Meet the Characters!, also known as Meet Thomas' Friends, is a series of promotional videos that tie into Big World! Big Adventures! and the twenty-second series. The videos are narrated by John Hasler and Joseph May as Thomas in their respective dubs and focus on a specific character, their personality, and country of origin, with some specific scenes using specially-shot footage if there is no such footage in the archives. They are available as DVD extras and uploaded to the official Thomas and Friends YouTube channels for both the UK and US. The characters being focused on are either new characters from Big World! Big Adventures! and the twenty-second series or returnees from The Great Race. The first video was released on 24 August 2018.
In 2019, a second set of these videos was produced for further new characters and returning characters from The Great Race in the twenty-third series. The roster includes new and returning characters from Italy and Brazil, as well as the Sodor Construction Company members in CGI.
A third set of these videos was released in 2020, featuring new character Duchess from Thomas and the Royal Engine, plus others from Marvellous Machinery and the twenty-fourth series. The Marvellous Machinery videos mainly focus on what makes the featured characters technologically advanced and drop descriptions of their personalities. Dominique Moore also co-hosts the Marvellous Machinery videos as Ruth.
Trivia
- In 2020, the UK versions of the videos were shown in between programmes on Milkshake!
2018
Meet Ace of Australia!
Description
Meet Ace, a super cool super fast racing car from Australia! The video was released on 24 August 2018 in the UK and 13 September 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Ace
- Flying Scotsman (cameo)
- Nia (cameo)
- Sidney (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
- Ace's Driver (cameo)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- Mauritania
- Brazil
- Australia (mentioned)
Episodes
Trivia
- The events of Big World! Big Adventures! are mentioned in this video.
Video
Meet Nia of Kenya!
Description
Meet Nia, a steam engine Thomas met on his big world adventure! The video was released on 31 August 2018 in the UK and 8 September 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Nia
- Gordon (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Porter (cameo)
- Rebecca (cameo)
- Salty (cameo)
- Cranky (cameo)
- Carly (cameo)
- Big Mickey (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- The events of Big World! Big Adventures! are mentioned in this video.
- The sequence of Nia arranging the trucks at Brendam Docks was reused in the twenty-second series episode, Counting on Nia.
Goofs
- In the "scrapbook" scenes, the flag of South Africa is used instead of the flag of Kenya.
Video
Meet Beau of America!
Description
Meet Beau, a really cool mining engine that works in the wild west! The video was released on 7 September 2018 in the UK and 4 October 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Beau
- Ace (cameo)
- Cowboys and Cowgirls (cameos)
Locations
- United States
- Island of Sodor (mentioned)
Episodes
Goofs
- When Beau rotates around, his leading pony truck does not move and faces the same direction throughout as Beau spins.
Video
Meet Hong-Mei of China!
Description
Meet Hong Mei, a blue tank engine just like Thomas! The video was released on 14 September 2018 in the UK and 27 September 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Hong-Mei
- An An and Yin-Long
- Yong Bao (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Video
Meet Yong-Bao of China!
Description
Meet the beautiful and majestic Yong Bao from China! The video was released on 20 September 2018 in the US and 2 November 2018 in the UK.
Characters
- Thomas
- Yong Bao
- James (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Rajiv (cameo)
- Carlos (cameo)
- Shane (cameo)
- Ivan (cameo)
- Lei (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- The events of The Great Race are mentioned in this video.
Video
Meet Noor Jehan of India!
Description
Noor Jehan is so elegant and glamorous. The video was released on 21 September 2018 in the UK and 29 November 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Rajiv
- Noor Jehan (does not speak)
Episodes
Locations
- India
- Indian Railway Shunting Yard
- Varkala Railway Station (yard only)
Trivia
- This is the first video where the main subject of the video does not speak.
Video
Meet Rajiv of India!
Description
Meet Rajiv - the most glamorous steam engine on the railway! The video was released on 28 September 2018 in the UK and 22 November 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Rajiv
- Ashima (cameo)
- Noor Jehan (cameo)
- Charubala (cameo)
- The Indian Actor (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- The events of The Great Race are mentioned in this video.
