Thomas the Tank Engine Goes Global For New Film: Slate, Daily Mail readers both triggered - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35976723[/url] [QUOTE]Thomas the Tank Engine is getting a multicultural makeover with the introduction of trains from around the world. Engines from India, Russia and China among others are being introduced in a new film The Great Race. The new engines are due to only feature in the film and won't be appearing in future TV episodes. The producer of the film has denied claims the filmmakers had bowed to political correctness. Ian McCue told the Telegraph: "The intention was to create this big global racing event and make it feel real. I would hope it will get youngsters asking about foreign countries." The Great Race is the eleventh animated feature film for Thomas and the new characters are likely increase interest from international markets. It is released worldwide from May 2016. In the Great Race Thomas competes against the new international engines at the Great Railway Show. The Flying Scotsman represents the UK, while Thomas competes to represent the island of Sodor where he lives.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/15ED2/production/_89101898_etienneoffrance-2.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]Max of S2D of France is based on the SNCF DC BB 9004, he is a fast electric locomotive who has been setting world speed records in his home country.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/10E0A/production/_89103196_ivanofrussia-2.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]Ivan of Russia is said to be a real comedian[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/EBAA/production/_89103306_vinnieofnorthamerica-1.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]Racing Vinnie of North America is big and strong but his competitive nature could be his downfall.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/03/30/can_mattel_bring_thomas_the_tank_engine_into_the_21st_century.html[/url] [QUOTE]Children’s love for Thomas the Tank Engine is an abiding source of bafflement and vexation for parents. The “useful” little blue train and his many locomotive pals have been criticized for being classist, sexist, racist, anti-environmentalist, brainwashing, and boring. But none of that seems to bother our kids, who every year spend $1 billion of their parents' money on Thomas-branded toys and entertainment. Nevertheless, Mattel, which took over the franchise in 2013, appears to be aware of the shortcomings that are so obvious to parents. Mattel has realized that a fantasy island inhabited almost exclusively by white, male trains and steeped in the “yes, sir” culture of colonial times doesn’t pass muster in our moderately more enlightened age. It has decided to reimagine Sodor as a more inclusive place. Whether or not it has succeeded is questionable. As the New York Times reported, this year Mattel is expanding the line with 14 new friends for Thomas, many of which hail from non-Western countries and four of which are female. These characters will be sold as toys and appear in a movie called The Great Race, which will begin a staggered worldwide release in August. Vincent D’Alleva, who oversees the Thomas franchise for Mattel, told the Times that the movie was made with this summer’s Olympic Games in mind and that it will feature competitors from different countries coming together to “help [Thomas] understand that there is a bigger world out there.” Unfortunately, the characters Thomas will meet will largely be fashioned out of stereotypes.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2016/03/29/daily-mail-readers-lost-minds-multicultural-thomas-tank-engine-hilarious/[/url] [QUOTE]So the Daily Mail have run a story today about Thomas The Tank Engine going all “multicultural” and it’s hilarious – here’s their headline: But the fun bit is the reader’s reaction – they’ve lost their tiny minds in apoplexy that there could be trains of non-English origin in this show. Remember, this is fictional trains in a children’s TV show we’re talking about.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://www.thepoke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screen-Shot-2016-03-29-at-18.21.58.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thepoke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screen-Shot-2016-03-29-at-18.20.50.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thepoke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screen-Shot-2016-03-29-at-18.19.11.png[/IMG] Where's the Facepunch Thomas the Tank Engine expert at?

The french train has tits. Why do we have to sexualize trains.

I actually left out my favourite, Shane: [IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/4F6A/production/_89103302_shaneofaustralia-2.jpg[/IMG]

This is probably a by-product of Mattel not doing well financially and to make up for it going through their inbox of complaints from fans and observers alike and going "Fuck it, we're all in". This is the third brand I know of that is getting some kind of change internally to get more people to purchase the products. I know there was an article in the Guardian I think that said Thomas & Friends needed to push more ethnic trains. [video=youtube;S_81CRQTKx0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_81CRQTKx0[/video] I'm more pissed that they are supposedly giving Thomas a streamlined make over for the film so that he can go faster. Whatever man, keep on keeping on. [QUOTE=TheFilmSlacker;50081153]Maybe I have a really bad memory, but I don't remember Thomas characters looking this ugly 20 years ago.[/QUOTE] It's all CGI now, no live action stuff.

is it racially diverse?

[quote]Max of S2D of France[/quote] :what:

I mean, to be fair for those complaining in the comment section, Reverend W Awdry, the original creator, strived to base his series after actual news stories based on British railway incidents (but with the engineers and conductors juxtaposed onto the engines themselves, of course) as he hated that most train books oriented toward children were not relatable to adults affiliated with that industry. He's probably rolling in his grave in that regard considering how the series was kind of bastardized in the name of money once he died.

