As a film critic who grew up with a steady diet of claymation classics and a love for all things nostalgic, I couldn’t be more thrilled about Mattel’s revival of the beloved character, Pingu! Remembering the delightful antics of this little penguin as he navigated the snowy landscape of his world, I can hardly contain my excitement at the thought of seeing him again, this time with the masterful touch of Aardman Animations.
Pingu is making a comeback!” Mattel, the team behind the successful summer blockbuster Barbie, has officially confirmed their collaboration with Aardman Animations, famous for Wallace and Gromit, to bring everyone’s beloved stop-motion penguin back on our screens.
Originally produced in 1990 by Swiss companies The Pygos Group and Pingu Filmstudio, Pingu is a claymation-style children’s show, which was later revived from 2003 to 2006 by British production houses HIT Entertainment and HOT Animation. It was then broadcast on the BBC and subsequently found its place on Cartoon Network, captivating kids worldwide.
Ever since Mattel acquired HIT Entertainment in 2011, the beloved and tricky penguin has resurfaced from the recesses of characters that were once popular in the early 2000s. As shared by Jason Silverman, the CFO of Mattel, they are teaming up with Aardman Animations to develop a fresh Pingu series tailored for contemporary viewers.
As a movie enthusiast who recently had the privilege of working with Mattel and Aardman’s incredible team, I can confidently say that their partnership is nothing short of cinematic bliss. The project we are working on together promises to be an exceptional, heartwarming masterpiece. Pingu, a character close to all our hearts, continues to garner organic love and attention, remaining as relevant today as ever.
Without a doubt, Aardman Animations is the ideal studio for this project, boasting a stellar portfolio of hit stop-motion animation films such as “Chicken Run” and “Flushed Away.” The upcoming “Pingu” series will be jointly developed by Sarah Cox, Alan Thorpe from Aardman, and Sidney Clifton, Rob David, and Melanie Shannon from Mattel Television Studios.
Mattel Wants to Capitalize On “New-stalgia” Franchises
Mattel has an impressive slate of upcoming film projects based on its toy lines and intellectual properties, such as a “Thomas & Friends” movie directed by the director of Disney’s “Christopher Robin” and a “Polly Pocket” film starring Lily Collins from MGM. This children’s toy company aims to increase its cinematic presence to tap into what they refer to as “new-stalgia” – a blend of adults’ longing for their childhood, particularly the media and toys they cherished, with fresh, contemporary content for kids.
Barbie serves as an excellent demonstration of Mattel’s strategy to bridge the gap between adults and children by developing products that both age groups can appreciate. This is achieved through projects that children find enjoyable, while parents are drawn in due to their fond memories associated with the reintroduced content. The toy manufacturer’s future lineup boasts an intriguing mix of projects – a horror-comedy movie centered around the Magic 8 Ball, a Barney film produced by Daniel Kaluuya’s production house, and a Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots movie from Universal.
80s-inspired media has gained significant popularity over the past decade as the resurgence of 80s appreciation swept through pop culture. Notable figures like Greta Gerwig and Daniel Kaluuya have jumped on board this trend, indicating that the nostalgic wave shows no signs of abating. Mattel is preparing to surf this wave right up to the box office.
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2024-10-21 23:03