| Barbie: Thumbelina | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover art | |
| Directed by | Conrad Helten |
| Written by | Elise Allen |
| Based on | Thumbelina byHans Christian Andersen |
| Produced by | Luke Carroll and Tiffany Shuttleworth |
| Starring | Kelly Sheridan Anna Cummer |
| Music by | Eric Colvin |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios Home Entertainment[a] Kidtoon Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Countries | Canada United States |
| Language | English |
Barbie: Thumbelina (also known asBarbie Presents: Thumbelina)[1] is a 2009 animatedfantasy film directed by Conrad Helten. It was released on March 17, 2009,[2][3] and it made its television premiere onNick Jr. UK on December 24, 2012.[4] The fifteenth film in theBarbie film series, it is a modern retelling ofHans Christian Andersen's fairy taleThumbelina. The film centers around Thumbelina, a "twillerbee" who befriends a human girl, and both must cooperate their strength in order to save the environment.[5][6] This was the lastBarbie movie to be distributed byEntertainment Rights outside North America[7] before their closure and Mattel signing a new deal withUniversal Pictures outside North America.[8]
"Barbie presents the story of Thumbelina in a modern retelling of the classic tale. Meet a tiny girl named Thumbelina who lives in harmony with nature in the magical world of the Twillerbees that's hidden among the wildflowers. At the whim of a spoiled young girl named Makena, Thumbelina and her two friends have their patch of wildflowers uprooted and are transported to a lavish apartment in the city. Here they learn of construction plans that threaten to destroy the land of the Twillerbees! Harnessing the magic of nature, Thumbelina sets out to prove that even the smallest person can make a big difference."[9]
Barbie and her kindergarten students walking in a big meadow, ready to plant trees. Emma, one of the children, finds a small tree and decides to plant it, but her friends laugh at her because of it, making her sad. However, Barbie cheers her up by telling her that a small tree can grow into a very big tree, then tells the children the story of Thumbelina.
Thumbelina is one of the Twillerbees, wingless fairies who spawn from flowers and whose magic affects plant growth. Learning that some Twillerbuds are growing and will soon open to reveal new Twillerbabies, Thumbelina constructs false winggliders for herself and her friends Janessa and Chrysella, so they can monitor the Twillerbud flowers until the babies are "born".
Tractors arrive in the field and remove part of the flowerbed, with the three friends hiding inside. The plants, now potted, are placed in an apartment belonging to the parents of a spoiled, wealthy girl named Makena; she keeps the flowers in her bedroom. As Thumbelina, Chrysella, and Janessa search for a way to go back to their field, Makena's dog Poofles runs after them. Makena comes into the bedroom while the trio hides. Makena talks to her friend Violet on a cell phone about her parents, who intend to build a factory on the Twillerbees' field. An upset Thumbelina reveals herself and scolds Makena; Makena, surprised, sees the ownership of a Twillerbee as a way to one-up Violet, whom she always competes with.
The three Twillerbees try, unsuccessfully, to escape from Makena and Poofles. Finally, Thumbelina is able to send Chrysella and Janessa home, to disturb the work in the field while Thumbelina talks to Makena. Thumbelina makes Makena promise to persuade her parents to stop building the factory, and not to tell anyone about her. In return, Thumbelina agrees to create special plants for Makena.
Makena, determined to show off in front of her friends, agrees to the deal but only perfunctorily talks to her parents about the factory project. She also breaks her promise and brings Violet and another girl named Ashlynn to show off Thumbelina and her powers. Thumbelina angrily leaves, and Makena realizes that the other two badly-behaved girls are not her true friends. Missing Thumbelina's companionship, Makena goes to the field and begs forgiveness. Thumbelina reveals the rest of the Twillerbees and the Twillerbuds to Makena, who becomes determined to save them.
That night, Makena, Thumbelina, Janessa, Chrysella, Poofles, and Lola the bird all work hard in a greenhouse to grow the plants. The next day, Makena shows her parents the result and asks them to stop the building. Thumbelina appears and explains to the adults about the Twillerbuds that will bloom soon. Evan and Vanessa, Makena's parents, are convinced and agree to stop Myron, the contractor, from destroying the field.
Thanks to some birds and the other Twillerbees, Myron's workers are tricked into believing the field is haunted and flee. However, Myron is angry and determined to finish his work, as he is allergic to flowers and wants them gone. Ultimately, Makena and Thumbelina arrive and halt Myron long enough for Evan and Vanessa to arrive at the field and have the factory project shut down. A team of birds chases Myron away, and Makena and her family watch the Twillerbuds bloom. To prevent others from destroying the field, they turn the field into a Reserved Park.
As Barbie finishes the story, she reveals they are in the Reserved Park. Barbie says that even the smallest person can make a big difference; Makena is small, compared to the other adults, just like the children. Barbie waves at Thumbelina, Janessa and Chrysella, and they make Emma's tree grow.
