Fans of the classic British TV show Thomas the Tank Engine have been given their first taste of the show's new multicultural locomotive team and fresh female characters.
Re-named Thomas And Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! the series, which began this week in Australia, sees the lead character leave the fictional Island of Sodor and travel to China, India and Australia.
It marks the first collaboration between a children's TV programme and the United Nations to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, including a bid to achieve gender equality.
Instead of the Fat Controller, the new series will introduce fans to female Indian railway conductor Charubala.
Other new female characters will include Isla the Australian flying doctor plane, Hong-Mei the Chinese tank engine and Noor Jehan the Indian royal express engine.
Charubala a new character in charge of this railway Source: Sky News
The show's producers have described them as "strong girl characters".
The new-look show has provoked a range of reactions on social media. While many disagreed with it being such a dramatic rebrand in its 73rd year, others supported the move.
Isla the Australian flying doctor plane Source: thomasandfriends.com
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Tweet about Thomas and friends big world big adventures Source: Twitter
Thomas the Tank Engine is broadcast in more than 100 countries and adapted into 40 languages.
