Release OrderRecommended
0 / 12 watchedSeries grouped by era with the major specials placed in premiere order. Release order is the story order.
Classic series
- 1 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends: Series 1 to 5 Model animation years, 1984 to 1998, narrated first by Ringo Starr.
Films and specials
- 2 Thomas and the Magic Railroad Theatrical film linking Shining Time Station to Sodor.
- 4 Hero of the Rails First full-CGI special; a full voice cast replaces single-narrator storytelling.
- 6 The Adventure Begins 70th-anniversary retelling of Thomas's arrival on Sodor; a fine entry point.
- 7 Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure Pirate-ship fantasy introducing the engine Ryan.
- 8 The Great Race The Great Railway Show brings engines from around the world to Sodor.
- 9 Journey Beyond Sodor Thomas ventures to the mainland and meets the experimental engines.
HIT era
- 3 Thomas & Friends: Series 6 to 12 2002 to 2008; longer episodes and new characters under HIT Entertainment.
CGI era
- 5 Thomas & Friends: Series 13 to 21 2010 to 2017, animated by Nitrogen Studios and later Arc Productions.
Big World era
- 10 Big World! Big Adventures! Rebrand launch film; Thomas travels the world with Nia joining the cast.
- 11 Thomas & Friends: Series 22 to 24 2018 to January 2021; the final run of the original continuity.
Reboot
- 12 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 2D-animated reboot with a new look; released through 2025.
Starter Order
0 / 3 watchedShort on time? One retelling, the classic years and one modern film cover Sodor.
- 1 The Adventure Begins Retells how Thomas came to Sodor.
- 2 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends: Series 1 to 5 The classic model years.
- 3 Big World! Big Adventures! A taste of the modern era.
About Thomas the Tank Engine
The model-animated series began on ITV in October 1984 and ran 24 series to January 2021, switching to full CGI in 2009 with feature specials landing most years. Mattel's 2D reboot All Engines Go ran from 2021, and the new series Railway Stories launches in fall 2026.
Good to know
The smaller yearly specials not listed here are standalone and slot into release order between the series blocks. Mattel announced Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories on September 17, 2026 for a fall 2026 launch starting with the Really Helpful Engines special, and a hybrid live-action film directed by Marc Forster is listed as in development.
