EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - (Business Wire) Barbie
® celebrates the anticipation of spring with the launch of an all-new, butterfly fairy-themed DVD movie
“Barbie
™ Mariposa
™.
” Featuring incredible CGI animation, the full-length made-for-DVD movie is released today by Universal Studios Home Entertainment and features a heartwarming storyline, including a wonderful lesson to inspire self-confidence and remind viewers that
“the most beautiful thing you can be is yourself.
” The new supporting
“Barbie
™ Mariposa
™” toy line, complete with glittering butterfly-winged fairy dolls, styling heads, accessories, playsets and lifestyle products, allows girls to bring the Mariposa
™ story to life and relive their favorite whimsical moments from the movie.
To celebrate Barbie® doll’s newest release “Barbie™ Mariposa™” and the movie’s exciting new butterfly fairy-theme, Barbie® co-hosted a first-ever “Butterfly Ball” on February 22 at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with the Lollipop Theater Network (a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the magic of movies to children staying in hospitals nationwide). The “Butterfly Ball” brought the enchanting world of Mariposa™ to life by transforming the children’s hospital into a beautiful butterfly fairy garden. Barbie® kicked off the festive “Butterfly Ball” by announcing a $20,000 donation to the Lollipop Theater Network. Children in attendance were treated to an exclusive sneak preview of the new Barbie™ Mariposa™ movie and were gifted with special EB Butterfly Necklaces designed by actors Courteney Cox and David Arquette to support the EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) Medical Research Foundation. Other keepsakes included butterfly fairy-themed Barbie™ Mariposa™ toys and dolls.
“Barbie movies continue to grow in popularity around the globe and are considered the new classics in home family DVD libraries, with more than 48 million units sold worldwide since 2001,” said Barry Waldo, Vice President, Entertainment Marketing, Mattel. “Families watch our Barbie movies together because, in addition to having engaging and original magical storylines, each movie features positive messages and values that parents and grandparents appreciate for their kids.”
“The brand new world of ‘Barbie Mariposa’ gives girls a way to celebrate spring with an entire new line of butterfly fairy-inspired dolls in vibrant, glittering colors with magical transformation features that truly bring the butterfly theme to life,” said Jamie Wood, vice president, Barbie Marketing, Mattel. “’Barbie Mariposa’ engages and delights girls in ways that only Barbie doll can.”
Barbie™ Mariposa™ DVD
This spring, Barbie® stars in “Barbie™ Mariposa™,” an all-new story set in the world of Butterfly Fairies! Mariposa™ (which means “butterfly” in Spanish) is a beautiful butterfly fairy who loves to read and dream about the world outside her home in the land of Flutterfield™. The land of Flutterfield™ is protected by the Queen’s glimmering magical lights, but when the Queen is poisoned by an evil fairy, the special lights begin to go out one by one. It’s up to the brave Mariposa™ and her friends to journey beyond the safe borders of the city in search of a hidden antidote that will save the Queen forever! The heartwarming storyline of “Barbie Mariposa” features a wonderful lesson to instill self confidence among its viewers, showing them that “the most beautiful thing you can be is yourself.” Join the butterfly fairy friends on an exciting and enlightening adventure that will transform them. Available on February, 26, 2008, for a suggested retail price of $19.98.
The “Barbie™ Mariposa™” DVD also includes exclusive extras that will fuel young imaginations and provide hours of fun activities, including:
- Flutterpixie™ Dress Up Game
- Flutterfield™ Scavenger Hunt
“Barbie® Mariposa™” Dolls and Accessories
The Barbie™ Mariposa™ DVD is partnered with a magical toy line that captures the vibrant, glittery aesthetic and whimsy inspired by the movie. With beautiful bold colors and incredible features, the Barbie® Mariposa™ toy line is a great way to inspire girls to use their imagination and celebrate the spring season. Girls will enjoy playing out their favorite scenes from the full-length adventure with butterfly-themed dolls, styling heads and much more. The Barbie® Mariposa™ toy line includes:
Barbie® Magic Wings Mariposa™ Doll
Based on Barbie® doll’s newest made-for-DVD animated movie Barbie™ Mariposa™, the Magic Wings Mariposa™ doll features a beautiful transformation. With the press of a button, Mariposa™ doll’s butterfly wings change and grow from pretty purple wings to giant, sparkly, pink wings. The doll also features beautiful accents, including a butterfly tiara and removable skirt. Suggested retail price is $17.99 for ages 3 and up.
