# Barney's World

Barney's World is an animated television series that debuted on Max on October 14, 2024. It is for preschool children viewers. 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.

## Plot

Set in a local playground, the show is centered around dinos Barney, Billy, 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.

## Characters
### Dinosaurs

* Barney (voiced by Jonathan Langdon) a purple dinosaur who can do magic and he can glow.
* Baby Bop (voiced by Bryn McAuley) a green dinosaur who is smart, funny, and she can glow.
* Billy (voiced by Jonathan Tan) a yellow dinosaur.

### Humans
#### Children

* David (voiced by Jayd Deroché) is an African-American boy.
* Mel (voiced by Diana Tsoy) is an competitive Asian-American girl.
* Vivie (voiced by Ella Paciocco) is a cheerful, creative and artistic Caucasian blonde girl.
* Liam (voiced by Liam Quiring-Nkindi) is David's older brother.
* Lulu (voiced by TBA) is David's younger sister.

#### Adults

* Ms. Lewis (voiced by Lisa Michelle Cornelius) is David's mom.
* Grady (voiced by Eddie Glen)
* Nonna (voiced by Norma Dell'Agnese) is Vivie's grandmother.
* Luis (voiced by Alejandro Ampudia) is Mel's dad.
* Grace (voiced by Jean Yoon) is Mel's mom.

### Other

* Bartholomew Bookworm (voiced by Anthony Sardinha) is a library bookworm.
* Butterfly (voiced by Cory Doran) is a talking butterfly.
* Aster (voiced by Jonathan Tan) is a talking flower.
* Susan (voiced by Bryn McAuley) is a talking flower.
* Squirrel #1 (voiced by Ella Paciocco) is a talking squirrel.
* Pigeon (voiced by Diana Tsoy) is a talking pigeon.
* Squirrel #3 (voiced by Bryn McAuley) is a talking squirrel.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Cartoon Network air date | Prod. code | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "The Floor is Grape Jelly" | Adrian Thatcher | Laura Zak | October 14, 2024 (2024-10-14) | October 18, 2024 | 101 | N/A |
| David has to be called home early to help his baby sister, so Barney plays a game which helps David learn that helping others can be just as fun as the game. ||||||||
| 2 | "I Lovey You" | Adrian Thatcher | Jim Nolan | October 14, 2024 (2024-10-14) | October 18, 2024 | 102 | N/A |
| David is scared of the dark, so Barney becomes a glow-in-the-dark dinosaur to help David's fears. ||||||||
| 3 | "Mel's Greatest Treasure" | Adrian Thatcher | Nick Lopez | October 14, 2024 (2024-10-14) | October 25, 2024 | 103 | N/A |
| After a big mess in the park during a game, Mel learns to clean up and care for the environment. ||||||||
| 4 | "One Ripe Tomato" | Adrian Thatcher | Jehan Madhani | October 14, 2024 (2024-10-14) | October 25, 2024 | 104 | N/A |
| The kids disagree over a ripe tomato, so Barney teaches the kids about sharing. ||||||||
| 5 | "Barney's Big Race" | Adrian Thatcher | Laura Zak | October 14, 2024 (2024-10-14) | November 1, 2024 | 105 | N/A |
| Barney creates a Go-Kart race event for the kids, but Vivie keeps getting upset over losing the race. She later learns that everything it not always winning. ||||||||
| 6 | "The Brave Truth" | Adrian Thatcher | Noelle Wright | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) | November 1, 2024 | 106 | N/A |
| Barney encourages Vivie to tell the truth after she accidentally breaks Mel's new toy airplane. ||||||||
| 7 | "Red Light Stop Green Light Go" | Adrian Thatcher | Niki Lytton | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) | November 8, 2024 | 107 | N/A |
| Mel wants to do a scooter trick and can't stop, making her feel tired and pushing her body too far. Barney teachers her that she has to listen to what her body says. ||||||||
| 8 | "Big Bigger Best" | Adrian Thatcher | Scott Gray | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) | November 8, 2024 | 108 | N/A |
| David is sad that he is too small than his big brother, so Barney makes him bigger, but David feels he loves himself just the way he is. ||||||||
| 9 | "Practice Makes Purple" | Adrian Thatcher | Jim Nolan | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) | November 15, 2024 | 109 | N/A |
| Vivie tries soccer, but finds out she's not good at it. Barney later teaches Vivie that practice makes perfect. ||||||||
| 10 | "Team Mateys" | Adrian Thatcher | Laura Zak | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) | November 15, 2024 | 110 | N/A |
| During a game of pirates, Mel doesn't listen to her team mates, so Barney teaches her that listening to others is important, and that it makes a great team. ||||||||
| 11 | "Save the Garden" | Adrian Thatcher | Noelle Wright | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | January 17, 2025 | 111 | N/A |
| The kids play a fun game to save the community garden, and learn small things make big changes. ||||||||
| 12 | "Dances With Goblins" | Adrian Thatcher | Nick Lopez | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | January 17, 2025 | 112 | N/A |
| Barney has to play two games at once when the kids disagree, and he's having a hard time about switching back and forth. ||||||||
| 13 | "Missing Mel" | Adrian Thatcher | Scott Gray | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | January 24, 2025 | 113 | N/A |
| Vivie and David feel upset after Mel is away for a broken arm. Barney creates a fun game to help the kids feel better when Mel gets back. ||||||||
| 14 | "The Castaway Crew" | Adrian Thatcher | Jim Nolan | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | January 24, 2025 | 114 | N/A |
| Barney creates a game to help Mel embrace the abilities of her recently broken arm. ||||||||
| 15 | "Drawing Attention" | Adrian Thatcher | Jennifer Skelly | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | January 31, 2025 | 115 | N/A |
| Vivie fakes an injury after she feels ignored over her chalk drawing, so Barney teaches Vivie that she has to speak up for what she needs. ||||||||
| 16 | "Worth the Wait" | Adrian Thatcher | Nick Lopez | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | January 31, 2025 | 116 | N/A |
| Mel learns that some things take time because her healed arm doesn't work the way it should. ||||||||
| 17 | "The Big Spill" | Adrian Thatcher | Roxy Simons | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | February 7, 2025 | 117 | N/A |
| Vivie's painting gets ruined, so Barney creates a game to help her learn healthy ways and manage big feelings. ||||||||
| 18 | "Nature Chat" | Adrian Thatcher | Lexie Kahanovitz | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | February 7, 2025 | 118 | N/A |
| Mel learns to respect nature and take care of the environment thanks to Barney. ||||||||
| 19 | "The Great Grateful Scavenger Hunt" | Adrian Thatcher | Jim Nolan | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | February 14, 2025 | 119 | N/A |
| To help Mel focus on what she is grateful for, Barney creates a scavenger hunt. ||||||||
| 20 | "David the Hero" | Adrian Thatcher | Niki Lytton | January 13, 2025 (2025-1-13) | February 14, 2025 | 120 | N/A |
| David feels quiet playing superheroes, until Barney creates a superhero game, and David's quietness saves the day. ||||||||

