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Mattel’s Thomas the Tank Engine Reboot: Is This Bold New Look a Nostalgic Dream or a Total Trainwreck?

Added on January 28, 2026 inTV News Cards

Well, well, well — just when you thought the stars couldn’t align for our nostalgia glands any harder, here comes Thomas the Tank Engine with a turbo-charged facelift! Could Mercury’s mischievous retrograde finally be laying tracks for a bold new Thomas & Friends era? Mattel’s stirring the pot with a sleek reboot that’s not just a shiny new paint job but a full-on franchise relaunch, ready to chug through the hearts of today’s preschoolers and their parents alike. From Ringo Starr’s charming narration days to Netflix’s latest 2D adventures winding down, Thomas has been the ultimate childhood co-pilot for over 80 years — and now, under the stars of reinvention, he’s gearing up for fresh stories, original content, and live experiences that’ll make nostalgia and novelty collide on the rails. So, buckle up, because this reboot isn’t just about a train; it’s about an emotional joyride that’s as timeless as a Leo’s spotlight and as fresh as a Sagittarius shooting star. Ready to see where this next track leads? LEARN MORE

Get ready, preschoolers, there’s going to be a new Thomas the Tank Engine rolling into town.

Mattel says that it planning a full franchise relaunch of Thomas & Friends, the long-running children’s brand, including a “bold new look” for Thomas the Tank Engine (pictured above).

Thomas the Tank Engine made his debut in a series of British children’s books in 1945, but it was the U.K. TV series, which debuted in 1984, that made the blue train a global phenomenon. Ringo Starr served as the original narrator, with stars like Pierce Brosnan, George Carlin and Alec Baldwin all lending their voices to the program at various points during its multi-decade run. The show has been at times live action, CGI, and most recently 2D animated (the latest iteration wrapped its run on Netflix late last year).

But the new look will spark a new era for the brand, and likely new media ventures, with news of original content, live experiences and products.

“Thomas has been a trusted companion for families for more than 80 years, and the new look reflects both where the brand comes from and where it’s headed on its next adventure,” said Ted Wu, senior VP and global head of vehicles & building sets at Mattel. “We returned to the elements that parents and kids love most while updating the design to feel relevant for today’s preschool audience. Authentic train details, timelessness and emotional storytelling form the foundation for the years ahead for Thomas & Friends.

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