Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go season 26 has dropped a fun new trailer that welcomes the franchise's first autistic character, Bruno the Brake Car. Produced by Mattel, the animated series premiered on Cartoon Network in 2021 as a partial continuation and reinvention of the Thomas & Friends franchise, which had been on the air since 1984. Thomas the tank engine is the star as always, but he is always surrounded by his loyal crew: Gordon the tender engine, Percy the saddle tank engine, Kana the bullet train, Nia the African tank engine, and much more.
Bruno is the most recent friend being added to the bunch, and special attention was paid to crafting his role in the series. Given that Thomas & Friends is a show designed for the entertainment and education of children, it's only natural that Mattel sought out experts who would help provide the tiny train car with authenticity. For this reason, Bruno was developed in collaboration with the Autism Self Advocacy Network and Easterseals Southern California, as well as respected writers and figures with autism. In addition, he is voiced by a young actor with autism, Elliot Garcia.
Check out the 30-second teaser below, which promises adventures, friendship, and puns as it heralds the return of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go on September 12:
As evidenced by the Thomas & Friends trailer, Bruno loves a good pun and is full of joy. He carries heavy cargo and keeps it steady with strong brakes, providing a different perspective from the one his friends share thanks to his reverse position at the end of the train. Bruno is a fan of details, schedules, and routines—and fellow train cars will never get lost with him around because he knows Sodor's tracks like the back of his imaginary hand.
Find some first-look photos at the new season of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, including Bruno's interactions with the cast, as well:
As part of Mattel's commitment to accurately representing autism in a fictional world, many aspects of Bruno's character are signifiers meant to help children understand how to recognize their friends' behaviors and engage with them. For example, the stairs and lantern on Bruno's exterior move to the beat of his emotional state, whether he is excited or scared. By watching him build positive relationships in Thomas & Friends, audiences will be encouraged to keep their minds and hearts open to the diversity of thought that exists around them.
Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go season 26 premieres on September 12 at 8:30 am ET/PT on Cartoonito, which is part of Cartoon Network.
Source: Mattel