Mattel made an announcement on Monday that they will be relaunching the franchise built around everybody’s favorite purple dinosaur, Barney. The reboot will feature a preschool animated series debuting in 2024. The relaunch also may include possible films and YouTube content. “Apparel and accessories for adult fans, featuring classic Barney, are also in development,” Mattel added.
The new Barney programming will build on the long running Barney & Friends that debuted natonally on PBS in 1992 and ran for 18 years. Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer and global head of consumer products at Mattel stated, “Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time, We will tap into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now parents themselves, and introduce the iconic purple dinosaur to a new generation of kids and families around the world across content, products, and experience.”
Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana banner is producing the animated series, while Mattel Television’s Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan will executive produce along with Colin Bohm and Pam Westman of Nelvana.
Soulie, senior vp and general manager of Mattel Television stated, “In creating the new series, it was important to us that we properly reflect the world that kids today live in so that the series can deliver meaningful lessons about navigating it, With our modern take on Barney, we hope to inspire the next generation to listen, care, and dream big. We think that parents, many of whom will fondly remember the original Barney from their own childhoods, will love the show, too.”
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