Mattel, Inc. on Monday announced its planned relaunch of the iconic purple dinosaur franchise.
The toy company’s revitalization of the Barney brand will span TV, film and YouTube videos alongside music and toys, according to a release from Mattel.
‘Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,’ Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer and global head of consumer products at Mattel said.
‘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.’
News of the relaunch comes five months after Peacock released I Love You, You Hate Me, a docu-series exploring the ‘dark side’ of the world of Barney.
‘Much like the original program, ‘the series will feature the ubiquitous purple dinosaur and friends, introducing new audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love, community, and encouragement,’ according to the release.
Mattel is also developing a line of apparel and accessories of the original Barney for adult fans. In addition, a new animated series for preschool children is slated to debut globally in 2024, per DailyMail.
Fred Soulie, SVP and General Manager of Mattel Television, said: ‘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.’
Created by Sheryl Leach, Barney & Friends originally debuted in 1992 and revolved around the purple dinosaur and his group of friends. It also helped launch the career of a young Selena Gomez, who appeared on the show.
I love you, you love me! The original series ran from 1992 to 2010 and saw Barney play games and problem solve with his friends.
