Since her film debut in 1987 in Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World, Barbie has been a virtual actress starring in several feature films and short films. After a fourteen year absence, Mattel commissioned Barbie to be featured as a heroine of several princess or fairy themed stories to accompany a franchise of related dolls and accessories.
Since the release of Barbie in the Nutcracker in 2001, Kelly Sheridan has consistently provided the speaking voice to Barbie to almost all films.
Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World
| Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Eric S. Rollman Andy Heyward |
| Written by | Bill Dubay Martha Moran Ruth Handler John Paul M. Sacedor |
| Starring | Sharon Lewis |
| Music by | Haim Saban Shuki Levy |
| Release date(s) | 1987 |
| Running time | 50 min. |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Followed by | Barbie and The Sensations: Rockin' Back to Earth |
Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World is a 1987 TV special created by DIC Entertainment with Saban Productions featuring popular Mattel character Barbie. The story was based upon the Barbie and the Rockers line of dolls, which featured Barbie as the leader of a rock band. The special originally aired in syndication as a two-part TV "mini-series" with each installment lasting approximately 25 minutes; part two was entitled "Barbie and the Sensations: Rockin' Back to Earth". The two-part special was later released on video as a single "movie".
Plot
After the first great concert for peace in space, Barbie and her band The Rockers are going to come back home. During the trip back to earth, on the space shuttle, they start to play a song ("Rockin Back"), few seconds later a "time warp" tunnel is forming in front of the Shuttle. Then they see there are a lot of clocks going backward inside the tunnel, at the end of that, the Shuttle lands on a strange airport. After the landing they meet Dr. Merrishaw (probably an astronomer engineer) and his daughter Kim, and learn they are in the year 1959, and then brings them around the city to have a look change. At the end, after a performance at Cape Canaveral, Dr. Merrishaw helps Barbie and the Rockers return to their time. Back in the present, they have a big concert, where Barbie is reunited with an adult Kim and meets her daughter Megan.
Songs
- Rockin Back
- Dressin Up
- Do you wanna dance? (Bobby Freeman cover)
- Here comes my baby (Cat Stevens cover)
- Blue Jean Boy
- Everybody Rocks
- Ending Titles - Barbie and The Rockers Theme Instrumental
Barbie and the Sensations: Rockin' Back to Earth
Production
Released in 1987, "Barbie and the Rockers" employed standard 2-D cel animation. The film was directed by Bernard Deyries and Bill Dubay and written by Dubay, Martha Moran and Barbie creator Ruth Handler. The film was produced by Eric S. Rollman.
Plot
Barbie's rock band has just completed a successful World Tour and decides to perform one last concert in Space, while orbiting the earth, to promote world peace. Then in Part 2 ("Barbie and the Sensations"), when Barbie and her band, whose name has unexplainably been changed to the Sensations, come back to Earth, they find that they have inadvertently traveled back to 1959 (which happens to be the year the first Barbie dolls were introduced).
Songs
Here's the titles of the songs in order of appearance in "Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World":
- Barbie and the rockers theme
- Catch us if you can (Dave Clark Five cover)
- Best Friends
- I'm happy just to dance with you (The Beatles cover)
- Do you believe in magic? (The Lovin' Spoonful cover)
- Reachin for the stars
- Everybody Rocks
DVD Release Status
The miniseries has not been seen since its original broadcast, and the VHS release has been out of print since the 1980s. The film has not been released on DVD. Additionally, of the songs performed by the group, four of the songs are covers: Do You Believe in Magic, originally recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, I'm Happy Just to Dance With You, originally recorded by The Beatles, Here Comes My Baby, originally recorded by Cat Stevens, and Do You Wanna Dance, originally recorded by Bobby Freeman. For any DVD release, these songs would have to be licensed.
Cast
- Sharon Lewis - Barbie
The Nutcracker
| Barbie in the Nutcracker | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | Owen Hurley |
| Produced by | Jesyca C. Durchin Jennifer Twiner McCarron |
| Written by | Linda Engelsiepen Hilary Hinkle Rob Hudnut (screenplay) Ruth Handler (characters) E. T. A. Hoffmann (original story) |
| Starring | Kelly Sheridan Tim Curry Kirby Morrow Chantal Strand |
| Music by | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky |
| Editing by | Anne Hoerber |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate |
| Release date(s) | October 23, 2001 |
| Running time | 78 min. |
| Language | English |
| Followed by | Barbie as Rapunzel |
Barbie in the Nutcracker is a 2001 computer animated direct-to-video Barbie film directed by Owen Hurley. It is the first Barbie film since 1987's Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World. Barbie's Nutcracker is the first in the Barbie film series of computer animated Barbie films, all of which feature the voice of Kelly Sheridan as the Barbie protagonist. The story is loosely adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann's story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. this was the most succssful film in the series.
