Barney (franchise)

Barney is an American children's media franchise created by Sheryl Leach, Kathryn O'Rourke Parker and Dennis DeShazer and now owned by Mattel. It centers on Barney the Dinosaur, an anthropomorphic purple Tyrannosaurus rex who teaches educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly and optimistic manner. The franchise consists of three series: the direct-to-video Barney and the Backyard Gang, which began in 1988 and had only eight episodes; the long-running PBS Kids television series Barney and Friends from 1992 to 2010; and the computer-animated Barney's World, shown from 2024 to 2025. A theatrical film, Barney's Great Adventure, appeared in 1998, and a second film is in production with Daniel Kaluuya directing. Adults often mocked the character in parodies, a reaction examined in the 2022 documentary I Love You, You Hate Me, while parents praised its wholesome approach.