[url]http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/22/thomas-the-tank-engine-children-parents[/url] This was the Guardian article, by the way. This was probably the point it should have shut down, nothing can ever top this [QUOTE]Inevitably, the trains get in a fight with or pick on one another (or generally mess up whatever job they are supposed to be doing) until Hatt has to scold one of them about being a "really useful engine", because their sole utility in life is their ability to satisfy his whims. Yeah, because I want to teach my kid to admire a controlling autocrat. But there was one particular episode that caused me to put the brakes on Thomas for good. It revolved around James, a red engine who is described in the opening credits as "vain but lots of fun." (Wait, it's OK to be vain if you can show others a good time occasionally? Great – that's going in my Parenting 101 book.) In the episode "Tickled Pink", poor vain James, is ordered by Topham Hat to get a new coat of paint. But while James has only had an undercoat of pink slathered on, Topham Hatt interrupts and demands that James go pick up Hatt's granddaughter and deliver her and her friends to a birthday party right now. James is mortified that he has to travel while pink and proceeds to hide from all the other trains along the way. When he's caught, the other trains – including Thomas – viciously laugh and mock him. "What are you doing James? You're a big pink steamie," says Diesel, the bad-boy engine. (For the record, all the "villains" on Thomas and Friends are the dirty diesel engines. I'd like to think there was a good environmental message in there, but when the good engines pump out white smoke and the bad engines pump out black smoke – and they are all pumping out smoke – it's not hard to make the leap into the race territory.)[/QUOTE]

How it this even a movie, like we all know what is going to happen, someone breaks down before the finish line and Thomas pushes them across the line. Of course, the train to break down will be a train from a less reliable country.

[QUOTE=Daemon White;50081200]:what:[/QUOTE] Yeah I lolled because I haven't any idea if that's referring to our MaxofS2D

[QUOTE=Kickin Balls;50081243]Yeah I lolled because I haven't any idea if that's referring to our MaxofS2D[/QUOTE] Of course it is, one look at the article shows that's not what any of the descriptions say. :v:

[QUOTE=FlashMarsh;50081230][url]http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/22/thomas-the-tank-engine-children-parents[/url] This was the Guardian article, by the way. This was probably the point it should have shut down, nothing can ever top this[/QUOTE] Eh wat I never made a racial comparison like ever (with the quote in your post) I just figured it's because the Diesels believed they were better than Steam trains so always bullied them? O.o If anything it told me that those who think they're better and punish others who they deem lower are nobs [editline]6th April 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=The Duke;50081254]Of course it is, one look at the article shows that's not what any of the descriptions say. :v:[/QUOTE] Oh right

Eh, I don't care. Thomas the Tank Engine died years ago.

[IMG]http://puu.sh/o8qP1/23a2f63e9d.jpg[/IMG] jesus

[Quote]Keep those bloody immigrants out of our railyards. #BritonsForBritain[/quote] That's the message I'm getting.

i miss thomas the tank engine when it was ringo starr narrating the story

To be fair, as an American lad I had no idea that the series was supposed to be British.

I've never been on a train in my life

[QUOTE=Pascall;50081434]I've never been on a train in my life[/QUOTE] it's like riding a plane but shittier

[QUOTE=salty peanut v2;50081536]it's like riding a plane but shittier[/QUOTE] Getting the chance to ride in one of those old passenger cars pulled by a locomotive (think Harry Potter Hogwarts Express) is actually a pretty baller experience.

[QUOTE=Grandzeit;50081146]The french train has tits. Why do we have to sexualize trains.[/QUOTE] I seriously thought the Indian one had tits that were painted on.

[QUOTE=Boilrig;50081233]How it this even a movie, like we all know what is going to happen, someone breaks down before the finish line and Thomas pushes them across the line. Of course, the train to break down will be a train from a less reliable country.[/QUOTE] Apart from that we have one of the worst rail systems out there.

[thumb] http://i.imgur.com/X5dOvM5.png [/thumb]

[QUOTE=salty peanut v2;50081536]it's like riding a plane but shittier[/QUOTE] but I loved riding the trains in Sweden. Was pretty damn nice every time paired with watching the scenery the trains in Florida on the other hand, are ok

[QUOTE=Corndog Ninja;50081369]To be fair, as an American lad I had no idea that the series was supposed to be British.[/QUOTE] Me neither, although now that I think of it, the red double-decker buses should have been a dead giveaway, but I wasn't thinking about that when I was a kid.

[QUOTE=salty peanut v2;50081536]it's like riding a plane but shittier[/QUOTE] It's better in every way than planes except speed, what are you talking about? Unless it's like a really shitty subway. Even then, you can stand up and walk around. Have you ever been on a plane in anything except First Class? I'd take trains every single time I could.

I stopped giving a shit for Thomas after the First Movie. I wonder if they are delaying that gritty Thomas Movie indefinably. [t]http://puu.sh/o8wL6/d0cc0318d7.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=Boilrig;50081233]How it this even a movie, like we all know what is going to happen, someone breaks down before the finish line and Thomas pushes them across the line. Of course, the train to break down will be a train from a less reliable country.[/QUOTE] So it's Disney's Cars but with trains. [editline]6th April 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Axsisel;50081668][thumb] http://i.imgur.com/X5dOvM5.png [/thumb][/QUOTE] Trump becomes fat Monopoly man once elected. Of course.

My inner child in me just said "this looks shitty!"

Is it ever explained why suddenly the train engines became sentient and fully aware or one day it simply happened and they decided to roll with it? I like to think that Thomas the Tank Engine happens in some kind of Autobot vs Decepticon war and that after all the clusterfuck the few Autobots that decided to stay on Earth slowly turned into these trains.