Barney The Dinosaur Has A New Look It’s Freaking Out The Internet: ‘I’m Terrified’

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Mattel announced this week that after 30-plus years Barney the Dinosaur is getting a new look. Unfortunately for them, many people on the internet do not appear to be fans of it.

No longer will Barney be a person inside a giant purple dinosaur costume. Instead, he will be a CGI cartoon dinosaur that stars in a series of new animated shows set to debut in 2024.

“Mattel, Inc. announced today its relaunch of the iconic Barney franchise,” the company wrote in a press release. “Mattel’s comprehensive revitalization of the Barney brand will span television, film, and YouTube content as well as music and a full range of kids’ products including toys, books, clothing, and more.”

“Mattel will relaunch Barney to a new generation with a brand-new animated series, set to debut globally in 2024,” the press release continued. “Created for preschool kids, the series will feature the ubiquitous purple dinosaur and friends, introducing new audiences to the world of Barney through music-filled adventures centered on love, community, and encouragement.”

“Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time,” said Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer and Global Head of Consumer Products at Mattel. “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.”

“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.”

“I’m terrified after seeing what they did to Barney,” someone wrote on Twitter.

“Thank you, Mattel, for giving me nightmares with this horrifying-looking #Barney,” wrote another Twitter user.

“Worst part of new barney’s design is that his eyes are fully open. Barney needs his friendly sleepy eyes,” tweeted another.

“They gave Barney contacts, a nose job and bigger veneers. Sad,” another fan wrote.

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