Thomas and Friends - Happy Little Helpers

Thomas and Friends - Happy Little Helpers is a UK VHS/DVD release by VCI and HiT Entertainment on 6th October 2003.

Description[]

THOMAS & FRIENDS are back with 8 exciting new episodes and 3 songs never before seen on video/DVD. Join Thomas, Percy, James, Edward, Toby, Donald and Douglas, Oliver, Emily and The Fat Controller for more action-packed, helpful adventures on the Island of Sodor. Included on this video/DVD are:

Episodes[]

Three Cheers for Thomas - Thomas takes the children to their Annual Sports Day and wishes that he could take part and win a medal - just like the children. When he discovers that the children's medals have been left behind, he rushes back to get them and is presented with a special medal for his helpfulness.
Percy Gets it Right - Percy is out on Toby's line when he discovers that the track is wobbly - but when he goes back to warn the others, they won't listen. When Thomas gets stuck on the line and Percy has to go and rescue him, the Fat Controller promises that he will always listen to Percy in the future.
Edward's Brass Band - Every year Edward loves taking the Brass Band to their concert - but when he has an accident, Bertie has to take the band instead. Due to heavy rain, the roads are too muddy but thankfully Edward is fixed just in time to help out.
James and the Queen of Sodor - When James hears the Queen of Sodor has arrived, he volunteers to collect her - but when the Queen turns out to be a filthy coal barge, he is determined to do the job and stay clean.
Toby's Windmill - Toby loves the windmill, but after a heavy storm it is damaged and the miller is unable to afford the timber to mend it. But when Toby finds a fallen tree he gives it to the miller and the windmill and repaired and re-opened.
Bad Day at Castle Loch - Donald and Douglas are pleased that Sodor's 'Scottish' castle is opening again and they certainly don't believed the stories about a monster that lives in the loch. However, when they get stuck, they see something moving across the misty water - but thankfully it is only Harvey coming to help them.
Snow Engine - It's time for the winter festival, but Oliver doesn't like the snow and he has to take a delivery to some children in a mountain village. He gets stuck for the night and in the morning he looks like a giant snow engine and the children are delighted.
Emily's New Coaches - Emily, a new steam engine, arrives on the Island of Sodor and takes Thomas's coaches (Annie & Clarabel) by mistake. Thomas is not very happy, but when Emily saves him from a crash, he forgives her.

Credits[]

Story by: David Mitton (Toby's Windmill only)
Written by: Jan Page, Paul Larson, Robyn Charteris, Jenny Mcdade
Script Editor: Jan Page
Script Consultant: Phil Fehrle
Story Consultant: Paul Larson
Creative Consultant: Shelly Elizabeth Skinner
Director of Photography: Terry Permane
Head of Production: Matt Porter
Production Accountant: Pete Dunkerley
Production Manager: Andreas Fehrle
Production Supervisor: Michele Vardy
First Assistant Camera: Fran Watson
Camera Crew: Andrew Mitchell
Gaffer: Michael Flynn
Art Director: Bob Gauld Galliers
Model and Special Effects Supervisor: David Eves
Assistant to Model and Special Effects Supervisor: Marrisa Clifford
Model Engineers: Steve Knowles, Chris Lloyd, Duncan Orthner
Special Effects: Mark Howard, Graham Poole
Model Makers: Mitch Barnes, Alex Bennett, Cord Bray, Brian Cole, Jennie de Naeyer, Gary Faulkner, Franc Madden, John Murphy, Simon Parker, Roy Spencer, Bill Thomas
Sculptors: Martin Gaskell, Nicola Hatch, Sean Hedges, Quinn Jessica Lee, Clare Kinross, Araba Ocran, Chrissie Overs
Stage Crew: Sophie Brown, Julian Eyres, Nick Richardson
Runners: Ben Crooks, Jo Hamer
Lighting Equipment Supplied by: Lee Lighting Ltd
Camera Engineering: Richard Malpass Associates
Dubbing Facilities: The Maidstone Studios
Dubbing Mixer: Mike Erander
Online and VFX: Robin Doelly, Steve Horton
Editor: Kate Buckland
Music Composed by: Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell
Made at: Shepperton Studios
Processed by: Technicolor
Programme Consultant: Steve Asquith
First Assistant Director: Conrad Ayling
Executive Producers: Jocelyn Stevenson, Peter Urie
Produced by: Phil Fehrle
Produced in association with Nickelodeon UK
HIT Entertainment/Nick Jr
© Gullane (Thomas) Limited 2003

Trivia[]

This VHS/DVD was released on the same day that Emily's New Coaches was first broadcast.
In the episode selection menu, Gordon's theme is used on the first page, with James' theme on the second page, just like on The Very Best of Thomas and Friends DVD.
This is the last release in the UK to have the Uc certificate.

Goofs[]

The description on Emily's New Coaches says that Emily saves Thomas from a crash, but she actually saved Oliver and Toad from a crash and Thomas was the only one who almost crashed into them because him refers to Oliver.

Opening (Original 2003 release) (with no trailer)[]

VCI Tracking Control Screen (1995-2005)
VCI Warning Screen (1995-2005)
VCI Ident (1995-2005)
HiT Entertainment Ident (1997-2008)
European Captioning Institute Warning Screen (1995-2005)
Thomas & Friends Season 7 Opening Titles
Start of Three Cheers for Thomas (2003)

Closing (Original 2003 release) (with no trailer)[]

End of Emily's New Coaches (2003)
Thomas & Friends Season 7 Closing Credits
HiT Entertainment Ident (2001-2007) (silent)
VCI Ident (1995-2005)