| Image | As seen in | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Three Wishes | 1988–1989 | This is Barney's first design, which is a far departure from later Barney designs and is made out of a heavier foam base. He looks more like a T-rex, and his main body color is more of a darker blue-violet. This Barney costume was operated in a similar way to Big Bird (one hand operating the bottom jaw, the other in an arm (although if both arms were required, the performer would simply bob the head)). He also has a red tongue. This costume appeared at public libraries and parties. He is performed by David Voss and voiced by Bob West. |
 |
Waiting for Santa | 1990 | Barney's design gets a slight make over, with his eyes becoming larger and wider, his belly and legs becoming rounder, his color becoming a lighter shade of purple, and his mouth becoming smaller. The Barney costume is now made out of lighter foam. This suit also has a green jaw. Also, this version tends to bobble and shake a lot more while talking. |
 |
Barney in Concert | 1991-1992 | The current Barney costume is now made out of Antron fleece. The mouth mechanism is rare here, almost not present. Unlike the previous two suits, Barney has no tongue. The pupils are also smaller. Barney's stomach has no foam base near the bottom. He is performed at this time by David Joyner with Bob West still doing the voice. This design would be improved with the next costume. |
 |
Barney & Friends Season 1 | 1992-1993 | A major modification of the Barney in Concert suit. The costume for this season began the current method of controlling Barney (the performer bites down on a rod connected to the inside of the jaw, and bobs his head to move the mouth). This version of the suit includes a blinking mechanism. The bottom of Barney's stomach comes to a triangular point at the bottom, matching up with the seams at the top of the hips. The body also is rounder. |
 |
Barney & Friends Season 2 |
1993 | A new costume is built, very similar to the last suit built. The antron fleece used here is fuzzier. (Possibly not shaved as much as the last suit.) Barney's snout is also slightly shorter. It was actually first apperance in Barney's Magical Musical Adventure. |
| Imagination Island | 1994 | Barney gets a less furry look to him and gets a lighter shade of purple. In Season 3, Barney's mouth becomes more moveable than the costume used in Imagination Island and Barney Live! In New York City. | |
 |
Publicity photo for Season 3 of Barney & Friends | 1995–1997 | This version of the suit is a double of many to be used during this season. Barney's tail becomes less curly at the end than that of the costumes before it. Barney's eyes become bigger and pull closer together. Barney's stomach becomes a bit rounder at the bottom. His feet become a lot less square, toes come closer to the rubber sole at the bottom of the foot, hips become rounder, and the top of the head is very round. |
| Barney Songs | 1994–1997 | Another double for the third season. The differences of this costume are in the face. All of Barney's features are more square (especially the mouth) and his forehead is closer to his eyes. The pupils are larger and eyes are more sunken in. A costume very similar to this one was used as a double for Barney in Barney Live! In New York City for quick entrances and exits. | |
| Tick Tock Clocks! | 1997–1998 | Barney's red-violet color becomes a little darker and his face gets a bit of a redesign. The blinking mechanism is not as noticeable than in previous seasons (especially when Barney's jumping up and down). The toe balls on his feet are also bigger. This costume was always used on the Barney Says segments from Seasons 4-6. | |
| Oh, Brother...She's My Sister | 1997–1998 | This costume is very similar to the one above, Barney's neck becomes skinnier and his body becomes slightly like a pear shape. Barney's head is also wider. | |
 |
Barney's Great Adventure | 1998 | This costume was used in the feature film Barney's Great Adventure. The eyes and eyelids were moveable via remote control to add expression to Barney's relatively stiff face. Also, to further accommodate the added expression, the teeth are smaller. The tail and the toes are slightly altered as well |
 |
Barney's Night Before Christmas | 1998–1999 | A slight makeover on Barney's face from the late 1998 suit; Barney's mouth is now rounder and the eyes are smaller |
| Barney's Rhyme Time Rhythm | 1999–2002 | Another costume similar to the earlier Barney (above) used before it. His teeth are thicker and the bottom jaw wrinkles noticeably when at rest. | |
| Barney & Friends Season 7 | 2002–2004 | Barney's eyes become larger and his teeth become thinner and taller. Barney is now voiced by Dean Wendt and performed by Carey Stinson. | |
| Easy as ABC | 2004–2006 | Barney's head gets a total makeover, with wider eyes and a wider mouth. In addition, his skin becomes a lighter magenta, though not to the same extent as in 1995.
In Season 10-11, Barney's appearance gets smoother and he gets a lighter shade of purple/magenta | |
| Pot Full of Sunshine | 2006-2008 | This costume is a bit similar to the one above. This Barney costume has a rounder/wider head and the eyelids are pulled up some. Also the teeth become thinner. | |
| Barney & Friends | 2008 | This costume was only used for one year. It includes more of a squarer nose, and connected ankles, only in the back. This costume is even given a lighter shade of magenta/purple.
NOTE: In The Reluctant Dragon: A Fairy Tale Adventure, the eyelids are noticeably downwards. | |
 |
Let's Go on Vacation | 2009–present | This costume includes rounder feet, completely connected ankles, a smaller mouth, and a shorter tail. |
See also
- Baby Bop Through the Years
- BJ Through the Years
- Barney Dolls Through The Years