• ABOUT •
I'm Brannon Carty, director and producer of An Unlikely Fandom and I'm here to introduce you to a very lovely group of people.
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't seen or heard of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. To put it simply, the little blue tank engine is the most famous locomotive there is.
But despite being aimed at younger audiences, the series has garnered the following of a very unlikely demographic: adult men and women.
Yes, you read that right. Adult men and women.
The adult Thomas fandom found an online presence in the early 2000s through sites such as Sodor Island Forums and eventually carried over to internet-newcomers YouTube and TV.com, growing more and more prominent every day.
Fast forward to 2020, the community has not stopped growing and is a force to be reckoned with. Fandom meetups are occurring all over the world, fans are preserving props from the television series, and some have even managed to work on the series itself. Their passion is strong, their love is unapologetic. They are Thomas fans.
Who are they? Where did they come from? Do they feel normal?
These questions prompted me to make a documentary on the origins of this rather unlikely fandom. Through my travels, I have met some extraordinary people from every corner of the world -- each bringing something different to the table.
Some are railway enthusiasts, some are hardcore collectors, and some are even aspiring filmmakers. No matter their background, they all share a common bond: an undying passion for Thomas.
This documentary will examine the reasons behind their continued love of the franchise as well as the societal repercussions of being an adult Thomas fan.
After the incredible support through our Kickstarter, in which we raised $14.5K, we are now making the film bigger and better than ever. All thanks to your support.
There are trips to take and interviews to shoot, so in the meantime, take a look around, meet the crew, and keep in touch while we finish the film. And remember...
Stay unlikely!
