Barney

New Delhi, Feb 16 (UNI) The world famous cartoon characters 'Barney and Friends', that have over the years entertained growing children across the world while imbibing in them qualities of sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning, will enthrall tiny tots in the capital tomorrow.

The loveable 'Tyrannosaurus rex', 'Barney' and their close dynosaur buddies, Baby Bop and BJ, will perform at the Siri Fort Auditorium in the Capital tomorrow and on February 18, their first ever live performance in India.

Bringing the world famous show to India is Just Because It's Children (JBC), an organisation devoted to providing international entertainment experiences to children and their parents.

Speaking at a press meet to announce the maiden voyage to India by 'Barney and Friends', director of the JBC Kavita Bedi said the tour by the popular characters to the country was an endeavour in the direction of ''filling the huge gap for quality entertainment for children in India'' as well as educating children about the right values as well as the spirit of hearing and caring while providing them entertainment.

''Parents like to provide their children with the best of resources for their mental and physical development. Just as we give our children international brands to wear or foreign cuisines to experiment with, similarly we need to provide them with wholesome entertainment that is recognised across the world. Barney's tour to India is a step in this direction,'' Ms Bedi said.

At the same time, she said performance by Barney was an endeavour to aid the learning process among children through entertaining shows that help to arouse their creative stimulus.

''Children learn and imbibe the most when they are not aware that they are learning. Therefore, it is critical that they recieve creative stimulus that allows them to learn, using their imagination and creativity,''Kavita said.

The show is the outcome of an exclusive tie-up between JBC and MEI Entertainment, the official licensee of Barney Big Funtime, along with Turner International's kids channel Pogo.

MEI has been working in the field of edutainment for the past 20 years and have created some major live family entertainment programmes in Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the West Asia.

Speaking on the occasion, Turner vice president, advertising sales and networks (India and South Asia) Monica Tata said,''Barney and Friends saw its India premiere on POGO in 2004 in our pre-school block called Tiny TV. Tiny TV and the shows thereof have been widely accepted by mothers as a safe and entertaining destination that brings together leaisure and learning for kids.'' Ms Tata said they hoped to bring more such shows to India in the near future.

Barney, a character created in 1987 by Sheryl Leach, has already won the BEANIE License of the Year in 1993, from the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association, and played live at Bill Clinton's inauguration as US president.

During their show in Delhi, 'Barney and Friends' will present a medley of songs, popular with children and their parents the world over.

UNI