Sir Topham Hatt
Overall supervisor of the Sodor Railway
Director of the North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor and supervisor of the engines. Strict about work and punctuality, takes a stern attitude toward engines that cause accidents or trouble, but shows leniency depending on their achievements and behavior.
Quotes
- "Confusion and delay!"
- "I'm not running a jam factory."
- "I'll have Cyril stand in for Foghorne."
- "Delay is a crime."
Trivia
- Sir Topham Hatt appears as three generations of father-to-son in the original books, but in the TV series, mostly depicted as the same person.
- His hat is mainly a black silk top hat, with tailcoat and yellow waistcoat designs changing by series.
- In the American version, 'Fat Controller' was changed to 'Sir Topham Hatt' due to broadcast codes.
- The 2021 2D animation series version abolished narration and changed the appellation.
- Takeshi Aono is one of the main voice actors in the Japanese version.
- Lives with his wife in a mansion called Topham Hall and owns 52 silk top hats.
Alternate names
Sir Topham Hatt
Fat Controller
Lord Hatt
Sir Topham Hatt
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Male
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Typically wears a black tailcoat with a yellow waistcoat and a black silk top hat. Middle-aged to elderly man. The presence of eyebrows varies by series, but mainly clean-shaven with graying hair.
- Distinguishing features
-
- Black silk top hat
- Yellow waistcoat
- Mainly clean-shaven
- Eyebrows presence varies by series
- Iconic items
-
- Silk top hat
- Yellow waistcoat
- Blue sedan
- Tailcoat
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Strict
- Detailed personality
- Punctuality supremacist strict about work, but generally calm and kind in nature. Deals strictly with pranks and slothfulness, takes a resolute attitude toward locomotive accidents. Generously evaluates engines' efforts and achievements, providing branch lines and presents.
- Keywords
-
- Strict
- Punctuality advocate
- Strong sense of responsibility
- Generous
- Mild-mannered
- Sarcastic
- Excellent manager
- Hardworking
- Motto
- I want them to become useful to others
- Talents
-
- Construction and design abilities as a railway engineer
- Management ability
- Problem-solving ability
- Communication ability
- Leadership
- Skills
-
- Railway operations management
- Time management
- Crisis response
- Persuasiveness
- Leadership skills
- Motivation
- To operate the railways of the Island of Sodor safely and smoothly with punctuality, wishing for the engines to become useful to others.
- Habits
- 'Confusion and delay' is a catchphrase. In the early Japanese dub, first-person pronoun 'washi', second-person 'you' or 'kimi'; from Series 9 onward, first-person changed to 'watashi'.
- Hobbies
- Railway operations, Car driving, Tourism resource development
- Favorite places
- Island of Sodor, Topham Hall
- Favorite colors
- Yellow, Black
- Disliked situations
- Delays, Accidents, Pranks, Negligence
History
- Backstory
- Came to the Island of Sodor as a young railway engineer and was appointed director of the North Western Railway. Inherited through three generations from father to son (original books). The first generation handled railway construction and swing bridge design, holding the baronet title. In the TV series, often depicted as a single individual. In the 2D animation series (2021 onward), the setting is that the great-grandson of the first serves as Sir Topham Hatt.
- Debut date
- January 1, 1948
- Work title
- The Three Railway Engines
- Media type
- Manga
Title change due to railway nationalization
- Significant event
- Title change due to railway nationalization
- Description
- Originally called 'The Fat Director', renamed to 'The Fat Controller' following the 1948 British railway nationalization. Later, the name 'Sir Topham Hatt' appears.
Appellation change in TV series
- Significant event
- Appellation change in TV series
- Description
- Called Fat Controller in the UK version, but unified as Sir Topham Hatt in the US version to avoid broadcast codes. Japanese version translations also evolved.
Renewal in 2D animation
- Significant event
- Renewal in 2D animation
- Description
- In the 2021 2D animation series, narration eliminated, Fat Controller appellation not used, and depicted with a friendlier personality.
Relationships
Wife: Jane (Lady Hatt)
Spouse
Lives together in Topham Hall.
Mother
Parent
Appears in the series, but details unknown.
Younger brother: Lowham Hatt
Sibling
Appears in Series 13.
Charles Topham (first's son)
Child
Successor from first to second generation.
Stephen Topham (second's son)
Child
Successor from second to third generation.
Bridget Hatt (second's daughter)
Child
One of the siblings.
Richard Topham (third's eldest son)
Child
Candidate for fourth generation.
Grandchildren: Stephen and Bridget
Grandparent
Appear in the series.
Mr. Percival
Colleague
Takes over management of Skarloey Railway, the narrow-gauge mountain railway
North Western Railway
North Western Railway: leader
Media appearances
The Railway Series
Manga / Supporting
1948年～
Thomas & Friends (Model & 3DCG series)
Anime / Supporting
1984年～2021年
Thomas & Friends (2021 2D animation series)
Anime / Supporting
2021年～
Thomas the Tank Engine Feature Film Series
Movie / Supporting
1990年代～
Voice cast and creators
宮内幸平
- Voice actor
- 宮内幸平
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Model & 3DCG animation series Seasons 1-4
青野武
- Voice actor
- 青野武
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Model & 3DCG animation series Seasons 5-8
納谷六朗
- Voice actor
- 納谷六朗
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Model & 3DCG animation series Feature Film 2 to Season 18 (12 episodes)
田中完
- Voice actor
- 田中完
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Model & 3DCG animation series Feature Film 9, Season 18 Episode 25 to Feature Film 17
岡本幸輔
- Voice actor
- 岡本幸輔
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- 2D animation series (2021~)
Keith Wickham
- Voice actor
- Keith Wickham
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Model & 3DCG animation series Feature Film 4 to Season 24
Rob Rackstraw
- Voice actor
- Rob Rackstraw
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Model & 3DCG animation series Feature Film 17, short animation series
Tom Dussek
- Voice actor
- Tom Dussek
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- 2D animation series
Kevin Frank
- Voice actor
- Kevin Frank
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Feature Film 1
Wilbert Awdry
- Creator name
- Wilbert Awdry
- Role
- Original author
Clive Spong
- Creator name
- Clive Spong
- Role
- Illustrator
HIT Entertainment
- Creator name
- HIT Entertainment
- Role
- Animation studio
Related goods
Sir Topham Hatt Figure
- Item name
- Sir Topham Hatt Figure
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Regular
Sir Topham Hatt Hat Replica
- Item name
- Sir Topham Hatt Hat Replica
- Category
- Apparel
- Availability
- Limited