Press release
All Aboard for 80 Years: Thomas & Friends Marks Milestone with Never-Before-Seen Pilot Episode and Charity Auction
The iconic train franchise releases a never-before-seen pilot episode voiced by legendary musician Ringo Starr The brand continues celebrations with
About this update from Mattel, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nThe iconic train franchise releases a never-before-seen pilot episode voiced by legendary musician Ringo Starr\n\n\nThe brand continues celebrations with charitable auction including signed items from Olivia Colman, Eddie Redmayne & Hugh Bonneville, benefiting The National Autistic Society in the U.K.\n\n\nNew podcast episodes centered around key themes from Thomas & Friends’ 80-year history featuring special guests including the Awdry family\n\n\n EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nThomas & Friends, the beloved children’s franchise that has captured hearts for generations, announced today its kickoff to celebrate the 80th anniversary and to honor over eight decades of timeless stories about friendship, adventure and teamwork. Since its debut in 1945, the Thomas & Friends show has delighted audiences worldwide and today the brand is unveiling unreleased footage, a new podcast series and offering fans a chance to own historic memorabilia to commemorate the brand’s legacy and rich heritage.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250509865224/en/Thomas & Friends, the beloved children’s franchise that has captured hearts for generations, announced today its kickoff to celebrate the 80th anniversary and to honor over eight decades of timeless stories about friendship, adventure and teamwork.\nFor the first time ever, Mattel is releasing the original, never-before-seen 1983 pilot episode of the classic model series, Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, on YouTube. By meticulously piecing together 40-year-old 35mm film trims, the Thomas & Friends content team has taken footage from the first test shoot to rebuild and digitize both the picture and sound to give fans a brand new look at the episode that started it all. Mike O’Donnell, the 1984-2003 series composer, also created a new bespoke music arrangement for this special episode. The episode features the classic model trains and the never-before-heard voiceover by legendary musician, Ringo Starr. Starr was the first of many notable storytellers to join the show, paving the way for future celebrity narrators.\n\n“For 80 years, the Thomas & Friends brand has brought joy to generations, sharing timeless stories and valuable life lessons,” said Roberto Stanichi, executive vice president, Hot Wheels and Global He...