I'm fairly certain my eldest son had some Thomas merchandise when he was a little boy (the character takes in millions all over the world each year), but whether or not I caught the show back then, I honestly can't say (I seem to remember a similar-looking show about a tugboat, but not Thomas). Based on The Railway Series collection of children's books by the Reverend Wilbert A. Awdry, Thomas & Friends (shortened from the original title, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends), through live-action models and computer animation, tells the story of a group of friendly (and often quite cranky) train engines who live on the Island of Sodor. Through an unseen narrator, the various adventures of the anthropomorphized trains are recounted (much like someone reading a storybook), illustrated by the sometimes quite clever and striking visuals.

Each train has an individualized face, and their eyes move, but their mouths don't (making for a simplified process of dubbing the show into many different foreign languages). Through the use of several changeable foam faces, Thomas and his friends display a simplified range of emotions (usually about three: happiness, worry, and anger). Human characters who direct the trains in their duties are present, but they are represented by motionless, detailed figures (much like a real train set). Did you ever have a train set as a child, where you used to put your eye right down on the track, watching the trains go by, and you made up stories about the little figures and trains spread out before you? That's exactly the feel you get from the Thomas & Friends shorts. And because of their distinctively straightforward, efficient storytelling, it's not surprising the series has been so consistently popular.

Watching Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers, what struck me first was how inventive the storytelling and direction was, considering the fact that the trains always stay on the track. This isn't a show where the trains jump the tracks and walk around, and interact with each other or with human characters. Even though they speak, these are working trains, and they stay firmly on their tracks. Visually, I didn't think that was going to be too exciting, but the quality of the morality tales, as well as the finesse of the modelers and production crew, made the episodes consistently engaging.

I particularly enjoyed the distinctive British reserve that plays into the series, as well. Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers isn't sickly sweet; Thomas and his friends frequently get peeved at each other (their "mad" faces are quite funny). The stories are straightforward, sometimes cautionary morality tales that teach a nice little lesson without getting harpy about it. And they're entirely serviceable, sensible lessons, too - Thomas and his friends learn that no job is too small to do correctly, that boasting and being jealous only harms yourself, and that when you're given responsibility, it's necessary to step up to the plate and get the job done. It's refreshing to see a show that revolves so much around personal industry and working; Thomas never goes out for a quiet roll on the tracks. He's a working engine, and his stories and life lessons revolve around being useful and productive. And that's not going to hurt any child seeing it.

The production is quite fun, with the model work consistently well done. I enjoyed the trains' vaguely reminiscent Art Deco faces (especially when they get mad or anxious), but I have to tell you that watching some of the shots of the trains, just staring off into the distance, with only a minor little eye shift now and again, can be kind of creepy at times. Especially since they don't move their mouths, either. It can be unsettling, but in an intriguing way (and no, none of my little kids said Thomas' stares were scaring them). I had fun watching Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers for the first time.

Here are the 6, 7-minute episodes of Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers:

Percy and the Carnival
Percy is given the menial task of ferrying coal back and forth to the other engines who are pulling the various components of a visiting carnival. When Percy decides to abandon his duties to follow them, he discovers just how important his "menial" job is to everyone.

Thomas and the Birthday Mail
Rosie, a small engine, wants to be just like Thomas. But Thomas doesn't like her imitating him, so he goes out of his way to get away from Rosie, taking a steep hill he thinks she can't negotiate. However, all Thomas does is manage to get himself stuck in a landslide.

A Smooth Ride
Sir Handel, the smoothest engine on the Sobor tracks, is having difficulties going up steep hills, but he's afraid to tell anyone in case he's pulled off his duties. Luckily, he has friends who care about him, and give him help when he needs it most.

The Green Controller
Sir Topham Hatt's fallen ill, and Percy is left in charge of the yard. But is he up to the responsibilities of managing all of the trains, and getting their assigned duties straight?

Edward Strikes Out
Edward is contemptuous of the new big crane Rocky, who needs a separate engine to pull him around. Edward thinks Rocky is useless - until Edward finds himself in big trouble when a derailment threatens everyone's work schedule.

Thomas' Frosty Friend
Thomas is annoyed that a giant snowman balloon keeps following him. What Thomas doesn't know is that the balloon's chain has inadvertently hooked onto Thomas's rear buffer.

The DVD:

The Video:
The full screen video image for Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers is okay, although edge enhancement and compression issues are noticeable at times. The kids won't mind on their little TVs, though.

The Audio:
The English mono soundtrack is adequate for the job. There's also a Spanish mono track available. Close-captioning is available.

The Extras:
There's a bonus episode of Bob the Builder included here: Roley's New Friend It runs a little over ten minutes.

Final Thoughts:
I quite enjoyed Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers. The production is ingenious, and the little morality tales are refreshingly practical in their emphasis on responsibility related to personal industry and work. I recommend Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers for small viewers.