This project was conceptualized on May 11, 2017, and we have worked consistently on it until its day of release, December 30, 2017. This is our own version of Journey Beyond Sodor. To us, this has become the real version, and we’d be honored if others would come to see it that way too. If not, we at least hope we’ve provided something truer to Thomas’s universe, settings, and characters than what Mattel released, as this was our wholehearted intent. We made this movie so that we and others who share our tastes could have a version of Journey Beyond Sodor to enjoy, and so that people who don’t share our tastes might look at this film as an example and through the differences see why we dislike Mattel’s JBS.
While we did have total control over this production, we consciously stuck to many modern TVS standards, as this is, after all, meant to be a TVS Thomas special. Our problems are only with Mattel’s Journey Beyond Sodor, all problems with previous films pale in comparison for us. While we indulged in slight tweaks such as integrating the US and UK voice casts and replacing some voices entirely, the vast majority of this movie parallels the modern series. We chose to use as many CGI Wooden Railway models as possible to make the movie feel as close to the CGI series as possible.
In addition to being something that entertains us, this film has been a sort of coping mechanism. Many if not all of us in The JBS Group took the changes to Thomas rather hard, as we care deeply about this franchise and hate to see it change when we enjoy it so thoroughly the way it has been. Of course you are entitled to your own views on the current and future state of Thomas, but we oppose it and like Thomas how it has been traditionally. We hope that this movie shows what we mean even more clearly. We hope you enjoy!
Sincerely,
Sam Webster, MasterOfTheLemons
Matt Twillman, HiroTheJapaneseTrain
Jamil Morris, TrainKing James
Roman Ciulla, Roman’s TWR Empire
Ted Stuart, Oliver Duck
Nolan Deskins, MultiGreenThunder
And Mike Chernjawski, MikeMike123
A.K.A., The JBS Group