Jakks Pacific, Inc. is an American multi-brand company that markets and designs toys and consumer products. The company produces a range of products that feature numerous children's toy licenses. Founded in 1995 by Jack Friedman, the company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Jakks Pacific's "Child Guidance" and "Play Along Toys" divisions got the rights to Barney in 2007 and 2008 respectively, ending the previous license ownership of Fisher-Price, a toy company owned by Mattel, in the United States and Canada.
Advertisement of Barney products by Jakks Pacific.
Advertisement of Barney products by Jakks Pacific (taken from Barney's Animal ABC's).
History[]
Barney[]
License[]
On November 14, 2001, JAKKS Pacific Inc. announced that its Flying Colors division signed a multi-year licensing agreement with HIT Entertainment to manufacture and market a line of craft activity and stationery kits based on Barney, with the line slated to hit retail in 2002. Prior to the deal, JAKKS Pacific manufactured and distributed Barney-themed foam puzzles.[2] On June 22, 2005, Jakks Pacific announced licensing agreements with HIT Entertainment to market and distribute multiple Plug It In & Play TV Games titles and GAMEKEY expansion packs based on HIT Entertainment brands, including Barney, with slated launch date in North America in 2006,[3] but It never got released. On April 21, 2006, Jakks Pacific announced a licensing agreement with HIT Entertainment to market and distribute Jakks Pacific's TeleStory interactive books based on HIT's characters, including Barney. The products based on HIT characters were expected to release in the summer of 2006,[4] however the Barney product was never released. On February 27, 2007, Jakks Pacific announced it would license multiple activity arts & crafts items based on Barney, which included magnetic scenes, roll desks, jumbo activity pads and more, for a Fall 2007 release.[5]
Child Guidance[]
On June 19, 2006, Jakks Pacific announced that it had signed a multi-year, master toy licensing agreement with HIT Entertainment to manufacture and market a full line of products based on Barney & Friends under the Child Guidance division, with a scheduled retail release in North America in Spring 2007.[6] The products were eventually released later starting in Summer and Fall 2007.[7] In September 2007, Jakks Pacific sponsored Barney's Big Purple Bus Tour, a tour held in honor of Barney's 20th Anniversary. The products released by Jakks Pacific during that year also tied to the anniversary. The Barney toy line included an assortment of plush, musical instruments, interactive toys like cell phones and laptops, push and go vehicles and bath toys.
Marketing[]
Sweepstakes[]
The new toy line was also supported with the Barney Be-A-Star Sweepstakes, inviting children to submit their own music videos for a chance to win a walk-on role on one of the Barney & Friends shows.[8] Parents had to create and submit a music video starring their child singing, dancing or playing with a new musical Barney toy from the Jakks Pacific division, Child Guidance.[9] The sweepstakes ran from August 15, 2007 until February 28, 2008.[10]
Gallery[]
Unreleased[]
The following unreleased Barney bath products were sculpted by Jon Neill.[11]
Products[]
Child Guidance[]
| Image | Name | Date | Description |
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I Love You Barney | Summer 2007 | I Love You Barney, a 2007 Greatest Product Award Winner from iParenting Media, is a 10” huggable plush which sings Barney’s signature, “I Love You” song and by pressing his belly, you can sing over and over again. Requires 3 x AA batteries (included).[12] |
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Singing Riff | Summer 2007 | Also known as "Dance & Play Singing Riff" in press releases, this toy was a "Barney Feature Plush" that sings one song and shakes his maracas. By simply squeezing his tummy, Riff will shake the maracas up and down, say a phrase, and then sing. Requires 3 x AA batteries (included).
Voice: Michaela Dietz |
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Sing with Me Barney | Summer 2007 | Also titled "Sing Along With Barney" in press releases, is an 11” plush that encourages children to sing and dance alongside Barney to three fun songs. Preschoolers get their very own microphone that looks just like the one that Barney is holding. By pressing the top musical note Barney comes to life and starts to sing one of three songs. You can be a singing sensation just like Barney. Requires 4 AA and 3 Button cell batteries (included). This toy was also part of the "Barney Feature Plush" line. Songs:
Barney's Voice: Dean Wendt |
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Bath Time Barney | Fall 2007 | Tied into a beach theme, this toy was available at a suggested retail price of $9.99. |
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Dance & Play Guitar | Fall 2007 | This guitar gets kids moving and grooving! Part of the "Barney Preschool Musical Instruments" line, the guitar features five preset tunes in various musical styles and a motion sensor that encourages children to move as they play. By simply dancing around, guitar riffs are added to the melody bringing the guitar to life. With a strum of the center wheel more guitar riffs are played. Requires 3 x AA batteries (included).
