Oman today_ Two years after the remarkable success of the live-action Barbie film, an animated version of the beloved character is now in development through a collaboration between Mattel and Illumination. The animated movie will be distributed in theaters by Universal, though no details have been released yet regarding its storyline or voice cast.
The 2023 live-action Barbie earned over $1.44 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of that year. It received eight Academy Award nominations and won the Oscar for Best Original Song for a track by Billie Eilish. Around the same time, Oppenheimer also garnered major attention, grossing nearly $960 million globally.
Mattel, which has sold millions of Barbie dolls since the 1950s, has recently launched Mattel Studios and is working on several upcoming productions. These include the live-action Masters of the Universe in partnership with Amazon MGM, Matchbox with Skydance and Apple, and Hot Wheels directed by Jon M. Chu for Warner Bros.
In addition, Illumination and Universal are scheduled to release two other animated blockbusters in 2026: The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minions 3.
The animated Barbie marks a fresh chapter in Mattel’s cinematic universe, expanding the brand’s reach beyond toys and into a growing portfolio of entertainment projects.
Barbie animated film in the works following the success of the live-action version
