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The
original 130 film stories of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
would never have been made in the way so loved by children if it
were not for the artistry of David Mitton.
Beginning in 1980, I spent over 2 years meeting animators and
watching show reels in all sorts of styles - classical , stop
frame, clay and computer. The latter was in its infancy and
lacked the warmth I wanted for Thomas. Also, he needed to exist
in a dimensional world that would seem familiar and totally
accessible to children sitting at home watching TV.
At last, an animator phoned me and said "There's this yoghurt
commercial - I think you should meet the guy who directed it.
He's in South London." I did meet him and he was David Mitton.
A yoghurt carton bobbing around in water may seem far removed
from Thomas chuffing along his branch line, but from little
yoghurt pots big engines grow.
David completely understood my vision for the look of Thomas and
he knew how to achieve it. In 4 words - live action model
animation.
David also introduced me to an amazing group of talented people
- Steve Asquith, Terry Permane, Bob Gauld Galliers, Dave Eves
and more.
With the help of the local bank to fund production, Ringo Starr
agreeing to be the storyteller, Mike O'Donnell
and Junior Campbell composing the music, we made our first film
- "Thomas Down The Mine." It knocked everyone's socks off!
David and I went on to write 130 stories together - as many as
possible based on The Rev. W. Awdry's own stories.
We all approached the stories as if each one were a gleaming,
high quality feature film in miniature. David's love of the epic
nature of film was put to wonderful use - think the opening of
"Henry and The Flying Kipper."
I was a stickler for balancing shots of epic landscapes with the
intimacy and humour of engine conversational exchanges. David
had a good sense of humour but you wouldn't hear many laughs if
you visited the shooting set. There was mostly silence - the
silence of total concentration and dedication to the cause. The
making of magic by supreme film making.
David's first love, and where he felt most at home, was on the
film set creating wonderful shots. No one did it better. He
genuinely loved all the engines and talked of them as living
beings - which, of course, they are and always will be in the
hearts and minds of children everywhere.
Great collaborations do not come about by accident. They happen
for a purpose. What better purpose than giving so much happiness
to so many in the spirit of excellence.
If I have one regret for David, it is that he had learnt of some
plan that future Thomas production be made in CGI. I would
rather that he had passed on in ignorance of that news.
Whatever the future may or may not bring, his work deserves
to last forever. Thank you David or as you would sign off to
me "Yours Aye"
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