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Thomas the Tank Engine will have international friends



Thomas the Tank Engine will have 14 new friends in an effort to globalise his social network. Reverend Wilbert Awdry (1911-1997) created Thomas the Tank Engine in 1945 in a series of British children’s books called The Railway Series for his son Christopher. He wrote 26 books in the series, which were made into a television program in 1984. In 2003 the title Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends was shortened to Thomas and Friends.

Mattel, a toy company, bought the enterprise in 2012. Mattel is introducing 14 new foreign characters from India, Brazil, China, and Mexico.

While some see this move as important for Thomas to have a range of friendships, some worry about cultural stereotyping. Raul the Tank Engine from Brazil is a male engine described as ‘feisty, strong, and agile’ while Yong Bao the Tank Engine from China, a male engine, is ‘driven to achieve.’ Ashima the Tank Engine, a female engine, is ‘happy to help out’ while Carlos of Mexico, a male engine is ‘proud’ and ‘always wearing a smile.’ Four of the 14 new engines are female.

Tracey Van Slyke, a researcher in social justice and pop culture at the Citizen Engagement Lab, says she ‘applauds the idea’ but is concerned about its implementation. Psychologist Dr. Aric Signman, is concerned that there may be too many characters, and said that children do not benefit from a lot of variety because they may become disconnected from the story: ‘One of the great things about Thomas the Tank Engine is it has a fairly slow narrative and slow editing speed, which is much better for children.’

Mattel is keeping to the original intentions of the books by introducing the new characters based on real train engines. Thomas was based on the E2 Class engine designed by Lawson Billinton in 1913. Gordon was based on the Gresley A3 Pacific engine and Percy was based on an old Avonside locomotive. The Scottish twin engines, Donald and Douglas, are made from the 812 Caledonian 1899 Class. Mattel says Thomas’s new friends will be based on engines from the country they represent.

The new locomotives will be introduced in the next film to be released in May 2016 called The Great Race.








http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/12205849/Carlos-the-Tank-Engine-Thomas-to-make-foreign-friends-in-bid-for-global-success.html

MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).


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