Plot
The story is being told by Barbie to her little sister Kelly as a way of cheering her up after Kelly gives up on her ballet lesson.
Clara lives with her stern Grandfather Drosselmeyer and younger brother, Tommy. On Christmas Eve, the family receives a surprise visit from the vivacious Aunt Drosselmeyer, who comes bearing gifts for her niece and nephew. Clara receives a Nutcracker, but Tommy, jealous that Clara got such a strange gift, tries to take it away and breaks it.
Clara manages to fix the Nutcracker and falls asleep near the Christmas tree. She awakes to see her Nutcracker fighting the Mouse King and his mouse army. When Clara tries to help, the Mouse King shrinks her down to his size, though he is still unable to defeat them and temporarily retreats.
The Nutcracker reveals that he has been enchanted and seeks to find the Sugarplum Princess, the only person who can stop the Mouse King from taking over his world. Following the advice of the wise owl of the grandfather clock, the Nutcracker suggests that Clara follow him, since the Sugarplum Princess is the only one who can make Clara her original size again. A wooden owl on the clock that has come to life gave Clara a heart-shaped locket from a ballet dancer ornament. This locket has the power to send Clara back home after they find the Sugarplum Princess. With that, the Nutcracker and Clara set off on their journey.
The two journey into the Land of Sweets, where the locals reveal that the rightful heir to the throne, Prince Eric, has gone missing in the wake of the Mouse King's attempts to conquer the world. Clara quickly figures out that her Nutcracker is the missing prince and he reveals that his irresponsibility is the reason why he was enchanted by the Mouse King in the first place. He knows he must take responsibility for his past actions hopes to redeem himself by finding the Sugarplum Princess and make things right again.
Joined by the arrogant Major Mint and Captain Candy, the group sets out to find the Sugarplum Princess and defeat the Mouse King, who is watching and attempting to sabotage them along the way. When Clara is separated from the group, who are all captured by the Mouse King, she ventures alone to the Mouse King's palace to free her friends.
After being freed, the Nutcracker fights a final battle with the Mouse King. Just as the Mouse King seemingly gets an advantage over the Nutcracker, Clara leaps in between them. The Mouse King tries to turn Clara smaller, but the Nutcracker uses his sword to defect the Mouse King's magic back to the Mouse King himself. The Mouse King shrinks into the size of a real mouse and flees into the sewers.
Once the Mouse King is defeated, Clara is revealed to be the Sugarplum Princess. Then the Nutcracker's enchantment is broken and he returns to his true form. Clara and Prince Eric, who have fallen in love with one another, dance as the citizens of the Land of Sweets celebrate their victory. However, The shrunken Mouse King makes one final attempt to defeat Clara, He swoops down on Clara upon his bat minion's back and steals the heart shaped locket she wore and opened it. Thus Clara fades away, much to the couple's despair. Fortunately, the Mouse King doesn't enjoy his victory for long, as he fell to the ground (presumably to his death) after his bat minion was knocked out cold by a snowball.
Clara wakes up in the living room where she fell asleep. Disappointed that her adventure was a dream, she greets her grandfather and Aunt Drosselmeyer, who has brought the son of a friend to visit. Clara is surprised and happy to see the young man is actually Eric and the couple happily finish their dance. The snowglobe shows the Prince and the Sugarplum Princess dancing happily in the Palace courtyard.
The story goes back to Kelly and Barbie. Kelly realizes the importance of not giving up and makes one more attempt at the ballet move she just can't do. Kelly and Barbie dance to the music and Kelly finally gets her steps right.
