Barbie, a fashion doll manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel, has starred or featured in 43 animated feature films and streaming television films since 2001, which has become a core component of an eponymous media franchise.

In response to a growing rise of digital and interactive media as well as the gradual decline of the sales in dolls, toys and accessories in the 1980s, Mattel partnered with animation studios to produce films^[1][2] which were broadcast on Nickelodeon in the United States from 2002^[3] and released on home video formats, originally by Family Home Entertainment and successor Lionsgate, then predominantly by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment,^[4][5] both until 2017. From 2012 onwards, Mattel expanded the franchise beyond just the films to other audiovisual media such as web series, television shows and streaming television content, with the latter following the growing trend of streaming services and online platforms.^[6] In 2020, Mattel revamped the films into streaming television films, branding them as animated "specials" and integrating them into the canon of the inaugural television show in the "Barbie" media franchise, Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures until 2024.^[7][8]

A 2023 live-action film featuring the character and toyline was theatrically released^[9][10][11] by Warner Bros. and Mattel Films, alongside LuckyChap Entertainment and Heyday Films.^[12][13] Its release became part of a suggested double-feature phenomenon named Barbenheimer.

Adaptations and original plots (2001–2009)

Mattel launched its eponymous in-house entertainment division in 2001^[14] and began the Barbie film series by adapting pre-existing stories/tales, with CGI animation provided by Canadian studio Mainframe Entertainment. Elise Allen introduced original storylines to the series through screenwriting the main entries of the Barbie: Fairytopia franchise. In between their co-productions, American studio Curious Pictures pitched in by animating The Barbie Diaries (2006).

In 2007, Mainframe was acquired by local post-production company, Rainmaker Income Fund, rebranding it as Rainmaker Animation initially and then Rainmaker Entertainment the following year. The films during this period were originally distributed on VHS and DVD by Artisan Entertainment and Family Home Entertainment from 2001 until 2004, when both were acquired by and folded into Lionsgate. In 2006, Mattel ceased distribution of the films on VHS and focused solely on DVD; at the same time, Universal (which already held their foreign distribution rights) took over the domestic distribution rights, after negotiations with Lionsgate broke down over the low amount offered by Mattel to continue distributing future Barbie films.^[15] Lionsgate was permitted to continue distribution of the titles released by them up to The Barbie Diaries for several years after; these rights eventually reverted to Mattel, who then authorized Universal to begin reissuing these titles.^[4][5]

#	Title	Release date	Director	Writer(s)	Ref.
1	Barbie in the Nutcracker	October 2, 2001	Owen Hurley	Rob Hudnut, Linda Engelsiepen & Hilary Hinkle	[16]
2	Barbie as Rapunzel	October 1, 2002		Elana Lesser & Cliff Ruby	[17]
3	Barbie of Swan Lake	September 30, 2003			[18]
4	Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper	September 28, 2004	William Lau		[19]
5	Barbie: Fairytopia	March 8, 2005	Walter P. Martishius	Elise Allen & Diane Duane	[20]
6	Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus	September 20, 2005	Greg Richardson	Elana Lesser & Cliff Ruby	[21]
7	Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia/Barbie: Mermaidia	March 14, 2006	William Lau & Walter P. Martishius	Elise Allen & Diane Duane	[22]
8	The Barbie Diaries	May 9, 2006	Eric Fogel	Elise Allen & Laura McCreary	[23]
9	Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses	September 19, 2006	Greg Richardson	Elana Lesser & Cliff Ruby	[24]
10	Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow	March 13, 2007	William Lau	Elise Allen	[25]
11	Barbie as the Island Princess	September 18, 2007	Greg Richardson	Elana Lesser & Cliff Ruby	[26]
12	Barbie: Mariposa	February 26, 2008	Conrad Helten	Elise Allen	[27]
13	Barbie & the Diamond Castle	September 9, 2008	Gino Nichelle	Elana Lesser & Cliff Ruby	[28]
14	Barbie in A Christmas Carol	November 4, 2008	William Lau	Elise Allen	[29]
15	Barbie Presents: Thumbelina	March 17, 2009	Conrad Helten		[30]
16	Barbie and the Three Musketeers	September 15, 2009	William Lau	Amy Wolfram	[31]

Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001)

Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann and The Nutcracker ballet music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, this inaugural film in the series stars Barbie narrating a story to her younger sister, Kelly, a story about a young girl named Clara who gets a beautiful wooden nutcracker from her aunt Elizabeth as a Christmas gift. Later that night, the toy comes alive to protect Clara from the evil Mouse King's soldiers. Clara gets shrunk to toy size and along with her brave Nutcracker goes in search of a magical Sugarplum Princess to reverse a spell. In the midst of the adventure is the live nutcracker toy dancing with Clara at two intervals in the film.

