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A makeover for Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas has been dubbed into 33 languages and broadcast in more than 100 territories. Mattel is now set to introduce yet another generation of kids to the little blue engine and his cadre of friends - with a makeover.
Mattel’s way of handling competition is to give Thomas the Tank Engine a makeover. The company has many plans up its sleeve for 2018 in order to make sure that the friendly blue engine does not run out of steam. The trick is to fight the newbies who come in with a bang, last for a few years, and then bow out. And there is no dearth of newcomers every other year.
For starters, Thomas is off to see the world while his friends are set for a shake-up. For those who are familiar with the story, Henry and Edward are making way for Rebecca and Nia, the first African engine – the United Nations has a role to play in this makeover.
China too is in the act. After the introduction of Yong Bao, a Chinese engine recently, there has been talk of China-specific content in the future. Meanwhile, Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! will take Thomas to Brazil and the US in the movie, which launches in the summer of 2018, and Australia, China, India and Africa in the TV series of the same name, which will debut on the small screen later that same year. Canadian studio Jam Filled is producing the series.
It promises to be an interesting journey.