Well it’s official, children’s television icon Barney has a brand new look, and a new forthcoming animated series. The original, as you may remember, was live-action, with the titular dinosaur portrayed in a suit by actor David Joyner. While OG fans aren’t sure what to think of the new animated character design, Mattel TV’s reintroduction of this nostalgia-infused purple dinosaur via a slate of planned programming certainly makes sense.
Originally airing on PBS from 1992-2010, with reruns appearing on Sprout and, later, Universal Kids, Barney and Friends was such a successful, long-running series that rumors and forays into its relaunch have been numerous. Daniel Kaluuya and his production company, 59%, were attached to a film adaptation as late as this summer. In any case, risk-averse children’s programming execs may be wise to bring back a familiar character.
Per Variety, the simply-titled Barney reboot is to release on Mattel sometime in 2024, with an animated series that “promise[s] to reintroduce the famously friendly purple dinosaur to a new generation of preschool kids with lessons on ‘love, community, and encouragement’ told through music-filled adventures.” The series will be produced by Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, a Canadian animation studio also responsible for Esme & Roy, an acclaimed series aimed at preschoolers by the makers of Sesame Street which HBO Max removed from its streaming service, to the disappointment of littles and their parents, back in August.
With plans to expand the Barney storyline into a feature film, online content, and plenty of merchandise, there’s no telling how the world will receive the return of this singing T. Rex. One thing is certain though, the responses surrounding the announcement couldn’t be more mixed.
You can always count on the denizens of the internet to rip The Godfather for this timeless, awe-inspiring meme.
Highkey, we agree. Why not try and bring a little more wholesomeness back into the world? Sure it’s not a giant purple costume, but in this day and age — an animated Barney makes a lot more sense.
The children who grew up watching Barney & Friends are old enough to be parents themselves, and for those of us old enough to remember when the show was still airing — that’s a wild thought. The reception to the new-look Barney remains divided on aesthetics, to say the least, but the creators behind the show believe that folks of all ages will come to accept their rebrand. In the cutting documentary I Love You, You Hate Me, Mattel Television’s Fred Soulie discussed how Barney can find his place amongst contemporary audiences.
“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.”