Thomas first appeared in The Railway Series books by the Reverend W Awdry in 1945 and became widely known through the television series Thomas and Friends, which began in 1984. The cheerful engine from the Island of Sodor, with his blue paint and friendly whistle, became a staple of children's television around the world. Clips of his laugh have since circulated online as reaction sounds, shared in family edits and meme videos where a pure, innocent giggle fits better than an adult laugh track.