‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ is Coming Back to TV in 2019

‘Clifford the Big Red Dog,’ the beloved animated children’s series based on Norman Bridwell’s book series that began in 1963, will launch on Amazon Prime and return to PBS Kids in Fall 2019, according to The New York Times.

The rebooted version, being produced by Scholastic Entertainment, is scheduled to make 39 episodes. Clifford and Emily Elizabeth will each get a vibrant redesign and will visit exciting new places while singing original songs, new to the series. They will learn and play with old friends as well as new ones on the familiar Birdwell Island.

The reboot will place emphasis on social emotional skills such as empathy and a curriculum designed to improve early literacy skills and imaginative play. The show is designed for children three to seven, but loveable for all ages! 

The original version of Clifford ran for three seasons, debuting on PBS in 2000. It went on to win nine Daytime Emmy nominations and aired in 110 countries, as well as inspiring a spinoff entitled Clifford’s Puppy Days, according to Kidscreen. The book sold more than 133 million copies in 16 different languages. 

“There is something enduring in Clifford’s gentle, loyal spirit that touches fans even after they become adults,” said Iole Lucchese, the executive producer of Clifford the Big Red Dog, in a statement. “We see it in tributes on social media nad in fan art, and of course, in every part who grew up with Clifford and now shares their love of him with their preschoolers.”

 

Image: Concept art for the new version of “Clifford the Big Red Dog.”
Courtesy: Scholastic