Video
Meet Shane of Australia!
Description
Shane is a large and powerful steam engine. The video was released on 5 October 2018 in the UK and 25 October 2018 in the US.
Characters
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- Tim Bain voiced Shane in this video as opposed to Shane Jacobson who usually voiced him.
Video
Meet Rebecca of England!
Description
Meet Rebecca, a steam engine who has recently come to work on the Island of Sodor! The video was released on 12 October 2018 in the UK and 18 October 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Rebecca
- Marion
- Gordon (does not speak)
- James (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Nia (cameo)
- Winston (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt (cameo)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Episodes
Video
Meet Shankar of India!
Description
Meet Shankar, a hardworking diesel engine from the Indian railway! The video was released on 19 October 2018 in the UK and 6 December 2018 in the US.
Characters
- Thomas
- Shankar
- Tiger Hunters (do not speak)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- The events of Tiger Trouble are mentioned in this video.
Goofs
- In the UK narration, the music at the start of the video is distorted.
Video
Meet Tamika of Australia!
Description
Meet Tamika, a historic steam engine from Australia! The video was released on 26 October 2018 in the UK and 13 December 2018 in the US.
Characters
Locations
Episodes
Video
Meet Isla of Australia!
Description
Isla is from Australia, just like Shane. She is brave and flies. The video was released on 1 November 2018 in the US and 9 November 2018 in the UK.
Characters
- Thomas
- Aubrey and Aiden
- Isla
- Dr. Claire (not named; does not speak)
- Shane (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Video
Meet Ashima of India!
Description
Meet Ashima, a friend of Thomas from India. The video was released in the US on 25 June 2019.
Characters
- Thomas
- Ashima
- Rajiv (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
- The Indian Breakdown Cranes (cameos)
Locations
Episodes
Video
2019
Meet Lorenzo and Beppe of Italy!
Description
Lorenzo is a vintage locomotive. He was once a fast and impulsive engine, but in a bid for notoriety and desperate to find treasure, he would rush into archaeological digs without taking the time to understand his surroundings - which led to him being trapped in a disused dig... until Thomas rescues him!
He loves the sound of his own voice and being the center of attention, especially while singing operatic ditties with his small coach, Beppe. Whilst his speaking voice may be deep, Lorenzo has a classical tenor singing voice.
Beppe is Lorenzo's small coach - he loves to sensationalise situations and idolises Lorenzo. Beppe and Lorenzo are like an operatic double act and often break out into song. Beppe sings the bass notes to Lorenzo's tenor voice. The video was released in the UK on 23 July 2019.
Characters
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- This is the first short to introduce two characters at the same time (Lorenzo and Beppe).
- As of this short:
- A snippet of Set Friendship in Motion plays at the start of each video.
- Throughout each video, an instrumental of The Journey Never Ends plays.
Video
Meet Gina of Italy!
Description
Gina is an enthusiastic and passionate engine who loves her homeland of Italy. She's a loyal friend to Thomas but can get a little disgruntled with him when he makes silly remarks about her beloved country's history. The video was released in the UK on 12 July 2019.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gina
- Beppe (cameo)
- Jack (cameo)
- Alfie (cameo)
- Oliver (cameo)
- Max and Monty (cameos)
- Brenda (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Video
Meet Stefano of Italy!
Description
Stefano is a huge amphibious vehicle who can transport engines and other vehicles around the world. He is a bit of a showboat and loves to wow people with his amphibious ability, and revels in their surprise. He is a confident performer and raconteur who likes to tell stories and sees himself as a boat of the world. Stefano can be quite charming and gentle and is not really as full of himself as his pompous manner might suggest. There is a genuine warmth to his larger-than-life, friendly personality, and he truly cares about others. The video was released in the UK on 28 July 2019.
Characters
Locations
Episodes
Video
Meet the Sodor Construction Company!
Description
TBA
Characters
- Thomas
- Jack
- Alfie
- Oliver
- Max and Monty
- Brenda
- Darcy
- Nia (cameo)
- Jenny Packard (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- This is the only Digs and Discoveries themed video not to have a snippet of The Journey Never Ends, possibly due to it taking place on Sodor.
