According to the creator, the American reboot of Thomas the Tank Engine has ‘lost the magic of the original series’.
Based on a series of books by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher, which were published from 1945, the show was based on the adventures of steam trains.
The original series, adapted by Britt Allcroft, now 80, is known in part for being narrated by Ringo Starr, whose soft Liverpudlian tones suited the story well.
It was first broadcast in 1983, when it scored a legion of fans, following the activities of Thomas, the main character and his train friends, based on the Island of Sodor.
But the franchise was purchased by Mattel for $680 million, with the production’s version, Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go, premiering some 10 years later in 2021, according to the times.
The much-loved original character of Thomas the Tank locomotive in the British version of the popular programme
The creator of the British version, which first aired in the early 1980s, is not a fan of the new American version (photo)
Unfortunately, Allcroft isn’t a fan of the reboot, which she says has “tarnished” the original classic.
He even went so far as to say that the new reboot lacked the “magic” of the much earlier, original return.
According to Allcroft, “There is only one Thomas. Thomas doesn’t want to be reimagined. Unfortunately, Mattel now has control over Thomas and there is nothing I can do.”
With the reboot, Mattel has made a number of changes, as it says it wants to take a “completely new approach” to the popular show.
In addition to changing the animation style, there are new characters.
One is Kana, a female high-speed locomotive, the other is Bruno the Brake Car, who is autistic.
Some have praised the addition of a neurodiverse character.
Bruno the Brake Car is voiced by Elliot Garcia, nine, from Reading, Berkshire, who is also neurodiverse.
The US version (pictured) is much slicker, with cleaner, more modern animation, which will likely be more familiar to many modern viewers
Detail-oriented Bruno likes schedules, routine and knows where all the tracks lead. Bruno has steps and a lantern on his bright, red exterior that indicate his emotional state, and moves when he is excited or cautious.
Elliot said: ‘Bruno is a Brake Car, and he is a new friend for Thomas and his friends, and he is also autistic, just like me. He is funny, smart and a very relaxed character.
“He can get very overwhelmed, he can worry and he uses comedy to overcome situations. Bruno likes schedules and timetables and when everything goes according to plan.
“He can wave his ladders to let you know if he’s upset or very excited, so he can use his stuff to show you how he’s feeling.”
‘I recognize his earmuffs, because when there’s really loud noise, I can’t stand it. I can get quite worried about things, I have to think of new strategies, just like Bruno.
‘When I won the role of Bruno, I thought it was a dream, but it wasn’t! I felt very excited and happy.’
According to Allcroft, the reboot is neither Thomas made in Awdry’s book series nor faithful to the original television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends that she directed.
A new series will air on Channel 5 this spring.
The older version was controlled by radios and figurines and the characters all had British accents – unlike the new version (old version pictured)
Those used to moving models controlled by radios and figurines may be surprised to see the new animation style, as well as the American accents.
The Times pointed out that the original series was once “the unlikely subject of controversy.”
This is from 2014, when a commentary piece in The Guardian criticized the program.
It described the Island of Sodor as “colonial” and added that the Fat Controller was acting as a “monopoly dictator” over the engines.
The author of the piece, Tracy Van Slyke, said: ‘The constant tendency of messages about friendship, work, class, gender and race sends my child the wrong message’
All Engines Go is available on Paramount+ and has been shown in the UK on Channel 5.
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