The dinosaur will star in a new animated series by Sheryl Leach to premiere in 2024.
Barney & Friends, a 1992 show, features the title character Barney, a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who has a friendly, huggable and optimistic personality. Barney conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines. For many, the show and its reruns were an integral part of childhood. Parents praised it for being a wholesome yet engaging show for kids that delves into fun kid-friendly topics. The character soon became hugely popular.
However, the dino received a good amount of backlash as well. There was even an anti-Barney phenomenon on which the 2022 Peacock documentary I Love You, You Hate Me was based. The popular purple dinosaur will star in a reimagined animated series created by Sheryl Leach that will premiere in 2024. This time, Barney has gotten a CGI makeover and it is facing scrutiny across social media, after Mattel, Inc unveiled it.
Mattel announces the relaunch of the Barney franchise with an updated look of the dinosaur. pic.twitter.com/Yup6ilLHsl
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 13, 2023
Many people are perplexed by the purple dinosaur's new appearance, which includes a wider grin, teeth gap and green eyes, and are wondering why the company chose to fix something that was not broken. Mattel is also creating a line of original Barney apparel and accessories for adult fans. In addition, a new animated preschool series is set to premiere globally in 2024, reported Daily Mail. However, it is not difficult to understand why it could be hard for many to accept the new look. This is how millennials chose to respond to Barney's makeover on Twitter:
We went from
— O’Shea Jack(Nichol)son (@OsheaJacksonJr) February 13, 2023
“Hey little mama I’m Bernard.”
To
“Hello boys and girls I’m Barney”
And now we at
“Hi I’m Barry!” pic.twitter.com/cForyKQd6Y
What I don’t like about the new Barney design is that his eyes remind me too much of the original Sonic movie design. pic.twitter.com/4Iy7UXVKun
— Alberto Herrera (@Alberto9Herrera) February 13, 2023
Barney got the buccal fat removal pic.twitter.com/eS8rveyuiX
— Taietsarón:sere (@tai_leclaire) February 13, 2023
They gave Barney contacts, a nose job and bigger veneers. Sad. pic.twitter.com/D2aWosH8AZ
— Veronica McDonald🗣 (@Purify_toast17) February 14, 2023
Worst part of new barney's design is that his eyes are fully open. Barney needs his friendly sleepy eyes. pic.twitter.com/1naqdkP9f6
— 🍄 𝕄𝔸𝔻𝕊 𝔾 🍄 (@MadyGComics) February 14, 2023
Maybe it's because I'm use to the OG Barney I grew up with during the '90s, but this new Barney looks like they gave him a face lift and some botox. pic.twitter.com/ltwIleBlSt
— Mat Brunet (AniMat) (@AniMat505) February 13, 2023
The Barney reboot didn’t need to go this hard pic.twitter.com/dz8mI5I7wC
— Ryan James Dee (@RyanJamesDee) February 13, 2023
They’re ruined my bro Barney.
— δяеш (@awndrezawndrez) February 13, 2023
Reject modernity and embrace tradition. pic.twitter.com/AXeFYooqzF
i feel like the overall design works really well
— The Furry Behind the Slaughter - Bruce “Scarface” (@SusJokesAreGood) February 13, 2023
it doesn’t look or feel like an “oversimplification” of Barney, just a visual update.
however, i do think the eyes and the fact it’s CGI now will take a while to get used to.
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