Thomas & Friends Announces Global 75th Anniversary Activities Throughout 2020

Thomas & Friends™ Announces Global 75th Anniversary Activities Throughout 2020

• Thomas & Friends™ will unveil new episodes, specials, and short form content, music, toys, books, exciting partnerships, and an all-new podcast for kids in this celebratory year
• New content is headlined by 1 x 22' special titled Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine featuring Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales as a child, along with a special introduction by Harry, The Duke of Sussex
• Mattel is collaborating with Calm to offer kids a new way of engaging with Thomas & Friends through mindfulness
• Caribu is teaming up with multi-platinum recording artist Kevin Jonas to read classic Thomas & Friends books releasing every week in May

In honor of the Thomas & Friends 75th Anniversary, Harry, The Duke of Sussex, introduces Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine special.

April 28, 2020 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--Today, Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), kicks off worldwide celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the iconic global preschool brand, Thomas & Friends™. The momentous year for the iconic No.1 Blue Tank Engine will include exciting partnerships, engaging apps and e-books, brand-new music, and new episodic content and specials.

The first Thomas & Friends story was created 75 years ago by the Rev. W. Awdry for his son, Christopher. Today, Thomas is just as beloved by children as he was when he first chugged down the tracks in 1945. With constantly evolving content and more ways to reach fans than ever before, Thomas is inviting everyone to celebrate the 75th Anniversary throughout 2020.

Thomas & Friends Celebrates 75th Anniversary

“Since the beginning, Thomas & Friends has celebrated friendship and teamwork through storytelling which has cultivated fan love across generations. In this milestone 75th year, we are releasing more storytelling content than ever before to engage the next generation of fans,” said Chuck Scothon, SVP and GM of Infant and Preschool, Mattel. “While families are spending more time at home, we are able to offer new content to enjoy together across videos, books, apps and through music and podcasts and are thrilled that we could partner with leading platforms like Calm and Caribu along with Netflix and Harry, The Duke of Sussex to bring this content home for fans.”

To celebrate Thomas & Friend's 75-year-milestone, Kevin Jonas is collaborating with Caribu to read classic Thomas & Friends books.

The power of the Thomas & Friends brand is evident across many platforms, but most of all in the hearts of its fans. The worldwide Thomas & Friends 75th anniversary activations include:

Video Content

• Anniversary year content kicks off on May 1 with a new 1 x 22’ celebratory special, Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine, which pays homage to the show’s British heritage and features Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales as a child. Thomas travels to London for the first time on a mission to take Sir Topham Hatt to Buckingham Palace. Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine includes a special introduction from Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Actress Rosamund Pike voices a new character, Duchess of Loughborough, and said it was “an absolute honour” to guest star in the 75th anniversary special, which will air on Netflix in the U.S. on May 1 and Milkshake in the U.K. on May 2.
• Also releasing this year as part of Series 24 are 2 x 22’ specials under the title Thomas & Friends: Marvelous Machinery. The specials have an exciting invention theme, new and unusual characters including a flying car, and a world-class technology fair celebration. In addition, 20 x 11’ new episodes will debut. All of this content will be on Netflix in the US.
• To supplement Series 24 episodes and specials, the brand will release four all-new made-for-YouTube series, with episodes debuting weekly. New YouTube content includes the series Thomas’ Magical Birthday Wishes, a kid-friendly nod to anniversary year celebrations.
• Nitro Circus and Thomas & Friends are teaming up for an epic train adventure. At Nitro Circus, a “train” involves a lot more motorcycles, ATVs, and plenty of gnarly crashes. So the crew brings in some friends to help jump a “train” over a train, and that train is pulled by none other than Thomas the Tank Engine himself. Check out this stunt on Quibi, Life-Size Toys series debuts May 25.

Audio

• On May 12, the brand is launching Thomas & Friends Storytime, a new podcast for kids. There will be 46 stories released weekly including origin stories of favorite characters, Thomas versions of fairytales, and adaptations of previous television episodes and books. Each episode ranges from 5-10 minutes in length and will be available on all major podcast platforms.
• Thomas will have his very own birthday album releasing on May 8, including three all new celebration themed songs. The album will be available across all major digital music platforms. The brand is also launching over 50 more new songs throughout the year, with accompanying music videos on YouTube.
• On May 4, Thomas & Friends is kicking off a partnership with Calm, the world’s #1 app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, to introduce young fans to Thomas-themed sleep stories and guided meditations. Calm’s bespoke content will allow families to enjoy a new, immersive way to engage with Thomas & Friends through mindfulness. The content will be available for free for the month of May on the Calm app, with two more new content releases coming later in the year.

