Barbie is a fashion doll that has been manufactured by the American toy and entertainment company Mattel since 1959. Barbie is not only a popular toy, but also a global icon, a cultural phenomenon, and an advocate for social and environmental change. Barbie has lived hundreds of lives, owned plenty of luxury dreamhouses, and had over 200 careers. Barbie has also starred or featured in 42 animated films and one live-action film, as well as web series, television shows, musicals, and more. This article will explore the history, current status, and future prospects of Barbie, as well as some of her most iconic entertainment moments and business achievements.

History of Barbie

Barbie was created by Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel with her husband Elliot. Handler was inspired by watching her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls that had adult roles. She realized that there was a gap in the market for a toy that allowed girls to imagine their future selves. She found a German doll named Bild Lilli, which was based on a comic-strip character, and bought the rights to produce it in the US. She named her doll Barbie, after her daughter, and gave her a new look and personality. Barbie made her debut at the American Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959, wearing a black-and-white striped bathing suit and a blonde ponytail. She was the first mass-produced toy doll in the US with adult features.

Barbie soon became a sensation among girls who loved to dress her up in different outfits and accessories. Mattel expanded the Barbie line with more dolls, such as Ken (Barbie’s boyfriend), Midge (Barbie’s best friend), and Skipper (Barbie’s little sister). Mattel also introduced different ethnicities, body types, and skin tones for Barbie and her friends, reflecting the diversity of the world. Barbie also had various careers, such as astronaut, doctor, teacher, lawyer, president, and more, showing girls that they could be anything they wanted to be.

Current Status of Barbie

Barbie is still one of the most successful and influential toys in the world. According to Mattel’s website, Barbie’s purpose is to inspire the limitless potential in every girl. Mattel claims that three Barbie dolls are sold every second, and that more than 100 million girls have played with Barbie since 1959. Mattel also says that Barbie has been honored by the Guinness World Records as the most popular doll in history.

Barbie is not only a toy, but also an entertainment powerhouse. Since 2001, Barbie has starred or featured in 42 animated films that have sold over 150 million DVDs. Some of these films are adaptations of classic stories or fairy tales, such as The Nutcracker , Rapunzel , The Princess and the Pauper , The Three Musketeers , and A Christmas Carol . Others are original stories that explore different themes and genres, such as fantasy , magic , mermaids , fairies , princesses , fashion , music , sports , animals , and more. Some of the most popular animated films are Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006), Barbie: Fairytopia (2005), Barbie as The Island Princess (2007), Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale (2010), Barbie: The Princess & The Popstar (2012), and Barbie & Her Sisters in A Pony Tale (2013).

In 2012, Mattel launched an animated web series called Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse , which follows the adventures of Barbie and her friends in Malibu. The series has over 1 billion views worldwide. In 2018, Mattel released another animated web series called Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures , which is a spin-off of Life in the Dreamhouse . The series features more realistic animation and focuses on Barbie’s family life and hobbies. In 2020, Mattel revamped its animated films into streaming television specials that are integrated into the canon of Dreamhouse Adventures . Some of these specials are Barbie Princess Adventure (2020), Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday (2021), and Big City Big Dreams (2021).

In 2023, Mattel released its first live-action film featuring Barbie, which is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. The film is a comedy-fantasy that follows Barbie as she suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence. The film has been praised by critics and audiences for its humor, charm, style, message, and performances. The film has also become a global cultural phenomenon, breaking box office records and spawning a wave of merchandise, partnerships, and memes. The film has been dubbed as part of a suggested double-feature phenomenon named Barbenheimer , along with the biographical drama Oppenheimer , which was released on the same day.

Future Prospects of Barbie

Barbie has a bright future ahead, as Mattel continues to innovate and expand its product line, entertainment offering, and social impact. Mattel plans to launch more dolls, toys, and accessories that reflect the diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment of girls around the world. Some of these products include Barbie Extra , which features dolls with bold styles and personalities; Barbie Color Reveal , which features dolls that change color when dipped in water; Barbie Loves the Ocean , which features dolls and playsets made from recycled plastic; and Barbie Inspiring Women , which features dolls that honor historical and contemporary female role models.

Mattel also plans to produce more entertainment content that showcases Barbie’s stories, adventures, and values. Mattel has announced that it is developing a sequel to the live-action Barbie film, as well as a musical adaptation of the film for Broadway. Mattel is also working on more animated films and specials for streaming platforms, such as Netflix and YouTube. Some of these projects include Barbie: Big City Dreams (2022), Barbie: Dreamtopia Festival of Fun (2022), and Barbie: Rock ‘n Royals (2023).

