Barbie: A Touch of Magic

Barbie: A Touch of Magic (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Unclear exactly when this takes place other than some time after Big City, Big Dreams and It Takes Two given Brooklyn is in Malibu with Malibu Barbie and her family and friends. It would seem that this may take place before Mermaid Power if only because the ability to turn into mermaids would be very useful when stuck out at sea even if just to get help, but would make more sense to keep it hidden if Malibu is the only one who can transform at the time and she doesn't have her necklace clearly visible at any point to be able to use it. Given everyone moving to Malibu and references to Brooklyn attending school after the summer with Malibu Barbie and her friends it would seem perhaps Brooklyn has made her choice regarding the acting school though no discussion or final decision has been shared about that choice yet. 

The end of season one would also indicate more adventures planned and coming up still, though it seems season 2 is only available in Australia so far and won't hit US release until later in spring 2024. 

Hopefully the characters will at least keep in touch as Rocki has indicated wanting to stay in the human world to learn more about her new friends while Dru Charles has long wished to return to Mesmer. Arlene was certainly a surprise as we've seen her a few times both in Skipper & the Babysitting Adventure, and in Chelsea & the Lost Birthday. Somewhat curious that she doesn't seem to consider her own time in the human world and what she may have learned there as useful, though she certainly seems far more acclimated and friendly when working there than Rocki started out with in the beginning of this series.

Barbie: It Takes Two

Barbie: It Takes Two (2022)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This appears to take place somewhere between Big City, Big Dreams and Mermaid Power, which would make sense given this aired somewhere between the two films. The girls are on an adventure both for school and to kick off their singing careers following their Times Square performance. Along the way, Brooklyn gets an offer that could make her acting career at the same time. It sounds like no decision is made there and will be needed by the end of their trip to Malibu, but we have yet to see what that decision is either with a new season of this show or in the movies that have all taken place in the summer up to this point. Given Malibu Barbie is no longer in Malibu, there's a whole host of new friends and interactions in the city. Her old friends and of course her family still pop up frequently, especially Ken. Given their struggle to get studio time and record their demos, a little surprising there isn't more music overall in the series, but what is there is enjoyable. 

Barbie 42: Skipper & the Babysitting Adventure

Barbie 42: Skipper & the Babysitting Adventure (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As the title may suggest, Skipper is the main star of this movie. After her babysitting adventures go belly up, she finds herself up against some challenging obstacles in a summer job at the water park. Skipper's ingenuity and thoughtfulness shine as she keeps turning bad situations into winners. This especially comes in handy when a daycare adventure goes wrong, landing Skipper and her friends out in the desert with a bunch of kids. Fortunately, the teens are able to pull it together and get the kids back to the park, not that the parents are truly aware of the adventures the kids were out on. Somehow, Skipper also now speaks dolphin? Which also requires about the strangest face possible when she speaks it. The end credits are also a major tip to the next movie with Stacie's line about having her own movie since this one is over. Seems highly likely given her name in the title for the next film.

Barbie 40: Mermaid Power

Barbie 40: Mermaid Power (2022)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While all of the movies beginning with Dolphin Magic are part of the same arc with Barbie and her family, including the Brooklyn Barbie from Big City, Big Dreams now that she's entered the picture, this film directly ties back to events from both of those movies with Ilsa (the mermaid) and Marlo (the scientist) back in the picture. The Barbies' are out with Malibu Barbie's sisters in a boat to clean the ocean when Isla calls for help. The other mermaids aren't all smiles and friendship unfortunately, resulting in some tense interactions. For once Malibu Barbie doesn't have all the answers though and is struggling to find her powers where Brooklyn Barbie and her sisters seem to discover theirs fairly easily when they need arises to use them. Rather than being the star of the show, Malibu Barbie instead seems to recognize who the "power keeper" is that can save the day and helps pull everyone together. It seems even those who are opposition in this movie really just needed second chances and a few lessons to set things straight. Even Marlo, who was very definitely trouble before, seems eager to help now that she's had her own mermaid experience.

