Mattel has announced the launch of a new Thomas & Friends series.
Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories is the new series beginning with the special Really Helpful Engines.
The launch “marks a comprehensive brand update that celebrates the franchise’s 80-year legacy while introducing a fresh look and feel for a new generation.”
The 30-minute special Really Helpful Engines is now available on YouTube and will premiere on Netflix on September 30.
The series brings together Thomas, Percy and Rosie alongside a new character, a crane truck named Deepak, in a “music-filled adventure exploring core themes of teamwork, caring collaboration and the transformative power of helping.”
Ted Wu , General Manager & Global Head of Vehicles and Building Sets at Mattel, said: “Thomas & Friends has been a trusted companion for families for over 80 years. This relaunch celebrates the meaningful stories about friendship and helping others that have defined the franchise, while bringing it to life in ways that feel fresh and relevant for today’s preschool audience.”
Rob David, Executive Producer and SVP, Animation, Mattel Studios, said: “For generations, Thomas & Friends has inspired children through timeless stories about friendship, teamwork and the importance of being a really helpful engine. With this new series and content special, we’re honouring everything families have always loved about Thomas and we can’t wait for fans old and new to climb aboard for a new era of adventures on the Island of Sodor.”
The full series, Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories, will debut in early 2027 with multiple episodes continuing the visual identity and storytelling tone introduced in the Really Helpful Engines special, “reinforcing classic Sodor-based narratives for contemporary audiences.” Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories will be on Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Free-to-Air channels globally.
Produced by Mattel Studios, and animation services by Brown Bag Films (Doc McStuffins, Octonauts), Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories also includes Supervising Head Writer, Jill Cozza-Turner (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood!)
Jon Creamer
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