Aardman and Mattel to co-develop Pingu animated TV series

Aardman and Mattel are teaming up to co-develop a brand-new stop motion 3D animated television series featuring Pingu, the charming and cheeky penguin.

The new animated series will be inspired by Mattel’s loveable and mischievous young penguin who lives in the snow and ice of the South Pole. Often finding himself in tricky and comical situations, Pingu meets the challenges of life head on along with his mom, dad, little sister Pinga, and all his 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 for Aardman, and Sidney Clifton, Rob David and Melanie Shannon for Mattel Television Studios.

First created in the 1980s, Pingu became a global sensation for his playful humor and his unique “Penguinese” language that is universally understood.

Over recent years, Pingu has emerged as a fan-favorite on social media, where his mischievous antics and iconic "Noot Noot!" have sparked viral content and global engagement. Pingu has captured the hearts of both longtime fans and new audiences worldwide, solidifying his place 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.