By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
To celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the globally beloved "Thomas the Tank Engine," an unprecedented collaboration with the United Nations has resulted in a brand-new movie: *Thomas & Friends: Go Go Thomas Around the World!* For the first time ever, Thomas will leave the Island of Sodor and embark on a journey across five continents—including Africa, South America, Central America, North America, and China—set to be released on August 17th.
Thomas the Tank Engine climbs dangerous snowy mountains, even getting frost on his wheels. (Photo / Gaea Entertainment, the same below)
Ace, a mischievous little race car from Australia, passes through the Island of Sodor while competing in a world tour. Hearing about Ace’s global adventures, Thomas—who has never left Sodor before—decides to go on his very first worldwide journey. He will cross deserts, jungles, and treacherous mountains, traveling through Africa, South America, Central America, North America, and Asia, experiencing breathtaking landscapes and diverse cultures. Along the way, he befriends Nia, a female train from Kenya in Africa, and together they set off on their adventure.
*Thomas & Friends: Go Go Thomas Around the World!* features desert scenery.
The production team revealed that the idea for the global journey actually came from a young fan. Producer Ian McCue had compiled a survey of Thomas fans from around the world, in which one little boy said, “Trains go all over the world, but Thomas has never been anywhere.” After hearing this, Ian revisited the original "Railway Series" stories developed by Reverend Wilbert Awdry and the first *Thomas the Tank Engine* book, realizing that Thomas had always wanted to leave the station and see the world. Ian joked, “It was probably a VISA or passport issue that held him back for 73 years—we’ve finally made his dream come true!”
Thomas the Tank Engine races alongside giraffes in Africa.
Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Global Communications and partner of this project, also admitted that Thomas will lead preschoolers around the world on a grand adventure, using animated storytelling to help children develop broader minds from a young age.
Thomas the Tank Engine braves the rain while crossing a mysterious jungle.
In response to the current push for gender equality education, *Thomas & Friends: Go Go Thomas Around the World!* introduces a new female character, Nia from Kenya in Africa, who becomes Thomas’s friend and joins him on adventures around the globe.
*Thomas & Friends: Go Go Thomas Around the World!* will feature new animals and local cultures.
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