Thomas and Friends: what parents of kids 4–7 should know

• –Official rating above age 7
  Prime Video US: TV-Y; BBFC: U
• –Violence in rating descriptors
  No descriptors in TV-Y or BBFC U
• –Scary content in rating descriptors
  BBFC U: threat (not counted on U)
• –Bad language in rating descriptors
  No descriptors in TV-Y or BBFC U
• –Sexual content, drugs, or alcohol in rating descriptors
  No descriptors in TV-Y or BBFC U
• –Rated 12 or higher in the UK or Germany
  BBFC: U

Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count. Rating reasons marked mild, very mild, or brief don't count.

Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?

Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.

What is Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go?

Short answer: A 2D-animated reboot of Thomas & Friends from Mattel Television, made with Nelvana.

It premiered on Cartoonito in the US on September 13, 2021, per Toy Book, and on Netflix on October 29, 2021, per AWN. Thomas is the hero of each episode and "strives to be the Number One Tank Engine through trial and error," with themes like facing fears and not having to solve problems alone. The classic series, created by Britt Allcroft from the Railway Series books by Wilbert and Christopher Awdry, began in 1984, per Wikipedia.

Thomas and Friends: what's in it

Short answer: It's rated for all children in the US and the UK.

• US: TV-Y on Prime Video's US page.
• UK (BBFC): U; some releases list threat (very mild at U), others no material likely to offend or harm.
• Common Sense Media: 4+ for All Engines Go; 3+ for the classic series.

Common Sense Media lists "peril" such as trains tumbling off tracks and storms disrupting service. It notes train figures and play sets tied to the show, and no sex, language or drinking.

The habit kids may copy: Number One or nothing

Thomas wants to be the Number One Tank Engine and sometimes rushes to win. Kids may race to be first at everything.

Try tonight: the second try

Build a block track that falls apart on purpose, then rebuild it together. Say: "The first try fell down. Let's see what the second try teaches us." In our program, this is the lesson "Not Yet": the trying matters.

What age is Thomas and Friends for?

Common Sense Media lists All Engines Go for 4+ and the classic series for 3+. The reboot is TV-Y in the US.

Is Thomas and Friends on Netflix?

Netflix launched All Engines Go on October 29, 2021. Prime Video's US page rates it TV-Y.

What is the difference between Thomas & Friends and All Engines Go?

The classic series began in 1984; All Engines Go is Mattel's 2021 reboot in 2D animation, with Thomas as the hero of every episode.

Is Thomas and Friends scary?

The BBFC lists threat on some releases at U, and Common Sense Media mentions peril like trains tumbling off tracks.

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