Barbie as Rapunzel (2002)

This 2nd entry based on the classic tale by the Brothers Grimm stars Barbie as Rapunzel, who is trapped in a tall tower by an evil witch. Hidden from the outside world, Rapunzel spends much of her day painting and dreaming of a happier life. After many years alone Rapunzel goes on a journey with her friends Penelope and Hobie to find her happily ever after. Written by Leila Kramer

Barbie of Swan Lake (2003)

The 2nd ballet Barbie film in the franchise. Based on the Swan Lake ballet music by Tchaikovsky, this 3rd film revolves around Barbie playing Odette, a young daughter of a baker, who one day follows a unicorn by name Lila into an enchanted forest. Odette gets turned into a swan by a wicked wizard who is trying to overthrow the Fairy Queen. She goes to save the Enchanted Forest.

Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (2004)

Based on the Mark Twain classic tale and the first musical film in the series, this 4th film stars Barbie as the dual role of blonde Princess Anneliese and brunette commoner Erika, who go along a journey towards a lifelong friendship. The two soon discover the Queen's advisor, Preminger, has evil plans to take endless power for himself. Only Erika knows how to help her.

Following the original release of this film, Lionsgate would acquire Artisan Entertainment and Family Home Entertainment and thus in the process take over the original distribution rights to/of the films.

Barbie: Fairytopia (2005)

The 5th entry and the first ever original film in the series stars Barbie as a wingless fairy named Elina who lives in a flower named Peony in a magical meadow with her puffball best friend, Bibble. Many of Elina's winged friends lose their flying abilities and become weak due to a green-colored potion spread throughout the meadow by firebirds sent by an evil fairy named Laverna. Elina sets off to save her meadow and her friends by tracking down Azura, one of 7 Guardian Fairies.

This film was released in the spring, breaking the one-film-per-year autumn/fall release cycle of the previous films.

Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005)

This 6th film entry and the 2nd original film in the series stars Barbie as a talented ice skater named Princess Annika. When her family and village are attacked by the evil Wenlock, she embarks on a journey along with a hunter she encounters to Cloud Kingdom on the back of her flying pegasus, Brietta, who is the cursed older sister of Annika. Together, they uncover family secrets and make a plan to defeat Wenlock to save their people.

Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia (2006)

The 7th entry and the final Barbie film to be originally released on VHS follows on from Barbie: Fairytopia where Barbie's character in the film, Elina, was rewarded for her bravery to battle Laverna with her own new pair of wings. She is unexpectedly thrust into battle with Laverna again, this time through her fungal minions who had kidnapped the mer-prince Nalu. Laverna gave the leader of the fungi, Fungus Maximus, a vile potion to threaten a pollution to the sea and all aquatic life unless Nalu gives them the secret location of a magical Immunity Berry, which would make whoever eats it immune to all magic regardless of time. Elina and Bibble enter the mermaid cove and overhear a mermaid named Nori call out Nalu. Elina came to tell her where he was, but Nori wants nothing to do with Elina or follow her to Mermaidia due to her previous appearance whiles on a chased by Laverna's fire-birds.

Bibble encounters a sea tortoise who would give him and Elina a magical seaweed, so they could breathe underwater and answer with action Elina's request to lead both of them to Mermaidia. Before entering there though, they meet a dolphin and a seahorse. In Mermaidia, Elina sees Nori with smaller mermaids who were romantically mocking her when she was seeking information from them about the whereabouts of an oracle creature named Delphine so she could find Nalu. When Nori demanded their serious attention to her plea, the mermaids instead saw and ran the turtle and the sea horse whom Elina and Bibble followed. Nori eventually gave in to helping Elina but antagonized her one more time by competing with her over who will reach the crystal cove. Upon finding Delphine, Elina used the rainbow in her eyes to coax the location of Nalu out of her, but she could only get a mermaid transformation necklace and the location to the Depths of Despair, which annoys Nori. At the Depths, Nori got trapped by hostile leaves of a plant and began calling Elina for help. Due to the water currents, Elina could not rescue her until she traded her wings for a mermaid tail. After rescuing her, both girls swam to the Mirror of the Mist and asked for Nalu's location. When they got it, the mirror gave them a beacon to lead them there straightaway. Along the journey, they navigated hot geysers and entered a land of alternate-action fruits. When Nori showed Elina the true-self berry, Elina teased her if there was anything like a love potion berries and that she could give some Nalu, which coaxed the romantic guilt out of her. After they battled with the Fungi, whose leader, Maximus, escaped with the true-self berry instead of the much-sought-after immunity berry and permanently made Elina a mermaid. Nori took one of the true-self berries and gave it to Elina to eat and hope for her wings to be restored, which it did, but with larger size and design. Nalu then confirmed what the tiny mermaids and Elina was saying about Nori's relationship with her by holding her hand. Nori verbally thought Nalu was rather in love with Elina, but Elina herself clarified that they were "just friends". Meanwhile, Maximus brought the true-self berry to Laverna, but after she took it and ate, she transformed into a toad and vowed to get revenge on Elina if it is the last thing she would do. Upon returning to Fairytopia, Elina and Bibble met Dandelion and Azura. Azura had a guardian meeting right after welcoming Elina back.