## Special (2025)

| 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 (2025-1-31) (YouTube) | TBA | N/A |
| Barney and his friends go on an adventure through imagination to help Baby Bop get her glowing powers back. |||||||

## Shorts

| No. | Title | YouTube/Cartoon Network release date | Max release date |
| 1 | "Let's Meet BARNEY" "Barney's Intro" | September 4, 2024 (2024-09-04) (YouTube) October 18, 2024 (2024-10-18) (Cartoon Network) | TBA |
| 2 | "Let's Meet BABY BOP" "Baby Bop's Intro" | September 5, 2024 (2024-09-05) (YouTube) November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01) (Cartoon Network) | TBA |
| 3 | "Let's Meet BILLY" "Billy's Intro" | September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06) (YouTube) October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25) (Cartoon Network) | TBA |
| 4 | "Clean Up" "Meet Barney: Clean Up" | September 20, 2024 (2024-09-20) (YouTube) September 30, 2024 (2024-09-30) (Cartoon Network) | TBA |
| 5 | "Check in on Your Body" "Meet Barney: Check in on Your Body" | September 27, 2024 (2024-09-27) (YouTube) October 1, 2024 (2024-10-01) (Cartoon Network) | TBA |
| 6 | "Anger" "Meet Barney: Anger" | October 2, 2024 (2024-10-02) (Cartoon Network) October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 7 | "Sharing" "Meet Barney: Sharing" | October 3, 2024 (2024-10-03) (Cartoon Network) October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 8 | "Big Happy Feeling" "Meet Barney: Big Happy Feeling" | October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) (Cartoon Network) November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 9 | "Make It Myself" "Meet Barney: Make It Myself" | October 7, 2024 (2024-10-07) (Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024 (2024-11-07) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 10 | "A Big Sad" "Meet Barney: A Big Sad" | October 8, 2024 (2024-10-08) (Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024 (2024-11-07) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 11 | "Little by Little" "Meet Barney: Little by Little" | October 9, 2024 (2024-10-09) (Cartoon Network) November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 12 | "That Dizzy Feeling" "Meet Barney: That Dizzy Feeling" | October 10, 2024 (2024-10-10) (Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024 (2024-11-07) (YouTube) | TBA |
| 13 | "Here If You Need Me" "Meet Barney: Here If You Need Me" | October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11) (Cartoon Network) November 7, 2024 (2024-11-07) (YouTube) | TBA |

## Production
### Development

Originally in October 2015, a revival of Barney & Friends was announced to premiere in 2017, but it did not come to fruition. However, during Mattel's 2021 Virtual Analyst Day Presentation, Barney was included to be a "new series in development" by Mattel Television. 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.
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.

## Release

Upon the initial announcement, Mattel confirmed that the relaunch will be available for streaming, and broadcast partners were to be announced later in 2023. On May 9, 2023, it was officially revealed that the series would air on Cartoonito and stream on Max. Executive Producer Pam Westman confirmed that the series would air on the Treehouse TV network in Canada, 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. 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. 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. In Canada, Barney's World will also premiere on October 14, 2024 on Treehouse and will be available to stream on STACKTV. 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.

## Reception

Upon the initial announcement of the animated series, the initial first look at the redesigned Barney drew controversies. Jessica Zucha, 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.
The series received generally positive reviews.