The beginnings of Barbie on the big screen – retroseans of Barbie animation from 2001-2009, part 1

Barbie doll is known all over the world. In 2001, the blonde-haired beauty made her debut on the big screen. Fairy-tale and magical stories, filled with wise morals, have been forever in my memory and in the minds of many other people of my generation. With the nostalgia and a bit of magic that I took with me on my way back from Fairyland, I would like to remind you of the wonderful stories that Mattel used to create. I invite you to Retroseans of the first Barbie animations.

 

2001: Barbie in The Nutcracker

The first film title with Barbie in the lead role takes us to the world straight from the ballet of Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The doll plays the role of Klara – a teenager who experiences an extraordinary adventure during Christmas. All thanks to the gift she receives under the Christmas tree. Aunt, who had returned from a long journey, gave her a Nutcracker figurine. When Klara went to sleep, the inconspicuous toy came to life. The Mouse King also appeared in her house, along with his mouse army. It turned out that he was chasing the title character. In a whirlwind of events, the Mouse King cast a spell on Clara, whom he had reduced to his size. In order to reverse the spell, Clara and Grandpa must find the Sugar Princess – only she is powerful enough to break it. 

The whole adventure of Klara and the Nutcracker takes place to the accompaniment of the brilliant ballet by Tchaikovsky. As a result, the film is full of sequences where the two main characters spin in a beautiful dance.

I must admit that despite the great sentiment towards this title, it is not my favorite. However, it certainly deserves to be called beautiful, thanks to its unique atmosphere and omnipresent magic. If I could change anything, then the ending – to a more understandable and explainable one. Either way, Barbie in The Nutcracker is a great start to the series.

2002: Barbie as Rapunzel

Of all the titles to which I returned after many years, this one I remember the least. I was skeptical, but I was not disappointed because it is a great interpretation of a German fairy tale.

The title character is imprisoned by Gothel, who convinced her that her parents abandoned her when she was little. At one point, the girl discovers a tunnel leading outside. In the city she meets Prince Stefan, and when her evil stepmother finds out about it, he locks her in the tower. I can reveal that Rapunzel sneaks out of the building a bit differently than in a classic fairy tale, which also carries a certain message. 

I love this Gothel edition. A woman is indeed bad to the core, but at the same time there are some reasons that explain her cruel behavior. I am very intrigued by bad characters with an interesting background, and in Barbie’s animations there are few heroes who go down that path for no reason.

The film also touches upon another important topic – war and conflict. This plot is fairly modest, but the character played by Barbie is openly against it. There are plenty of tiny, moralizing digressions in these animations, which is their undeniable advantage, especially when it comes to showing them to children.

I don’t recommend comparing this title with Disney’s Tangled . Both stories, although they are about the same princess, are very different. 

2003: Barbie of Swan Lake

Swan Lake Barbie is a title that definitely belongs to my top five Barbie movies. We return to the world of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, but with an even stronger punch. Odetta, the main character, ends up in an enchanted forest. From the very beginning you can clearly see that the girl has a very noble heart, which is only confirmed later. It turns out that only she can undo the evil spell cast on the forest. To do this, he has to face the evil cousin of the Queen of the Enchanted Forest, Rothbart, and his daughter, Odylia (who, to be honest, poses absolutely no threat without her father). 

Beautiful scenery, breathtaking music, otherworldly dance sequences in which Odetta participates with the prince, and sometimes even other heroes of the story – all this makes the Swan Lake Barbie a real work of art. There is a tear in the eye. 

It is also the first of the mentioned animations, where so many characters made such a big impression on me. The Queen of the Forest, Rothbart and Odylia are well-written personalities that give this title a unique character. I must also mention Odetta’s dress – it is one of the most beautiful creations I have ever seen.

2004: Barbie as the Princess and the Beggar

Definitely one of my top three favorite parts, and also the first Barbie musical . I was crazy about him as a little girl. No other title in the series has a storyline as complex and clever as this one. We meet Anna Luiza – a princess who must marry King Dominik, the ruler of a neighboring wealthy country, in order to save the kingdom, which is slowly declining economically. The second protagonist is the beggar Eryka, who deals with making dresses and singing in the street on a daily basis. Interestingly, despite the fact that both women come from such different spheres, they are connected by their appearance – they are twin similar to each other, which will later become the main plot of a court intrigue. I would also like to add that the antagonist is one of the most characteristic villains of this series.

