By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Mattel has announced plans to revitalize the Barney childrens’ franchise with a wide range of new content and licensed consumer products.
The Barney relaunch includes an updated animated series that will be co-produced by Nelvana Enterprises and Mattel Television.
Nelvana is an entertainment company that specializes in producing and distributing animated and live-action content for children. Nelvana Enterprises is a subsidiary of the Canadian mass-media company Corus Entertainment.
The new animated Barney series is scheduled to debut around the world in 2024.
“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 Mattel SVP, Fred Soulie. “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.”
In addition to the updated animated series, the relaunch of the Barney entertainment franchise will feature new films, music and YouTube-based content. Mattel plans to release a comprehensive collection of licensed childrens’ toys, books, clothing, accessories and more to support the franchise’s revitalization.
Additional apparel and accessories collections featuring classic Barney are also in development for the adult demographic.
“Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,” said Mattel’s Josh Silverman. “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.”
The relaunch of the Barney franchise is an example of Mattel’s corporate strategy to reintroduce its heritage franchises to modern audiences.
In 2022, Mattel brought back its Monster High property with an updated line of toys and entertainment content. The company also recently revitalized its Masters of the Universe franchise with new content and consumer products programs.