Barney is known to many as the all singing, all dancing dinosaur pal of their childhood, a huggable T-Rex who just wants kids to enjoy their early years with a smile on their face.
But a Peacock documentary that aired at the end of last year - I Love You, You Hate Me - showed there was a ‘dark side’ to the world of Barney and co, exploring how ‘Barney-bashing to frat parties to homicidal video games’ saw a ‘furious backlash’ to the beloved purple T-Rex, who became the victim of widespread, heavy mockery.
Bob West, who voiced the dinosaur between 1992 and 2000, said his family received ‘violent and explicit’ death threats, while Barney and Friends creator Sheryl Leach had her world ‘devastated’ when the character she lovingly dreamt up started being targeted in song parodies and comedy routines.
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After premiering in 1992, the original show ran until 2010 – becoming known for its catchy closing song ‘I Love You’.
Reruns have since aired on Sprout and its successor network Universal Kids, while a revival was announced in 2015 ahead of a planned launch in 2017, only to be delayed.
However, Barney’s now back.
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Yep, Mattel has announced it will be relaunching the franchise, with a press release saying a new 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’.
Alongside TV, there will also be new film and YouTube content, alongside books, toys and more, while Mattel announced it would even be developing a line of apparel and accessories featuring the original Barney for adult fans.
Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer and Global Head of Consumer Products at Mattel, said: “Barney's message of love and kindness has stood the test of time.
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“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.”
Fred Soulie, SVP and General Manager of Mattel Television, added: “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.”
Topics: TV and Film
Jess Hardiman