Voice cast
- Kelly Sheridan as Barbie, Clara/The Sugarplum Princess
- Kirby Morrow as The Nutcracker Prince/Prince Eric
- Tim Curry as The Mouse King
- Peter Kelamis as Pimm
- Christopher Gaze as Major Mint
- Ian James Corlett as Captain Candy
- Chantal Strand as Kelly
- Kathleen Barr as Aunt Elisabeth Drosselmayer/Owl
- French Tickner as Grandfather Drosselmayer
- Alex Doduk as Tommy
- Danny McKinnon as Gingerbread boy
Theatres release
In October 23, 2001 the movie has a limited release in cinemas for a week. It was a success, but until October 1, 2003 no other cinemas have had video releases.
Rapunzel
| Barbie as Rapunzel | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover. |
|
| Directed by | Owen Hurley |
| Produced by | Jesyca C. Durchin Jennifer Twiner McCarron |
| Written by | Elana Lesser Cliff Ruby Brothers Grimm (fairytale) |
| Music by | Arnie Roth |
| Editing by | Greg Richardson |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate |
| Release date(s) | October 1, 2002 |
| Running time | 83 min. |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | Barbie in the Nutcracker |
| Followed by | Barbie of Swan Lake |
Barbie as Rapunzel is a 2002 direct-to-video Barbie film directed by Owen Hurley. It is the second in in the Barbie film series of computer animated Barbie films, and features the voice of Kelly Sheridan as Barbie. The story is adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Rapunzel".
Plot
The story is being told by Barbie to her little sister Kelly, who does not have confidence in her painting abilities.
Rapunzel lives as a servant to the witch Gothel, who resides in a castle isolated in the woods. She grows up believing that Gothel saved her from abandonment as an infant. Rapunzel finds companionship in Penelope, an outgoing dragon, and Hobie, a worrisome rabbit. Rapunzel spends what free time she has painting pictures of her friends and a dream castle by the sea.
One afternoon, while preparing tea for Gothel, Rapunzel and her animal friends find a secret staircase which leads to an old room below the manor. In it they discover a gift from her parents who allegedly deserted her: a silver hairbrush engraved with the following: “Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved. To our daughter, Rapunzel on her first birthday. With Love Forever, mother and father.” These words leave the young artist questioning her past for the first time. Her diversion is quickly interrupted by Gothel’s calls for tea.
After serving Gothel her meal, Rapunzel and her friends revisit the cellar where they expose yet another secret: a tunnel leading to the nearby village. Rapunzel takes this path to the small kingdom and is able to rescue a princess named Katrina from a pitfall. For her good deed, Rapunzel is introduced to Katrina’s elder brother, the handsome Prince Stefan. He explains to her that the trap Katrina managed to escape was put there by King Wilhelm, the ruler of an opposing kingdom. Enchanted by the mysterious maiden, Stefan asks to meet her again, to which she agrees, though their meeting is ended abruptly before Stefan could tell her his name when she quickly rushes back to the woods to avoid being discovered by Gothel. Unknown to Rapunzel, Gothel's pet ferret, Otto, has witnessed the entire exchange.
Gothel punishes Rapunzel for her behavior, transforming her bedroom into a high tower and stations Hugo, Penelope's father, outside. Gothel refuses to let Rapunzel go until she tells her the name of the boy she met.
That night, Rapunzel has a dream that Prince Stefan found her tower. He came up by climbing her long hair. When up there, they are about to kiss, but Gothel shows up and separates them. Rapunzel then wakes up and reads the engraving on the hairbrush. She realizes that there is still hope.
Rapunzel is left alone with Hobie and Penelope, who cheer her up with new paint to replace the ones taken away from by Gothel. The hairbrush, which turned into a paintbrush, has magical properties and whatever Rapunzel paints comes to life. She paints her way out of the tower by creating a secret passageway into the palace gardens and continues to secretly meet with Prince Stefan although she still doesn't know his name.
One time, Prince Stefan asked Rapunzel to a masked ball. She said that she would meet him there. He says that her hair is a 'beautiful give away.' Penelope then tells Rapunzel that if Gothel finds out she's gone, Gothel will hurt Hugo. She decides to go. Before they go, she paints a picture of the tower on a door by the castle, so they can escape faster.
When back at the tower, Rapunzel uses the paintbrush to paint herself a beautiful gown. Hobie and Penelope provide a mask. They don't notice that Otto is outside watching.
