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Barbie Dolphin Magic

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Barbie Dolphin Magic
Promotional artwork
Written byJennifer Skelly
Directed byConrad Helten
Starring
Music byRebecca Kneubuhl
Country of origin
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersSarah Serata
Rachel Datello
EditorCassandra Simonds
Running time63 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release
  • September 17, 2017 (2017-09-17) (YTV)
  • September 18, 2017 (Netflix)

Barbie Dolphin Magic[1][2][3] or Barbie: Dolphin Magic[4][5] is a 2017 animated adventure television film directed by Conrad Helten and written by Jennifer Skelly.

The 36th entry in the Barbie film series and the pilot to the Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures television series,[6][7][5][4] it features the voice of Erica Lindbeck as Barbie and is the only Barbie film to be produced by Mainframe Studios under the name of "Rainmaker Studios" following internal business structure reorganization after consolidation into a division of WOW! Unlimited Media. This marks the first time a Barbie film has neither premiered on American television nor distributed by Universal Pictures, although Universal did release DVD, video on demand and Digital HD copies of the film.[8]

The film was dedicated to the memory of the production editor David Hall; he and his pregnant wife were killed in a car accident a few months prior to the release of the film.[9][10]

Plot

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A mermaid and her four dolphin companions hide from a ship. The youngest dolphin, named Emerald, curiously goes near the boat and is instantly captured as a rare "gemstone dolphin", as there is a mysterious woman offering a reward for these. The mermaid tells the dolphins to stay put and sets off in pursuit of the boat.

Meanwhile, Ken has taken an internship at a marine biology institute, and has arranged for Barbie and her sisters to stay in a beachside cabin nearby. While scuba diving, Skipper notices a strange animal heading towards the institute, and they follow it in the boat. Upon arrival, they find the perfectly healthy dolphin imprisoned in a cove modified into a recovery tank. Ken concludes that Emerald must have accidentally gotten in when the gate was open. Marlo, the institute's director, stops them from letting Emerald out, saying she has to wait until a vet can see him per protocol.

Once the group leaves, the 'animal' appears and reveals itself as the mermaid, who magically turns her tail to legs and tries to free the dolphin herself; however, Marlo has locked the gate. Barbie spots her, and tells her what Marlo said. The mermaid introduces herself as Isla, and reluctantly agrees to trust Barbie and return next afternoon when the Vet is supposed to be there. The sisters offer her a bed in the cabin, and she proceeds to amuse and puzzle them with her lack of experience with such simple concepts as mattresses, toothbrushes, sisters, dogs, and even sandwiches.

The next day, Emerald's family Ruby, Topaz, and Amethyst show up, and Isla reveals her secret to Barbie while swearing her to silence about it, which Barbie agrees to keep on condition that Isla teach her how to swim like a mermaid. They hear Emerald's cries through a cave, and realize there is an underwater tunnel from the bay into the cove. Isla and the Dolphins try to find the way through to free Emerald, but the cave system is too complex, and they have to give up. Meanwhile, Stacie, Chelsea, and Skipper see a sideshow company's helicopter land at the institute, and when they follow it they learn that Marlo intends to sell Emerald to the owner.

The dolphins disobey Isla and head for the cove. Marlo has Ken open the gate and then close it behind them, on the pretext that they will help reduce Emerald's stress level. Ken suspects something is off, and when the rest arrive after Marlo leaves, he realizes the truth and goes to open the gate; however, Marlo has already changed the code.

Skipper and Chelsea hatch a plan to hack into Marlo's key fob device for locking the gate, which succeeds, but Marlo simply changes the code again and destroys the device. Isla dives into the cove and reveals herself as a mermaid to the rest of the group, and hides the Dolphins in the caves. Marlo, thinking they got out through the gate, sets off in the helicopter. Isla gives Barbie a magic shell, and Barbie goes to the other end of the tunnel in the bay and uses it to create a signal that Isla can follow to help the dolphins escape. They make their way to Ken's motorboat, but Marlo spots them in the bay and gives chase in the helicopter. Barbie disguises herself as a mermaid and swims the other way, allowing Marlo to pursue and capture her while the rest make it to safety. Once Marlo realizes her mistake, she lets Barbie go, but Barbie tells her she plans to go to Marlo's superiors and the authorities about the dolphin poaching.

Later, once the area is safe, Barbie uses the shell to summon Isla back to the beach, while the dolphins play offshore. Barbie dubs Isla her "sister of the sea" and they vow to always remain friends.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Barbie Dolphin Magic Dolls, Play Sets, Toys & DVD". Barbie.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Barbie Dolphin Magic". Netflix. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  3. ^ Shulgas, Barbara. "Barbie Dolphin Magic Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (14 October 2016). "Mattel Creations: New Content for MIP, Reups & Deals". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 28 November 2017. Iconic fashion doll Barbie has lots to offer at MIP: Barbie Dreamtopia (52 x 11, preschool), Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures (26 x 22, comedy) and Barbie Dolphin Magic (60 min., adventure).
  5. ^ a b Hutchins, Robert. "Mattel Creations details Barbie slate ahead of MIPCOM 2016". ToyNews. Retrieved 28 November 2017. Elsewhere, Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures is Barbie series developed for an older audience of 5 to 11-year-olds. The new episodic show will chronicle the adventures of Barbie and her sisters, Chelsea, Stacie and Skipper.
  6. ^ Dickson, Jeremy Dickson (12 October 2016). "Mattel Creations greenlights two new Barbie series, more kids content". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Mattel Greenlights Two Barbie Series, Enchantimals, and Child Inventor Competition Show "The Toy Box"". BSCkids. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Barbie: Dolphin Magic". Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  9. ^ Matheson, Darcy (17 March 2017). "Nearly $50k raised for family after dad-to-be killed in collision with moose". CTV News. Vancouver. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  10. ^ Holmes, Tracy (21 March 2017). "Support grows after crash kills South Surrey-raised father-to-be". Peace Arch News. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
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