New York
CNN
—
Barney is again, and whereas Mattel has not but formally confirmed it, we’re guessing he nonetheless loves you.
Toy big Mattel
(MAT) introduced Monday that Barney, the pleasant (and, let’s be trustworthy, cringe-worthy to a big group of Millennials who watched him as pre-schoolers, and to their mother and father) purple dinosaur is making a triumphant return to TVs and toy cabinets subsequent 12 months. Due to the swap from live-action to animation, he’s now additionally obtained nice large eyes.
The “Barney & Associates” present, that includes the titular violet-hued T-Rex, aired on PBS in america from 1992 till 2010. Mattel stated Monday that the brand new present, in contrast to the unique, shall be animated. So no beleaguered actor dressed up in a dinosaur costume marching round and singing to younger youngsters.
A spokesperson for Mattel advised CNN that it has no particular information to announce but about whether or not the relaunched Barney shall be on PBS, however added that the corporate has “confirmed streaming and broadcast companions that we’ll be saying later within the 12 months.” PBS was not instantly obtainable for remark.
Mattel did say that the brand new franchise will embody TV, movie and Alphabet
(GOOGL)-owned YouTube content material in addition to music and an unlimited array of merchandising, together with toys (in fact), clothes and books. The corporate’s Mattel Studios unit is working with Nelvana, a studio owned by Canadian media firm Corus Leisure
(CJREF), to co-produce the brand new sequence.
“In creating the brand new sequence, it was essential to us that we correctly replicate the world that youngsters at this time dwell in in order that the sequence can ship significant classes about navigating it,” stated Fred Soulie, common supervisor of Mattel Tv, within the information launch.
“With our trendy tackle Barney, we hope to encourage the subsequent era to hear, care, and dream large,” Soulie added.
Mattel’s tv unit, which has additionally just lately introduced again its Monster Excessive and Masters of the Universe franchises, is hoping to money in as soon as once more on younger and middle-aged adults yearning for the days of their childhood.
So for anybody who grew up on the unique Barney present and truly would admit to having fun with him and associates like BJ the yellow protoceratops and Child Bop the inexperienced triceratops, Mattel is hoping they’ll wish to purchase old skool Barney toys and swag.
The corporate stated in its information launch that “attire and equipment for grownup followers, that includes basic Barney, are additionally in growth.”
“We are going to faucet into the nostalgia of the generations who grew up with Barney, now mother and father themselves, and introduce the enduring purple dinosaur to a brand new era of children and households around the globe throughout content material,” stated Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer and international head of client merchandise at Mattel, within the launch.
Mattel may use some extra large hit toys. The corporate introduced disappointing earnings and gross sales for the vacations in addition to a sluggish outlook final week and its inventory plunged greater than 10% on the information. Rival Hasbro
(HAS) has additionally been harm by weak demand for toys.
