About the film
An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine is a 2023 American documentary film centering on the adult fandom of the British children's character Thomas the Tank Engine, who originated in The Railway Series by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher. The books were later adapted for television as Thomas & Friends, which subsequently expanded into a broader media franchise. Principal photography began in July 2019 at a fan convention called Shining Time 2019 in Huntingdon, PA.
The filmmakers acquired additional funding through a Kickstarter that raised over US$14,500 over the span of 30 days to further expand the scope of the film, as well as allowing the filmmakers to interview people connected to both The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends, including Thomas & Friends creator Britt Allcroft in her final on-screen appearance before her death on December 25, 2024.
From the film's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).