Barbie of Swan Lake
Year: 2003
Director: Owen Hurley
Starring: Kelsey Grammar, Mark Hildreth, Kelly Sheridan, Venus Terzo & Maggie Wheeler
Runtime: 83 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 06/06/23
Director: Owen Hurley
Starring: Kelsey Grammar, Mark Hildreth, Kelly Sheridan, Venus Terzo & Maggie Wheeler
Runtime: 83 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 06/06/23
The first two Barbie animated films, Nutracker and Rapunzel, were huge financial successes for Mattel. Not only did the films sell exceptionally well, but they massively boosted sales of Barbie figures and helped to restore the brand to its former glory in an age where children were starting to move away from traditional toys.
So of course Mattel we’re going to keep riding this train for as long as they could, and next up was as return to classical ballet for Barbie of Swan Lake.
When baker’s daughter Odette (Barbie(Kelly Sheridan)) discovers an enchanted forest she is thought to be the saviour the woodland creatures have been waiting for. The Fairy Queen (Kathleen Barr) bestows upon Odette a crystal that she claims will be used to defeat Rothbart (Kelsey Grammar), a dark sorcerer who has placed the denizens of the forest under a curse, turning them into animals. Rothbart does the same to Odette, transforming her into a swan. But when she becomes adored by Prince Daniel (Mark Hildreth), Rothbart hatches a plan to stop Odette and Daniel wedding by disguising his own daughter, Odile (Maggie Wheeler) as Odette.
So of course Mattel we’re going to keep riding this train for as long as they could, and next up was as return to classical ballet for Barbie of Swan Lake.
When baker’s daughter Odette (Barbie(Kelly Sheridan)) discovers an enchanted forest she is thought to be the saviour the woodland creatures have been waiting for. The Fairy Queen (Kathleen Barr) bestows upon Odette a crystal that she claims will be used to defeat Rothbart (Kelsey Grammar), a dark sorcerer who has placed the denizens of the forest under a curse, turning them into animals. Rothbart does the same to Odette, transforming her into a swan. But when she becomes adored by Prince Daniel (Mark Hildreth), Rothbart hatches a plan to stop Odette and Daniel wedding by disguising his own daughter, Odile (Maggie Wheeler) as Odette.
Swan Lake is a story I am very familiar with, having seen multiple adaptations over the years (on film and on stage), as well as having performed sections of the ballet on stage. Having seen how Mattel altered the stories of Nutcracker and Rapunzel to fit within their respective Barbie toy lines, I braced myself for some major alterations to Swan Lake. Where I was able to forgive Nutcracker and Rapunzel’s alterations as I’m less familiar with those stories, with Swan Lake I found it profoundly irritating that the story was meddled with as much as it was.
The core concept remains the same, the Prince and Odette falling in love despite Rothbart’s curse and nefarious plan to keep them apart, but how it plays out is wildly different, and it does rely an awful lot on some irritating comic relief characters.
That being said, Barbie of Swan Lake is probably quite a good way of introducing the tale to children. Whilst I may be a purist at heart, ballet certainly isn’t for everyone and so I’m all for adapting these classic tales into more accessible mediums. Whilst I found characters like Lila (Venus Terzo), Carlita (Nicole Oliver), and Ivan (Ian James Corbett) insufferable, for a child I can imagine the whole experience to be thoroughly enjoyable.
The core concept remains the same, the Prince and Odette falling in love despite Rothbart’s curse and nefarious plan to keep them apart, but how it plays out is wildly different, and it does rely an awful lot on some irritating comic relief characters.
That being said, Barbie of Swan Lake is probably quite a good way of introducing the tale to children. Whilst I may be a purist at heart, ballet certainly isn’t for everyone and so I’m all for adapting these classic tales into more accessible mediums. Whilst I found characters like Lila (Venus Terzo), Carlita (Nicole Oliver), and Ivan (Ian James Corbett) insufferable, for a child I can imagine the whole experience to be thoroughly enjoyable.
As usual for the Barbie animated films, the voice acting is on point. Grammar delivers a menacing and memorable turn as Rothbart, and Sheridan once again proves that she is more than capable of carrying the film on her shoulders. As insufferable as this version of Odile is, I loved the casting choice of Wheeler (more commonly known as Janice from Friends) because she makes the character so over the top unbearable in the best way.
The presentation is also once again far beyond the requirements of a glorified toy commercial. Providing original choreography based on Tchaikovsky’s original ballet by the New York City ballet, all performed by motion captured dancers ensures that the few routines the film has stand out as genuinely great. Plus Tchaikovsky’s original score is one of the best ballet’s of all time so you really can’t go wrong with the music either.
Barbie of Swan Lake didn’t resonate with me quite as much as Nutcracker, but it was still a decent, if occasionally irritating, adaptation of the classic ballet for the small screen. Mattel proves once again it’s really nailed a winning formula and whilst I won’t pretend that this film is a masterpiece, it’s far better than it has any right to be. Keep them coming!
The presentation is also once again far beyond the requirements of a glorified toy commercial. Providing original choreography based on Tchaikovsky’s original ballet by the New York City ballet, all performed by motion captured dancers ensures that the few routines the film has stand out as genuinely great. Plus Tchaikovsky’s original score is one of the best ballet’s of all time so you really can’t go wrong with the music either.
Barbie of Swan Lake didn’t resonate with me quite as much as Nutcracker, but it was still a decent, if occasionally irritating, adaptation of the classic ballet for the small screen. Mattel proves once again it’s really nailed a winning formula and whilst I won’t pretend that this film is a masterpiece, it’s far better than it has any right to be. Keep them coming!