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A sixth season of Chuggington (subtitled Tales from the Rails) is currently in production for delivery and is being released as of Summer 2020.[1] It is the first season to be produced by Herschend Entertainment Studios, following their purchase of Ludorum. Michael G. Stern (Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates) serves as both head writer and co-executive producer, while Julie Phillips (VP of H.E.S.) serves as co-executive producer. Sarah Ball returns as a supervising director and voice director.
The new season has "a fresh approach with new formats, elements, and storytelling styles."[2] New characters, expanded locations, and a musical soundtrack will be added, with some episodes being standalone, while others will be written to make up larger story arcs.[3]
Prior to the new season, a series of 26 1.5-minute live action/animated hybrid shorts titled Discover Chuggington: All Aboard! where "live action kids globally will journey into the animated world of Chuggington" was produced to "to allow for increased audience interaction with the world and characters of Chuggington." The new series premiered on April 13th, 2020 in the US.[4]
The series is "being developed in partnership with Alpha Group and leadership from the broader [Herschend Enterprises] family of businesses to ensure an organic 360 franchise for the relaunch."[5]
It premiered on Disney Junior in the US on June 29th, 2020 [6][7] and premiered on Cbeebies in the UK[8] on January 2nd, 2021. [9]
Synopsis
From Herschend's September 2019 press release:
"Season six of Chuggington will continue to delight preschoolers on A-list broadcast networks and top streaming platforms worldwide. In the new season, everyone’s favorite trio of trainees, Wilson, Brewster, and Koko, will embark upon exciting adventures that encourage teamwork, friendship, and fun, highlighted by a toe-tapping new soundtrack. Award-winning writer/producer Michael G. Stern (Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First) leads production, serving as head writer and co-executive producer.
The new season (52 x 10’) is all about discovery, getting to know the unique characters and the inner workings of the locations that make Chuggington so special. It’s a fresh celebration of the diversity, friendships, and adventures that have delighted audiences for the past ten years. To top it off, live action kids globally will journey into the animated world of Chuggington through an all-new hybrid live action / animated short format (26 x 1.5’)."[10]
From Disney Junior's YouTube playlist:
"Let’s train together with Wilson, Koko, and Brewster as they ride the rails on exciting, new adventures of teamwork, friendship, and fun. Chug deep into unique locations like Safari Park, the Docks, Chug Patrol HQ, and the Ice Cream Factory to explore the dynamic world of Chuggington that’s home to a diverse and playful community of trains. Board relatable journeys full of humor, action, and heart, accompanied by train-tastic new songs!"
Episodes
| Screenshot | UK/US title | Written by | Original UK release date | Episode number # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Slow Coach Koko | Craig Fernandez | 2nd January 2021 | #01 |
| Koko's confidence is shaken after she gets in an accident. Scared and second guessing herself, can she regain her speed in time to save Wilson and Brewster from trouble? | ||||
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My Hero | Michael Foulke | 3rd January 2021 | #02 |
| When Action Chugger fails to show up for Hero Day, Brewster decides to be a hero himself. | ||||
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Wilson's Broadcast Blues | Ryan Toyama | 9th January 2021 | #03 |
| Wilson is chosen to appear on Radio Chuggington and decides to exaggerate a news story when his friends want to see a movie instead of listen to the radio. | ||||
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Wild Safari Park | Denise Downer | 10th January 2021 | #04 |
| Mtambo is charged with feeding the Safari Park animals and needs help from Wilson to complete his task in a timely manner. | ||||
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Frostini's True Calling | Eva Konstantopoulos | 16th January 2021 | #05 |
| Frostini decides to embark on a personal mission to discover what his true passion in life is. | ||||
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The Old Fashioned Way | Kevin Monk | 17th January 2021 | #06 |
