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\"Clifford the Big Red Dog\" is inspired by the best-selling Scholastic books of the same name written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell. Scholastic published the first “Clifford the Big Red Dog” title in 1963.

While developing his characters, Bridwell said he wanted to call the dog \"Tiny,\" but his wife, Norma, said \"that was boring and suggested 'Clifford' after an imaginary friend from her childhood,\" according to Scholastic's biography on Bridwell, who died in 2014.

Bridwell named Clifford's owner Emily Elizabeth, after his young daughter.

\"PHOTO:
Jemal Countess/Getty Images, FILE
PHOTO: Cartoon personality Clifford the Big Red Dog poses for photos before at the Scholastic Parent & Child's "Family of the Year" event at Scholastic Flagship Store, May 25, 2010, in New York.
>

The first television series ran on PBS Kids in 2000 with the late actor John Ritter voicing Clifford. Ritter died in 2003, but was posthumously nominated a year later for a Daytime Emmy for outstanding performer in an animated program.

There is no news yet on who will voice Clifford on the reboot, a rep for Scholastic Entertainment said.

The program has aired in 110 countries around the globe and inspired a spinoff, the Emmy-winning \"Clifford’s Puppy Days.\" With more than 133 million books in print in 16 different languages, it's fair to say that loyal and lovable Clifford continues to touch the hearts of many for 55 years and counting.

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