18 years since his last appearance, Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run studio has stop-motion Pingu series in the works

Pingu
(Image credit: Mattel)

Almost two decades after its last episode aired, the highly popular children's animated series Pingu is being remade by stop-motion studio Aardman and Mattel. 

The news was shared by Mattel’s chief franchise officer, Josh Silverman, who confirmed the team-up. "You couldn’t ask for a more perfect marriage [than between Mattel and Aardman]. I was just with their their team. We are overjoyed about the project. It’s going to be really, really special," said Silverman in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Pingu just continues to, organically, have a tremendous amount of affection and attention. And a tremendous amount of relevance."

Pingu, the little model penguin who we all fondly remember from our childhoods, was created in 1980 and made out of plasticine by Swiss animators Otmar Gutmann and Harald Muecke. Pingu is best known for his mischievous ways, using his beak as a trumpet, and speaking in ‘Penguinese.’ Since then, Pingu has starred in several TV appearances, a pilot movie, and a six-season long series, which ran until 2006. The series follows Pingu and his family living in an igloo in Antarctica, who goes on various adventures with his little sister Pinga and his friends.

But now, the cheeky little penguin is returning to the small screen. And who better to recreate Pingu’s funny little life than British animation studio Aardman, best known for creating Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and Shaun the Sheep? The studio is set to bring the penguin back to life using 3D computer graphics that recreate the texture of the original Claymation.

This is just one of Aardman’s exciting upcoming projects, as the studio will soon release a new Wallace and Gromit film titled Wallace and Gromit: Vengence Most Fowl. The film follows the duo as trouble breaks out when Wallace’s ‘smart gnome’ develops a mind of its own, and past villain Feathers McGraw reenters the scene. Wallace and Gromit: Vengence Most Fowl premiers on Christmas Day on BBC One in the UK and on Netflix in the US on January 3, 2025. 

The new Pingu series does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our list of the best animated shows, or keep up with new TV shows heading your way.

Editorial Associate, GamesRadar+

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.  

Read more
Feathers McGraw in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Feathers McGraw's return 30 years after The Wrong Trousers wasn't the original plan for Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl but Aardman needed "something more villainous"
Wallace, Gromit, and Norbot in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl's directors reveal the surprising influences behind their new "gnome noir" movie – including a Hitchcock classic
Wallace, Gromit, and Norbot in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
One scene from Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl was inspired by Lord of the Rings, but it's so subtle, fans may not have noticed
Gizmo in Gremlins
New Goonies and Gremlins movies are in the works at Warner Bros. because we’re not done with '80s nostalgia
Paddington in Paddington in Peru
Paddington 3 release date, reviews, cast, and everything else you need to know
Shrek and Sonic side by side
The Sonic team had the perfect response to Shrek 5's controversial redesigns: "Take notes"
Latest in Animation Shows
Lois and Peter in Family Guy season 23
After 11 years, Family Guy suddenly brings back a deep-cut character for season 23
Vergil in Netflix's Devil May Cry
New Devil May Cry trailer reveals surprise twist for Netflix show and gives Dante a nu metal soundtrack
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks to finally bring my anime-inspired dreams of truly active combat to life
Mark in Invincible season 3
Two years after first teasing it, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has arrived in Invincible – and he could be the show's best villain yet
Spider-Man in the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man finale
Marvel EP shares hopes to release a new Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series every year
Slam Dunk
Hate anime? 32 anime movies and TV shows to change your mind
Latest in News
Lea Myren as Elvira in The Ugly Stepsister
Cinderella body horror movie that made viewers sick gets release date, and it’s coming very soon
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Horses
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has another secret skill, and this one is an absolute game changer - looking down makes you duck under branches while riding your horse
Dollman being buckled into a seat in Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima left "a number of clues" in the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, including hints of a day/night cycle
Palworld
Palworld is finally getting crossplay across PC, Xbox and PS5 this month as Pocketpair teases "some little surprises" to come to the survival game
Millie Bobby Brown in The Electric State
All of the Best Picture winners of the last 10 years combined still have a lower budget than the Russo brothers’ new Netflix movie
Walton Goggins in The Righteous Gemstones
The final season of Fallout star's HBO comedy has debuted to a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score