Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams is the 39th Barbie movie. It was released to streaming on Netflix US on September 1, 2021.
Description[]
"Discover double the singing and double the fun in this all-new musical movie Barbie Big City, Big Dreams. Barbie swaps the sunny shores of Malibu for the bright lights of Broadway to attend an excusive summer performing arts program and meets... Barbie! Fast friends, the two discover they share more than a name as they explore New York City and all the amazing things they have in common. As they compete for the coveted once-in-a-lifetime Spotlight Solo from Times Square, the friends discover competition isn't all about winning, it's about striving to be your best, overcoming doubts, and sharing the spotlight. This exciting new sing-along adventure features new characters, a new setting in NYC, and six all-new songs! Will be available on Netflix."
Plot[]
Barbie Roberts dreams of being a Broadway star, so she enrols in a summer program at Handler Arts Academy in New York. Her family and friends in Malibu wish her well as she arrives at the academy. As Barbie struggles with her luggage, she gets helped by a female student who has come from Brooklyn. The academy's custodian informs them that they have showed up a day early, and tells them where the dorm rooms are.
When Barbie and the girl from Brooklyn find a door with the name "Barbie Roberts" on it, they discover that they have the same name and will be roommates. They nickname themselves based on where they are from, so Barbie becomes Malibu, and her roommate becomes Brooklyn. They bond over their love for music and become fast friends as they hang out and explore New York.
On the subway, Malibu sees a poster of a popstar named Emmie. Malibu is a big fan, but Brooklyn says Emmie is an old childhood friend that she hasn't seen in a long time. Malibu and Brooklyn make a pact to not let stardom ruin their friendship. Meanwhile, Emmie is attending Handler Arts Academy in disguise so she can be treated like a normal student. At the academy, Dean Morrison says that the annual Spotlight Solo will be livestreamed from Times Square. Malibu and Brooklyn meet a costume student named Rafa and his dog Gato. He gives them sequinned dresses that are supposed to sparkle, but the remote control he uses to light up the dresses won't work.
During her first week at the academy, Malibu struggles in all of her classes. Ken phones her to ask how she's doing, but she has mixed feelings. Later, Malibu, Brooklyn, and Rafa discover that Emmie is attending the school in disguise. Emmie explains that she lost contact with Brooklyn because of her controlling father, who manages her. Emmie and Brooklyn rekindle their friendship. Malibu and her friends keep it a secret that Emmie is at the school.
Malibu and Brooklyn go to Central Park and put on the dresses that Rafa gave them. Brooklyn tells Malibu that her mother is a pilot, and her father is worried about her. Malibu can relate because her father is also uneasy about her being in New York. They take photos to send to their fathers, then dance and twirl in front of a fountain, making their dresses sparkle. Later, Emmie's father, Mr. Miller, comes to Handler Arts Academy to observe the students. He wants Emmie to have the Spotlight Solo, even though Emmie just wants to learn. Rafa records the class as Mr. Miller observes. While Malibu is dancing, she accidentally knocks Brooklyn into an orchestra pit. Brooklyn lands on a percussionist's drum and sprains her ankle.
Malibu feels guilty about the accident, but she and her friends keep a positive attitude and share their struggles. According to a witness, Dean Morrison calls Malibu into a meeting and expels her from the academy for sabotaging Brooklyn. Dean Morrison also explains Malibu's expulsion to Brooklyn. Brooklyn tells Malibu that they are no longer friends, and they lament over their friendship ending. Rafa and Emmie find out that Mr. Miller was the witness. Emmie confronts her father, and Rafa sends his video recording of the class to Brooklyn. Brooklyn shows it to Dean Morrison.
Malibu goes back to California and is devastated that Brooklyn thinks she sabotaged her. Brooklyn and her mother go to California so Brooklyn can apologize to Malibu and bring her back to Handler Arts Academy. They become friends again, and when they get back to the academy, they find out that they both got the Spotlight Solo. Emmie reveals her identity during the livestream and introduces Malibu and Brooklyn. They wear the dresses that Rafa gave them, which now light up, and they perform a song about their friendship while their family and friends watch live in Times Square.
Cast[]
- George - Greg Chun
- Percussionist - Daniel MK Cohen
- Skipper/Student - Kirsten Day
- Cab Driver - Bernardo De Paula
- Emmie (Lee) - Giselle Fernandez
- Margaret - Lisa Fuson
- Daisy - Emma Galvin
- Man Singing Opera - Gabe Kunda
- Brooklyn (Barbie) - Amber May
- Teresa/Student - Cristina Milizia
- Stacie - Cassandra Morris
- Chelsea - Cassidy Naber
- Ken/Student - Ritesh Rajan
- Rafa - Alejandro Saab
- Female Custodian - Salli Saffioti
- Mr. Miller - Joshua Tomar
- Dean Morrison - Dinora Walcott
- Nikki - Desirae Whitfield
- Malibu (Barbie) - America Young
Other characters include Brooklyn's parents (Simone and Kelvin), Renee and Gato.
