W. Awdry since 1945, and the original broadcast of the television series in 1984 in the United Kingdom, large numbers of manufacturers have sought to produce Thomas-branded items after the television series was broadcast in the United States and Japan.
W. Awdry has been responsible for Thomas the Tank Engine since 1945, and following the TV series' initial broadcast in the UK in 1984, numerous companies have attempted to create Thomas-branded merchandise due to its widespread appeal in the US and Japan.