the trains having moving faces as they talk in the 3D series is kinda meh, depending on how you look at it.
The 2D cartoon shenanigans the latest series has? No thank you.
i mean i like it because its the first show i ever watched
5:08 I’ve got that special 75th anniversary box set
Sorry AEG and CGI fans. My heart belongs to the model series.
I was not ready to hear an American narrator. I didn't know they made that.
loved your video 😊
This thesis is dope! I consider myself an honest fan but my lifestyle is off compared to many fans i guess im "ghetto by default" grew up in projects black n proud n all that lol broken the law in many ways drug user xyz regular go to work smoke a blunt drink a beer n chill with the homies type of dude my social life is lively aff girls here n there.... not a crazy life just not uppity n on the spectrum as much as most fans but my im 28 but my earliest memories involved thomas for some reason read the books rented every vhs that would come out toys merchandise galore thru the years as i got older the idea of Thomas me getting over or forgetting thomas never left sometimes id wonder why im still on the ttte page or catching up with the show in my free time years on and off i thought i was weird...this somes it up the genuine make up of Thomas's reality connect with fundamental comfort matched with a leveled stimulation that doesn't dilute our perception of reality while still maintaining a realistic idea of reality its a genuine puzzle piece many of us found comfort in exploring imagintion and creating morals i ask my self si many times why do i keep tabs thru the years why does it bring such comfort to see these specifics characters expeess them selves out of all tv shows ...weird but cool thank u for analyzing this thought deeply
The Question is Is Thomas The Tank Engine Tokusatsu? Though interesting point about children with ASD liking Thomas. I was a child with ASD and I also really liked Thomas and still like the OG series and that idea of dissonance. A lot of the fiction I like mostly have something in common. They use the real world as a backdrop. Like they use familiar locations or set in fictional cities or towns that still keep that familiarity.
Ooh I love that question!
Yeah, now that you mention it, Thomas kind of is a Tokusatsu (which I just looked up lol), and I think it's what can really enhance a fiction into making that connection with that audience because it takes that question of "what if.." that I think we all wonder.
I used to watch Thomas a lot when i was little,i mean by i grew up with the hit/ nitrogen era. Yeah thoese badly written episodes but it's not my fault tho, they introduced me to the thomas brand. I did watch a lot of classic series episodes along side it,i was little at the time so i didn't know which was the good written episodes and which where the bad ones. But when i got older and started rewatching these hit and nitrogen episodes, i realized how AWFUL they are. Then i stumbled across james a Williams and unlucky tug videos explaining the good Thomas era and the bad era that was my clear exposure on how many people see Thomas. Seeing how good the classic episodes are i can see why there are adult fans of the show other than the target audience.
8:45 That Is So Me
In the cover of the video, the engine is Edward, not Thomas.(I couldn't give a shit)
False Advertising: Title mentioned Thomas but he's not in the thumbnail.
0/5 Would not watch again.
neat
1:16 i can smell
Cuz it cool
2:04
cuz its fucking peak are you joking?
I like Thomas because it’s a train cartoon if you want to watch a dumb train show mighty express
I don't... and the more I learn about real steam engines (and diesel engines), the less I like the show.
Really? (I wonder why youtube recommended you this lol) What puts you off the show? Why do real engines make this show less appealing?
@@tiernantalks I don't get why they recommend me Thomas stuff either. I usually just watch videos about real engines, but I guess the algorithms thinks train = Thomas.
What makes the show less appealing to me the more I work with real steam engines is how inaccurate it is and how people treat it like it is the bible and everything presented is a fact, completely disregarding actual facts.
It is a nice introduction to railfanning, but it shouldn't be seen as a accurate source and a encyclopedia of how steam engines (and diesels) and railways work.
Also the grey skin and soulless beady eyes has always been creepy to me, ever since I was a kid. XD But that's just me. It would help if they had irises.
However I do agree that steam engines as a whole are fascinating as they are so "alive". They breathe, they live, they have personalities, they can have good days and bad days. I can totally see why Rudyard Kipling brought them to life in his short story ".007", and why other authors after him has continued doing so. I even catch myself talking to them when I work with them... XD
@@LittleRedToyota Ah! That's so interesting, I think there is a definitely a point even in the classic era where they start to pull further away from the realism (like how Awdry was upset at the lack of rule 55 in henry' forest and stuff). I agree that it definitely make for a good introduction to railfanning, especially the early stuff, but I'm still okay with not everything being perfectly accurate if it's for a good story.
And I have heard many people on the internet talk about the "creepy faces" and I respect that, but I also just chalk that up to different perspectives and stuff like how some people find dolls or puppets creepy. It's an interesting conversation!!
@@tiernantalks I like the early stuff better, yes, even if that too can be inaccurate, the model era wasn't as looney as the newer stuff. I think I have more of a problem with people treating it like it is the truth and facts about steam engines. I do agree that realism sometimes need to be bent to make a good children's story. The problem is when people believe it also applies to real engines and they know everything just because they have watched this show.
Weird faces has always creeped me out. When I was a kid there was a box of paint in the basement I didn't dare to walk past because it had a rather spooky image on it. XD I suppose it is the combo of grey skin and entirely black eyes.
@@LittleRedToyota Yeah I think we can all agree the newer stuff is way different lol.
It is interesting that yeah children's shows do have some impact on how we start to learn things and perceive things, but I think that danger can come from any show and it's up to parents or just the person themselves to figure out how what they're watching is or isn't realistic and stuff. But what I like about the early seasons and books is that they really try to make the world seem as real as possible, which feels pretty unique when you look at other children's shows like this.
You know what's weird? I actually find the black eyes are better than like with irises but hey that's just me.