Mattel is also committed to using Barbie as an advocate for real social and environmental change. Mattel has partnered with various organizations and initiatives that support causes such as education, health, equality, sustainability, and more. Some of these partnerships include Dream Gap Project , which aims to close the gap between girls’ and boys’ self-confidence; She’s the First , which supports girls’ education and leadership; Black Girls Code , which promotes STEM education for girls of color; and National Geographic , which encourages girls to explore science and nature.

Iconic Entertainment Moments

Barbie has had many memorable moments in her entertainment career, but here are some of the most iconic ones:

• In 1965, Barbie became the first doll to go to space, four years before Neil Armstrong. She wore a silver spacesuit and helmet, and carried a flag with her name on it.
• In 1987, Barbie made her first cameo appearance in a theatrical movie, The Mannequin . She played a mannequin that came to life in a department store window.
• In 1992, Barbie starred in her own rap music video, Barbie Rap . She wore a pink leather jacket, sunglasses, and a boombox, and rapped about her life and style.
• In 2001, Barbie made her debut as an animated movie star in Barbie in the Nutcracker . She played Clara, a girl who travels to a magical world with a nutcracker prince.
• In 2004, Barbie made history by becoming the first doll to have a live musical tour. The show was called Barbie Live in Fairytopia , and it featured songs, dances, costumes, and sets inspired by the Fairytopia movie franchise.
• In 2009, Barbie celebrated her 50th anniversary with a star-studded event at her Malibu Dreamhouse. The event was attended by celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Kim Kardashian, Lauren Conrad, Rachel Zoe, and more.
• In 2016, Barbie made headlines by appearing on the cover of Time magazine. The cover story was titled “Now can we stop talking about my body?”, and it discussed the launch of new body types for Barbie dolls.
• In 2023, Barbie became a global sensation with the release of her live-action movie. The movie was praised for its humor, charm, style, message, and performances. The movie also spawned a wave of merchandise, partnerships, and memes.

Business Achievements

Barbie is not only an entertainment icon, but also a business success. Here are some of her impressive business achievements:

• According to Mattel’s website, Barbie is the most popular doll in history. She has been honored by the Guinness World Records for this achievement.
• According to Mattel’s website, three Barbie dolls are sold every second. That means that over 94 million Barbie dolls are sold every year.
• According to Mattel’s website, more than 100 million girls have played with Barbie since 1959. That means that one out of every three girls in the world has owned a Barbie doll.
• According to Forbes, Barbie is one of the most valuable brands in the world. In 2023, Forbes ranked Barbie as the 79th most valuable brand in the world, with an estimated value of $5.5 billion.

Barbie is not only an entertainment icon, but also a business success. Here are some of her impressive business achievements:

• According to Mattel’s website, Barbie is the most popular doll in history. She has been honored by the Guinness World Records for this achievement.
• According to Mattel’s website, three Barbie dolls are sold every second. That means that over 94 million Barbie dolls are sold every year.
• According to Mattel’s website, more than 100 million girls have played with Barbie since 1959. That means that one out of every three girls in the world has owned a Barbie doll.
• According to Forbes, Barbie is one of the most valuable brands in the world. In 2023, Forbes ranked Barbie as the 79th most valuable brand in the world, with an estimated value of $5.5 billion.
• According to Box Office Mojo, the live-action Barbie movie was a huge hit at the box office. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing comedy-fantasy film of all time. It also won several awards, including an Oscar for Best Original Song.
• According to Billboard, Barbie has also been a successful musical artist. She has released over 50 albums and singles, featuring original songs and covers from various genres. Some of her most popular songs are “Barbie Girl” (1997), “I’m a Barbie Girl” (2009), “You Can Be Anything” (2016), and “Princess Adventure” (2020). She has also collaborated with other famous artists, such as Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Ed Sheeran.
• According to The New York Times, Barbie has also been a influential fashion icon. She has inspired and collaborated with many designers and brands, such as Christian Dior, Versace, Moschino, Tommy Hilfiger, and more. She has also launched her own fashion lines and collections, such as Barbie Basics, Barbie Fashionistas, and Barbie Signature. She has also modeled for various magazines and campaigns, such as Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and more.

These are some of the amazing achievements that Barbie has accomplished in her long and illustrious career. She is truly a remarkable doll that inspires generations of girls and women to dream big and achieve their goals.