Clearwater Features

Clearwater Features (1986) Ltd. was a British film production company (based first in Battersea and then at Shepperton Studios) that produced the first two seasons of the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends from 1984 to 1986, for The Britt Allcroft Company. Clearwater is also known for creating the hit children's TV show TUGS. The company was founded in the early 1980s by Gerry Anderson alumni Ken Turner and David Mitton, and produced television commercials as well as miniature effects for films and TV shows. Turner left the company in 1983, to be replaced by American-born director and producer Robert D. Cardona.

The company closed down in 1990. Britt Allcroft, returning home from the US, purchased the models and sets which were used for TUGS, and the show Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends remained in production by The Britt Allcroft Company from 1991 until 2000, but was later produced by HIT Entertainment.

Trivia

• When the studio closed, David Mitton became part of The Britt Allcroft Company, and Robert D. Cardona went to live in Canada.
• The production logo of Clearwater Features was a Cadillac parked at a chemist with palm trees, based on Clearwater, Florida.
• The logo appeared on every ending of every episode of Thomas The Tank Engine, and also appeared on a flag of a barge in the TUGS Episode 4th of July.

Key people

• Ken Turner – co-founder
• David Mitton – co-founder
• Robert D. Cardona – co-CEO (1983–1990)
• Terry Permane – lighting, cameraman, and Director of Photography
• Bob Gauld-Galliers – art director
• Junior Campbell – composer
• Mike O'Donnell – composer
• John Attwell – cameraman
• Phil Sanderson – editor

Produced

• Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends / 1984 – 1986 / two seasons
• TUGS / 1988 – 1989 / one series
• Commercials (Most for UK)
• Star Tours (Theme Park Ride)