Gift article - no pay wall.


https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/arts ... =url-share


There's also a YouTube link


https://youtu.be/esi1J2Q_WVM?feature=shared


Brian Helfrich

It was interesting seeing it. There are some advantages it has over the final product (mainly the mine collapse)

Very recent developments make it seem that at least of couple of executives at Mattel have finally figured out that Thomas toy sales have fallen off a cliff "maybe" because they've been handling the IP improperly.

Mainly doing this release for free and announcing the sudden cancellation of that godawful cartoon version. Reportedly a "Reboot of the reboot of the reboot" for Thomas is in development to release sometime in 2026. Hopefully they have enough sense to at least go back to doing the CGI series and get some decent writers.

Or the simple fact that things eventually go out of style, no matter how popular they once were. Seen any Roy Rogers lunch boxes lately? How Davy Crocket Coonskin Caps?

Thomas enjoyed amazing popularity, but it does seem to be fading.

As one of the 90's kids hooked on trains by Thomas... I'm actually okay with that. I think the series does have enough appeal it will have hard-core fans for a few more decades, and places like the Talyllyn that had a real connection to the stories will be able to use that for their advantage or Bachmann can appeal to nostalgic model railroaders by releasing products aimed towards them. But the cheaper side of the franchise, the budget store toys, the bad spin-offs can fade away.

Like maybe they can do something with the series that will hook a new generation but if not, it had a good run. If I have kids someday I'd rather introduce them to the original books and the first four seasons of the TV show anyways, and both of those are complete stories that don't need to be reinvented.