Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave

Looking for animation that is not just for kids, available in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video? Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave proves the point. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 18 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. A harder one to justify skipping than to start. Start it on Stan whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave is worth clearing space for. Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. Thomas is working at the Clay Pits when a storm closes in and the rain makes the clay cliffs unstable. A flash of lightning reveals what looks like giant footprints on the slope above, but a landslide has begun and Thomas cannot stay to investigate. Bill and Ben push Thomas to safety just in time. Mark Moraghan and Ben Small bring voice work that does more than the format usually asks for. It was released in 2014. The visual gags in Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave reward close attention without ever depending on it. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious in ways that hold up regardless of format. Worth watching in order from the beginning.

Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave was released in 2014, directed by Rob Silvestri. The full 62-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.