Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends - TV-Y
Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this is generally a male-centric series, though a few females do make appearances. Otherwise, the dramatic action told through the voice of a single narrator will compel the youngest viewer, without over-stimulating the young child's sensitive field of perception.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Joly Herman
On the fictional Island of Sodor, Thomas the Steam Engine and his other engine friends are kept busy porting loads of steel, food, and passenger cars to meet the demands of their human counterparts. Model engines with expressive faces are the media with which this tale is told, creating a fascinating fictional world that many young viewers will enjoy. By staying true to the single voice narration, the storybook aspect of this series has been well maintained.
THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS was conceived by a young British boy early in the 20th century, who listened to the trains as they chuffed through the countryside. The stories he told his son -- who has consequently passed them on to his son -- have been documented in books and toy train models. Since the series was introduced to television viewers in the 1980's, Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends has seen a healthy fan base sprout worldwide. Parents can be assured that this series has educational aspects as well as behavioral modeling. Some of the expressions on the train's faces can be a tiny bit creepy, but the intention behind the animation is pure and good, as follows the tradition of a well-told story.
Kids who enjoy this show may also want to check other 3-D machinery cartoons like Bob the Builder and Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks.
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LanguageKids will be exposed to vocabulary words such as "reliable," "determined," and "useful." |
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Social BehaviorThough Thomas and his friends sometimes feel "cross" with one another, they rely on one another for help and support. |
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