Thomas & Friends has sparked the imagination of young children for generations. The enduring and classic animated series is based on the much-loved books by Reverend W. Awdry, who created Thomas the Tank Engine to entertain his young son, Christopher, when he was in bed with the measles. The series features Thomas, a true blue engine friend who proudly wears the "Number 1" on his side, and a cast of track stars, including James, Percy, Emily, Henry and Gordon, as well as Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway, who keeps everything running smoothly. Thomas' world is a place with a strong community spirit, typified by a universal willingness to embrace good manners and hard work, and a desire to be "really useful."