| Based On: | |
| Director: | Adrian Thatcher |
| Open Theme: | "Barney's World Main Title Theme", written by Ryan McLarnon & Robert Melamed |
| End Theme: | "I Love You (I Love Me Too)", arranged by Joseph K. Phillips with additional arrangement by Caleigh Barker |
| Composer: | Nate Kreiswirth (score) |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 10 |
| Runtime: | 11 minutes |
| Network: | Max |
| Last Aired: | present |
Barney's World is a 2024 animated television series that premiered on Max on October 14, 2024.[1] Produced by Mattel Television and Corus Entertainment's Nelvana, the series serves as a relaunch to the Barney franchise, which spawned its first television series Barney & Friends which was based on its predecessor Barney & the Backyard Gang. Unlike the previous two series, which were live-action, this show is presented in CGI. This series is aimed at children from ages two to six.[2]
Set in a local playground, the show is centered around dinos Barney, Billy (formerly BJ), and Baby Bop, and their three kid best friends. Throughout silly and imaginative adventures together, Barney helps kids explore big preschool emotions and shows them how to love themselves and others. The series highlights themes of love, community, and encouragement.[3]
During Mattel's 2021 Virtual Analyst Day Presentation, Barney was included to be a "new series in development" by Mattel Television.[5] On February 13, 2023, Mattel announced that it would relaunch the Barney franchise with an animated series set to debut in 2024. Announced to be a collaboration between Mattel Television and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan for Mattel Television and Colin Bohm, Doug Murphy and Pam Westman for Nelvana were revealed to be the show's executive producers. The relaunch is set to introduce audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love, community, and encouragement.[6]
The title of the series, Barney's World, was officially revealed on May 9, 2023. On September 4, 2024, it was announced that Michelle Mendelovitz and Josh Silverman would executive produce the series on behalf of Mattel and while Doug Murphy and Pam Westman remained as executive producers on behalf of Nelvana, Athena Georgaklis and Mellany Welsh were also added on behalf of the latter company.[7]
Upon the initial announcement, Mattel confirmed that the relaunch will be available for streaming, and broadcast partners were to be announced later in 2023.[8] On May 9, 2023, it was officially revealed that the series would air on Cartoonito and stream on Max.[9] Executive Producer Pam Westman confirmed that the series would air on the Treehouse TV network in Canada,[10] with it later being announced by Corus Entertainment, parent of Nelvana, on June 5, 2024 that the series was set to debut on the network.[11] During Mattel's 2024 Virtual Analyst Day Presentation, Chief Brand Officer Lisa McKnight mentioned that the series is set to debut in late-Fall 2024.
In August 2024, footage of the series was leaked online before an exact release date was announced and before footage was officially unveiled.[12] Victoria Ramirez, a director of global marketing and music distribution for Mattel Television, publicly confirmed on August 28, 2024 (via Instagram) that the series is set to launch in October 2024 (before retracting her public comment and reducing its privacy). On September 4, 2024 it was officially announced that the series is set to premiere on October 14, 2024 on Max followed by a linear premiere on Cartoon Network’s Cartoonito block starting October 18, 2024. "Select" episodes of Barney's World will also be available on YouTube, where the series premiere will stream early on October 11, 2024 in specific countries. Barney's World will also launch on Cartoonito in EMEA and APAC regions, and Discovery Kids in LATAM.[13] In Canada, Barney's World will also premiere on October 14, 2024 on Treehouse and will be available to stream on STACKTV.[14] Footage of the series was officially unveiled on September 4, 2024 via a trailer and character introductions of Barney, Baby Bop and Billy.
Upon the initial announcement of the animated series, the initial first look at the redesigned Barney drew controversies.[15] [16] [17] Notable criticisms came from David Joyner, the original body of Barney on Barney & Friends,[18] Jessica Zucha,[19] who portrayed Tina on Barney & the Backyard Gang and Barney & Friends, and Dianna De La Garza, the mother of Demi Lovato, who portrayed Angela on Barney & Friends, with the latter two disapproving the change.[20]
The series received generally positive reviews.