A classic children’s television show is set to return, 34 years after it first aired on the small screen.
The creators of the Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run franchises, Aardman Animations, will revive the beloved animated series, Pingu, as a new stop-motion style concept.
The Swiss-German series follows Pingu, a young penguin with a penchant for mischief, and his adventures at the South Pole alongside his little sister Pinga, his best friend Robby, and his love interest Pingi.
It first debuted in 1990 and ran for a decade until its final episode in April 2000, before being briefly revived in Britain from 2003 to 2006, earning the show a Bafta nomination in 2005.
It first debuted in 1990 and ran for a decade until its final episode in April 2000, before being briefly revived in Britain from 2003 to 2006, earning the show a Bafta nomination in 2005.
Now, for the first time in more than 18 years, Pingu will return as a new stop-motion series, jointly developed by Aardman and American Barbie company Mattel.
The toy maker and producer is collaborating with studio Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run to create “fresh, snow-filled stories about our favorite penguin that are sure to warm hearts around the world.”
The decision to bring back the sassy character comes as old clips of Pingu continue to delight audiences on social media, with popular scenes turned into memes; like when the young penguin sulks while sitting, arms crossed, on a chair.
Longtime fans have shared their excitement about the show’s revival, and hundreds of people took to X to express their thoughts beneath Aardman’s statement.
One person gushed, “My childhood is coming back,” while another gushed, “I loved this show as a kid, can’t wait for it to come back!”
A third wrote: “Joining Aardman has been everyone’s late 2000s dream come true. Glad to see this lovely little franchise returning after Japan in 2017.”
A fourth added: “Having heard the news very recently, I want to say that I am beyond delighted and excited about Aardman producing the return of Pingu.
Now, for the first time in over 18 years, Pingu will return as a new stop-motion series, co-developed by Aardman and US company Barbie Matt.
Reaction: Longtime fans have shared their excitement about the show’s revival, and hundreds of people took to X to express their thoughts below Aardman’s statement.
“He’s such a beloved and iconic animated character, and I think this new series will do him and his world a lot of justice.”
However, not everyone was thrilled with the news of the Mattel acquisition, with one writing: “Mattel has taken several classic (British) TV shows and analyzed each one of them.
‘Sam the fireman, Thomas the tank engine, Bob the builder… etc. I am very skeptical about this. But if Aardman is involved, I have faith.
In August 2022, the The original voice of Pingu, who coined the penguin’s iconic “noot, noot” phrase, has died aged 85.
Carlo Bonomi, from Milan, voiced the Emperor Penguin of the South Pole from its creation in 1990 until 2000.
The father of one, whose daughter Paola also works as a voice actress, never used a script and voiced all the characters on the children’s show.