Warner Bros. Discovery is set to bring back the beloved character Barney the Purple Dinosaur in an exciting new CG-animated series titled Barney’s World! Scheduled to premiere in 2024, the show will be available on Max and Cartoon Network, promising a fresh set of adventures for Barney and his friends.
The revival series aims to reimagine the iconic character for modern audiences. It takes place in a local playground where Barney is joined by his dinosaur pals Billy and Baby Bop, as well as their three young human friends. In a joint statement, Warner Bros. Discovery and Mattel TV expressed their intention to modernize Barney’s World with dynamic characters, music-filled storylines, and an emphasis on themes like love, community, and encouragement. Through whimsical and imaginative adventures, Barney guides children in exploring important preschool emotions while teaching them how to love themselves and others.
Michael Ouweleen, the President of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Family, and Boomerang at Warner Bros. Discovery, praised Barney’s World as a perfect example of their commitment to delivering the best in animation. He believes the show will strike a nostalgic chord with today’s parents while introducing the iconic dinosaur to a new generation of preschoolers.
Fred Soulie, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mattel Television, acknowledged that many of today’s parents have fond memories of laughing, singing, and learning with Barney and his friends from the original series. Mattel is proud to partner with Warner Bros. Discovery to reimagine this beloved brand and bring a fresh and modern version of Barney to families worldwide.
For parents with young children, Barney’s return might mean that the lovable dinosaur will once again become a significant part of their lives. While some parents hold nostalgic memories of the original Barney series, others, like the author, may not share the same sentiment.
Barney’s World will be executive produced by Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan for Mattel Television, as well as Colin Bohm, Doug Murphy, and Pam Westman for Nelvana.
In addition to the animated series, Mattel has exciting plans to expand the Barney franchise into films, YouTube content, music, and a wide range of children’s products, including books and clothing. Furthermore, they are developing apparel and accessories for adult fans featuring the classic Barney character.
