Thomas & the Importance of Vibes 

One thing I have noticed is that the classic series is extremely popular with people on the autism spectrum. This, in my opinion, is because the show is always very clear about the tone and the emotion that is being presented in any scene. The character's faces don't move, showing one clear emotion at a time, which is often also announced by the narrator and underscored by the music and lighting/set design. For those of us on the spectrum who can have trouble discerning emotion even as adults, it's very comforting just to be able to sit down, relax and have that guesswork removed for a while. The show also helps kids learn what emotions are and how emotions affects the actions of others, which is an invaluable skill to develop early in development. It's also very easy to just relax and watch the classic series because it never once makes you feel silly or childish for watching as an adult, the show never talks down to you or treats you like a baby.

Let’s be real here. The reason why we all love the classic era is because it usually always a very humorous roast fest

This perfectly sums up everything I love about this train with a face in 10 minutes. Also I like the “Thomas and co workers” joke

Thomas the tank engine is an Underappreciated masterpiece and no one can convince me otherwise.

I love how you described the first classic model series of Thomas the Tank Engine as "modern fairy tales".

Big respect for you saying the correct term “series” and not saying season.

The charm of the books and original first seasons 1-5 is that kind of British quaintness with a hint of cynicism and sly satire woven in. It's a similar feel to books like The Wind in the Willows or the Moomins - sometimes a chapter can be as simple as two characters just having a dialogue or stumbling upon something curious. It allows readers/audiences to just feel and melt into the the story and characters like butter. I never gave it a second thought that the trains' lips didn't move - if anything it felt more natural that they didn't. This is also the case with a lot of British kids shows of the era that used stop motion - Noddy, Tugs, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam, Camberwick Green etc. But the characters still 'felt' like they were speaking because of the performance. Richard Williams once said that the best way to get dialogue across is to just 'progress the action' - you don't even need to move the mouth that much just as long as you make it clear that the character is thinking and feeling something - which the subtle roll of an eye, facial expression, body language and vocal performance do so well and what Thomas the Tank Engine exemplifies. It's incredible how even with the limits of the faces not being animated, barring the remote controlled eyes, the characters still feel so alive.

Classic Thomas vibes must be pretty strong if we’re all still here enjoying it. That pretty much sums it up as a whole. These vibes will always be great.

Another thing that resonates so heavily is the earlier series had proper railway values in a world of fictional talking engines. With the occasional exception there were very few things that occurred in the series that couldn't somehow happen in real life. While there's been other media with talking trains or vehicles there's simply nothing like classic Thomas episodes. It's much easier to connect Thomas characters to real engines given the roles they play. They weren't doing silly things like jumping off tracks to rescue sheep or whatever.

The feel of Thomas and energy it gives to you is so comforting and so familiar but somehow entirely new and unknown.

Thomas was the vibe of chill, down to earth, feel good stories, in a world saturated by drama and action and constant movement, Thomas was just slow, calm and bought a sense of calm to an otherwise mad world.

I can describe the vibe of Thomas in three words magic, nostalgic and memorable

As a 17 year old I’ve been rewatching Thomas and my god it’s great connecting with my childhood and feeling those nastolgic vibes for both steam engines and the cast of Thomas. I’ve been ridiculed for this of course by my friends but for me it’s bittersweet connecting with my younger self and this show before I go to college next year. Now whenever I get mocked for rewatching Thomas as an almost adult I have this video to show them so thank you! 🚂🚃🚃

This was a great vid! The classic show had so many elements that were just RIGHT to give it that perfect *VIBE*

This is like late 2020 Unlucky Tug with a splash of chaos. I dig it

Caleb, you seriously made an incredible video man! Like this is such a cool new style of videos from you and I support this! Thomas really is a show that they don't just make anymore for kids, but there are many that really try and some even succeed. But majority don't have that same love that's put into Thomas. And it's that special happiness of nostalgia you perfectly explained. Thomas really is the embodiment nostalgia because of Reverend Awdry and his son Christopher. Awdry was such a good father to Christopher because he gave him something so precious, so timeless, so unbelievably wholesome that he could always look back on and smile. From his childhood and all the way into adulthood, he'll always feel like a happy little kid again from Thomas. And they passed that happiness to children across the nation with those books. The show made from the books was always made to feel nostalgic because at its core, that's why it was created. It made Christopher happy when he was sick in bed so Awdry told him a story, a fairytale, to make him happy. It made Britt Alcroft see the magic and beauty in this world of fantasy, like a fairytale. It made David Mitton see the artistic worldbuilding and adventures to be had with these characters, just like a fairytale. All of them helped make a brilliant show because if it made them feel such happiness when making it, then children and families were in for a treat. It really is a modern fairytale. Whether it's in books, television, movies, whatever, Thomas makes anyone feel joy because it's like being read a story by your loved one. Just like Awdry did with Christopher.

