Mattel, Inc. today announced an all-new animated adventure is hitting the tracks in Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain, which will make its global streaming premiere on Netflix on Saturday, April 1. The special have its broadcast debut on Canada’s Treehouse TV on Sunday, April 2 (6:30 p.m. ET) and in the U.S. on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network on Monday, April 3 (7:30 a.m. ET).
Tied to Autism Acceptance Month in April, the movie is the first Thomas & Friends special to feature Bruno the Brake Car, the franchise’s newest friend, an autistic character who was introduced to fans in September 2022 as part of the popular Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go series.
“We are excited to bring the fun and excitement of Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain to fans, as the special marks Bruno’s first appearance in a Thomas & Friends movie,” said executive producer Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Mattel Television. “By further acquainting audiences with the pun-loving red brake car, we hope the special will make a positive impact on children and parents during Autism Acceptance Month.”
The Mystery of Lookout Mountain takes Thomas and his friends on a journey to uncover the truth behind a years-long mystery of missing cargo cars deep within the mysterious Lookout Mountain. In this outing, Thomas, Bruno and the rest of the gang journey under waterfalls into unknown tunnels and through the Crystal Caverns in a quest to find the truth, ultimately coming face-to-face with a mythical Mine Monster.
The animated special is co-produced by Mattel Television and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, and executive produced by Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan for Mattel Television and by Colin Bohm, Doug Murphy and Pam Westman for Nelvana.
“It’s been full steam ahead ever since we partnered with Mattel to produce the reimagined 2D animated Thomas & Friends series, and we’ve received spectacular feedback on the fun storylines and physical comedy,” said Pam Westman, President at Nelvana. “Bruno the Brake Car is such an important character, and we’re proud of the warm reception he has received. This special allows us to emphasize the significance of this loving character, not only within this franchise but throughout children’s programming globally.”
