Barbie as Rapunzel | |
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Directed by | Owen Hurley |
Produced by | Jesyca C. Durchin Jennifer Twiner McCarron |
Written by | Elana Lesser Cliff Ruby |
Based on | Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm |
Starring | Kelly Sheridan Cree Summer Chantal Strand Anjelica Huston |
Music by | Arnie Roth |
Edited by | Greg Richardson |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Artisan Entertainment |
Release date | |
Running time | 83 minutes |
Country | Canada United States |
Language | English |
The Barbie as Rapunzel campaign expands on many of the promotional components from Mattel's Barbie in the Nutcracker, which had a 94% sell-through rate and sales of more than 3.5 million units. Print ads started one week before street date, and Ross says they are expected to generate 260 million consumer impressions through the end of the year. TV spots also began airing on Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network in August.
Anjelica Huston delivers an entertainingly menacing voice as evil Gothel and the producers have imbued the much more simplistic but typically dour original Brothers Grimm tale with multiple characters that kids will find engaging.
The movie is enhanced by its soundtrack, which features music performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The computer-generated animation is still a bit clumsy, especially in this post-Shrek era. But it's watchable, especially for younger viewers.
Her 2002 film, the 76-minute Barbie as Rapunzel, with the voice of actress Anjelica Huston as the evil witch Gothel, was a bigger success.. It tied in with merchandise including a Barbie as Rapunzel doll - with the longest hair of any Barbie since her creation - dolls representing the other characters, an 'Enchanted Tower' playset and a range of themed products, including denim jackets, watches, backpacks, musical hairbrushes and hair extension gift sets.