Thomas and Friends television show has charmed children around the world for decades.
According to online news reports, the British Tv series was based on The Railway Series books by Reverend W. Awdry, who would tell fascinating stories of tank engines to his young son Christopher. The pair bonded over their love for trains and railways, and through this, the timeless series was born.
In a bid to diversify on-screen representation, the producer of the show introduced an autistic character – nine-year-old Elliott Garcia with Autism, who voiced Bruno the Brake Car.
The Brake car described as “joyful and pun-making” expresses his feelings when he’s overwhelmed, stressed, or excited by “flapping his ladders” and has a lantern to signal his emotional state.
The move by Mattel’s hope was to introduce the show’s audience to “a positive, neurodivergent role model.”
The American organization said it worked closely with writers, spokespeople, and experts, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, to create an accurate representation of autism.
Director of advocacy for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network Zoe Gross said “Autistic people have been involved in all aspects of creating Bruno, from us as consultants to writers on the show and Bruno’s voice actor — this makes Bruno ring true as an autistic character,” she explained. “I hope that Bruno will provide viewers with meaningful examples of inclusion in everyday life.”
SOURCE: CNN