Thomas The Tank Engine Has New, Diverse Friends And The Internet Is Livid

The pursuit for diversity on our television and movie screens is an honourable one, though there will seemingly always be peeps who aren’t entirely on board.

And yet, whouldathunk Thomas the Tank Engine would be the latest battleground between those seeking equality and those wanting to uphold the status quo?

(Yes, the kids’ show about the trains.)

Earlier this week, the New York Times revealed that Thomas was set to be joined by some international faces for a new movie called The Great Race. (It’s a theatrical release in Britain, but the rest of the world will get it direct-to-DVD.)

His 14 new friends include Raul of Brazil, Yong Bao of China and Carlos of Mexico. (Only four of the new additions are female, like Ashima of India.)

The new trains mark Mattel’s latest attempt at expanding the brand’s lily-white cast of characters, in an effort to appeal to burgeoning international markets, such as China.

It’s a tricky terrain. As social justice and pop culture researcher Tracy Van Slyke told The Telegraph, “I applaud the idea, but am concerned about execution.”

“There is a danger in reducing very complex countries and peoples to singular characteristics," she added."

"If the trains are only defined by cultural stereotypes, the result will be a calculated, and destructive, nod to diversity and inclusivity.”

A fair point, and hopefully one Mattel is considering in their execution.

But no, that’s not the complaint some Britons have with the more inclusive cast of characters.

The Independent has hilariously and depressingly compiled some common complaints from Daily Mail readers, who are predictably unimpressed by the move.

Here’s an idea of what’s going down over there.

And so forth.

Twitter is similarly a vitriol- and typo-laden minefield right now.

@bnp Thomas the politically correct tank engine...Britain's gone mad trying to please one all...loosing our identity bit by bit...

— Denise (@LittleMissFoxyy) March 29, 2016

Anyway, this has been another day on the Internet.

Photo: Mattel.