Best of James

Best of James is a US VHS/DVD featuring three first series episodes, one second series episode and four third series episodes narrated by George Carlin and one song. The DVD release also featured three additional songs.

It was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment and distributed on VHS and DVD in 2002. It was released again in multi-DVD boxsets in 2003 and again with a slipcover in 2007. Lionsgate re-released the title on DVD in 2009 and for digital download in 2013.

VHS
Known on the Island of Sodor for his fine scarlet coat and occasional high-falutin' attitude, James has been a fan favorite from the very beginning. Children love his big grin and jovial way - - adults connect with his kind heart and warm disposition. This volume of the commemorative Thomas & Friends Collector's Edition series is dedicated to James, the very useful, splendid red engine. Celebrate all of the favorite stories which have made James one of the most popular and closest friends of Thomas.

Remember when James got a little rough with some of the Troublesome Trucks and learned a very important lesson? Or when James' joke on Gordon backfired on him? And who could ever forget when James got stung on the nose by a bee?

Get your tickets ready and hop on board for miles of smiles with your Sodor family as they salute your friend and ours, James.

2002 DVD
Known on the Island of Sodor for his fine scarlet coat and occasional high-falutin' attitude, James has been a fan favorite from the very beginning. Children love his big grin and jovial way - - adults connect with his kind heart and warm disposition. For the first time on DVD we are happy to celebrate James, the very useful, splendid red engine, with 8 favorite stories, several special features, and trainloads of educational fun!

Get your tickets ready and hop on board for miles of DVD smiles with your Sodor family as they salute your friend and ours, James.

2007/2009 DVD
Known on the Island of Sodor for his fine scarlet coat and occasional high-falutin' attitude. James has been a fan favorite from the very beginning. Children love his big grin and jovial way - adults connect with his heart and warm disposition. We are happy to celebrate James, the very useful, splendid red engine, with 8 favorite stories, several special features, and trainloads of fun!

Get your tickets ready and hop on board for miles of DVD smiles with your Sodor family as they salute your friend and ours, James.

Episodes

 * 1) A Proud Day for James
 * 2) James in a Mess
 * 3) Old Iron
 * 4) No Joke for James
 * 5) James Learns a Lesson
 * 6) Percy, James and the Fruitful Day
 * 7) James Goes Buzz Buzz
 * 8) Time for Trouble

Songs

 * 1) Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
 * 2) Harold the Helicopter
 * 3) The Island Song
 * 4) Gone Fishing

Bonus Features

 * Best of James Trivia
 * Build an Engine
 * Where do I Belong?
 * Hooray for Thomas! read-along story
 * Character Gallery
 * Web Site Fun

Trivia

 * Some copies of the Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD release came with a bonus CD sampler of Thomas' Songs & Roundhouse Rhythms. It featured the following songs:
 * Thomas' Theme
 * Harold the Helicopter
 * Gone Fishing
 * Every Cloud has a Silver Lining
 * The last few seconds of Old Iron are reversed.
 * Additional clips from Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, A Better View for Gordon, James and the Trouble with Trees, Thomas Saves the Day, Percy Runs Away, Foolish Freight Cars, and Baa! are used in the intermissions between the episodes, accompanied by snippets from the songs Really Useful Engine, It's Great to be an Engine, Don't Judge a Book by its Cover and Let's Have a Race.
 * During the intermissions, sound effects from Trouble for Thomas were used.
 * The 2002 DVD release is the only US DVD release not to feature Thomas on the cover at all, whether on the front, spine or back. However, the VHS, 2005/2009 slimcase DVD, and 2007 standard DVD do feature Thomas on the back cover.
 * The DVD features an intermission after Time for Trouble before cutting right to the end credits.
 * The booklet features different thumbnails for Don't Judge a Book by its Cover and Harold the Helicopter.
 * This is one of the two US releases to be captioned by CaptionMax until The Thomas Way; the other was being Hero of the Rails.
 * The VUDU digital release features some alternate title cards.
 * This is the only time that George Carlin's narrations of James Learns a Lesson and A Proud Day for James was released on home media since one was seen on the Shining Time Station episode, The Mayor Runs for Re-Election, and the other was seen on Mister Moose's Fun Time.
 * The episodes on the Korean VHS/DVD are voiced over the English track.

Goofs

 * Some early VHS back covers list Percy, James and the Fruitful Day as "Percy And The Fruitful Day." This was corrected on later VHS covers.
 * The thumbnail for Time for Trouble on the DVD menu of Pick a Story is actually from Foolish Freight Cars. This is because it is taken from the intermission after the episode.
 * When Really Useful Engine plays during the intermissions, the captions say "He's the prettiest red engine we adore."
 * On the DVD game "Where Do I Belong?", James' number 5 is mirrored.
 * In the "Where Do I Belong?" game, it is stated that Cranky works at the quarry, though he works at Brendam Docks.
 * Some DVD copies have a 2001 copyright date, even though the DVD was first released in 2002.
 * On the intermission that plays after the end of Old Iron, an audio cut occurs on the last two clips.
 * Percy, James and the Fruitful Day actually has Percy as the main character and Time for Trouble actually has Toby as the main character. However, James is a supporting character in both episodes.

DVD Packs

 * Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition
 * Best of Collection
 * Best of Thomas and Best of James Double Feature
 * Best Tales on the Tracks