Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses is a 2006 direct-to-video computer-animated dance film directed by Greg Richardson and loosely based on the Brothers Grimm's "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". It is 9th entry in the Barbie film series and features the voice of Kelly Sheridan as the Barbie protagonist. It was released on September 19, 2006 and is the first Barbie film to be distributed by Universal Studios (now Universal Pictures).
=== Description ===
"In Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses, Barbie will dance her way into your hearts in this fun and enchanting all-new adventure. Join Barbie as the beautiful Princess Genevieve and her eleven dancing princess sisters as they discover a secret entrance to an amazing, magical world where wishes come true! But when their father is in danger of losing his kingdom and his own life, Princess Genevieve and her sisters must work together in order to save the day and their father. They learn that the power of family can overcome all obstacles!"
== Plot ==
Genevieve is one of twelve princesses who share a passion for dancing and live in a castle with their widowed father, King Randolph. The princesses’ adventurous personalities and unique hobbies are considered improper by other members of the royal society. King Randolph summons his villainess of a cousin, Duchess Rowena, to help educate the princesses in proper etiquette; the Duchess's strict rules and instruction begins to deject the princesses’ spirits.
On their youngest triplet sisters’ birthday, Genevieve and the other sisters gift them with a copy of their late mother's favorite story: a princess discovered a magical land where she danced for three nights before it vanished. Looking at each other's copies of the story, and the tiles on their bedroom floor, Genevieve discovers how to open a gateway into the magical land. Upon entering, they are taken to a grand pavilion where they dance the night away. While there, the princesses discover that the hanging golden flowers grant wishes, along with discovering the water has healing properties; the youngest princess, Lacey, takes some water in a vial.
The next day, the princesses appear tired and the duchess finds their new dancing shoes worn out, arousing her suspicion. King Randolph falls ill, so Genevieve asks the royal cobbler, Derek, to investigate Rowena's true intentions upon returning to the kingdom. That night, the princesses return to the magical land; meanwhile, Derek discovers that Rowena has been poisoning the King.
The next morning, the sisters are again exhausted. Rowena, refusing to believe the sisters when they tell her the truth, forces them into servitude. After mishearing their father talking about them to Rowena, the heartbroken princesses return to the magical land for a third time, and Rowena finds them missing the next morning.
After returning to the castle and learning that the princesses are missing, Derek figures out how to enter the gateway and goes to report his findings to the sisters. Rowena learns how to enter the magic land from her monkey, Brutus, after he spies on Derek, and takes one of the wish-granting flowers. Despite knowing from the story that they'll never be able to return to the magic land after their third visit, the princesses decide to go home and help their father; however, they and Derek find themselves trapped as Rowena orders her footman, Desmond, to destroy the gateway in the princesses’ bedroom. The group manage to escape when Genevieve and Derek are able to open a different gateway by dancing together.
Once home, they find out that the King is dying and that Rowena has taken over as Queen. While the other princesses outsmart and distract the guards, Genevieve and Derek rush in to confront Rowena. The Duchess uses the golden flower to wish for Genevieve to dance for the rest of her life, but Genevieve manages to blow the magic dust back at her with a fan, forcing Rowena to dance uncontrollably. When Desmond tries to help her, he is pulled into the spell, and the two dance their way out of the castle. Lacey uses the water she took from the magic land to revive her father. King Randolph apologizes for not seeing through Rowena, and realizes how truly special his daughters are. Soon after, Genevieve and Derek celebrate their wedding.
== Production ==
Music for the film was composed by Arnie Roth. "Shine", the end title song written by Roth, Amy Powers and Rob Hudnut, was nominated for a 2007 Emmy Award.
== Trivia ==
* This was the first Barbie film released under Universal Pictures in the US.
* Some of the princesses from this film appear in Barbie as The Island Princess, as guests to Princess Luciana and Prince Antonio's wedding and also of Princess Rosella and Prince Antonio's wedding.
* The first letters of the princesses' names are in alphabetical order, from eldest to youngest.
* Genevieve's name was originally Jocelyn, as shown by this costume, this book, and these trademarks.
* Princess Isla's name could have been Princess Ilana, as the trademarks were filed the same day as her twin sister Hadley's. This is assuming the alphabetical naming scheme was still used.
* The same day the trademarks for Ashlyn, Blair, Fallon, Kathleen, Lacey, and Derek were filed, the trademarks for Princess Karissa and Princess Kristyn also appeared. Most likely, Kristyn and Karissa were preliminary names for two of the sisters. The name Kristyn was used for Barbie in the Pink Shoes.
* This film marked the return of the New York Ballet company since Barbie of Swan Lake.
Category:2006 films
Category:2006 direct-to-video films
Category:Barbie animated films
Category:Films set in Europe
Category:Films set in Germany
Category:Films with opening credits
Category:Canadian films
Category:Canadian animated films
Category:Independent films
Category:2006 computer-animated films
Category:Universal Pictures direct-to-video animated films
Category:Universal Pictures direct-to-video films