The best part of this animation, apart from the songs that I know by heart of course, is its message. The plot strongly emphasizes that life writes unexpected scenarios and that we are all human and we have our feelings and troubles, regardless of our financial status. Everyone should, in the first place, chase happiness and dreams, and as one of the songs in the film says You Have a Chance, Start Again, Awaken Faith in Yourself Again . I think even for adults, this moral is important. It touched me very much. 

The princess and the beggar is also unique in terms of romantic themes. Despite the mesallity, the characters fall in love with their true selves. A second such romantic story with a candle to look for.

In this case, I must also praise the dresses of the title characters – the designers did their best. 

2005: Barbie from Fairyland

It’s also one of my favorite items on this list, both now and fifteen years ago. The Fairyland tells the story of a wingless fairy – Elina. In the Magic Meadow, everyone points their fingers at her because of this unusual quality. Suddenly, it turns out that one of the Guardians defending the peaceful land of fairies has been kidnapped and only Elina has the courage to save herself and others. 

I will give Elina a little more attention than others because, in my opinion, it is a real inspiration for young viewers. Despite the fact that she was different from the others, she was not worse than them, and in the end she showed even more courage than the rest. A real example to follow that shows that you have to believe in yourself.

In this adventure, alongside the main character, there are many supporting characters that should be mentioned. Her sweet little friend Bibi, the prudent Guardian of Azura, a loyal friend of Chrysanthemum, the noble Sorceress and her evil sister Laverna – each of them is, in its own way, unique and worth remembering. I would especially like to highlight Lavern, who is a perfect example that there are intriguing villains in Barbie’s animations who can even be excused.

I will also return here to the topic of the “little moralizing digressions” that I mentioned when describing Rapunzel . From this movie, and as an adult, I learned one wisdom. At one point, Elina visits Guardian Azura, who invites her to the table where all the place settings are prepared, but no one sits at his side. When Elina asks Azura who these places are prepared for, the hostess replies that they are for friends she has not met yet. These words stuck in my head extremely because they remind us of how unpredictable and surprising the future can be. It is worth being nice and helpful to people, because you never know who will become our friend one day. 

I also liked that the story lacked the prince and the romantic story. Elina is so independent that she is doing great on her own.

The fairies in this production are absolutely beautiful. From wings, through dresses resembling flowers, to wonderful pendants in the shape of colorful butterflies. In addition, Elina lives in a big flower, Peonia, which is original and charming in itself.

SPOILER: The animation ends with Elina finally getting her dream wings from the Sorceress, ruler of the Fairyland. As a child, I really thought that someday I would get mine and tell you, completely honestly, that I am still waiting.

2005: Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus

Barbie and the Magic of Pegasusthis is another of my beloved parts. This time, Barbie takes us to a winter land, specifically to a kingdom where the parents of the main character, Annika, rule. During the celebration of her birthday, when the girl sneaked out of the castle without the knowledge of her parents to skate, they were visited by Wenlock – the evil sorcerer who turned Annika’s sister into a pegasus seventeen years earlier. This time he came to propose marriage to the princess. He did not react well to the refusal, and in anger he turned all gathered, except Annika, into stone. When she was about to flee, Wenlock threatened that she had three days to become his wife or her parents, and the subjects would be turned to stone forever. Fortunately, there is a solution. In order to defeat her would-be spouse, Annika must create the mythical Wand of Light. Without hesitating, he sets out in search of its three elements: the Measure of Courage, the Jewel of Ice illuminated by the flame of hope, and the Ring of Love. Meanwhile, he runs into Aidan, who is one of the best written male characters in Barbie. 

The best part of the story is the characters. What rarely happens in children’s animations, here too the positive characters make mistakes, get angry and don’t always act morally. The operation of the Wand of Light is equally interesting. Well, the wand will only work if the person speaking the spell has good intentions, full of love and a desire to help. When the user of the Wand has bad intentions, full of hatred, the magic artifact just won’t work. 

