Thomas & Friends (formally Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends) is a
British television series created by Britt Allcroft, based on The Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher. It first premiered in 9th
October 1984 in the United Kingdom, and started with the American spin-off series Shining
Time Station in the United States.
The series follows the adventures of Thomas, a human-like tank engine, on the North Western Railway where he works with his friends: Gordon, James,
Edward, and Percy. Thomas often gets into trouble by jobs best left to bigger and more sensible engines, but never gives up on being a “Really Useful Engine!”.
The cartoon is currently produced by
HiT/Mattel Television, having acquired Gullane Entertainment in July 2002.