Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!
Worth a closer look
Ages 4–6First shown 2021
All aboard the highly anticipated Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! The Island of Sodor is home to the biggest, silliest, most musical and toot-ally awesome-est adventures with your number one pal, Thomas the Tank Engine. With an amazing new animated look, Thomas is joined by a wonderful group of familiar friends, including Percy, Diesel, Gordon, Nia and Sir Topham Hatt. There are fresh faces too, like the island's finest fix-it crew, Carly the Crane and Sandy the Rail Speeder.
Our verdict
- Good influence 4/5
- Parent appeal 1/5
- Well made 2/5
Reviewers are divided on this reboot, offering high praise for its inclusive representation of neurodiversity and its gentle lessons on teamwork. However, the move toward a more juvenile, cartoonish style has been met with significant criticism regarding its repetitive scripts and lack of appeal for older viewers. While the show is seen as kind-hearted, many parents find the simplified storytelling and production values difficult to endure.
Why these scores
Good influence
Does it show behaviour you'd be happy to see copied?
4out of 5
Reviewers frequently praise the show for its focus on kindness and cooperation, with particular acclaim for the authentic and well-consulted portrayal of an autistic character. While most find the moral lessons about friendship and responsibility suitable for preschoolers, some commentary suggests the messages can be heavy-handed or delivered through blunt lecturing. There is some disagreement regarding the lead character, with some describing him as whiny and others seeing the engines as patient models of behaviour.
Parent appeal
Will you enjoy watching it with them?
1out of 5
Parents and older viewers consistently describe the series as a chore to watch, noting that the storytelling has been simplified to a degree that removes any appeal for adults. Discussions often highlight a lack of depth and a repetitive, formulaic approach that many find tedious or even unbearable to sit through alongside their children.
Well made
Are the writing, animation and sound made with care?
2out of 5
Opinions on the production quality are divided, with some reviewers appreciating the energetic and fluid 2D animation while many others critique it as looking cheap and generic compared to previous versions. The writing is a common point of criticism, often described as thin, repetitive, and reliant on cartoonish physics that abandon the franchise's traditional grounded feel.
Watch-outs
Overstimulating: not enough data
We haven't found enough independent sources to say yet.
Toy-led: not enough data
We haven't found enough independent sources to say yet.
Grating audio: not enough data
We haven't found enough independent sources to say yet.
Where to watch
Stream for free
- Not that we know of
Stream with a subscription
- Not that we know of
Rent or buy
- Not that we know of
DVD and Blu-ray
Last updated 11 October 2026.