Following the original release of this film, Mattel ceased future Barbie film releases on VHS, as the format was gradually deprecating in market share and worldwide popularity at the time.

The Barbie Diaries (2006)

This 8th entry is the first to solely be originally released on DVD, the last Barbie film to be originally distributed by Lionsgate and the only Barbie film produced by Curious Pictures. This film stars Barbie in her inaugural standalone character and her best friends Tia, Courtney and Kevin as sophomores in high school. The four stick together as they face high school challenges whiles making music under their band name "Charmz". Barbie strives to land her dream job at the school's TV station but has to battle the school's most popular girl, Raquelle, and juggle her boy crush feelings, both with the school's top jock, Todd, and her own male best friend, Kevin, at the same time. With Raquelle advancing on Todd. One day, with her friends with her, Barbie opens her locker and a letter slipped to the floor. When she took it and read it out loud, her friends recognize that Barbie has a secret admirer, but Barbie would not admit it. Barbie begins to lean on a magic diary given to her by a kind and fun-to-be-with sales girl named Stephanie to help strengthen her confidence and go for her dreams. Barbie would later "rock the house" with Charmz in place of her reporter dream. Kevin would eventually have hold of Raquelle's necklace which she inexplicably let slip from her hands and hand it to Barbie, who was dazzled at its beauty. Whiles, he was explaining his "secret admirer" status, Barbie chose to interrupt him in favor of dancing with her.

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006)

Based on the eponymous tale by the Brothers Grimm, the 9th entry, the 3rd ballet film, and the first Barbie film to be originally distributed by Universal tells the story of a widowed King Randolph and his 12 daughters, including the most outgoing of them all, Princess Genevieve, played by Barbie. To ensure his daughters grow up to learn to behave like proper ladies, the King enlists his less fortunate cousin, Duchess Rowena, to teach the girls about royal etiquette. Little does he know that the Duchess wants to end his life and take over the kingdom for herself. In the midst of the plot, there are 4 dance scenes at different intervals of the film.

Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow (2007)

The 10th entry and the final part of the Barbie: Fairytopia trilogy follows Elina to fairy school where she learns fairy magic and dancing. Once again, Laverna comes up with an evil plan to stop the fairies from performing their annual rainbow dance, destroy a tulip called the "first blush of spring" and plunge all of Fairytopia into darkness and winter. Elina and her classmates have to learn to set their differences aside and unite to stop Laverna once and for all and save Fairytopia.

This film is the last to be produced by Mainframe under the Mainframe Entertainment name.

Barbie as the Island Princess (2007)

This 11th film entry, the second musical film in the series and the only film to be produced by Mainframe Studios under the Rainmaker Animation name following the Rainmaker Income Fund acquisition stars Barbie as a shipwrecked young girl named Rosella who lands and grows up on an island along with its inhabitant anthropomorphic animals. One day, a prince named Antonio and his right-hand man, Fraser, arrives on the island and meets Rosella, who was at first known as simply Ro, and her pet friends to explore civilization. Together, they discover a plot to recover Ro's kingdom and do what they can to try and save the day.

Barbie: Mariposa (2008)

Alternatively titled Barbie Fairytopia: Mariposa and Barbie: Mariposa & Her Butterfly Fairy Friends, this 12th film entry in the series is the first of 2 spin-offs of the Barbie: Fairytopia trilogy-turned-franchise and the first to be produced by Mainframe Studios under the Rainmaker Entertainment name.

In this film, Elina narrates a story about a fairy named Mariposa and her friends, Rayna and Rayla, living in a distant kingdom in Fairytopia known as Flutterfield which is protected by its magical lights put in place by its ruler, Queen Marabella. Facing internal tension with the Queen's own attendant, Lord Gastrous, and her son, Prince Carlos, Henna wants the power of the Queen and tries to take over the kingdom for herself. Mariposa and her friends take it upon themselves to venture into enemy territory to find an antidote for their beloved Queen.

Barbie & the Diamond Castle (2008)

This 13th film entry and the 3rd musical film stars Barbie and her best friend Teresa, appearing as a side character for the first time in a mainstream Barbie production, sharing their love of music. It is the first film to feature Stacy, replacing Kelly, who originally was told stories by Barbie. The two friends star as Liana and Alexa, two girls who live in a cottage with big dreams. After finding a muse named Melody trapped in a mirror, they both embark on a journey to restore a Diamond Castle, before Lydia, a witch who has betrayed the muses takes the castle for herself.

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Barbie:_Spy_Squad
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