Clifford, Everybody's Favorite Big Red Dog, Gets a Reboot
The new show offers more diversity among the human characters and puts Clifford’s beloved 7-year-old owner, Emily Elizabeth, front and center in his Birdwell Island adventures
This image released by Scholastic Entertainment shows a scene from the reboot of “Clifford the Big Red Dog.” The new show offers more diversity among the human characters and puts Clifford’s beloved 7-year-old owner, Emily Elizabeth, front and center in his Birdwell Island adventures.
Who’s your favorite big red dog? If you have one, chances are his name is Clifford.
Scholastic Entertainment is rebooting the TV series about the giant dog with an equally large heart this week on Amazon Prime Video and PBS, the latter his home since the early aughts.
The new show offers more diversity among the human characters and puts Clifford’s beloved 7-year-old owner, Emily Elizabeth, front and center in his Birdwell Island adventures.
Each episode will include an original song in a range of genres sung by the new main voice artists, 13-year-old Hannah Levinson for Emily Elizabeth and 27-year-old Adam Sanders reprising Clifford, who was once voiced by John Ritter.
Phil Harris/AP
From left, Britain’s Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge leave the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London Monday March 9, 2020. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family along with various government leaders and guests are attending the annual Commonwealth Day service, which is also the last event for Meghan and Harry as senior royals before they break from Buckingham Palace.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 05, 2020 in London, England.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Citi
Harry Styles performs onstage during Citi Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 26, 2020 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin, and SUGA of the K-pop boy band BTS visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 21, 2020, in New York City. The band’s newest album, “Map of the Soul: 7” released today.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
J-Hope, SUGA, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, V and Jin of the K-pop boy band BTS visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 21, 2020, in New York City. The band’s newest album, “Map of the Soul: 7” released today.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Fans of the K-pop boy band BTS, nicknamed the “Army,” hold up posters in support of the band as they visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 21, 2020, in New York City. The band’s newest album, “Map of the Soul: 7” released today.
Mike Marsland/WireImage
Lizzo poses in the winners rooms at The BRIT Awards 2020 at the O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020 in London, England.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Lizzo performs during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Harry Styles performs during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, left, and Hans Zimmer, right, perform during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart perform during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena, Feb. 18, 2020 in London, England.
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music
Melanie C attends the Universal Music BRIT Awards after-party 2020 hosted by Soho House at The Ned, Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson performs during the 69th NBA All-Star Game at United Center on February 16, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
A tribute to Kobe Bryant is shown during the half time performance during the 69th NBA All-Star Game on February 16, 2020 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Kim Kardashian, rapper, Kanye West, and rapper, J. Cole attend the 69th NBA All-Star Game on February 16, 2020 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Siba, best in show winner of Westminster Kennel Club dog show, poses for a picture at the Empire State Building in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
John Minchillo/AP
Siba, the standard poodle, competes for Best in Show during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho poses with his engraved awards as he attends the 92nd Oscars Governors Ball at the Hollywood Highland Center in Hollywood, Feb. 9, 2020. “Parasite,” Bong’s latest work, made Oscar history when it became the first foreign language film to win the “Best Picture” award on Sunday.
Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/APF via Getty Images
Renee Zellweger, flanked by producers David Livingstone, right, and director Rupert Goold, left, holds her Oscar for Best Actress for “Judy” as she attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd Oscars at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Feb. 9, 2020.
Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/APF via Getty Images
Greta Gerwig, center, and Noah Baumbach, second-right, attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Feb. 9, 2020.
Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/AFP via Getty Images
Billy Porter attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Feb. 9, 2020.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
New Zealand director/actor Taika Waititi waits as his award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Jojo Rabbit” is engraved at the 92nd Oscars Governors Ball at the Hollywood Highland Center in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel arrive at the premiere of USA Network’s “The Sinner” on Feb. 3, 2020, in West Hollywood, California.
Rachel Luna/WireImage
From left: Matt Bomer, Jessica Biel, Bill Pullman, Chris Messina and Parisa Fitz-Henley attend the premiere of USA Network’s “The Sinner” at the London West Hollywood on Feb. 3, 2020, in West Hollywood, California.
JC Olivera/Getty Images
From left: Janel Parrish, Lana Condor, John Corbett, Emilija Baranac, Sarayu Blue, Ross Butler, Anna Cathcart, Noah Centineo, Madeleine Arthur, Jordan Fisher and Trezzo Mahoro attend the Premiere of Netflix’s “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” at the Egyptian Theatre on Feb. 3, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
JC Olivera/Getty Images
Lana Condor attends the Premiere of Netflix’s “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” at the Egyptian Theatre on Feb. 3, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
Maddie Meyer/FilmMagic
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami, Florida.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Emme Maribel Muñiz and Jennifer Lopez perform onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami, Florida.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Shakira performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2020.
Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Kodak
From left: ‘Auteur Award’ winners Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach and the ‘Maverick Award’ winner Tyler, the Creator, seen at the Fourth Annual Kodak Film Awards at ASC Clubhouse on Jan. 29, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Kodak
From left: ‘Maverick Award’ winner Tyler, the Creator, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ winner Quentin Tarantino and ‘Auteur Award’ winners Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach pose backstage during the Fourth Annual Kodak Film Awards at ASC Clubhouse on Jan. 29, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell pose with the awards for Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Best New Artist, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album during the Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Clifford and his positive life lessons have never gone away in video and book form around the globe, since Scholastic Inc. published Norman Bridwell’s first story in 1963, helping to launch the company as a premier publisher of children’s and young adult fare.
The TV series “Clifford the Big Red Dog” has been on a break at PBS for new episodes since his puppy prequel ended in 2006. The original show premiered in 2000 and ended in 2003, though Clifford has been rerun through the years on TV, along with videos on streaming platforms.
“We know from research that the show’s focus on life lessons is exactly what today’s families are seeking. Research shows that parents’ No. 1 concern today is whether their kids will develop character skills, like kindness, honesty and empathy,” said Lesli Rotenberg, chief programming executive and general manager for children’s media and education at PBS.
In the new series, Clifford and Emily speak to each other, but only when they’re alone. Clifford and his dog pals had always chatted using words instead of woofs, but he was all dog with humans in his past TV life.
“We really wanted to build up the friendship between Clifford and Emily Elizabeth,” said Caitlin Friedman, senior vice president and general manager of Scholastic Entertainment. “And we wanted to bring her more into the adventures. It used to be that Clifford and his dog friends would have their own story and she would dip in and out.”
The look of Clifford hasn’t changed much. His fur is more textured to make him fluffier and he has a bigger, rounder face.
As for the stories, they’re “a little more empowering for girls, as well as for boys,” said Iole Lucchese, president of Scholastic Entertainment and chief strategy officer for Scholastic Inc. “We want to make sure that every child can see themselves in Birdwell Island.”
At least one child is already thrilled.
Hannah, the new voice of Emily Elizabeth, is a Toronto eighth-grader and dog lover who has been acting since she was about 6. She’s been in production on Clifford’s show for more than a year after diving into the books.
“When I booked the role, I was so excited because I knew that these stories were such a big part of people’s childhoods just like they were for my older brothers,” she said.
Hannah, girl to her 11-year-old golden retriever, Lexie, said she has lots in common with Emily Elizabeth.
“We’re both very determined and we won’t stop until we’ve solved the case or resolved the problem. There are many instances in the show where Emily Elizabeth will be on a mission and something is not going her way. She takes charge and she tries to do her best, to do what she can to help. I’m exactly the same way.”
This show and its town, from the early years to present day, is aimed firmly at projecting kindness, empathy and living in harmony. Clifford has also gone a long way in inspiring imaginative play among kids ages 2 to 5, along with teaching such things as phonics and encouraging them to read.
Bridwell, who died in 2014, wrote and illustrated just under 50 of the 500 or so Clifford books that Scholastic has published. He based the girl character on his own daughter, Emily Elizabeth. Today, there are more than 133 million Clifford books in print in 16 different languages.
The original “Clifford the Big Red Dog” series aired in 110 countries. The new series will be available on Amazon Prime Video on Friday and PBS Kids on Saturday.
In addition to the TV reboot, a film is scheduled for release in November 2020, starring Darby Camp as Emily Elizabeth and John Cleese as a mysterious, magical character named Bridwell. Clifford doesn't talk in the movie and Emily was aged up to 12.
Sanders, as a boy, said he was more into silly cartoons than wholesome Clifford.
“I watched some of the old episodes to get a sense of how John Ritter portrayed him as very optimistic and very youthful, full of compassion,” said Sanders, who also lives in Toronto.
Clifford is his first big gig. The animal rights activist and former babysitter and camp counselor couldn’t have asked for a more Zen experience.
“I enjoy my time so much in the booth with the other actors. The show doesn’t really touch on anything modern or political. It’s very innocent,” Sanders said. “The focus is just really on simple core values of family and friendship and community and respect for one another. It brings it down to the basics.”