Willa™ Doll
In the Barbie™ Mariposa™ made-for-DVD movie, Willa™ is not only the best friend of Mariposa™ but also of the beautiful butterflies! Girls can play out the feature of Willa™ speaking with the butterflies by pressing a lever on Willa™ doll’s back. When the lever is activated, girls can watch her butterfly friend flutter up Willa™ doll’s arm to share a “secret” in the doll’s ear. Suggested retail price is $12.99 for ages 3 and up.
Barbie® Mariposa™ Color Change Rayla™ and Rayna™ Dolls
Catch butterfly fairy twins Rayla™ and Rayna™ – the beautiful sisters and best friends of Mariposa™ from the Barbie™ Mariposa™ DVD – on their exciting journey to save the Queen. Each fashionable butterfly fairy doll features color change sparkly wings and beautiful color change hair when girls apply icy cold water. Their pretty butterfly wings and gorgeous reversible skirts can also be mixed and switched between sisters and friend Willa™ doll for a dramatic transformation Each doll also comes with a brush to style their beautiful long hair. Suggested retail price is $12.99 for ages 3 and up.
Mariposa™ Styling Head
The Mariposa™ styling head offers girls fashion play, hair play and transformation play all-in-one! Girls can use the pretty tulip hair braider for the styling head or themselves by snapping two pieces of hair in and squeezing the handle to create beautiful twists! There are lots of share-and-wear pieces including a tiara with removable butterfly clips that also become barrettes, a necklace, hair extensions, ribbons and more. The Mariposa™ styling head also includes a color change feature. When girls use the special applicator and cold water, eye shadow, lipstick as well as a cute little butterfly design on the cheek are revealed. Suggested retail price is $19.99 for ages 3 and up.
Other items in the toy collection include:
- Barbie® Mariposa™ Prince Doll
- Barbie® Mariposa™ Mini-Character Giftsets
- Barbie® Mariposa™ Flutterpixies™ Dolls Assortment
- Barbie® Mariposa™ Playset
Additional “Barbie™ Mariposa™” Products
“Barbie™ Mariposa™” Learning Laptop (Oregon Scientific)
Now girls can learn the basics with Barbie™ Mariposa™ and her butterfly friends! With eight fun learning games including counting, colors, shapes and ABCs, the Barbie™ Mariposa™ Learning Laptop features an animated LCD screen, colorful ALPHA numeric keyboard and a butterfly-shaped handle perfect for preschoolers (age 3+). Cute Barbie™ and butterfly graphics decorate the stylish laptop. Available at Wal-Mart and other national retailers for a suggested retail price of $24.99.
“Barbie™ Mariposa™” Dress-Up
Girls can role-play being a butterfly fairy with the new “Barbie™ Mariposa™ dress-up featuring glittery butterfly wings and fashion accessories including a tiara, fun pretend make-up in a pretty Butterfly shaped tote, fashion accessory sets with a handbag and pretend jewelry and more! Available at toy retailers nationwide for suggested retail prices ranging from $4.99 to $19.99.
“Barbie™ Mariposa™” Publishing
Girls will adore the rich new line of “Barbie™ Mariposa™” coloring, activity and story books from Random House, Scholastic and Reader’s Digest available in March at toy retailers nationwide for suggested retail prices ranging from $3.99 to $9.99.
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE:MAT)(www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica:® and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel is recognized as one of the 100 Most Trustworthy U.S. Companies by Forbes Magazine and is ranked among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CRO Magazine. Committed to ethical manufacturing practices, Mattel marks a 10-year milestone in 2007 for its ever-evolving Global Manufacturing Principles and focus on sustainable business practices. With global headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel's vision is to be the world's premier toy brand -- today and tomorrow.
BARBIE and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by Mattel, Inc. © 2008 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
Mattel PR
Michelle Llorin, 310-252-3520
or
for Mattel
Ketchum PR
Rachel Cooper, 310-584-8317
