Barbie Content & More on Mattel Creations’ 2017 Slate

CANNES/MIDDLETON: Ahead of MIPCOM, Mattel Creations, Mattel’s centralized theatrical, TV and digital content creation arm, has unveiled a number of 2017 highlights, including Barbie Dreamtopia.

The new animated series Barbie Dreamtopia was given the go-ahead following the success of the 44-minute special of the same name. The preschool show, which is animated by Snowball Studios, follows the adventures of Chelsea, Barbie’s youngest sister. It is due to debut in fall 2017.

Mattel Creations’ 2017 slate also includes Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures, which centers on Barbie, Chelsea and their sisters Stacie and Skipper. The new series is aimed at viewers between the ages of 5 and 11. There is also the 60-minute special Barbie Dolphin Magic, which will launch in fall 2017.

Other highlights are Enchantimals, an hour-long special about a group of friends with extraordinary animal abilities; Thomas: Journey Beyond Sodor, a 70-minute production; the 21st season of Thomas & Friends; the 70-minute Monster High: Electrified; and the 44-minute Max Steel Turbo Charged and Max Steel Turbo Warriors. There is also the first season of the animated series WellieWishers.

Christopher Keenan, the senior VP of global content and executive producer at Mattel Creations, said: “With its broad appeal and fans of many ages, the world of Barbie content is expanding in many directions. Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures is a playful, CG-animated ‘sit-com’ aimed at the 6- to 11-year-old audience where comedy is the order of the day. Barbie Dreamtopia, on the other hand, is very much a preschool/transitional series, targeting Barbie’s younger audience and starring her youngest sister, Chelsea. The show follows on the success of the Dreamtopia special that was released last spring and will be comprised of 11-minute episodes that depict Chelsea and Barbie in CG animation in the real world and lavish, colorful 2D animation in the world of Dreamtopia. Additionally we are thrilled to announce our new special, Enchantimals, as well as fresh content for Thomas & Friends, Monsters High and WellieWishers. We’re certain our diverse and vibrant schedule for 2017 will have broad appeal for children of many ages from around the world.”

In other news, Mattel’s American Girl has inked a content licensing deal with Amazon that makes Prime Video the exclusive premium subscription streaming home for WellieWishers. On October 14, the first 26 episodes of the show will become available for free for all customers through the Amazon Video app on TVs, connected devices, mobile devices and online, with all subsequent episodes available exclusively for Amazon Prime members at no additional cost to their membership.

“We’re thrilled to work with Amazon to bring our first-ever animated series, WellieWishers, to girls and their families,” noted Katy Dickson, the president of American Girl. “Girls will love the music, the adorable animals, and watching their favorite characters dream and play in their delightful garden. Parents will appreciate the timeless life lessons each character imparts to help their daughters become more compassionate and empathetic individuals.”