Talking trains may not be real, but steam locomotives are often referred to being iron horses. Mechanical machines that are brought to life by fire and smoke. The sounds that steam engines make, the chuffing, the whistles are their voices, the wheeshing of the steam, the sound they make when idle, it's almost as if they're alive. To me, Thomas is the embodiment of this metaphor. It's for this reason that as long as there are steam engines in this world, there's always going to be people who will want to ride them, drive them, clean them, fire them. This is why the love of steam locomotives hasn't really gone away, and Thomas has helped to preserve that.

3:25-3:46 This. This is a huge reason why I never "outgrew" Thomas. Also the fairy tale comparison was spot on 👌🏻

I love the narrow gauge stories they are the most fairytale like to me (obviously cause it was a story that Thomas told)

Excellent video! You definitely hit the nail on the head with getting the vibe from Thomas! Especially when you said it was a modern day fairy tale, and that it felt nostalgic for more than just our childhood memories.

the vibes went from “earthly central” to “life is pretty bubbly” in recent times of the franchise. and I’m not mad about it.

I do enjoy myself some good vibes.

Because Thomas & Friends is so unique I always considered it as it’s own special vibe!

Honestly after watching this it summed up why I love the classic seasons. It's the charm of the models, the sets they used for each shot, and the characters and how real they all felt. Trains don't talk, but personification made them feel alive like with a lot of things we see as human. A old car your family had and continues to use because they grown to love it despite its age as it always got there in the end. I loved the rough edge this show had as it got me ready to deal with these types of people not only throughout high school, but out in the real world too. Got me into modeling, and really just made me feel happy after the shit few years its been. Thomas will always be close to my heart, and I'm proud of it.

“Thomas and coworkers” had me thinkin Thomas but with the office humor

Thomas is a very quaint and wholesome show. I think that's why the show is so memorable. The stories, while simple, are very heartwarming and for many people, the stories recall overwhelmingly positive childhood memories. No matter how much time has passed, I do not believe in the slightest that the people who grew up watching Thomas will forget the simple, wholesome, and quaint stories the show had to offer.

CALEBBBB. Your content was already fire but I'm really digging this new style. I can't wait to see more of what you've got planned!

I came up with this quote when I was in college and honestly it's helped me a lot in life: "I'm just vibin' and survivin'!"

I get so much joy from every second of seeing Thomas on screen that it’s unreal 😂 It was the best part of my childhood and it’s never stopped being a positive force in my life

No way, my man has seen Derry Girls! Thomas and Co-workers! I like that line. I suppose Thomas is a modern fairy tail. Fantastical lands with Thomas (the mythological hero). Gordon, the father. Edward, the wise old sage. Diesel, the villain. In today's world it's easy to get swept away in the mess of it all. Putting value in things that are meaningless, but Thomas is great because is REMINDS us of what is important in life. I think that's where the nostalgia comes from as well because all the idea's it teaches are very old. But that's why their so meaning full because they transcend time. It reminds us of the importance of true friendship doesn't necessarily mean always being friendly. It reminds us that anyone can be useful no matter what age you are. It's helped me in the brightest of times, it's helped me in the darkest of times and it will continue to help me and many others long after I'm gone from this earth. oh and yes I would watch a Frozen video from u, lol

Yes, please do more videos like this.

Facts... Escapism is the reason why I turned back to my worn out childhood DVDS of Thomas and started loving TTTE again, it helped me out during a really rough time I'm my life, and if helping me right now...

6:54 Look, Gary! There I am!

Vibes in vibing vibes

Thomas was unfiltered its hilarious

I loved Thomas and friends ever since I was a kid and I still love it until now it beings me back old memories when I use to have a train set of Thomas and friends I call it my happy place and relaxing

You're right about the mouths not moving. It makes sense, because THEY are not the ones talking. The narrator is talking. So of course they wouldn't be moving their lips. It's a stylistic choice that makes total sense.

Season 1 of Thomas was nostalgic and fairytale-like, Season 2 was more gritty and grounded in reality filled with roast fests, Season 3 was filled with adventure, emotion and wonder, Season 4 was the most real, natural and beautiful. Then you had Season 5 which was basically a blend of all those elements taken to the extreme.

This video is fantastic.

You know what else is a modern fairy tale? *Star Wars.* And while it clearly has a different vibe from Thomas, much of the qualities you ascribed to Thomas which make it feel like a fairy tale also apply to Star Wars. Fairy Tales are a powerful thing as they are one of the few types of stories that seems to transcend time and are still reverent long after they were initially created. In my book, calling something a fairy tale is one of the highest complements you can give.

