Barbie in the Nutcracker

Barbie in the Nutcracker is a 2001 direct-to-DVD computer-animated film directed by Owen Hurley. It was the first Barbie film since the 1987 series, Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World. It is also the first in the CGI second-generation Barbie film series, all of which feature the voice of Kelly Sheridan as the Barbie protagonist. The film is loosely adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and music based from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. The film sold more than 3.4 million units on DVD.
== Description ==
"Barbie® magically comes to life through stunning computer animation in this modern adaptation of the E.T.A. Hoffman classic. The tale begins when Barbie®, playing the role of Clara, receives a beautiful wooden Nutcracker as a gift from her favorite Aunt. That night, while Clara sleeps, the Nutcracker springs to life to ward off the evil Mouse King who has invaded Clara's parlor. She awakes and aids the Nutcracker, but the Mouse King shrinks her by casting an evil spell. Clara and the Nutcracker set off on a spectacular adventure to find the Sugarplum Princess, the only one who can break the Mouse King's evil enchantment.
The tale is enhanced with spectacular dance scenes created by the acclaimed choreographer Peter Martins, and features the beloved music by Tchaikovsky. The real-life movements of dancers from the New York City Ballet bring the beauty of ballet to the screen in a way never seen before.
Barbie in the Nutcracker™ shows that, if you are kind, clever and brave, anything is possible...."
== Plot ==
The story is told by Barbie to her younger sister, Kelly, who is having trouble rehearsing a ballet solo and fears going onstage.
A girl named Clara lives with Drosselmeyer, her stern grandfather, and Tommy, her younger brother. On Christmas Eve, they receive a surprise visit from their Aunt Elizabeth. Clara receives a Nutcracker from her aunt who claims it contains the heart of a prince. Clara falls asleep by the Christmas tree and awakens to see her Nutcracker suddenly alive and fighting an army of mice led by the wicked Mouse King. The Mouse King shrinks her down to his size, though he is unable to defeat them and temporarily retreats.
The Nutcracker explains that he needs to find the Sugarplum Princess, the only person who can defeat the Mouse King’s magic. The wise owl of the grandfather clock reveals that the Sugarplum Princess is also the only one who can make Clara her original size again. The owl gives Clara a locket that will send her back home when she opens it.
Through a portal in a mouse hole, The Nutcracker and Clara land in an ice cave. They escape with the help of a group of snow fairies and enter the Nutcracker's home of Parthenia. The two journey to a gingerbread village, where they meet two children and the horse Marzipan. The children tell them that the rightful heir to the throne, Prince Eric, has gone missing. The group narrowly escapes the Mouse King's army when they are saved by Major Mint and Captain Candy, who lead a small group of villagers in hiding. Mint reveals that the Prince Eric's careless attitude led the former king to pronounce the Mouse as temporary ruler until Eric accepted his responsibilities. Clara realizes that the Nutcracker is the missing Prince Eric; when the Mouse decided he wanted to be king permanently, he turned Eric into a Nutcracker. Eric hopes to redeem himself and make things right again.
Clara and the Nutcracker, joined by Mint and Candy, set off on a journey to reach the Sugarplum Princess. They first must cross the Floating stepping stones, when Captain Candy falls off the Nutcracker saves him. While they did lose half the supplies, the Captain is alright. While Mint and Candy prepare a boat, Clara and Nutcracker manage to free a group of flower fairies who had been trapped in a well by the Mouse King. The group is suddenly attacked by a rock giant, sent by the Mouse King to stop them from reaching the Princess. The snow fairies arrive and freeze the sea, followed by Marzipan pulling a sled, allowing the group to cross. The Nutcracker uses his sword to crack the ice, causing the rock giant to sink into the sea.
The group reaches the Princess's island, but it is revealed to be a trap and the Nutcracker, Mint, and Candy are caged and carried off by the Mouse King's bat henchman Pimm, leaving Clara behind. The flower fairies help carry Clara off the island and to the Mouse King's castle where she frees her friends. The Nutcracker battles with the Mouse King who has his own spell reflected back at him, shrinking him to the size of a real mouse and causing him to flee. The Nutcracker is severely injured and Clara kisses him whereupon he is restored to his true form as Eric. Clara, because she was able to break the spell and save her friends, is revealed herself to be the Sugarplum Princess. Eric is crowned king and the couple, who have fallen in love, dance as the citizens celebrate. The shrunken Mouse King returns riding on Pimm's back, snatches Clara's locket and opens it, but is knocked out of the sky with a snowball. Clara disappears and is magically transported home.
Clara wakes up where she fell asleep. The Nutcracker is missing, and she runs to her grandfather, who dismisses the story as her imagination. Just then, Aunt Elizabeth returns with a young man who is revealed to be Eric, whom she introduces to Clara. Eric asks her to dance. A snow globe shows Prince Eric and the Sugarplum Princess dancing happily in the palace.
As the story ends, Kelly realizes the importance of not giving up, and she and Barbie finally manage to dance the solo perfectly.
== Production ==
The first Barbie film came into production because at the time, Barbie had a competitor in the 90's, there was a new doll line called Bratz. Mattel had a choice, they could either give their dolls an updated look or they could try something to help expand the Barbie brand. Several of their employers found out that with computers becoming popular kids were spending a lot of time on them. They realized that if they could increase sales by making a movie and what better way than to have her star in one of the best ballets ever..
== Reception ==
The film was a big success among its release. The film won "Best Animated Video Premiere Movie" at the "Video Premiere Award" and was nominated for "Best Animated Character Performance".
== Trivia ==
* When it was released it sold over 3.5 million DVDs and Videos upon release.
* The New York City ballet company helped bring the dancing in the film to life through motion capture which was the first animated film to use that technology.
* To promote the film, Mattel held a sweepstake on Barbie.com. The winner went to the premiere of Barbie in the Nutcracker in Los Angeles. McDonald's had Happy Meals with Barbie and Ken in them.
* One animator's entire job was dedicated to getting the swish of Barbie's hair just right in the animated ballet.
* This is the only Barbie movie that premiered on CBS.
* In Land of Sweets, Hannah (Pink Shoes) is a little unsure about being brave enough to dance in front of the audience. Madame Natasha acts as a mentor to Hannah and reassures her. In the end, they dance correctly, and Kristyn is proud of Hannah, much like Kelly and Barbie in the movie.
* After the release, Barbie.com included games based off the movie for a limited time.
* The film was released one month after the 9/11 terrorist attack
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Citation
Category:2001 films
Category:2001 direct-to-video films
Category:Barbie animated films
Category:Canadian films
Category:Canadian animated films
Category:Films set in Europe
Category:Films set in Russia
Category:Princess Films
Category:Films about princesses
Category:2001 computer-animated films
Category:Artisan Entertainment films
Category:Films based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King