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Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Thomas the Tank Engine Wiki
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Cranky (T&F)

Revision as of 02:06, 5 May 2016 by Combatbot2015 (Message Wall | contribs) (→‎Voice Actors)
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This article is about 'the crane'. You may be looking for 'the Story Library book'.


“Cranky by name, cranky by nature.”
― Salty, Kevin's Cranky Friend, seventeenth season

Template:Infobox characterCranky is a large grumpy dockyard crane, who works and lives at Brendam.

Bio

Cranky bullied Thomas and Percy by delaying their loads and calling them "bugs". He later got his comeuppance after a tramp steamer crashed into him and had to be rescued by the two tank engines. Afterwards, he promised never to insult them. However, he still teases the engines, such as when Percy complained that there was too much work and when Henry arrived at the Docks in a barge full of fish.

Despite his lack of sleep, Cranky works very hard. But his working attitude makes the engines cross whenever they think that Cranky is too slow - as a result of their insults, Cranky can cause accidents.

Although he is naturally grumpy, Cranky has shown that he has a kind side too. Once he helped Thomas out of trouble when he and Percy were playing "Hide and Peep" by finding Percy in the dry dock.

He has befriended a seagull that often visits him and has named it, rather fittingly, Seagull. Cranky is not fond of all animals though and is shown to have a fear of elephants.

Cranky has an intense dislike for Salty's stories and Charlie's jokes. According to one of Salty's tales, Cranky is "the Monster of Brendam".

In the seventeenth season, Cranky needed some help, so Kevin was sent to help him. However, Cranky refused the help, leading Kevin to fall into the sea. Cranky rescued Kevin, and apologised for being so mean. He later called Charlie silly when he told him about the elephant on the line, and warned Thomas about the icy tracks.

In Tale of the Brave, Cranky attempted to stop a ship that Gator was on, after Thomas thought that Percy was on board the ship. However, this resulted in Cranky breaking, forcing the ship to turn back.

Cranky was later unloading a crate from a ship at Brendam, but accidentally dropped the crate to the ground. Fearing the contents inside of the crate were broken, Cranky hid the crate out of sight, though it was later found and taken to the Town Hall.

Persona

The reason Cranky is so grumpy is because he was initially kept working day and night without rest. Cranky loves teasing the engines and has an intense dislike for Salty's stories. He rarely pays attention to tact due to his perpetual bad temper.

However, Cranky has at times shown a bit of kindness, such as when he sympathized for Percy when Thomas went missing on Misty Island.

Basis

According to an interview, Cranky is based on photo reference of various cranes from the 1920s and 50s.

Livery

Cranky is painted olive with black and brown pulleys amongst his mechanism and two work plates on each side that read "CRANKY".

Appearances

Television series

Specials:

Magazine stories

Cranky also appeared in the magazine stories, Company for Cranky, Fish and Fog!, Fun With Friends, Sea-Bound Salty, and The Camel Train.

Voice Actors

Trivia

  • Cranky can be dismantled and shifted to different locations, despite it never being mentioned or shown, however, there are some cases where Cranky has not been seen at Brendam.
  • Before the script cut, Cranky was to have a much larger role in Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
    • In the aforementioned movie, he was located at Knapford Yards rather than Brendam Docks.
  • One of Cranky's models used to be display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
  • Cranky's ladder seemingly leads to nothing, and no door has even been seen - it is unknown how his crew is able to enter him. Furthermore, he has never been seen with a crew.
  • Cranky's original Plarail and Wooden Railway models were painted light grey instead of olive green.
  • Cranky has gone through several changes in the Television Series:
    • Season 5:
      • Chains hold his crane arm to his body wrapped around a pipe between his nameplates
    • Season 6:
      • Two metal stripes are shown replacing the chains
    • Season 13:
      • The design of his hook changes
  • Cranky was the first character introduced to the TV series who was not Railway Series-related.
  • The My First Thomas model of Cranky is incorrectly painted blue instead of green.
  • He, apparently, has a fear of elephants.
  • According to an interview with Sodor Island Forums, Cranky is one of Mark Moraghan's favourite characters alongside Percy.

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