New stop-motion Pingu TV show to be developed by Mattel and Aardman animation studio

Beloved 1990s children’s TV show Pingu is making an epic comeback thanks to a partnership with an award-winning animation studio.

Mattel, which acquired the penguin character in 2011, will co-develop a new stop-motion 3D animated Pingu TV show with Aardman, the animation company which created Wallace And Gromit and Chicken Run.

The decision to partner with Aardman was a no-brainer, Mattel chief franchise officer Josh Silverman said.

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“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 favourite penguin that are sure to warm hearts worldwide,” he said.

Aardman chief creative director Sarah Cox said there were so many stories involving the lovable penguin and his family that have not yet been told.

“Aardman and Pingu is such a natural and enticing combination,” she said.

“The charm of the stop-frame animation along with the quirky irreverence and character-driven storytelling aligns perfectly with our creative approach.

“We can’t wait to get started.”

Pingu primarily ran from 1990 to 2000. Credit: Aardman

It’s unclear when production will begin on the show.

Pingu was a Swiss-German series that ran from 1990 to 2000 before it was revived in 2003 for two more years.

The show grew in popularity internationally, with the titular character famous for his signature phrase “noot noot”.

It was nominated for a BAFTA award in 2005.

Mattel acquired Pingu through its purchase of HIT Entertainment which was later rebranded to Mattel Television.