Barney the purple dinosaur is bringing the I Love You track to an entire new era of children — whereas additionally hoping to capitalize on the nostalgia of older followers.
The toy firm Mattel introduced their plans to relaunch the Barney franchise on Monday. The announcement got here with a brand new picture of the anthropomorphized, lilac T-rex, who has been given a makeover from a real-life big mascot right into a wide-eyed, animated character.
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The relaunch kicks off with a brand-new animated collection, set to debut globally in 2024. Focused at pre-school aged kids, this system will take viewers on “music-filled adventures centred on love, group, and encouragement.” Corus Leisure’s Nelvana, a producer and distributor of youngsters’s content material, will co-produce the collection alongside Mattel.
Barney’s rebrand will lengthen past the brand new TV present. Mattel additionally introduced plans for Barney to star in movies and YouTube content material, launch music and promote child’s merchandise together with toys, books and clothes. Grownup followers, together with millennials who grew up with Barney (or no less than those who don’t discover the pleasant dinosaur cringe-worthy), will be capable of purchase merch too, as grownup attire and equipment are presently within the works.
“Barney’s message of affection and kindness has stood the check of time,” mentioned Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer and International Head of Client Merchandise at Mattel. “We are going to faucet into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now dad and mom themselves, and introduce the long-lasting purple dinosaur to a brand new era of children and households world wide throughout content material, merchandise, and experiences.”
The unique Barney and Mates TV present aired on PBS from 1992 to 2010. Mattel has but to announce the place the brand new Barney TV present might be broadcast.
Barney alongside BJ the yellow protoceratops and Child Bop the inexperienced triceratops in 1998’s ‘Barney’s Nice Journey.’.
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Barney’s revival just isn’t the one Mattel reboot hoping to capitalize on the nostalgia issue. The corporate just lately relaunched its Monster Excessive property and the favored Masters of the Universe franchise from the Eighties.
So, whether or not you’re keen on him or hate him, Barney nonetheless needs to be “a cheerful household.” Gained’t you say you’re keen on him too?
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