( CNN ) -- Thomas the Tank Engine , whose television adventures on the fictional island of Sodor have delighted children around the world for years , is now on a real-life mission to help kids with autism . Thomas the Tank Engine is part of a new online game to help autistic children recognize different emotions . The steam locomotive and his friends are the stars of a new game in Australia , designed to help autistic children recognize emotions . Autism Spectrum Australia ( Aspect ) , a nonprofit that provides services to people diagnosed with the developmental disorder , unveiled the game on its Web site Tuesday . The game asks players to recognize which engine has a sad face , or which is happy or angry . Children with autism often have a difficult time distinguishing different facial expressions . Each time a child plays the game , he/she is presented with a different sequence of emotions . In doing so , the game takes advantage of the single-mindedness of autistic children to assist in their development . `` It 's a great way to help develop social and communication skills , '' said Anthony Warren of Aspect . A study conducted in the United Kingdom found that autistic children were far more fascinated by the television series , `` Thomas and Friends , '' than they were with other fictional characters . The study , by the National Autistic Society , summarized that the show held such appeal because of the clear facial expressions of the characters , the pacing of the program and the easy-to-follow story lines . `` We got those results down here , and we thought , how could we leverage that strength and give a little back to the community ? '' said Tom Punch with Haven Licensing , the company that handles licensing for the characters in Australia . Warren said one of the reasons Thomas is particularly stimulating and motivating for children with autism is that it 's very predictable . `` Children can understand the clear visual messages -- the big smile on the front of the engine , '' he said . `` The messages it communicates are very concrete , not abstract . And the emotions are primary emotions . It 's uncomplicated . '' Autism is a developmental disorder that affects physical , social and language skills . It usually appears before age 3 , though the earliest signs are subtle . More doctors and researchers are referring to `` autism '' as `` autisms , '' because each child 's case is different , as are the causes , helpful therapies and potential treatments . The Australian nonprofit unveiled the game this month to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in that country . After all , as the show 's theme song attests : `` Red and green and brown and blue ; They 're the really useful crew . ''
Online learning uses Thomas the Tank Engine to help autistic children . Children try to recognize which engine has happy , sad , angry characters . Autistic children often have trouble recognizing different facial expressions . UK study : More autistic kids identify with ` ` Thomas '' than other fictional engines .