Pingu returns in new stop-motion series by Aardman and Mattel

Aardman, the British studio behind Wallace & Gromit, will produce a new stop-motion series of Pingu, the claymation penguin created in 1990 by Otmar Gutmann and Erika Brueggemann. The project was announced by Mattel, which acquired HIT Entertainment, the distributor of shows like Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam. The series will be developed by animators Sarah Cox, Alan Thorpe, Sidney Clifton, Rob David, and Melanie Shannon. Josh Silverman, Mattel's head of franchising, said collaborating with Aardman felt natural, citing Pingu's social media success. Sarah Cox, Aardman's creative director, noted the character's comedic appeal transcends language barriers. The original voice actor Carlo Bonomi created Pingu's invented language of sounds and onomatopoeia. The new episodes aim to revive the character for a global audience. Cox is also working on the upcoming Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, releasing on Netflix in January.