About Barney the Dinosaur

From "Sesame Street" to "Mr. Rogers," children have grown up and gone through their preschool stages with an educational show to help them learn and be entertained. Throughout the 1990s and still today, Barney and Friends has remained one of the top shows for toddlers, and the character of Barney the Dinosaur will probably live in pop culture forever.

History

Barney first started out as a direct to video series known as "Barney and the Backyard Gang." The Public Broadcasting Company took notice of this show and quickly spread it across a national level in 1992. "Barney and Friends" was an instant success that spawned into multiple countries and entertained children all over the world.

Features

"Barney and Friends" follows the main character of Barney the Dinosaur. No adults can see this "imaginary" friend and Barney spends a lot of his time entertaining the children on the show through song and dance. Barney is a very positive character who teaches children about many things, including love and friendship. Barney's adventures usually take place at an elementary school, in a park or in a tree house, but he has had adventures outside of these places as well. Two of Barney's best friends are also dinosaur characters by the names of Baby Bop and B.J. They join Barney and the kids on different adventures, and recently a new dinosaur was added by the name of Riff.

Identification

Barney the Dinosaur is usually a purple stuffed animal that transforms into a life-size figure. He is a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a purple body, green stomach, and green spots on his back. His three large toe nails are yellow, and his eyes are controlled by puppeteers as they open, shut, and move in multiple directions. The Barney outfit has stayed the same throughout the years and looks like a baseball mascot.

Considerations

Barney the Dinosaur has received several criticisms over the year, including that he is too positive and many of his problems are solved too quickly, which is not reflective on the real world. "TV Guide" actually placed his show as number 50 of the worst shows of all time.

Types

Along with his successful television series, Barney has a full-length theatrical movie entitled "Barney's Great Adventure." Many of the television show's episodes have been released on VHS and DVD and he was the star in a touring stage show as well. Barney has also been transformed into a long line of children's toys that include stuffed animals, figures, blankets and games.

Resources

• Barney and Friends at PBSkids.org