Illumination’s Next Billion-Dollar Franchise? The ‘Despicable Me’ And ‘Mario’ Studio Teams With Mattel On An Animated Barbie Feature

Two years after Greta Gerwig’s Barbie ruled the world and redefined the cultural narrative around Mattel’s iconic doll, Barbie is headed back to theaters, this time in animated form. According to Deadline, Illumination, the animation studio behind the Despicable Me franchise and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is collaborating with Mattel Studios on the first theatrical animated Barbie film.

While plot details remain under wraps, the new Barbie project could mark a new milestone for both Mattel and Illumination. With the live-action Barbie grossing over $1.4 billion worldwide and earning eight Academy Award nominations, Mattel is seeking to leverage the doll’s renewed global appeal through a new animated storytelling approach.

Known for its budget-friendly production methods and box office consistency, Illumination has proven itself to be the industry leader in adapting IPs like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Grinch, and The Lorax, as well as launching original properties, such as Despicable Me, Sing, and The Secret Life of Pets. An animated Barbie film could become a cornerstone of the studio’s future endeavors and further cement its position at the top of the adaptation food chain.

The film will be released, like all Illumination films, by Universal Pictures, which maintains an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with the studio. With no release date yet announced, the Barbie project joins a crowded development slate for Mattel Studios, which has recently consolidated its film and television arms and is advancing projects based on properties such as Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, and American Girl.

The original live-action Barbie film, distributed by Warner Bros., became a cultural touchstone in 2023. Illumination’s animated version will likely target kids and family audiences, however, while capitalizing on Barbie’s status as the world’s leading toy brand.

Whether the new film will connect to Gerwig’s more progressive take or introduce an entirely fresh narrative remains to be seen, but it’s not hard to imagine the project spawning a new franchise for both Mattel and Illumination.