Season 17

[TrainFan97]

I do wonder if Sidney and Norman will appear again.

[Zorran202]

Well... if you checked up on the 2013 Wooden Railway Yearbook confirmed (as well as another one), that Sydney has been confirmed to appear in an episode called, 'New Wheels for Sydney'. No plot known at the moment, but we'll know eventually.

[TrainFan97]

At least Sidney is coming back. We don't know about Norman, though.

[Shawn]

The animation is degraded and awful.  The lighting is off,  the movements of the engines don't seem as realistic,  the engines paintwork isn't as bright,  and I could go on and on.  In some places,  it looks a little bit like a video game!

The plot lines are the best I've seen since 2003 I have to say though.  I really enjoyed them.

[Fergusfan17]

It is an early release though, so give it some time.

[thomasj219]

The animation is degraded and awful.  The lighting is off,  the movements of the engines are far less realistic,  the ballest on the track looks too clean and uniform,  the engines paintwork isn't as bright,  and I could go on and on.  In some places,  it looks like a video game!

The plot lines are the best I've seen since 2003 I have to say though.

You are exaggerating greatly. There are some faults yes but it is no where a video game, at any points. It is nowhere near awful and personally I'm glad the paintwork isn't as bright.

The plot lines are very good.

[SodorAdventures]

I vouch for some things Shawn said, however, he is indeed exaggerating. It is  (personally) not as good as when nitrogen did it, but ah, don't judge a book by its cover. Give them some time to settle down and perfect their animation. I suggest if you have any suggestion, you can email them and give them your opinions. 

[thomasj219]

Couldn't have put it better. Nitrogen was excellent but give them time. We'll see what happens. In other news I am happy to hear that the seasons are the usual 26 again.

[Shawn]

I really am just stating my opinion,  sorry if I sounded a bit harsh,  but I'm really just not a fan of the new look.  It just seems cheaper overall.  And I heard (don't quote me on this), that the animation is cheaper on purpose!  Due to a lower budget.

[thomasj219]

Well that's not really "on purpose" it's just that they have a lower budget. Speaking as someone in the entertainment industry that is not something the crew has any control over. They have to do the best with what they have.

[Anthony P2]

i kind of find it hard to believe Thomas having a low budget. Thomas is a muti-MILLION dollar gold mine! they only switched the CGI because they didn't want to pay the taxes on it. they went from really good CGI, for a kids program, to not that great CGI. this situation is what I call "The Miller Effect" story lines go down, CGI goes up. Story lines go up, CGI goes down. just goes to show "you can't win!" -Duke

[Shawn]

I don't know how the taxes went down province to province, honestly.

[Zorran202]

i kind of find it hard to believe Thomas having a low budget. Thomas is a muti-MILLION dollar gold mine! they only switched the CGI because they didn't want to pay the taxes on it. they went from really good CGI, for a kids program, to not that great CGI. this situation is what I call "The Miller Effect" story lines go down, CGI goes up. Story lines go up, CGI goes down. just goes to show "you can't win!" -Duke

I wouldn't say taxes would be the sole reason for Thomas to turn into CGI.  Keeping the show the traditional model format would've been more expensive (as years go by that is) due to them building engines (some very useless ones at that), locations, etc. as well as filming costs as well. It was also since that the majority of kids shows and/or movies are all into the CGI format (as seen in Disney, Dreamworks, etc.), from what I recall reading somewhere.

[Shawn]

i kind of find it hard to believe Thomas having a low budget. Thomas is a muti-MILLION dollar gold mine! they only switched the CGI because they didn't want to pay the taxes on it. they went from really good CGI, for a kids program, to not that great CGI. this situation is what I call "The Miller Effect" story lines go down, CGI goes up. Story lines go up, CGI goes down. just goes to show "you can't win!" -Duke

I wouldn't say taxes would be the sole reason for Thomas to turn into CGI.  Keeping the show the traditional model format would've been more expensive (as years go by that is) due to them building engines (some very useless ones at that), locations, etc. as well as filming costs as well. It was also since that the majority of kids shows and/or movies are all into the CGI format (as seen in Disney, Dreamworks, etc.), from what I recall reading somewhere.

I think what anthony meant was taxes motivated the move of production from British Columbia to Ontario.

[Fergusfan17]

He's coming.  I've got the wheels the correct colour!

How is is goin?