Classic children’s TV series to be rebooted – 34 years after first episode

A HIT children's TV show looks set to be revived 34 years after it first debuted on screens.

The creators of the iconic Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run franchises, Aardman Animations, will be reviving Pingu as a new stop-motion style series.

Pingu made its debut in 1990 and released episodes steadily over the next 10 years before being revived once again for two further series which aired between 2003 and 2006.

Now, for the first time in more than 18 years, brand new episodes of Pingu look set to be unleashed to the world.

The decision to bring back the character comes amid recent viral success of clips of Pingu on social media.

The new series will be a co-production between animation greats Aardman and classic toy manufacturer and production company, Mattel.

John Silverman, the chief franchise officer at Mattel said of the decision to revive the classic show: "When we set out to bring Pingu back, partnering with the top-tier creative team at Aardman was a must.

“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.”

While Aardman head honcho Sarah Coc confessed that she and the company felt an "immediate and strong connection" to the show.

She said: "At Aardman, we love collaborating with IP that shares our commitment to humour, charm and great storytelling.

“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.”

Pingu became well-known for his iconic catchphrase "Noot Noot," which has sparked a raft of online content.