Pegasus magic is a feast for the eyes. The Kingdom of the Clouds looks amazing, and the princess’s outfits can also make a great impression on the viewer. This film is played by Beethoven’s music, which is perfect for all ice skating scenes.

2006: Barbie: Mermaid Land

In Mermaid Land we return to our heroic fairy Elina. She has already won the respect of her local community after saving the world from Laverna’s evil plans the last time. The plot of this part is quite surprising. Elina is going to help the hero, whom we barely had time to meet in the previous installment. Namely, during the Fairyland action , our fairy met the prince of Mermaidland, Nalu. Unfortunately, he found himself in trouble, so Elina, as a great friend, without hesitation sets out into the world to save him. On the way, she meets the mermaid Nori, whom she transforms from a feisty arrogant into a sincere and loyal friend. The only question is whether Elina will find the courage to change her newly acquired wings for a tail to dive in the sea?

Elina’s character hasn’t changed a bit, but the scenery and the aesthetics of the animation have changed. Instead of floral motifs, we get an undersea world. This one also looks great, along with the mermaids that inhabit it. 

As with the Fairyland , Elina proves to everyone that she is a true heroine. He crosses the plans of vile Laverna again, showing us how far you can go to do good. But it’s not over yet.

2006: The Barbie Diaries

The Barbie Diaries is a story that is not a fairy tale, in an extremely different atmosphere than all the previous parts. It tells about the adventures of ordinary teenagers in high school. Unfortunately, it is difficult to say anything more about the plot. The whole action is based on school divisions and students’ toxic behavior towards each other. There isn’t even much to sympathize with, except maybe Kevin, a friend of Barbie’s. It is worth noting that this is the first title where Barbie is just herself – she does not play the role of any fairy or princess. Was it good for her? 

With a heavy heart, I must confess that this position is my greatest disappointment in this Retroseans. I loved this movie as a kid, now I barely made it to the end. The main reason for my dislike is heroes who are either mean all the time or show no understanding of each other. They act not like high school students, but more like elementary school kids who have never been taught the basic principles of group life. Adult people don’t act that way. This is a very negative example for younger viewers.

The first fiddle in Barbie productions is always played by an outstanding individual with a pure heart, capable of heroic deeds. The characters played by the doll are exemplary and convey the appropriate values ​​to the viewers. Well, not in this case. Here, Barbie is a weak friend who constantly complains, picks up a busy boyfriend and cannot communicate with her peers (her friends are of course not better). Anyway, most of the problems in this movie would simply be solved by better communication.

2006: Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses

You will not find such a beautiful story in this universe. In this part, we visit a kingdom ruled by good-natured King Randolph. He has twelve daughters – each of them different in their own way, but apart from their sisterly love, they are also linked by a passion for dancing. They inherited it from their deceased mother, the former queen, Isabel. The king, after losing his wife, did not cope well with raising his children, which was more and more often pointed out by various guests he received in the castle. So he hired Princess Rowena to teach the princesses how to behave with dignity, in a royal manner. Unfortunately, the Duchess turned out to be cruel to her new students, and the king remained helpless as he fell ill under mysterious circumstances. Twelve sisters, with the help of a handsome shoemaker, have to find some way to defeat the new teacher. 

The animation is full of inspiring themes – we will find in it love, passion and courage to fight for ourselves and the good of our loved ones. The main character, Genevieve, is a wonderfully written character that can also serve as an inspiration for action. She is helped in achieving her goal by Derek – a court shoemaker. Next to Aidan from the Magic of Pegasus, the second most charming male character in the Barbie movies.

There is no other such title, also in artistic terms. With a pure heart, I can emphasize that this is the most beautiful animation Mattel has ever created. Wonderful dresses, shiny ballet shoes, a magical land where the princesses find themselves in the whirlwind of events, phenomenal Mendelssohn’s music and impressive dance sequences – this is an extremely charming world that will be remembered by every viewer for a long time.