Once again, Gothel discovers the truth from Otto. She cuts off some of Rapunzel's hair and destroys her magic paintbrush and the paintings she'd made. Because she thinks Rapunzel refused to tell the truth, Gothel puts a spell around her tower, which holds people who lie forever and can never be broken. An angered Gothel storms to King Frederick and Stefan's castle, intent on destroying them. Back at the tower, Rapunzel manages to escape with the help of Penelope and Hugo, as the spell only works if the prisoner is a liar, and rushes to save Stefan.
Wilhelm appears before Frederick, hoping to end the feud by force. It is revealed the source of the feud was because he believes Frederick kidnapped his daughter, who has been missing since she was an infant. Frederick replies that he planned nothing of the sort and he has no idea where Wilhelm's daughter is. Rapunzel arrives just in time to stop them from fighting and Wilhelm recognizes her as his daughter. It is revealed that Gothel has loved Wilhelm and was broken-hearted when she learned that he only looked to her as a friend, and decided to kidnap his daughter.
A brief skirmish ensues, and Gothel begins to attack Rapunzel with magic. As Rapunzel runs into the royal maze she remembers the magic painting of the tower and trick Gothel into falling into it—which Hugo reminds her she can't escape having a lying heart. Otto is now forced to do all the labor for her.
Rapunzel is reunited with her father, and marries Stefan, thus their fathers reconcile to re-unite their kingdoms, with Hugo, Penelope, Hobie living in the castle with them. And a shot is seen of the couple walking along a beach, which is the same one as Rapunzel painted with a castle in the distance, implying her dreams came true.
Kelly now feels better and begins painting with blue which turns into the credits.
Cast
- Kelly Sheridan as Barbie & Rapunzel
- Chantal Strand as Kelly and Princess Katrina
- Anjelica Huston as Gothel
- Mark Hildreth as Prince Stefan
- Cree Summer as Penelope
- David Kaye as Hugo
- Ian James Corlett as Hobie
- Christopher Gaze as King Frederick
- Russell Roberts as King Wilhelm
Music
The film makes heavy use of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, also known as the New World Symphony - presumably a reference to Rapunzel's venture into the 'new world' of the village.
Swan Lake
Barbie of Swan Lake was released in 2003. The story is loosely adapted from the Swan Lake ballet and features the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The Princess and the Pauper
Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper was launched and promoted as "Barbie's first musical" in 2004. This release was heavily marketed and even had its own float in the 2004 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is loosely based on the Mark Twain story The Prince and the Pauper. It is not, however, related to the 1939 film The Princess and the Pauper.
Fairytopia series
Fairytopia is the second Barbie movie to have sequels. The Fairytopia series includes:
- Barbie: Fairytopia (2005)
- Barbie: Mermaidia (2006)
- Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow (2007)
- Barbie Mariposa (2008)
- Barbie Fairytopia: Magical Twist of Time (2009 or 2011?)
The Magic of Pegasus
Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus, released in 2005, is a variation of the princess rescuing the prince theme.
Barbie Diaries
The Barbie Diaries features Barbie as a teenager who starts a band with her best friends, and comes into the possession of a seemingly magical diary. The film was released in 2006.
The 12 Dancing Princesses
Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006) is loosely based on the fairytale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."
The Island Princess
2007's Barbie as the Island Princess places Barbie on an island in the make believe Southern Seas.
The Diamond Castle
Barbie and the Diamond Castle was released on September 9, 2008. It was marketed and promoted as "Barbie's first best friends movie"; the film co-stars Teresa, a doll from the main toy line. It is the first movie in the series since Swan Lake in which the film's events are told in the form of a story by the main Barbie character, although this time the story is told to her sister Stacie (whereas previously, Barbie told the stories to her sister Kelly).
A Christmas Carol
Barbie in a Christmas Carol was released on November 4, 2008. It was promoted as "Barbie in her first Christmas movie". It follows a girl named Eden Starling who doesn't believe in Christmas.
Thumbelina
Barbie Thumbelina was released on March 17, 2009 and is based loosely on the fairy tale of Thumbelina.
The Three Musketeers
Barbie and the Three Musketeers was released on September 15, 2009. It is based on the classic Alexandre Dumas tale The Three Musketeers.
A Mermaid Tale
Barbie in A Mermaid Tale is an upcoming movie to be released in Spring 2010, in which Barbie plays a superstar surfer in Malibu who doesn't know that she is really a mermaid.(details: her hair turn pink in the sea,she can breath under water, and talk to dolphins.) [1]
References
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