If there's one thing guaranteed to get the internet riled up, it's the redesign of a beloved children's character. From Minnie Mouse to, er, the Green M&M, anthropomorphised objects and animals have been getting all sorts of tweaks lately – and not even Barney the Dinosaur is safe.
Mattel has revealed an updated look for a new, animated Barney – and everyone's favourite purple dinosaur has certainly had what one might call a "glow up". And that's exactly what's making some fans roar with anger. Maybe Mattel forgot to check out our roundup of the best character design tips.
The new Barney (Image credit: Mattel/Future)
"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,” Mattel announced. "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."
The old Barney (Image credit: Mattel)
While Barney was traditionally a costume worn by an actor (sorry if that secret's just ruined your childhood), Mattel has announced that a new CGI version will debut on "television, film, and YouTube" soon – presumably once he's managed to pay off what must be a hefty plastic surgery bill. (Insert 'dino-plasty' joke here.)
Gone are the character's signature chubby cheeks, whiter are his teeth, smaller is his nose, and there's even evidence of an eyebrow lift. And as you might expect, the whole thing is proving positively blasphemous on Twitter.
They gave Barney contacts, a nose job and bigger veneers. Sad. pic.twitter.com/D2aWosH8AZFebruary 14, 2023
They redesigned Barney and I kinda hate it pic.twitter.com/Yr00J5KZzWFebruary 15, 2023
noo what happened to my Barney what have u done to him 😭-- pic.twitter.com/jWOSopnvnuFebruary 16, 2023
Of course, many of the responses are light-hearted – while it's a little jarring to see a beloved childhood get such a radical makeover, I'd say the designers have done a pretty good job modernising what was essentially a pretty shonky, chonky costume. At least with those new eyes, Barney looks somewhat awake.
Still, this one's definitely up there with Ms Pac-Man, the Green M&M and Minnie Mouse when it comes to controversial character redesigns – but hey, at least we're scrutinising the appearance of a male character this time around.
Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter
Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.
Daniel John is Design Editor at Creative Bloq. He reports on the worlds of design, branding and lifestyle tech, and has covered several industry events including Milan Design Week, OFFF Barcelona and Adobe Max in Los Angeles.