| Koko has Old Puffer Pete feeling like his old ways are methodical and too slow. Does Old Puffer Pete have what it takes to save the day when new technology is put to the test? | ||||
 |
The Extra Mile | Michael Rabb | 18th January 2021 | #07 |
| Detective Brewster works to help Wilson find Koko's award ribbon that Wilson secretly borrowed and then lost. Will they be able to find Koko's award before she finds out Wilson lost it? | ||||
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Glow Koko | Sarah Ball | 19th January 2021 | #08 |
| Koko, Piper and Hodge stumble upon an unexpected number of things that glow in the dark around Chuggington. | ||||
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Not From Around Here | Michael G. Stern | 20th January 2021 | #09 |
| When a new chugger, Rosa, comes to Chuggington, the trainees try to find the best job for her. | ||||
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Out In The Cold | Michael Rabb | 21st January 2021 | #10 |
| When a snow storm comes to Chuggington, Wilson and Brewster get caught out in the cold and must work together to make their way home. | ||||
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Wilson's Wag-A-Lag-On | Stacey J. Greenberger | 22nd January 2021 | #11 |
| Wilson's long time wagon begins falling apart. | ||||
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Sleepyhead Koko | Denise Downer | 25th January 2021 | #12 |
| Koko let her excitement get the best of her and stayed up all night! Can Brewster and Wilson honk Koko awake in time for her to take the Mayor to a special ceremony at the docks? | ||||
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Piperactive | Craig Fernandez | 26th January 2021 | #13 |
| Piper must limit playtime when the Trainees are assigned a job. | ||||
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The Mighty Koko | Michael Foulke | 27th January 2021 | #14 |
| Koko becomes incredibly strong after she gets an upgrade to her hydraulic power booster. | ||||
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The Fast, The Strong & The Wilson | Ryan Toyama | 28th January 2021 | #15 |
| Wilson goes for the gold to find out what he's best at as all of Chuggington is celebrating and competing in the Chuggington Games! | ||||
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Chug Patrol, Out of Control | Ryan Toyama | 29th January 2021 | #16 |
| Wilson organizes Zephie, Piper and Hoot & Toot together to form his very own Junior Chug Patrol Crew, but he finds it difficult to be a good chief. | ||||
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The 3 Ways of the Track | Bill Zide | 1st February 2021 | #17 |
| With guidance from the ever-wise Hanzo, Tai must learn how to remain focused, calm and balanced. | ||||
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Spy Train | Jessica Welsh | 2nd February 2021 | #18 |
| The trainees are on a mission to play top-secret spy games in Chuggington but their sleuthing missions turn into wild shenanigans. | ||||
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Odd Train Out | Danielle Koenig | 3rd February 2021 | #19 |
| Zephie, Wilson and Brewster compete to be Koko's partner in a relay race, but Koko knows that Zephie is the weakest. | ||||
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It's Not Easy Being Clean | Michael Rabb | 4th February 2021 | #20 |
| Wilson looks shiny and new after his trip to the Chug Wash and the other trainees are impressed - but everyone knows he's a magnet for a mess! | ||||
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Monkey Sitting | Sharon Soboil | 5th February 2021 | #21 |
| Wilson has his hands full while babysitting an adorable monkey that goes bananas. | ||||
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Tai Tracks | Michael Rabb | 8th February 2021 | #22 |
| New to Chuggington, Tai must navigate her way around town to make an important delivery on time! With help from her new friends, she just might get the job done! | ||||
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Rock 'n' Rollers | Eva Konstantopoulos | 9th February 2021 | #23 |
| After discovering their hidden talent for music Wilson, Koko and Brewster form a band. But, after Koko's horn goes wonky, will the trainees find a replacement in time for them to rock out on the radio? | ||||
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Brewster's Greatest Gift | Stacey Greenberger | 10th February 2021 | #24 |
| With Hodge's radiator broken and no way to order another one, Brewster turns out to be the only one that can help by making a brave decision. | ||||
