Kids’ DVD Review: Thomas, Hero of the Rails

Peep! Peep! Today, Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends steam into their newest movie adventure: Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails. In this latest from the Very Useful Engine, Thomas discovers an abandoned, broken-down engine named Hiro from a far-off land. To save Hiro from the scrapyard (would this be the Sodor Scrap Heap?), Thomas calls on his old engine pals and two new friends: Victor, a steam engine, and Kevin, a crane. Fans will appreciate that this movie is the first Thomas movie to be fully CGI-animated, and it features individual character voices for the first time in the Thomas series. The old-fashioned feel of the earlier Thomas movies is gone, but it won’t be missed—the animation in Hero of the Rails is good enough to rival anything on the new season of PBS Sprout.

Watch Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon and all the other engines at home on DVD or at a special one-time event at your local theatre; check Kidtoons for theatrical listings. If you have a toddler or preschooler who’s a railfan, this is a great first movie to take him to–at only 60 minutes long, the movie is short enough for even tiny tots to sit through. More info, including coloring pages, videos, and merch, can be found at www.thomasandfriends.com

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails$13.99 at Amazon.