Mattel is partnering with Aardman, the acclaimed animation studio known for Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep, and Wallace & Gromit, to jointly create an exciting new stop-motion 3D animated TV series centered around Pingu, the delightful and playful penguin.
The new animated series will draw inspiration from Mattel’s charming and playful young penguin who lives in the snowy South Pole. Frequently encountering humorous and tricky scenarios, Pingu faces life’s challenges of life head on along with his mom, dad, little sister Pinga, and his many friends.
“When we set out to bring Pingu back, partnering with the top-tier creative team at Aardman was a must,” said Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer of Mattel. “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.”
“At Aardman, we love collaborating with IP that shares our commitment to humour, charm and great storytelling,” said Sarah Cox, Chief Creative Director of Aardman. “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 from Aardman, alongside Sidney Clifton, Rob David, and Melanie Shannon from Mattel Television Studios.
Pingu, first created in the 1980s, quickly gained global popularity thanks to his playful humor and the uniquely understandable “Penguinese” language. In recent years, he has become a fan favorite on social media, where his mischievous antics and famous “Noot Noot!” have inspired viral content and worldwide engagement. Pingu continues to charm both long-time fans and new audiences, cementing his status in pop culture.
Mattel acquired Pingu through its purchase of HIT Entertainment in 2011, adding this beloved character to Mattel’s catalog of iconic brands.
