Indian and Chinese friends and more lady locos for famous blue tank engine in new ‘inclusive’ rail yard
THOMAS the Tank Engine is to signal the age of ‘multicultural harmony and gender balance’ with a new set of friends, more than 70 years after he was created by a Birmingham vicar.
The children’s TV adaptation of the famous blue loco, Thomas And Friends, is to introduce an ‘inclusive’ gender-balanced, multicultural set of characters in a major revamp.
Thomas the Tank Engine was created more than 70 years ago by Reverend Wilbert Awdry as part of his Railway Series of books, which have become a global brand including TV programmes, films, toys and live attractions.
Awdry was curate of St Nicho- las’ Church in Kings Norton, south Birmingham, at the time.
Now the new series of the animated show about Thomas the Tank Engine and his Steam Team will see the beloved locomotive leave his home in Sodor to travel the world for the first time.
Thomas will discover new countries and cultures by travelling to China, India and Australia while the ‘Steam Team’, the core group of trains on the fictional island, will comprise three male and three female characters.
Long-running favourites Percy, Gordon, James and Emily will be joined by additions Nia and Rebecca, along with Thomas.
The changes were made to represent the increasing number of girls who watch the show, which is thought to be more than 40 per cent, and send a message of gender audience.
The series also features characters from around the world, including Ashima from India, Yong Bao from China and Shane from Australia.
Other new female characters, described by show bosses as “strong girl characters”, include Isla, an Australian flying doctor plane, Noor Jehan, a royal express engine from India, Hong-Mei, a number one blue tank engine from China, and female railway controller Charubala, from India.
Awdry’s granddaughter, Claire Chambers, welcomed the changes, saying she thinks he would be “very happy” with them.
“If the gender-balanced Steam Team encourages more girls to maintain an interest then that equality to a young can only be a good said.
There will also be a new theme tune for the show, a faster-paced format, increased humour and music and fantasy elements.
Ian McCue, senior producer at Thomas And Friends, said: “The show has undergone an evolution to remain relevant for the next generation of parents and children by opening up the world of Thomas And Friends so children can discover the world around them while being entertained. The changes and new additions of characters and geographies will make the show more entertaining, inclusive and global – whilst ensuring all the favourite characters and storylines that fans around the world love remain at the heart of the action.” thing,” she