Barbie 39: Big City, Big Dreams

Barbie 39: Big City, Big Dreams (2021)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For taking place during a music competition, there isn't as much music as one might expect in this movie. There are two Barbie Roberts at the competition, which makes for some confusion and laughs and even some hurt feelings when someone decides not to play by the rules, but these two Barbies and their friends are determined to make the most of the experience and help lift each other up rather than tearing others down. As usual, a good lesson with a cute movie and some catchy tunes.

Barbie 38: Chelsea & the Lost Birthday

Barbie 38: Chelsea & the Lost Birthday (2021)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Thanks to time zones and crossing a border overnight, the Roberts family loses a day during their cruise. Unfortunately, that one single day happens to be Chelsea's birthday. Add to that a rather nasty events coordinator on the ship that can't be bothered to actually deal with people and you have a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, if there is one thing this family has never lacked, it's imagination. The rest of the ship's crew are pretty decent too, which evens out the playing field, especially once Chelsea catching the events coordinator in the act, revealing his own scheming and troubles to the rest of the crew.

Barbie 37: Princess Adventure

Barbie 37: Princess Adventure (2020)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Wow, finding all sorts of things I seem to have missed over the years. Watched this a long time ago with the kids and apparently never listed it anywhere. While it isn't my favorite of the Barbie animated movies, it has all the hallmarks of a traditional Barbie with catchy music, lots of outfits, and a story with some good message or meaning behind it. Many of the stories revolve around princesses as well, and this is no exception there. Another story of a princess version of Barbie and a common version of Barbie swapping places for a time, similar to The Princess & the Pauper, The Princess & the Popstar, and Rock 'n Royals. As always though, the good guys (or gals in this case) must prevail.

Barbie: Let's Build a Snowman!

Barbie: Let's Build a Snowman! by Kristen L. Depken

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While building a snowman can be a lot of fun, and the sister's each have their own ideas of what they want to build, Chelsea is right - building a snowman is a lot of work. It's a lot more fun, and a lot less work, when you work together to build the best snowman.

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Monster High: Adventures of the Ghoul Squad

Monster High: Adventures of the Ghoul Squad (2017)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Spinning off the reboot of Monster High, this follows the girls as they continue to "rescue" more monsters. The animation is much more sloppy and the episodes are extremely short given they were released directly on a YouTube Kids app. Still enjoyable for kids who like the series, but not really anything too exciting. While a lot of familiar faces are brought back on stage (Operetta, Rochelle, etc) there are also some new ghouls and none of the rescued monsters ever seem to stick around for much of a part after their initial introduction to Monster High.

Barbie: Little Lost Dolphin

Barbie: Little Lost Dolphin by Kristen L. Depken

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


My daughter managed to find this one in the school library. Barbie finds a baby dolphin, but fails to help it find its family. By the end of the book, the other dolphins find them instead. The dolphin itself is cute, and the art is well done, especially for a Barbie book. As a simple learning to read book, it serves its purpose.

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Barbie 35: Video Game Hero

Barbie 35: Video Game Hero (2017)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While this follows the newer Barbie arc, it isn't as obvious at it focuses mostly just on Barbie while playing video games and making new friends inside the game. We barely see Chelsea of her three sisters, and that's pretty much it. If not for the similar art style, you could assume it was completely separate from any of the new arc films since they don't even mention the puppies once, who are one of the biggest differences in the styles and stories. Barbie gets dragged into her own video game to save it, making friends with players, tearing down levels, and trying to escape a virus that is ruining the game. Thankfully, Barbie is apparently pretty good at computer code in this world, so she's able to understand things well beyond just playing the game. Cute and unique challenges using a variety of situations and art as each "level" is a little bit different.

Barbie 36: Dolphin Magic

Barbie 36: Dolphin Magic (2017)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


What's a Barbie movie without some magic and pastel creatures? While the Barbie sisters are directly involved in all events through the movie, it affects Isla and the crystal dolphins more. With the mermaid and dolphin focus, the movie brings in a hint reminiscent of The Pearl Princess or A Mermaid Tale. At one point, we even see an eel that very well could be the same on from The Pearl Princess if based purely on appearance. Marlo comes off strong and wrong right off from the start, leaving a gut feeling that she's up to no good, and proceeds to only make watchers dislike her more as the movie progresses. Ken comes off as even more oblivious than usual, which is a little annoying. The movie is overall a bit of cute fluff, though I suppose you could use the parts about marine research supposed to be about helping animals and how everyone focuses on saving the dolphins proving that you shouldn't trap and use wildlife as lessons, though that can be a fine line to tread since kids also love visiting places like aquariums and the zoo, which arguably cage animals for viewing purposes.

