Thomas & Friends Tops U.K. Kids Licensing for 9th Year

Animated series Thomas & Friends has retained its crown as the top license for preschoolers in the United Kingdom for the ninth year in a row, according to a report from NPD. The property also is the top preschool property in the United States, Germany and Australia.

The report pegged the property’s market share in the U.K. at almost 9 percent, while Golden Bear’s Talking Thomas toy was among the top 20 licensed products for December 2008.

Additionally, the Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery DVD was one of the British Video Assn.’s 20 best-selling titles of 2008. The property was further voted favorite TV character in a Times of London online poll.