New Thomas makes stops in Europe

Thomas and Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! was unveiled at MipJunior last year

MIPCOM: Broadcasters around Europe have acquired the latest version of preschool animated series Thomas & Friends from toy giant Mattel.

Cartoonito in Italy, Minimini in Poland, RTL Telekids in the Netherlands, VTM Kzoom in Belgium, AMC Minimax in Eastern Europe, Hop! In Israel and Channel One in Russia will air Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! (26×11′).

Corus Entertainment’s Treehouse Network in Canada has also picked up the show, following in the footsteps of ABC in Australia, Televisa in Mexico, TV Cultura in Brazil and Super RTL in Germany, which acquired the series earlier this year.

The latest version of the long-running children’s franchise was unveiled at MipJunior last year, with Mattel moving to make the show, now in its 22nd season, more gender-balanced and international.

It now features three girl and three boy engines alongside Thomas, who explores new cultures as he leaves the island of Sodor for the first time to visit countries including China, India and Australia. It launched on Nick Jr in the US and on Channel 5’s Milkshake! block in September.

Thomas the Tank Engine was created more than 70 years ago and is now watched in more than 160 territories, in 50-plus languages and with more than 1.16 billion views on YouTube.