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THOMAS the Tank Engine is getting a major overhaul to improve the children’s show’s gender imbalance. However some people are getting very upset!

After 73 years the show is having a major shake up, with the new series featuring new international female characters.

They include an Australian flying doctor plane called Isla, Chinese Hong-mei, African Nia and Churubala, a female railway controller from India.

train 2 train

Thomas will leave the island of Sodor to go abroad and there will be a new theme song as well.

They have been called the “most significant changes” in the show’s history.

The United Nations was even involved in the overhaul as part of its sustainable development programme.

Ian McCue, senior producer at Thomas & 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 & 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.”

But critics have blasted the move as politically correct meddling.

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  • It’s a kids show meant to entertain. Do we really need to make EVERYTHING politically correct?

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  • Here we go again. Can’t we just leave Thomas as he was, and then perhaps create something new. Why do we have to re-invent all of ours and our children’s classics. The new generation can make their own stories. Stop messing with ours.

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  • Weird. Nothing wrong with original story.

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  • My son is obessess with Thomas so when he got 2 guinea pigs last year they were named Annie and Clarabel. Then there was an incident with a runaway rottweiler getting in our yard and we got Millie and Mavis. Then those two got stolen by our bogan bludging neighbours and we had to get 2 boys because we’d pretty much used up all the girl names. So far so good with these two (who don’t actually have names so still get called millie and mavis). But bring on the girl engines. Why not.

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  • I was told last night that they have made obvious changes to Peter Rabbit in the last movie released.
    Even our 3 year old reckoned it was stupid and didn’t want to watch it. Maybe next time !!!

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  • Wow! I watched Thomas when I was a child. Never once did I wonder why there weren’t any different nationalities or genders of trains etc. they are trains for gods sake!

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  • Everything should just be left how it is nothing was wrong with the show, it’s like trying to change history but you just can’t its already been and gone. I’m not against gender equality but trying to change everything to pleasing a select few is just selfish make new shows please for the new generation don’t change history

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  • My now eldest daughter (11) had a huge fascination with Thomas the tank and trains when she was in her early years – I never once worried about how many international character’s there was, or how many girl trains or girl characters, I just watched it with her for the entertainment value and bonded with her through her love of toy trains thanks to Thomas.

    I think people are getting way too excited over these new changes. it’s a shame they have changed the theme song though – some things are just classic and should never be messed with!

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  • We’ve never been hindered by the old classic Thomas the Tank Engine and honestly don’t see the need to change it. I would think a total new series of whatever show with inclusive, gender-balanced, multicultural set of characters, would be better.

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  • Everything changes to stay relevant and they obviously think it makes business sense don’t know why people get so worked up about changes better than being canceled if you’re a fan and if you’re not it doesn’t matter.

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  • Leave it alone and don’t change a thing

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  • It’s a step in the right direction. Not sure they needed to change the theme song etc but more female characters is a good thing.

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  • It will be interesting to see how this goes. If the female roles are insignificant or if the female trains cannot hold a load capacity the same as Thomas and his male friends it could end up making things worse

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  • I don’t know why they can’t leave the old classics as they are, as they have been for many years. If you don’t like it, don’t get into it. If you want gender and race diversity in your kids shows, buy them the new ones on the market. There’s something for everyone these days, please leave the oldies alone

    Reply

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