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Chuggington Noir | Ryan Toyama | 11th February 2021 | #25 |
| Chuggington is left in the dark when the lighthouse at the docks mysteriously goes out! But, where there's a mystery afoot, Detective Brewster is on the case! | ||||
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Imagine That | Jeff Wynne | 12th February 2021 | #26 |
| Tai and the trainees learn that with a little imagination any ordinary job can be extraordinary. | ||||
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Chug Encounters of the Train Kind | Ryan Toyama | 15th February 2021 | #27 |
| Adventure ensues when the trainees think they are being visited by Chuggers from outer space. | ||||
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The Spooky Chugger | Thomas Hall | 16th February 2021 | #28 |
| Rattling Rivets! The Spooky Chugger has returned! With unexplained happenings around Chuggington, the trainees are convinced the tracks are haunted. | ||||
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Chug Patrol: Mission Thunder | Eva Konstantopoulos | 17th February 2021 | #29 |
| Chug Patrol is always in control, but when a thunder storm hits Chuggington, Wilson can't control his fear! Wilson must face his fears and weather the storm to help a friend. | ||||
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The Royal Chugger | Michael Rabb | 18th February 2021 | #30 |
| When Wilson finds out he's the first of his kind, his friends deem him "Chuggington Royalty" - a title that quickly goes to his engine! | ||||
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Action Chugger's Day Off | Danielle Koenig | 19th February 2021 | #31 |
| Being a super chugger is hard work! But when given a well deserved day off, Action Chugger has a hard time relaxing! Can the trainees get Action Chugger to finally rest his wheels? | ||||
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Twin Trouble | Eva Konstantopoulos | 22nd February 2021 | #32 |
| Hoot has had enough of his sister Toot! And Toot is tired of her brother Hoot! The twins bickering has finally led them to go their separate ways and now they're lost! | ||||
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Night Moves | Danielle Koenig | 23rd February 2021 | #33 |
| When a pipe bursts in the Roundhouse, an exhausted Wilsonmust roam Chuggington in search of a new cabin to sleep in, but nothing feels quite like home. | ||||
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The Great Chugger Caper | Ryan Toyama | 24th February 2021 | #34 |
| The trainees take on their undercover personas to retrieve a surprise gift for Skipper Stu. | ||||
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Piper's City Safari | Patrick Rieger | 25th February 2021 | #35 |
| When Safari Park is closed for the day, Koko, Wilson and Brewster give Piper a surprise tour and discover all the exotic wildlife right in their own backyard. | ||||
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The Trainee & The Tree | Stacey Greenberger | 26th February 2021 | #36 |
| Brewster discovers the oldest tree in Chuggington. | ||||
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Gold Rush | Michael Rabb | 1st March 2021 | #37 |
| The trainees find a gold nugget and dream of ways to spend their riches. | ||||
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Pumpkin Spice Chuggers | Ryan Toyama | 2nd March 2021 | #38 |
| The trainees are on another mission as they try to rescue the last pumpkin in town. | ||||
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Reachin' Rosa | Patrick Rieger | 3rd March 2021 | #39 |
| During a game of Chugball, the trainees discover Rosa has a talent for reaching high. | ||||
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Chugatronic Cargo | Eva Konstantopoulos | 4th March 2021 | #40 |
| A high-tech super robot wreaks havoc around Chuggington. | ||||
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The Zephie Express | Thomas Hall | 5th March 2021 | #41 |
| Zephie attaches to a turbo car in an attempt to be faster than Koko. | ||||
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The Art of Chug Shui | Ryan Toyama | 8th March 2021 | #42 |
| Cormac must visit the Repair Shed, and Tai is put in charge of the Drop and Load Yard. | ||||
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The Record Breakers | TBA | 9th March 2021 | #43 |
| Zephie and Piper attempt to prove they are ready for the big jobs in Chuggington. | ||||