5:18 This unlocked some memory deep in my brain but i cant remember for the life of me what its called 😭

I've recently got into Thomas to cope with truama and its been one of the best decisions I've ever made as an adult :)

You put almost everything I’ve ever felt about this show into words :) I love your own stop motions, but I’d watch a Frozen video from you too(even if it might underperform)!

there are two core features that I think really form the core identity of Thomas the Tank engine. One of them you hit the nail on the head with nostalgia, but the other you only briefly touched on, and that is respect. Just as this fandom is built on nostalgia all the way down, the good parts of it are also built on respect all the way down. All the parts that are near universally loved respect both their audience and themselves and their source material. The Island of Sodor takes itself seriously, whether that's all the lore Awdry put together to make the island feel more real, or the modelers not cutting any corners, or the way the animators poured their heat and soul into at least some of the animated seasons. This is part of why I think magic railroad, the hit era BWBA, and AEG flopped compared to the content surrounding them: they didn't take themselves seriously. Magic railroad generally respected it's audience, with real character drama and an actual complicated plot, but it was far to willing to handwave things away with magic, whereas classic Thomas explains as much as possible with reality and then leaves the rest mysterious and doesn't attempt a half assed explanation. The hit era was willing to compromise it's own dignity and become much more childish, and as a result it didn't have the same weight, nor did it respect it's audience enough to think about the fact that some people would find the plots nonsensical, in contrast to the RWS, where Awdry worked hard to maintain consistency and find explanations for inconsistencies when asked, as seen in a few parts of the Island of sodor: it's people, history and railways. BWBA similarly was very willing to admit that it was just a cheaply made kids show instead of insisting on being a high quality production enjoyable by all ages, and AEG never even bothered pretending it had any sort of dignity or artistic value. This stuff is a big part of why a lot of the fan content has the right vibe despite being objectively lower quality, because the fan creators have respect bordering on reverence for the characters and the world they are telling stories in, and they know their audience has the same level of emotional connection as they do.

You’ve been summoned to the house of vibe for your vibe check

The vibes were the goat

Glad to see you're still on RU-vid

*But Smudger just Vibed* (seriously though, this is a perfect explanation of why the show just works so well)

"Talking trains aren't real. But the memories of these faces and places... are very real." I'm reminded of what the Wind Fish told Link in Link's Awakening: "WHEN I DOST AWAKEN, KOHOLINT WILL BE GONE... ONLY THE MEMORY OF THIS DREAM LAND WILL EXIST IN THE WAKING WORLD... SOMEDAY, THOU MAY RECALL THIS ISLAND... THAT MEMORY MUST BE THE REAL DREAM WORLD..."

This better get a couple million views

I think a better divination of vibe would be the comfort someone would feel relating to the topic or the situation.

Thomas is realistic (or used to be), that's why we love it.

Lack of face movement scared me

awesome video caleb

I mean, they all like each other, but they easily get under each other's paint.

Very interesting

Calebritian: Thomas is a modern fairytale Don’t say that you might convince people that TATMR is canon

Ahhh so that's what that tweet was about 😄 crafty Very legit and wholesome points Gotta give instead of just a "Yep the jokes landed!" comment, respect for the jokes. Great pacing with them. They don't overstay their welcome, they do what a proper customer in a shop should do: *Go in, do what it is you've arrived to do, and geeeet out*. In other words, good pacing and knowing when to move onto the next point. Docking a mark for reminding me about, *that scene* from BWBA. Good lord I needed to sit down to process that again 💀

My personal take on the V I B E of Thomas: Industrial

I always hear older folks talk about how kids today are too soft and for a long time, I thought they were talking nonsense. But then I rewatched some of the most devastating, tag teaming roast sessions on Thomas and realized that that sort of content would not fly on Bluey or Peppa Pig today. Those older folks might have a point.

Not gonna lie I want Disney to pick up thomas and friends and revive the model Era

It’s all round nostalgia

3:34 OH MY GOSH, CALEB! I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HEAR YOU CURSE!

nice video

1:56 yep, thats cut scene alright

I think all the engines not really being that close of friends helps the show a lot in terms for development in kids, thah youre not gonna get along with everyone and even at times you're gonna fight with people you like or love and that's fine and it's natural

''UMMM ACUALLY THOMAS AND FRIENDS TVS WAS CREATED KIN 1984 NOVEMBER OF THE 8TH 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓'' but to be real i thought this was just gonna be a video so stupid that i thought i was going to melt my brain but no i can relate to this person quite a bit and this video is really good!

Hmm this guy makes good videos 🤔

i would watch a frozen video from you

I like this format, and I agree that Thomas has a great *ｖ ｉ ｂ ｅ*.

I've literally been asking in the comments section of film theorists videos and tell him to make a video explaining how the thomas and friends have faces

7:00 😎

I'd watch a frozen video

i grew up with the shitty era of thomas the sharon miller but i remember watching hero of the rails in my launglage on youtube and even when the show was a big pile of smelly substance i got the vibe. the shittyness does not apply for hero of the rails that movie is awesome

i still don't get why thomas the tank engine is looked down upon compared to other shows that have a adult fanbase.

THE WAFFLE HOUSE HAS FOUND ITS NEW HOST

Ok, now, what vibe do you feel waching seasone 25?

The words I'd actually use are quintessentially English. All the best UK TV shows are, and I think it helps explain the shows downfall, because Americans do not know how to be quintessentially English.

The Classic series is definitely the first five seasons, not the first seven seasons. Seasons 1-5 have all the magic, while seasons 6-7 are just babyfied versions of the previous five seasons. Hence, the official Classic series shall be seasons 1-5. Gullane era is not Classic, it’s faux-Classic or psuedo-Classic.

Caleb, did you low pitch your voice?

940th

4:51 EW

So what's the official racking of the Bass