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Dance & Play Trumpet | Fall 2007 | Part of the "Barney Preschool Musical Instruments" line, this toy allows children to be part of their own band with a motion sensor that encourages children to move as they play. By simply dancing around, the trumpet riffs are added to the melody bringing the instruments to life. The trumpet plays three melodies and feature signature Barney character phrases. Requires 2 x AA batteries (included). |
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Let's Go Laptop | Fall 2007 | Barney Let’s Go Laptop introduces and familiarizes preschoolers with numbers, shapes and colors. The laptop has 10 number buttons and 5 color/shape buttons. There are 3 cards with a different scene on each side for a total of 6 scenes. When the Barney shaped button is pressed Barney will ask a question that corresponds to the particular scene that has been selected. Barney will ask questions about colors, shapes and numbers. All cards can be stored in the laptop for easy travel. Requires 3 x AA batteries (included). The suggested retail price of this toy was $19.99. |
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Let’s Go Push & Go Vehicles | Fall 2007 | "Barney Let’s Go Push and Go Vehicles" are the perfect vehicles for young preschoolers to maneuver. Themed to Barney’s favorite places including the airport and the firehouse, they allow children to control the fun as they press down on the Barney figure and watch them go! Including the "Let's Go Airplane" and "Let's Go Fire Truck", these toys were available at a suggested retail price of $5.99. |
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Mini Pals | Fall 2007 | An 8" plush collection of Barney, BJ, Riff and Baby Bop, they're the perfect soft, lightweight, and loveable stuffed toy pals. Targeted age group is for children twelve months and older. |
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Musical Cellphone | Fall 2007 | The Barney™ Musical Cell Phone is the perfect way for busy preschoolers to stay in touch with their favorite character, Barney. The cell phone has 12 functioning buttons and 2 modes of play. In the numbers mode, Barney identifies the number that is pressed. In Music mode each number button plays a few cords of the signature Barney “I Love You” Song. Each number button also represents a different musical instrument. Any child can create their own song or press the “0” button and hear the full song. Requires 2 x AA batteries (included). This toy was available at a suggested retail price of $9.99. |
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Squirter Tub Toys | Fall 2007 | Tied into one of Barney’s favorite places, the beach! Barney is in a little row boat, BJ is on a beach ball and Baby Bop is on an inner tube. The Squirter Tub Toys were available for retail for $5.99. Trivia: There was meant to be squirter tub toys themed around the firehouse,[7] but it was unreleased. |
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Pop Up Piano | 2007 | Exclusive to KB Toys, press the keys on the piano and watch the characters pop up! |
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Barney Loves You | 2008 | Press Barney's tummy to hear him sing "I Love You". This toy also came with a bonus DVD sampler. |
Play Along Toys[]
Note: Despite the packaging containing both logos for Child Guidance and Play Along on a few products, the products were manufactured by the Play Along division.
| Image | Name | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Sing & Celebrate Barney | September 2008[13] | Everyone’s favorite purple dinosaur is celebrating 20 years of sharing, caring and imagination with a tee-rific new musical toy suitable for children 18 months and up. Sing and Celebrate Barney has super-dee-duper sparkles from head to toe, and Barney’s belly lights up with special stars, hearts and musical notes as it plays three classic Barney songs. The plush also came with a DVD sampler of the episode Barney & Friends episode "Things I Can Do".
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I Love You Barney | 2008 | Squeeze Barney's tummy to hear him sing "I Love You". Barney's Voice: Dean Wendt |
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Hug Me Friend Barney | 2008 | Hug Me Friend Barney is a soft huggable plush. The plush also contained the DVD sampler Sing & Dance with Barney & Friends. |
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Laugh With Me Barney | 2008 | Squeeze Barney's tummy to hear him sing the song "Laugh With Me!". Voice: Dean Wendt |
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See also[]
- Character Options - an independent international toy and games distributor based in the United Kingdom that released a few Jakks Pacific toys based on Barney & Friends available via their website.