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Brewster's Best Buddy | TBA | 10th March 2021 | #44 |
| Brewster tries to get busy Action Chugger to play a game of hide-and-seek. | ||||
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Superstar Brewster | TBA | 11th March 2021 | #45 |
| Brewster gets himself in a jam when he accidentally takes credit for Rosa's work. | ||||
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You for a Day | Ryan Toyama | 12th March 2021 | #46 |
| Wilson and Brewster switch places for the day to prove who has the tougher job. | ||||
Specials
In addition to forty-six episodes, two half-hour specials will also premiere as part of the season.[11]
| Screenshot | UK/US title | Written by | Original UK release date | Episode number # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Chugging Home for the Holidays | Michael G. Stern | TBA | #01 |
| The trainees set out to San Locomota to cheer up a homesick Rosa. The chuggers soon learn the best holiday traditions are the ones made with your friends. | ||||
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Celebrate Chuggington | Sarah Ball | 7th March 2021 | #02 |
| In preparation for a big celebration at the Roundhouse Park, Vee gives Wilson, Koko, Brewster and Tai clues to find different pieces of rolling stock hidden around Chuggington. | ||||
Songs
From Episodes
- Koko's Song (shorted)
- Ice Cream Mi Amore
- I Feel Like A Winner
- A New Life
- My Little Wag-A-Lag-On
- Honk Yourself Awake
- Just Ask A Friend
- Roll With It
- Still Me And Still You
- Imagine That
From Specials
- Snow Wonder
- Chugging Home (shorted)
- Estamos Juntos
- Let's Train Together
- Safari Park Song (shorted)
- Ice Cream Song (shorted)
- CPHQ Song (shorted)
- Celebrate Chuggington
From Discover Chuggington: All Aboard
- Chugging Home
- Brewster’s Song
- Wilson’s Song
- Koko’s Song
- Chuggington Roll Call
- Chug N Roll
- Safari Park Song
- The Roundhouse Song
- CPHQ Song
- Docks Song
- Ice Cream Song
- On the Map!
- On the Right Track!
Characters
- Wilson
- Brewster
- Koko
- Hodge
- Emery
- Zephie
- Frostini
- Mtambo
- Old Puffer Pete
- Action Chugger
- Hoot and Toot
- Piper
- Jackman
- Asher
- Zack
- Hanzo
- Cormac
- Hamish
- Skipper Stu
- Vee
- Eddie
- Lori
- Morgan
- Mayor Pullman
- Dunbar (not seen)
- Captain Charlie (mentioned)
Characters Introduced
Marketing
In addition to Alpha Group's new toyline, a massive marketing effort is being put in for Season 6. As stated in a press release, "the brand reintroduction will also be supported with refreshed and all new creative assets, a special minihub website (launched February 2020, with the kids' site set for a March 30th launch), broadcaster support, direct-to-consumer campaigns, promotional events, and global brand partnerships."
At Brand Licensing Europe 2019, Herschend met potential new partners across key catagories including publishing, secondary toys, puzzles and games, food and drink, sleepwear, apperal, and bedding.
The relaunched toyline was revealed at London Toy Fair 2020, before a larger and more elaborate display was shown at New York Toy Fair 2020.
The official website was relaunched in mid-February, with the new kids site set for relaunching in early April; the site was originally intended to launch March 31st at 12am, but the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a week-long delay.
A new app titled Ready to Roll! was released on April 8th, featuring several elements from the new season; these included new US voices and selections of music from the new season.
The new website officially launched on April 10th, 2020 at 10am EDT, marking the first public showcase of the series' new branding. The site and first Discover Chuggington: All Aboard!short were shown in "Milan's Chuggington Site Launch Celebration", a official collaboration between Herschend and The MilanToon Channel on YouTube. Later in the day, an official press release[4] was released announcing its official airdate and confirming a Summer release for Season 6.
After airdates were confirmed via television guides weeks prior, the first promo for the season, now under the subtitle Tales from the Rails premiered Tuesday, June 23rd during the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel.
On July 7th, it was announced that Herschend would be partnering with Union Pacific and Safe Kids Worldwide on a national partnership to promote rail safety. The program commences in August, and will include "a Chuggington-themed PSA campaign, dedicated website, branded in-school safety folders and activity sheets, and social media campaign."
