Thomas the Tank Engine is getting a new Aussie mate and a whole raft of new international pals in his new direct-to-DVD film The Great Race.
Joining Thomas will be Shane, the Aussie 520 train (based on an engine that was designed and built in the great state of South Australia), as well as Ashima from India, Carlos from Mexico, Yong Bao of China, Raul of Brazil and enough other nationalities to basically build a train United Nations.
The new additions could pose some headaches for the film’s creators with some of the characters steering very close to cultural stereotyping, i.e Raul is described as ‘feisty, ‘strong’ and ‘agile’ while Yong Bao is ‘driven to achieve’ and ‘make progress’.
Thomas' new international squad. (ITV) Source: ITV
Ashima from India. (ITV) Source: ITV
In Australia’s case, if Shane’s name is anything to go by, he’ll be choofing ciggies, skulling tinnies and eating can after can of baked beans.
Like and Rove McManus before it, there’s precedent for a high profile voice to take on this coveted vocal role. Perhaps Our Warnie getting the call up to voice his namesake isn’t that far fetched? Or maybe they should take Shane in a completely different direction and get old mate Barry Humphries to front up with his best Dame Edna Everage, cover the train in sparkles and show the rest of the world how it’s done?
Shane, Shane, Shane. (Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
What ever happens with Shane, let’s just hope they get an actual Aussie to voice him and keep away from other cringe-y animated Australians (I’m looking at you The Simpsons).
Thomas & Friends' The Great Race is out later in 2016.
Never forget. (FOX) Source: FOX