Publishing

• Thomas & Friends started as a story told by a father to his son, and after 75 years of adventure and more than 207 million books sold around the world, the brand continues to release new titles with more than 20 publishing partners globally. In the US, Random House Books for Young Readers is releasing Thomas & Friends: Best Birthday Ever! Fans can celebrate Thomas the Tank Engine’s best birthday ever with this Thomas & Friends storybook featuring stickers, a poster, and a party game. In the UK, Egmont is releasing three titles for fans celebrating the brand’s heritage, Thomas’ birthday and the new Royal Engine Special.
• Thomas & Friends is teaming up with Caribu, the #1 family-activity video-calling app, that allows kids to stay engaged and create special moments with their loved ones and friends by going on a virtual playdate no matter how far apart they are. Caribu allows families to read books from an extensive library of popular children's titles, play games, color, or even cook from a recipe together in a video-call. To celebrate Thomas & Friend's 75-year-milestone, Kevin Jonas is collaborating with Caribu to read classic Thomas & Friends books every week in May, starting today.

Product

• Thomas & Friends is celebrating this milestone year with several new birthday themed toys. Birthday Wish Thomas is a push-along Thomas train with a cargo cart and light-up birthday cake candle, and includes music and phrases including “Happy Birthday.” Golden Thomas is decorated with festive balloons and beats a party drum as he moves along the track and Celebration Thomas, Percy and Nia engines have shiny metallic finishes.

For more information on Thomas & Friends 75th anniversary activities, please visit Thomasandfriends.com.

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 1987 file photo, Britain's Prince Harry looks through mock binoculars whilst holding the hand of Kindergarten manager Jane Mynors and carrying a 'Thomas The Tank Engine' bag on his way out from his first day at a kindergarten in Notting Hill, West London. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, File)

It's believed that rather than take a fee for the appearance, a donation was made to charity on Prince Harry's behalf.

About Mattel

Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends™ and MEGA®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.

MAT-TF

Via Business Wire.

From Kidscreen:

British royals board Thomas the Tank Engine

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is introducing a new Thomas & Friends special, celebrating British heritage that includes his brother and grandmother as characters.

Mattel has partnered with Harry, the Duke of Sussex, as well as other members of the royal family for a new Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine special airing on Netflix in US on May 1, followed by Channel 5′s preschool block Milkshake! on May 2.

Broadcast partners in other territories will follow throughout the year.

Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine has a live-action introduction from Harry, the Duke of Sussex and then featured Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales (as a young boy) as characters in the special where Thomas travels to London for the first time to take on a mission.

The Duke of Sussex’s on-camera portion was recorded in early January, before England (and his new LA home) were put on lockdown.

The 75th anniversary 22-minute special also features Rosamund Pike as the new Royal Engine character, Duchess of Loughborough.

Netflix just picked up the streaming/broadcast rights for Mattel’s Thomas & Friends series in the US earlier this year, with plans to air season 23 and 24 this year, as well as related specials, such as this one. Mattel just moved the series over from PBS to Nick Jr. two years ago and at the time Mattel and Nick also signed a deal for Nickelodeon to act as brand’s exclusive US licensing agent, now the CP rights are back with Mattel.

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From Sky News:

Harry to introduce special royal episode of Thomas The Tank Engine featuring the Queen and Prince Charles

Thomas The Tank Engine is set to travel to London, with the important job of getting the Fat Controller to Buckingham Palace.

Thomas The Tank Engine is getting the royal treatment for his 75th birthday, with the Duke of Sussex providing a special introduction to a new episode featuring his granny the Queen and dad Prince Charles as a young boy.

The Royal Engine animated TV special will see Thomas travel to London for the first time to take Sir Topham Hatt - better known as the Fat Controller - to receive an honour for distinguished service to the railway at Buckingham Palace.

Hollywood star Rosamund Pike also guest stars as a new locomotive character, the Duchess of Loughborough, for the special 22-minute episode set to air in May.

Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales feature as characters in the show - with the young Prince Charles requesting Thomas's services personally.

Harry, who recorded his on-camera introduction in January, says he grew up with the famous anthropomorphised blue steam engine, who first appeared in books in 1945.

"Thomas the Tank Engine has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years - entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters," the Duke Of Sussex said.

"I certainly have fond memories of growing up with Thomas & Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures.

"I am very proud to have been asked to take part in this special episode.

"I wish Thomas & Friends a very happy anniversary."

Pike, best known for films including Gone Girl, Pride & Prejudice and A Private War, says it is "an absolute honour" to have the chance to appear in the show.

"I take it as a big responsibility to play Duchess, who is a lovely, warm, bubbly sort of effervescent engine that I am incredibly drawn to because she is very anxious to get things right," the star said.

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More Nick: Milkshake!, Nickelodeon UK Ramp Up Content Due to Coronavirus Pandemic!

Additional source: ABC 4.

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