For years, people have enjoyed the adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends in the children’s books The Railway Series and the animated television show Thomas and Friends.
This year, fans of the show (and possibly, their children) are introduced to a new diverse and gender-neutral Thomas the Tank Engine movie called “Thomas and Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!”
According to IMDB, the film centers on Thomas the Tank Engine’s dream of traveling the world. Through his travels, he comes across a variety of characters with different ethnicities. Some of these characters include Kenyan tank engine “Nia,” American diesel shunter “Natalie,” and Australian rally car “Ace”.
Since the movie debuted its new characters, a number of Twitter users were divided on the characters’ cultural makeovers. Some were elated to see the new lineup of multicultural characters.
Have to say, all the fuss about Thomas the Tank Engine… personally I like it, I like the little summary/moral message at the end! Quite like Nina the new African engine! Perhaps if we focused on its values rather than its changes there’d be less hate! 😊#thomasandfriends #ttte
— ModicaOfWinterfell (@MoDi_83) September 4, 2018
While many others were averse to accept the changes in their beloved animated locomotives.
No thanks
— ✝️enacious✝️rain (@ReeceSaunders99) August 31, 2018
I don't like what's being done with #ThomastheTankEngine . This obsession with diversity & cosmopolitan culture will kill all that's quaint.
What's next – chicken bangers with mashed yam?
👎😐☠#thomasandfriends— Mike Desai (@MikeDesai) September 2, 2018
They’ve ruined Thomas 😭 #thomasandfriends
— Dave Aspinall 🚀 (@dave_aspinall) September 3, 2018
Despite the backlash, the movie will continue to be streamed on many television networks worldwide.
Tell us in the poll below how do you feel about the multicultural revamp:
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