Pingu set to make a comeback to our TV screens

Bristol-based Aardman Animations say they're working with Mattel on bringing the iconic '80s series back

Pingu
Author: Oliver MorganPublished 22nd Oct 2024

The iconic '80s TV show, Pingu, is set to make a comeback to our TV screens!

Bristol-based Aardman Animations say they have teamed up with Mattel to develop the brand new stop motion 3D animated TV series.

It'll see the 'charming and cheeky' plasticine penguin back to his old tricks in the South Pole.

Aardman describe Pingu as 'often finding himself in tricky and comical situations', and meets the challenges of life with his mom, dad, little sister Pinga, and all his friends.

Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer of Mattel, said: “When we set out to bring Pingu back, partnering with the top-tier creative team at Aardman was a must.

“With Aardman’s stop motion magic and Pingu’s universal charm that has made him a social media hit, we are excited to create fresh snow-filled stories about our favorite penguin that are sure to warm hearts worldwide.”

Sarah Cox, Chief Creative Director of Aardman, added: “At Aardman, we love collaborating with IP that shares our commitment to humour, charm and great storytelling.

“From our earliest conversations with Mattel, we felt an immediate and strong connection in our shared love of Pingu, the authentic appeal of the original IP, and comedy that transcends language barriers to speak to audiences everywhere. Aardman and Pingu is such a natural and enticing combination. The charm of the stop frame animation along with the quirky irreverence and character driven storytelling aligns perfectly with our creative approach. There are so many stories yet to tell, we can’t wait to get started.”

The television series will be co-developed by Sarah Cox and Alan Thorpe for Aardman, and Sidney Clifton, Rob David and Melanie Shannon for Mattel Television Studios.

First created in the 1980s, Pingu became a global sensation for his playful humor and his unique “Penguinese” language that is universally understood.

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