Goofs
- In the turntable view of Max and Monty, Monty has the number 15 instead of 16.
Meet Raul of Brazil!
Description
TBA
Characters
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- This is the last video to focus on a returnee from The Great Race.
Video
Meet Gabriela and Cassia of Brazil!
Description
TBA
Characters
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- Despite being created to promote the twenty-third series, this short also features some footage from the twenty-fourth series.
Meet Ester of Italy!
Description
TBA
Characters
- Thomas
- Gina
- Ester
- Jack (does not speak)
- Alfie (cameo)
- Oliver (cameo)
- Max and Monty (cameos)
- Brenda (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Video
Meet Gustavo of Brazil!
Description
TBA
Characters
Locations
- Brazil
- Island of Sodor (mentioned)
Episodes
Trivia
- Despite being created to promote the twenty-third series, this short also features some footage from the twenty-fourth series.
Goofs
- In some shots, Gustavo's name and number are displayed backwards due to the clip being mirrored.
Video
Meet Emerson and Fernando of Brazil!
Description
TBA
Characters
- Thomas
- Fernando
- Emerson
- Raul (does not speak)
- Gabriela (cameo)
- Marcia and Marcio (cameos)
- Cassia (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- Although created for the twenty-third series, this short did not release until 12 May 2023, by which point Big World! Big Adventures! had long since been superseded by Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.
- Additionally, the English dub of this short has never been released, as it only aired in Poland.
- Despite being created to promote the twenty-third series, this short also features some footage from the twenty-fourth series.
2020
Meet Duchess of England!
Description
TBA
Characters
- Thomas
- Duchess (does not speak)
- Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
- Elizabeth II (does not speak)
- Connor (cameo)
- A Mainland Diesel (cameo)
- Prince Charles (cameo)
Locations
Episodes
Trivia
- The drawing of Duchess seen at the beginning and end of the short is drawn in the style of the Rev W. Awdry's early Railway Series drawings.
- The UK DVD release displays The Royal Engine DVD logo in the first and second shots. In the US release, The Royal Engine logo is displayed when Thomas says the name in the fifth shot.
- Various pieces of edited stock footage are used:
- The first and second shots are edited stock footage from the twenty-fourth series episode, Emily to the Rescue with Duchess replacing Gordon.
- The third, fourth and fifth shots are edited stock footage from the twenty-third series episode, Chucklesome Trucks with Duchess replacing Rebecca and her coaches replacing the trucks.
Video
Meet Ruth of America!
Description
TBA
Characters
- Thomas
- Ruth
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Toby (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Nia (cameo)
- Sonny (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Darcy (cameo)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- United States (mentioned)
Episodes
- First Day on Sodor!
- Emily's Best Friend
- A New Arrival
- Sonny's Second Chance
- The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge
Trivia
- This is the first Meet the Characters! video to focus on a human character.
- Orthographics of Metal Man, the Blastbooster-7 and the windmill at Ruth's Workshop appear in the background.
- Unlike the shorts before it, this video is styled as a brief interview.
- Rather than an engine, the rotating orthographic sequence instead features The Walking Bridge and The Road Plane.
Video
Meet Kenji of Japan!
Description
TBA
Characters
Locations
Trivia
- This is the first Meet the Characters! video not to use any stock footage.
- A modified version of the Cherry Blossom Runby in China, with added catenary, is used to represent Japan.
Video
Meet Sonny of England!
Description
TBA
Characters
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Trivia
- A side orthographic of Sonny appears in the background.
Video
Meet Marcio and Marcia of Brazil!
Description
TBA
Characters
- Thomas
- Ruth
- Marcia and Marcio (do not speak)
Locations
Trivia
- Despite not appearing in A New Arrival or World of Tomorrow, the video treats Marcia and Marcio as Marvellous Machinery characters, therefore having Ruth describe how they make steam rather than having Thomas describe their personalities.
Goofs
Video
Meet Cleo of Sodor!
Description
TBA
Characters
Locations
Goofs
- Cleo's hydraulic turntable rod is not rendered properly and, as a result, appears as untextured.
Video
