Following the massive success of the 2023 live-action Barbie film, Illumination and Mattel Studios are developing the first-ever animated Barbie feature for theaters, according to sources confirmed by Deadline.
Details about the new project remain under wraps, including the plot and creative team involved. However, the film will be released by Universal Pictures, which has an exclusive partnership with Illumination for financing and distribution.
This new animated Barbie film marks a major next step for Mattel’s expanding movie universe. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has remained a global icon, with over 100 dolls sold every minute worldwide. Barbie is also the top girls’ doll brand on social media.
The news comes two years after Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie shattered box office records, grossing more than $1.44 billion globally. The film became the highest-grossing movie of 2023 and the most successful film ever directed by a woman. It received eight Academy Award nominations, with Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” winning Best Original Song.
Unlike Gerwig’s film, which was released by Warner Bros., the upcoming animated Barbie film will be handled by Universal through its collaboration with Illumination, the studio behind hits like Minions and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
The Barbie project is part of Mattel Studios’ broader effort to expand its film division. The company has several toy-based films in development, including Masters of the Universe, Hot Wheels, Polly Pocket, and Matchbox.
Illumination also has a busy slate, with Minions 3 and a Super Mario Bros. sequel set for release in 2026.
