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Story

Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie is the latest in the series of movies based on the books by the Rev. W. Awdry. Thomas (voice of John Hasler) is tired of being teased for being too small. He’s also tired of his menial job. One day he nearly gets hit by a racing car called Ace (Peter Andre), who challenges Thomas to a race. Thomas admires Ace, who is reckless and carefree. Ace tells Thomas he should join him on the rally trail, which will take him all over the world. Thomas longs to do this and asks for permission from Sir Topham Hat (Keith Wickham). Sir Topham believes it will be impossible, but agrees. Thomas takes this a yes, and sets off across the world.

Thomas lands in Senegal in Africa and soon learns that Ace isn’t a reliable friend. His journey continues, and in Kenya he meets Nia (Yvonne Grundy). She helps him take some coffee trucks to Dar es Salaam. Together they travel over five continents, where they have many adventures and get into some dangerous situations. Along the way, Thomas learns some valuable life lessons. He realises that it’s more important to have good friends who can help you than it is to be a ‘free spirit’ with no care or thought for others.

Themes

Travel and adventure

Violence

Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie has some violence and accidental harm. For example:

  • Thomas accidentally crashes into another carriage.
  • Ace, the racing car, drives recklessly and often crashes into objects. He rolls at one point and lands on his roof.
  • An African elephant charges at Thomas, but the carriages all start to sing. This pacifies the elephant.
  • Thomas crashes through a closed exit in a tunnel and derails the train.

Sexual references

None

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

None

Nudity and sexual activity

None

Product placement

There’s no product placement of concern in Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie, but plenty of merchandise associated with the Thomas & Friends franchise is marketed to children.

Coarse language

None

Ideas to discuss with your children

Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie is a travel adventure movie made for young children. Thomas and Nia go to many exotic destinations including Senegal, Dar es Salaam, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco and the Rainbow Mountains in China. This shows young viewers diverse cultures and geographic locations.

There are some scary and tense moments in this movie, so we recommend parental guidance for young children.

The main messages from Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie are about the importance of being a good friend, being useful and keeping your promises. The movie suggests that these qualities are better than being free and not caring about others. Another main message is that everyone needs help sometimes.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include:

  • friendship and teamwork
  • diversity and inclusion
  • kindness and care for others.

You could also talk with your children about how reckless driving will often result in someone getting hurt. Even though car racing can sometimes look cool and heroic, it should happen on racing tracks not roads.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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