Release[]
The February 18, 2021 press release for Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday) mentioned Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams:
"Mattel Television Announces Two New Barbie® Specials Premiering in 2021
“Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday,” the first piece of content to feature Barbie’s little sister in a starring role, will launch on broadcasters and streaming services around the world beginning this spring
On the heels of the success of “Barbie Princess Adventure,” Mattel Television will also release a new musical special globally this fall
February 18, 2021 01:17 PM Eastern Standard Time
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today the upcoming launch of two all-new animated Barbie specials. “Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday,” the first dedicated television movie featuring Barbie’s younger sister Chelsea in a starring role, will launch globally on broadcasters and streaming services this spring. The second special, which follows the success of last year’s “Barbie Princess Adventure,” will be a musical that follows Barbie and her friends to New York City."
Directed by Cassi Simonds (“Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures”), “Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday” tells the story of Chelsea, Barbie’s precocious youngest sister, and the rest of the Roberts family as they set sail on an adventure cruise for her seventh birthday. When they cross the International Date Line, Chelsea discovers her actual birthday has been lost and she embarks on a fantastical journey through an enchanted jungle island in order to save it.
“Barbie’s brand message, about inspiring the limitless potential in every child, and her stories resonate deeply with both kids and parents all over the world,” said Adam Bonnett, Executive Producer, Mattel Television. “This year, we are expanding the Barbie content universe in a number of ways starting with a fantastical story centered around Barbie’s little sister, Chelsea, an incredibly popular character in the Barbie family. We have barely scratched the surface of the stories the brand can tell, and this is the first of many scripted and unscripted Barbie projects we have in production and development.”
The 60-minute special will be available on Netflix in the U.S. as well as on Cartoonito (Italy), Pop (UK); 9Go! (Australia), Neox Kids (Spain), SuperRTL (Germany), Carousel (Russia) and iQIYI (China), with additional broadcast and streaming partners to be announced.
Executive producers for “Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday” include Bonnett, Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mattel Television and Christopher Keenan, Senior Vice President, Content Development and Production, Mattel Television. Ann Austen will co-executive produce. Animation services are being provided by Mainframe Studios.
This year, Barbie was named the 2020 Top Global Toy Property of the Year, according to the NPD group.* In addition to launching new content focused on Chelsea, the Barbie brand will also introduce complementary dolls, playsets and accessories based on the character this spring. These new products are part of a broader strategy to expand the franchise with new items focused on Barbie’s friends and family."
The official Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams press release came out on July 13, 2021:
Mattel™ Television to Premiere New Barbie® Musical Event, “Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams™”
By Christopher Keenan, Co-Writer and Executive Producer, “Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams” (and Senior Vice President, Creative, Mattel Television)
July 13, 2021 – Barbie has been inspiring, empowering, and entertaining kids for decades. With 36 television specials and countless episodic and YouTube series behind her, we’ve seen Barbie evolve from a fashion doll to a cultural icon and, in recent years, emerge as a relatable character and role model, sharing her own story and unique perspective with the world. Whether traveling to exotic islands in “Barbie™ in Rock’ N Royals” or to the Swiss Alps in “Barbie™ & Her Sisters in a Pony Tale,” Barbie is always off on a new adventure of discovery. And now, she’s headed for the bright lights of Broadway!
Following the success of this spring’s, “Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday™” and last year’s musical “Barbie Princess Adventure™,” today we are announcing the latest chapter of the Barbie content story… “Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams,” premiering in September on Netflix in the U.S. and with a long list of streaming and linear television partners across the globe to be announced.
This new musical adventure follows Barbie Roberts as she says goodbye to the familiar beaches of Malibu and says hello to the hustle and bustle on New York City’s Times Square. She’s enrolled in a prestigious and highly competitive summer program at the Handler School for Performing Arts and, upon arrival, meets a fellow student named… Barbie Roberts! That’s right; Barbie meets Barbie and, while they have much more in common than just their names – like their shared dream of making it on Broadway – the two girls really bond over their complementary differences.
They become fast friends and quickly adopt nicknames inspired by their beloved hometowns, Malibu and Brooklyn, for their many new friends to distinguish them when together. Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts is fearless, smart, and a loyal friend. A New York native with an exuberant and infectious personality, she is a triple-threat singer, dancer, and musician who is confident and optimistic. She dreams big and believes in the limitless possibilities of life.
Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts is classically trained, while Barbie ‘Malibu’ Roberts is self-taught, highlighting that there is more than one way to succeed, as long as you bring your best and share it with the world. The story of “Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams” is one of perseverance, mastery of a craft, and multiple paths to success, a story we felt important to tell as we continue our core purpose of inspiring the limitless potential in every child through all our content.
As the two Barbies compete for the program’s coveted, once-in-a-lifetime Spotlight Solo, the new friends discover that competition isn't only about winning; it's about striving to be your best while bringing out the best in your competitors.
“Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams” will feature the following:
- New Characters & Fierce Friendships – Joining Barbie ‘Malibu’ Roberts and Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts on their big adventure in New York City, we introduce a cast of characters including:
- Emmie – Sweet, shy and completely humble, Emmie is the high-voltage popstar you wouldn’t expect. She was Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts’ childhood best friend and also attends the summer program at the Handler Arts Academy in disguise in order to study without being recognized.
- Rafa – An aspiring costume designer and self-proclaimed fashionista, Rafa quickly becomes BFF with both Barbies. He’s a whiz at creating inventive costumes, and is often the source of great advice for his friends. Quick with one-liners, this creative whirlwind has a soft spot for Barbie “Malibu” Roberts and Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts -- AND his dog, Gato – the true love of his life.
And, spoiler alert: Many of these new characters will be seen in additional content in the future… Stay tuned!
- Stage-Worthy Music and Choreography – Music has always been a key element of Barbie content and we are continuing that tradition here with original music written by Emmy Award nominee Alison McDonald (“Roots,” “An American Girl Story: Love Has to Win,” “Friends for Life”) and multi-platinum songwriter and music producer Matthew Tishler (“High School Musical: The Musical - The Series” and “Descendants 3”). The duo worked with choreographer Jamal Simms (“Aladdin,” “Step Up All In”) who choreographed dance sequences to ensure our animated performances had a realistic, theatrical look and feel, thoughtfully incorporating Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts’ passion for ballet and Barbie ‘Malibu’ Roberts’ love of contemporary dance.
- A Fresh Location in New York City – Believe it or not, Barbie ‘Malibu’ Roberts has never travelled to New York, and both Barbies turn the city into their very own playground, exploring everything it has to offer from Central Park to Times Square and everything in between!
To complement this new musical event, Mattel will introduce a line of dolls, playsets and accessories, also launching this fall.
“Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams” is directed by Scott Pleydell-Pearce (“Bob the Builder,” “Blaze and the Monster Machines”) and written by yours truly, along with up and coming screenwriter, Kate Splaine. I am also the Executive Producer on the film, along with Fred Soulie (Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mattel Television) and Adam Bonnett (Executive Producer, Mattel Television). “Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams” was produced by Ron Myrick (“Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?,” “Loonatics Unleashed”). Animation services are being provided by Mainframe Studios.
This has been a labor of love for all involved with the development and production of this very special film and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it!A 360-marketing programme supported the launch of the movie. It was released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on August 20, 2021. The movie was released on Netflix USA on September 1, 2021, and Pop! (UK) on October 23, 2021. It was also released to Cartoonito (Italy), 9Go! (Australia), Neox Kids (Spain), SuperRTL (Germany), Carousel (Russia) and iQIYI (China), with additional broadcast and streaming partners to be announced.
Before the movie's release, the official online Barbie shop had a countdown for the US Netflix release. The movie had its own section on the shop, where there was another countdown, the movie trailer and two Barbie vlogs featuring Brooklyn. There was also a website for the UK cinema release of the movie, where people could book tickets, watch the trailer and read a plot synopsis. The movie was released to Netflix UK on March 18, 2022.
Trivia[]
- The Handler Arts Academy is likely named after Ruth Handler, who created Barbie.
- There are artwork cameos of Barbie Fashionistas and Barbie EXTRA dolls in New York.
- The custodian in New York refers to Malibu and Brooklyn as "out-of-towners". This may be a reference to the movie The Out-of-Towners (1970), which is about two people that go to New York.
- There is a Nutcracker cameo when Malibu and Brooklyn perform.
- Malibu mentions "P.A.C.E" (Positive Attitude Changes Everything), her catchphrase from her vlogs.
Also Known As[]
- Japanese - バービー:ビッグシティビッグドリーム / Bābī: Biggu shiti biggu dorīmu (Barbie: Big City Big Dream)
- Greek - Μπάρμπι: Μεγάλη Πόλη Μεγάλα Όνειρα
- Hindi - बार्बी: बड़ा शहर, बड़े सपने (Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams
- Korean - 바비: 큰 도시, 큰 꿈 / Babi: Keun Dosi, Keun Kkum
- Serbian - Barbie: Veliki grad, veliki snovi