Beloved children’s TV series Pingu is set to be revived in a new adaptation from Barbie company Mattel and Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman.
The original Pingu launched on BBC One in 1990. A Swiss-German production, the TV series was designed by Otmar Gutmann, and followed the adventures of an impish penguin in the South Pole. The character was known for his catchphrase, “Noot noot”.
Pingu originally ran until 2000, and was briefly revived on British TV between 2003 and 2006.
The new series will be stop-motion animation, in the same vein as the original.
Mattel Television Studios, the TV arm of toy conglomerate Mattel, acquired the rights to Pingu in 2011 when it purchased HIT Entertainment.
Cautiously optimistic
Aardman are famous for their stop motion. Multiple Oscar winners, in fact. No doubt the animation will be good. The stories… TBD.
I glazed right over Aardman when I read Barbie and Mattel. Feeling waaay better about this announcement. Thanks!