Thomas & Friends: The Great Race is a 2016 British animated musical comedy adventure film that functions as the eleventh feature-length special based on the British television series Thomas & Friends. The film was produced and distributed by HIT Entertainment with animation production by Canadian-based Arc Productions. The movie centres on Thomas wanting to represent Sodor in the Great Railway Show on the mainland and proving that he doesn't need to be big, strong, or fast to go.[3]
The film stars John Hasler (UK) and Joseph May (US) as the voice of Thomas, alongside special guest stars Tina Desai as Indian engine Ashima, Rufus Jones as a depiction of the iconic real-life locomotive Flying Scotsman[4][a] and John Schwab as Vinnie, an American engine. These new additions were made by Mattel to add more international and female characters to the cast.[5][6][7]
Thomas the Tank Engine meets Gordon's brother, the Flying Scotsman, who is taking part in the Great Railway Show on the Mainland and encourages Thomas to try and take part as well. Although every engine on Sodor wants to take part, Sir Topham Hatt has not made up his mind yet, and Thomas fears he won't be picked to go to the competition. Thomas tries several attempts to convince Sir Topham Hatt to choose him, such as getting the idea to be streamlined. When he vaguely phrases this idea to Sir Topham Hatt, he accepts his request though chooses Gordon to be streamlined instead for the competition. Thomas then gets the idea to be repainted to enter the contest for "best decorated engine", though when reveals this to Sir Topham Hatt, seeing him being repainted at the Steamworks, he gives this idea to James and Emily.
At Brendam Docks, Thomas has a run-in with most of the competitors for the Great Railway Show when their rail ferry docks there by mistake, and as a result, one of them is left behind. Ashima (a beautifully painted tank engine from India) accidentally bumps Thomas in her hurry to try and make the ferry, nearly pushing him over the edge into the water. He quickly retreats from the docks.
Ashima is lost and the other engines are too busy to help her find her way. Meanwhile, Diesel devises a trick that involves disguising his henchmen as trucks to fool Sir Topham Hatt into entering him into the competition instead of Henry. Ashima suggests to Thomas that he partake in the shunting competition.
Diesel's trick goes awry when Thomas tries to shunt his train and crashes, and Thomas’ repairs mean he will not be able to go to the competition. Sir Topham Hatt reveals he was planning to enter Thomas into the shunting challenge the whole time, but because of his repairs, Percy will take his place. However, Thomas rushes to the mainland to deliver Gordon's safety valve upon learning the valve was not reinstalled when Gordon was streamlined.
The Great Railway Show is a disaster; Henry, James, and Emily lose their respective competitions, and Gordon's boiler explodes and he is disqualified from the race after refusing to listen to Thomas and Flying Scotsman about his safety valve. With Percy's insistence, Thomas takes his place in the shunting competition but sacrifices his win for Ashima to save her from crashing into a derailed flatbed. However, the judges decide to award Thomas the win alongside Ashima for good sportsmanship. Sir Topham Hatt and the other Sodor engines are very proud of Thomas.
With the Great Railway Show over, everyone is helping Thomas to try and find Ashima so that he can say goodbye when Sir Topham signals for his engines to return to Sodor. Thomas thinks he has missed his chance until he hears her singing as she fills up with coal. Elated, he invites Ashima to come back to Sodor with him, allowing them to spend some more time together before catching her ship back to India from there.
During the credits, the diesels and Cranky the Crane look for Diesel at Brendam Docks. Diesel (stuck in a crate) calls for help as he sails away on a ship leaving Sodor.
The film was originally theatrically released on 21 May 2016, in the United Kingdom. The film ranked tenth in its opening weekend, grossing $214,133 from 292 theaters with an average of $733 per theater. The film decreased 77.1% and fell to 19th in its sophomore weekend, grossing $48,944 from 205 theaters with an average of $238 per theater. The film ranked in 18th, 26th, and 27th place in its 3rd, 4th, and 5th weekends.[9]
The film was re-released in China on 22 September 2017 and in South Korea on 30 November 2017. The film had a strong debut in China, ranking fifth in its first weekend and grossing $1.6 million. In its sophomore weekend, the film dropped 86.5% to 13th place, grossing $227,528. The film was less successful in South Korea, ranking 12th in its first weekend with $68,820 from 249 theaters, with an average of $276 per theater.[9]
Critical response
Renee Schonfeld of Common Sense Media awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Entertaining train tale with mild peril, positive messages".[10]
^The Flying Scotsman previously appeared in the Railway Series book Enterprising Engines, but was reduced to a brief cameo role when the book was adapted for television
