The famous purple dinosaur will hit screens in 2024 with a brand-new preschool animated series; full range of toys, books, clothing, and other merchandise, including stuff for adult fans, is on the way.
The famed purple dinosaur is back! Mattel has just announced a relaunch of the iconic Barney franchise that will span television, film, and YouTube content as well as music and a full range of kids’ products including toys, books, clothing, and more. Apparel and accessories for adult fans, featuring classic Barney, are also in development.
But wait... there’s more! This relaunch includes a brand-new animated preschool series, set to debut globally in 2024. The show will feature the famed purple dinosaur and friends, and according to Mattel, will introduce “new audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love, community, and encouragement.” Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana is producing, with Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan executive producing for Mattel Television and Colin Bohm and Pam Westman for Nelvana.
Mattel’s Barney relaunch is another example of the company’s strategy to mine the depth and breadth of its IP portfolio to relaunch legacy franchises. Most recently, Mattel successfully brought back its Monster High property and relaunched its popular 1980s Masters of the Universe franchise, both with new content and consumer products programs.
“Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,” said Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer and Global Head of Consumer Products at Mattel. “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 experiences.”
“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,” said Soulie, SVP and General Manager of Mattel Television. “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.”
Source: Mattel
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
