Children’s animated series “Thomas & Friends” — based around the adventures of a talking, “cheeky” blue train engine — has reportedly chugged over to streaming, according to reports.
Toy and entertainment company Mattel, which owns the brand, announced Thursday that the series will be moved to Netflix.
Netflix has picked up the exclusive streaming rights to Thomas & Friends starting next month!https://t.co/W5LmpxBMUL pic.twitter.com/Y4jX0hDKZp
— What's on Netflix (@whatonnetflix) February 13, 2020
“Today, we are pleased to announce that ‘Thomas & Friends,’ the iconic children’s series, will be available on Netflix in the United States starting this March,” Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz said.
A report from Kidscreen said episodes will be available March 15.
According to entertainment website Deadline, the series launched in 1984 and aired on PBS until 2017 when Nickelodeon took over in a deal that included rights to the brand’s U.S. licensing. Those rights are now shifting back to Mattel.
The streaming giant will offer select library episodes of “Thomas & Friends” internationally in parts of Asia and Europe, Latin America, the United Kingdom and Canada, Deadline reported.
All aboard US fans! Thomas & Friends will be streaming on @netflix in March. Give us a ? if you’re chuffed. pic.twitter.com/b1Dc44C2Gs
— Thomas & Friends (@ThomasFriends) February 13, 2020
Netflix will start with Season 23 on March 15. Main character Thomas travels to Italy and Brazil, where he makes new friends, explores new cultures and makes other discoveries, Deadline reported. That season aired on Nick Jr. last year and consists of 20, 11-minute episodes and three, 22-minute specials.
Season 24 is slated to stream later this year.
Unfortunately, the “Thomas & Friends” library, including the previous 22 seasons, is not available in the U.S.
Deadline reports that the move comes in Netflix’s efforts to “ramp up” kids animation in attempt to compete with Disney+ and its extensive Disney/Pixar library.
The Reverend W. Awdry created Thomas the Tank Engine 75 years ago in the form of story books for his son.
Those books included adventures with fellow engines Gordon, Henry, Edward and James, but the cast has grown significantly.
The stories gained notoriety globally and morphed into a franchise carrying toys, consumer products, apps, books, clothes, video and audio content and has gained traction in other avenues. West Mifflin’s Kennywood amusement park has a Thomas Town section that includes a ride on the train that goes around the entire park and four other rides confined in that section.
The animated television program “Thomas & Friends” has compiled more than 500 episodes and specials and has been licensed to air in 180 territories and has been converted in 54 languages, Deadline reported.
