Thomas & Friends (franchise)

Thomas & Friends
Logo used since 2026
Created byBritt Allcroft
Owners
Years1984–present
Based onThe Railway Series
by Wilbert Awdry
Films and television
Film(s)
Games
Video game(s)
  • Thomas the Tank Engine (1990)
  • Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (1993)
  • Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Pinball (1995)
  • Thomas & Friends: The Great Festival Adventure (1999)
  • Thomas & Friends: Trouble on the Tracks (2000)
  • Thomas & Friends: Railway Adventures (2001)
  • Kikansha Thomas – Sodor-tou no Nakama-tachi (2001)
  • Thomas & Friends: Building the New Line (2002)
  • Thomas & Friends: Thomas Saves the Day (2003)
  • Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails (2010)
  • Thomas & Friends: Steaming Around Sodor (2015)
  • Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor (2026)
Miscellaneous
Toy(s)List of merchandise
Theme park attraction(s)
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Thomas & Friends (formerly known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends) is a children's media franchise based on the Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry and created by Britt Allcroft and owned by Mattel since 2012. The franchise revolves around an ensemble cast of anthropomorphic steam locomotives—including the titular main protagonist Thomas the Tank Engine as well as other vehicles—who work on the Island of Sodor.

In 1984, The Railway Series books were adapted into a television series initially titled Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. This ran for 24 series and had several feature-length specials produced during its run. A film adaptation, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, was released theatrically in 2000. After the television series ended in 2021, a reboot titled Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go began in the same year and concluded in 2025. Another reboot simply called "Thomas & Friends" will begin airing its first season on YouTube and Netflix along with a new special in autumn 2026, and a second theatrical film is in development at Mattel Films.