IT’S been beloved by children since 1984. And now classic TV series “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends” is set for a revamp, with 14 new engines introduced to give the show a multicultural edge.

    The new characters will come from all over the world, including China and Brazil, and will be introduced to fans in a film called “The Great Race,” which will be released this year.

    The story sees plucky underdog Thomas in a bid to join the Great Railway Show and compete against the world’s best locomotives.

    Vincent D’Alleva, who oversees “Thomas & Friends” for Mattel, said the movie was made with this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in mind. “This story is a way to help him understand that there is a bigger world out there,” said D’Alleva.

    Four of Thomas’s new companions will be female. They include Ashima of India, a female companion who is described as “fearless” and “happy to help out.” Mattel was at pains to state that she would not be a romantic love-interest for Thomas as a love-plot wouldn’t suit their demographic audience.

    Other characters introduced will include Raul from Brazil, who is described as “feisty, strong and agile,” and Yong Bao from China, who is “driven to achieve and make progress,” as well as Carlos from Mexico.

    The characters are a far cry from the original set who made up “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends” back in 1984. They included Thomas, Henry, Gordon and James and the first female to enter the set, Emily, didn’t make her first appearance until the early 1990s, although Thomas’ two compartments Annie and Clarabel are both women.

    The character of Thomas was created in 1946 by Reverend Wilbert Audry, and these additional characters mark a significant change in the 70-year-old franchise. The franchise is one of the biggest of all time, and is adored by both children and adults.

    Yet, not everyone is celebrating the news. Tracy Van Slyke, a researcher in social justice and pop culture, told The Telegraph that she was concerned about the execution of multiculturalism in the show. “There is a danger in reducing very complex countries and peoples to singular characteristics,” she said. “If the trains are only defined by cultural stereotypes, the result will be a calculated, and destructive, nod to diversity and inclusivity.”

    Mattel has been looking to expand the reach of the program since it purchased its rights in 2012.(SD-Agencies)