On November 17th, it was officially announced that CBeebies, RTE, TF1, Super RTL, and TVP ABC would be renewing their distribution agreements for the new series, with an "early 2021" target for premieres; "licensing agents across the regions covering key category offerings and product mix, including publishing, secondary toys, puzzles and games, food and drink, sleepwear and apparel, and bedding" are to be announced shortly. [12] TVP ABC in Poland would be the first to premiere the series on December 26th, 2020. The channel would also be the first to air the Celebrate Chuggington special on December 27th, 2020.
The January 2nd UK premiere of the series was lead in with the UK broadcast premieres of Snow Rescue (on Boxing Day 2020) and The Big Freeze (on January 2nd, 2021, less than an hour after the premiere of Slow Coach Koko).
In a presentation for the Alpha Group toyline, an extensive marketing effort for the season was revealed for 2021; in addition to the international premieres and licensing/merchandising rollout, a "Breakout Special Promotion" and Q3 Back-To-School brand campaign titled "Train Together" are planned, with theme park activations and partnerships planned to launch through Herschend Family Entertainment (the Parks and Attractions division of Herschend Enterprises) and Herschend Live (the live entertainment division of Herschend Enterprises).
Trivia
- Originally, the season was announced with an order of fifty-two 10-minute episodes; the final order is forty-six 10-minute episodes and two half-hour specials.
- This also makes this the second largest season in show, the largest being Season 1, with a total of 52 episodes respectfully.
- Production on the season began in May 2019; Herschend will oversee the series' writing staff and completion, while Ludorum Enterprises Ltd. (with a new subsidiary Chuggington Productions Ltd.) will oversee production itself, with many key personnel from the original five seasons returning.
- This season marks the first occurrence of several things:
- The first season to be produced by Herschend Entertainment Studios.
- The first season to produced without Sarah Ball serving as head writer; she has returned as the supervising director and an occasional writer, and voice directs several episodes (and presumably the UK dub).
- The first season not to feature most of the original US dub voices, as most of the US dub has been recasted.
- The first season where Dunbar, Calley, Harrison, Chatsworth, Irving, Olwin, Speedy, Skylar, Decka, Fletch, Tyne, Payce, Daley, Harry, Russ, Captain Charlie, and Howie have yet to return since their final appearances in Season 5.
- The first season to have music composed by Alex Geringas and Karam Salem.
- The first season released under the Tales from the Rails rebrand.
- Marketing materials shown at New York Toy Fair 2020, as well as the launch lineup for the Alpha Group toylines and the premiere of the Discover Chuggington: All Aboard!shorts, revealed the Depot, the Ice Cream Factory, the Safari Park, and the Docks would be among the season's main locations.
- A line of die-cast vehicles (giving the trainees temporary new designs) has been confirmed to tie into one of the episodes.
Gallery
Behind the Scenes
Promotional Images
Marketing
Redesigned Website
References
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B-zeu1JDoRs/
- ↑ http://www.licensingcorner.com/character-entertainment/herschend-entertainment-studios-appoints-alpha-group-as-global-master-toy-partner-for-chuggington-animated-series/
- ↑ http://kidscreen.com/2019/09/10/herschend-gets-chuggington-back-on-track/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.animationmagazine.net/uncategorized/discover-chuggington-all-aboard-shorts-sneak-peek-new-herschend-series/
- ↑ https://www.licensing.biz/herschend-entertainment-with-alpha-group-were-bringing-chuggington-to-life-like-never-before/
- ↑ https://www.videoageinternational.net/2019/12/09/news/new-season-of-chuggington-to-debut-on-disney-junior/
- ↑ https://tvlistings.zap2it.com/overview.html?programSeriesId=SH03537453&tmsId=SH035374530000&from=sl&aid=gapzap
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-cola-321ab962/
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/cbeebies/20210102
- ↑ http://www.herschendenterprises.com/files/091019_NewsRelease_HESStaffChanges_SeasonSix_FINAL.pdf
- ↑ https://www.totallicensing.com/licensing-classic-properties-re-imagined-properties/
- ↑ https://www.licensing.biz/chuggington-tales-from-the-rails-lines-up-european-broadcast-partners-including-uks-cbeebies/