Thomas, The friendly and helpful Tank Engine from Mattel’s classic Thomas & Friends turns 75, and Netflix has planned a Thomas & Friends special episode to celebrate the occasion. One of the many people across the globe that has grown up watching the beloved Tank engine and its antics on screen is Prince Harry. Hence, it is befitting that Prince Harry give the intro for the Thomas The Tank Engine special episode.
Prince Harry introduces an episode called ‘Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine,’ which shows Thomas the Engine visiting London for the first time. It shows Thomas taking Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of the railway, to Buckingham Palace to receive an honor. The episode also features Harry’s father and grandmother, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II, as animated characters, with Prince Charles as a little boy.
Prince Harry introduces the story while sitting in an armchair and reading from a book about the train’s adventures.
Rosamund Pike, star of ‘Gone Girl’, has also voiced a character for the special episode, a new locomotive character called the Duchess of Loughborough.
Said Prince Harry on the friendly engine, “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. I certainly have fond memories of growing up with Thomas & Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures.
Thomas and all his train friends were created by Rev. Wilbert Awdry as a bedtime story to cheer up his measles-afflicted son. He went on to publish the stories in a series of books for kids, called ‘The Railway Series’ then, the first book of which was published 75 years ago.
Thomas and Friends later transformed into an animated series in 1984, which quickly became a favourite with kids of all ages. A CGI version of the cartoons was introduced in 2009. The animated series is aired in more than 160 countries worldwide. Netflix bought streaming rights of Thomas and Friends for the U.S. last year. The brand is owned by Mattel.
Prince Harry was apparently fond of Thomas the Engine in his growing up years. His bag, when he attended his first day at nursery school, was a Thomas the Tank Engine bag, as can be seen from pictures and videos of the time.
The 22-minute special episode will air on Netflix on 1st May in the U.S.
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