Monster High 15: Electrified

Monster High 15: Electrified (2017)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This directly follows the events of the Welcome to Monster High reboot. Personally, I liked the original art better than this new almost clay-like 3D version, but this is what they're rolling with now. Cleo is noticeable nicer, though Clawdeen is still a fashionista, Draculaura is still the social butterfly, and Frankie is still the organized one, though she also has a heavy dose of scientist added in this time around that was more Ghoulia's territory before (who so far we haven't seen at all). This time there's a lot of electricity flying around, hence the title. Monster High is followed up by Clawdeen's new salon, and despite Moanica's attempts to ruin everything, it's a big hit with the "normies." Now if this new band could figure out exactly what it is they're doing.

Barbie in Rock 'n Royals: Sing It Out

Barbie in Rock 'n Royals: Sing It Out by Devin Ann Wooster

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This follows the movie story by the same title (Rock 'n Royals). As with most learning to read books, it is over simplified and you lose a lot of the story in the process. Given that the culmination of this story is a concert, it also makes it more enjoyable to actually hear it in the movie than read about it. Still cute for kids who like Barbie and are learning to read, but not the best adaptation.

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Monster High

Monster High (2010)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The episodes are super short, so it's hard to get much out of them. On the other hand, that means that an entire season isn't that long and makes a more cohesive story as a whole since there aren't a dozen stories going on at once. There's always the relationship side drama, but in general the school functions revolve around either those relationships, fear leading (cheer leading for monsters), school sports, or learning about new monsters.

Monster High 14: Welcome to Monster High

Monster High 14: Welcome to Monster High (2016)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


To start off with, this art style is different from both the TV series and the other previous movies. It also completely goes against the previously established story line. According to the very first movie, New Ghoul at School, Frankie doesn't meet any of the other Monster High students until she transfers in as a new student, including Draculaura. This movie would have you believe that the girls were friends in their younger years and actually first came up with the idea of Monster High and even built it themselves (with help from Draculaura's father and Clawdeen's family). It would also suggest that Cleo is the first to attend Monster High and not her sister, despite her talk of "when I was at Monster High" in other movies. There's also the glaringly obvious fact that Draculaura has her powers already at a young age.... yet she's not supposed to get those until the events of Frights, Camera, Action! Cute movie with some good messages for young kids, but really doesn't fit with the rest of the series at all.

Monster High 08: 13 Wishes

Monster High 08: 13 Wishes (2013)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Howleen finds a magic lamp and takes the easy street to becoming popular. Turns out it might not be all that she wished for. Luckily, the main ghoul squad figures out what's going on and turns things around just in the nick of time. Not being popular (and not having Deuce) really seem to take a toll on Chloe, though it's nice to see that she has a worse reaction to potentially losing her boyfriend than her popularity.

Monster High 01: New Ghoul at School

Monster High 01: New Ghoul at School (2010)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The story of Frankie Stein joining Monster High when she's literally 16 days old. It's done in a matching style to the TV series, including the opening credits. For being a central character surrounded by friends, she apparently has a very rough start at school.

Monster High 12: Boo York, Boo York

Monster High 12: Boo York, Boo York (2015)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This song really focuses on the musical aspect as it tells it's story. We see the most of Cleo's sister, Nefera, of any movie or episode previously. As usual when the de Nile family shoes up, Cleo's relationship with Deuce's relationship is questioned and put to the test. We also see our first reference to Ever After High as we see more of the comet occupant who shows up at the end.

Monster High 10: Freaky Fusion

Monster High 10: Freaky Fusion (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Frankie is feeling down that she doesn't know about her scare-history. It makes sense why she doesn't after events play out. How many ghouls can claim going back to the past to meet their grandfather before their parents are even made? Frankie does a lot of teaching of her own, which plays a huge role in how her family will literally come to life. Rather touching how the entire school rallies to save Frankie in the end after she gives everything to save her own friends.