What’s old tends to become new again after a certain amount of time. And with millennials having young kids , now is the perfect time to bring back the childhood favorites of a few decades ago. Time and time again, characters and mascots from shows that were popular in the 80s and 90s are brought back with flashy new designs to appeal to today’s kids.
Predictably, the same thing happened with everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic purple dinosaur, Barney. Announced earlier this week, Mattel isn’t just planning to bring Barney back for the latest generation of tots, they’re giving him his own animated show.
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Not To Mention The Fact That He Has A Brand New Design
Alongside the announcement that a new animated series starring Barney is expected to hit television sometime in 2024, Mattel showed off the new and improved character.
In contrast to the purple dinosaur suit, we knew and loved as kids, today’s Barney has a much different facial shape. His cheeks and jaw seem more angular than before, and his eyes are bigger and accompanied by a more distinct brow line. But he still sports his signature purple hue and green belly and eyes, as well as his short arms and long tail.
Having been first unveiled on Monday, Barney has made a splash on social media.
Though, Most Social Media Users Aren’t Sure What To Think Of Barney’s New Look
Fans of the original Barney, who would have grown up with the purple pal, aren’t too pleased about how Barney looks now. In fact, there’s been a huge outcry on the internet, and on Twitter in particular, over how much Barney’s design has changed.
For many people, it’s pretty cut and dry. Barney doesn’t look the way we remember him looking, and that kind of change has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Many Have Joked That Barney Seems To Have Had Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Done To His Face
If Twitter users are known for anything, it’s for making jokes about viral internet moments. And users didn’t waste a second sharing their own comments on Barney’s new appearance. Many made plastic surgery jokes, believing that it looks like Barney got Botox and other injections applied to his face. A few joked about Barney’s eyebrows, guessing that he got some kind of facelift done over the years.
Some even joked that it looks like Barney got his buccal fat removed, in reference to the growing trend of celebrities getting the procedure in order to slim down their faces.
That Being Said, Not Everyone’s First Reaction To The New Barney Was To Hate On Him
While plenty of Twitter users expressed their dislike for the purple dinosaur’s brand-new appearance, there were some who could really get behind it. Some believed Barney’s refresh to be somewhat scary or off-putting, while others think he looks pretty cute now.
One thing’s for sure, though. The new Barney television show is sure to make a splash when it arrives on your television screens and/or streaming platforms next year.
h/t BBC
