Percy and the Oil Painting

"I have found the perfect thing to paint!" "What is it?" "I am going to paint... Percy!" "Bust my buffers! You want to paint me?!" "Percy is honest, hardworking and helpful... and he is not afraid to speak his mind. He is truly the Spirit of Sodor!"

- The Famous Artist announcing his decision to paint Percy

Percy and the Oil Painting is the first episode of the ninth series.

Plot
The Mayor of Sodor has invited a famous artist to paint a picture called The Spirit of Sodor. The Fat Controller chooses Percy to collect him and show him around. Percy is curious to know what The Spirit of Sodor is, and Thomas tells him that it is something special about Sodor.

Percy collects the famous artist at Brendam Docks and takes him to Shen Valley, which is known for its beauty. The famous artist, however, dismisses it as being "too green," much to Percy's surprise. So Percy takes him to Norramby Beach, where children are playing in the sand and going on donkey rides. Once again, the famous artist is very critical and calls the sand "too yellow," which makes Percy upset.

As they travel around the Island, Percy tries to take the famous artist different sites, only to get more and more irritated. The famous artist calls the viaduct "too tall," the windmill "too round" and Knapford Station "too busy" and that there is no place on Sodor that is special. That proves to be the last straw, as it makes Percy very angry as his boiler bubbles and his face turns red as James, and Gordon - who is nearby - thinks that the famous artist is very rude for saying these things. Percy tells the famous artist off, then he accidentally lets off steam, blowing off the famous artist's beret. The famous artist states that he wants to see the Fat Controller immediately, which makes Percy think that he is in trouble.

However, the famous artist tells the Fat Controller that he is going to paint a picture of Percy; because he is honest, hard-working, helpful and not afraid to speak his mind - he is The Spirit of Sodor. That night at Knapford Station, Percy and the other engines see the painting for the first time and Percy is very happy to be The Spirit of Sodor.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Famous Artist
 * Gordon
 * James
 * The Mayor of Sodor
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Toby
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Caroline
 * Lady Hatt
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Bridget Hatt
 * Refreshment Lady
 * One Railway Society member
 * The Storyteller
 * The Lighthouse Keeper
 * Two Railway Board members
 * The Tailor

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Brendam Docks
 * Shen Valley
 * Norramby Beach
 * The Valley Viaduct
 * Tower Windmill
 * Knapford

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the sixth episode of the ninth series.
 * Stock footage from Too Hot for Thomas is used.
 * The episode aired before Calling All Engines! was released in most regions, so the audience would not have known about the rebuilt Tidmouth Sheds yet.
 * In the individual version of the episode, the music at the end is omitted.
 * This episode marks the first of several things:
 * The first episode where the title cards are read in the English dubs. This becomes a permanent fixture of the show.
 * The first episode to have Sharon Miller as the script editor.
 * The first episode dubbed by Jon Kabira in Japan as well as the new Japanese voice cast and the first episode dubbed by Saverio Ingrio in Italy.
 * The first episode an engine turns red with anger (in this case, Percy).
 * The Railway Society's first appearance since the fifth series episode, Baa! This also marks his final appearance.
 * The Mayor of Sodor's first on-screen appearance. Previously, he was only mentioned in the episodes James and the Queen of Sodor and As Good as Gordon.
 * In the US dub of this episode, the artist has a French accent.
 * Abi Grant stated on her website that this was one of her favourite episodes centered around Percy (her favourite character).
 * The figure used to portray the Mayor of Sodor is the same one used to portray the Vicar of Wellsworth in the seventh series episode, Harold and the Flying Horse.

Goofs

 * Throughout the episode, Percy's cab appears both blocked and unblocked during scenes with his crew and the artist.
 * Gordon has Henry's whistle sound at the beginning of the episode.
 * The mayor is said to pull the cord that unveils the painting, but he is missing in the close-ups.
 * On Latin American Spanish TV broadcasts, the title card reads Thomas y el óleo, which translates to Thomas and the Oil Painting, despite how the dubber still reads the original title "Percy y el óleo" (Percy and the Oil Painting). The title is shown correctly on DVD.

Merchandise

 * Books - Percy and the Spirit of the Island of Sodor
 * Magazine Stories - Percy and the Painting

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Spirit of Sodor
 * The Complete Series 9
 * The Best of Percy

DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends

US/CAN

 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop/Thomas and the Really Brave Engines and Other Adventures Double Feature
 * Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Thomas' Holiday Collection

AUS

 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * Series Nine and The Great Discovery Double Pack

MYS

 * Back to School Compilation
 * Best Friends and Other Adventures
 * Thomas' Milkshake Muddle and Other Adventures
 * Mighty Mac and Other Adventures

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

GER

 * The Ghost Locomotive

NL

 * Thomas and the Birthday Picnic

HUN

 * Bold and Brave

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 9 Vol.4
 * Thomas and the Rainbow

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season

SA

 * Milkshake Muddle

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 28

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 4 Vol. 1

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 25

TWN
}}
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 13

Percy y el Óleo פרסי וציור השמן Piotruś i Obraz Перси и картина