No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Cartoon Network/Max air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "I Love Me Too" | Gordon Crum | Jim Nolan | January 31, 2025(YouTube) | TBA | N/A | |
Barney and his friends go on an adventure through imagination to help Baby Bop get her glowing powers back. |
No. | Title [11] [10] | YouTube/Cartoon Network release date [11] [10] | Max release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Let's Meet BARNEY" "Barney's Intro" | September 4, 2024(YouTube) October 18, 2024(Cartoon Network) | TBA |
2 | "Let's Meet BABY BOP" "Baby Bop's Intro" | September 5, 2024(YouTube) November 1, 2024(Cartoon Network) | TBA |
3 | "Let's Meet BILLY" "Billy's Intro" | September 6, 2024(YouTube) October 25, 2024(Cartoon Network) | TBA |
4 | "Clean Up" "Meet Barney: Clean Up" | September 20, 2024(YouTube) September 30, 2024(Cartoon Network) | TBA |
5 | "Check in on Your Body" "Meet Barney: Check in on Your Body" | September 27, 2024(YouTube) October 1, 2024(Cartoon Network) | TBA |
6 | "Anger" "Meet Barney: Anger" | October 2, 2024(Cartoon Network) October 4, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
7 | "Sharing" "Meet Barney: Sharing" | October 3, 2024(Cartoon Network) October 25, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
8 | "Big Happy Feeling" "Meet Barney: Big Happy Feeling" | October 4, 2024(Cartoon Network) November 1, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
9 | "Make It Myself" "Meet Barney: Make It Myself" | October 7, 2024(Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
10 | "A Big Sad" "Meet Barney: A Big Sad" | October 8, 2024(Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
11 | "Little by Little" "Meet Barney: Little by Little" | October 9, 2024(Cartoon Network) November 22, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
12 | "That Dizzy Feeling" "Meet Barney: That Dizzy Feeling" | October 10, 2024(Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
13 | "Here If You Need Me" "Meet Barney: Here If You Need Me" | October 11, 2024(Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024(YouTube) | TBA |
Originally in October 2015, a revival of Barney & Friends was announced to premiere in 2017, but it did not come to fruition. [12] However, during Mattel's 2021 Virtual Analyst Day Presentation, Barney was included to be a "new series in development" by Mattel Television. [13] 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. [14]
The title of the series, Barney's World, was officially revealed on May 9, 2023. [5] 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. [15]
Upon the initial announcement, Mattel confirmed that the relaunch will be available for streaming, and broadcast partners were to be announced later in 2023. [16] On May 9, 2023, it was officially revealed that the series would air on Cartoonito and stream on Max. [17] Executive Producer Pam Westman confirmed that the series would air on the Treehouse TV network in Canada, [18] 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. [19] 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. [20] 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. [6] [21] In Canada, Barney's World will also premiere on October 14, 2024 on Treehouse and will be available to stream on STACKTV. [22] Footage of the series was officially unveiled on September 4, 2024 via a trailer and character introductions of Barney, Baby Bop and Billy.
A 23-minute special titled Barney's World: I Love Me Too premiered exclusively on YouTube on January 31, 2025. [7] [8]
Upon the initial announcement of the animated series, the initial first look at the redesigned Barney drew controversies. [23] [24] [25] Jessica Zucha, [26] who portrayed Tina on Barney & the Backyard Gang and the first 2 seasons of 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. [27]
The series received generally positive reviews.[ citation needed ]