Mattel is putting a fresh spin on the Barney franchise. The toy company is planning to revitalize the famous purple dinosaur with a new presence across television, film, YouTube, and kids' products such as toys, books, and clothes.
The company said the Barney relaunch is the latest example of Mattel mining "the incredible depth and breadth of its IP portfolio to relaunch heritage franchises. The Masters of the Universe franchise, popular in the 1980s, recently got a similar treatment.
While Barney will be updated for a new generation of kids, Mattel is also catering to older fans with a line of adult products that feature the classic version of the character.
“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," said Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer at Mattel, in a press release.
The relaunch will kick off with a new animated series set to air 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 Fred Soulie, SVP and general manager of Mattel Television.
“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.”
CEOs of social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and more meet with lawmakers Wednesday about how they are protecting children from sexual exploitation.
San Francisco 49ers president Al Guido discusses what goes into preparing for Super Bowl LVIII, building a championship-ready team, and how Taylor Swift and streaming are both bringing new fans to the NFL.
A $1 billion loss from a six-week strike did not crash GM's net income last year, which instead rose 12% — and the automaker expects improvement in 2024, too.
Accrue CEO and founder Michael Hershfield explains why Americans' credit card delinquencies are on the rise, advice on what can help, and the key difference between Boomers and Gen Z when it comes to money.
Senior Economist at Morning Consult Kayla Bruun shares thoughts on what to expect from the Fed's January meeting and where monetary policy is headed, as well as how consumers are faring.
Former Medtronic CEO and author of 'True North' Bill George explains the steps Boeing leadership must take to regain client and consumer trust after 737 Max 9 production was stopped.
Amazon blamed "regulatory hurdles" for calling off its proposed acquisition of robot vacuum maker iRobot. Not even a Roomba could clean up the deal's antitrust scrutiny.
To celebrate Flutter Entertainment's debut on the NYSE, FanDuel CEO Amy Howe shares her thoughts on the company's plans for growth, the future of online sportsbetting, and Super Bowl Sunday.
Investopedia's Caleb Silver shares thoughts on the upcoming Fed meeting, why individual investors are still slightly skeptical, and what he's looking for from mega cap tech earnings.