 Final logo, used from 2019 to 2025 | |
| Formerly | Mattel Creations (2016–2019) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Television production |
| Predecessors | |
| Founded | March 31, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-03-31) |
| Defunct | June 2, 2025; 8 months ago (2025-06-02) |
| Fate | Merged withMattel Films to form Mattel Studios |
| Successor | Mattel Studios (television section) |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products | |
| Parent | Mattel |
| Footnotes / references [1][2] | |
Mattel Television, alternatively known from 2023 to 2025 asMattel Television Studios and formerly known asMattel Creations,[3]was an American television production company and thetelevision division of American toy and entertainment companyMattel that operated from March 31, 2016[4][5]to June 2, 2025.
Originally formed as the successor toMattel Playground Productions, it was rebranded to its latest name with the hiring of formerDisney Branded Television programming executive Adam Bonnett on February 5, 2019[6] and transitioned heavily towards the production ofstreaming media for release onYouTube variants andNetflix while maintaining the television forays of its previous incarnation.[7][8]
On June 2, 2025, Mattel announced a merger, combination and consolidation of this division and its filming division,Mattel Films, intoMattel Studios, elevating and/or promoting Mattel Films headRobbie Brenner to/as head of Mattel Studios. This is seen as a revival of the brand/banner Mattel used occasionally or sparingly between 2011 and 2013 in place of their main logo in theend credits for media entries ofMonster High,Ever After High andPolly Pocket.[9][10][11][12]
Before the formation ofMattel Creations, Mattel signed a pact withDHX Media (nowWildBrain) on December 16, 2015 to co-produce and co-distribute newer productions and episodes of existing television shows and web series based onPolly Pocket,Little People andHIT Entertainment brandsBob the Builder andFireman Sam.[13] AtMIPCOM 2015,HIT Entertainment itself, through its owner Mattel, announced its last partnership in its existence with9 Story Media Group to revive/rebootBarney & Friends andAngelina Ballerina for distribution in 2017, but nothing was disclosed of in terms ofgreen-lighting them since then.[14]
Mattel formed a division called Mattel Creations on March 31, 2016, seeking to unify, centralize and revamp its entertainment business; it absorbed its main entertainment division at the time,Mattel Playground Productions,HIT Entertainment and theAmerican Girl creative team inMiddleton, Wisconsin on its launch.[4] Mattel then appointed its then-chief content officer, Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, as its head and had HIT Entertainment president Christopher Keenan elevated or promoted to being its senior vice president overseeing development and production of productions from the division.[4][5]
Mattel Creations signed an exclusive 7-year globalsubscription video on demand (SVOD) rights agreement withUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment for theBarbie film library on October 16, 2016, including the two films released at the time;Barbie: Star Light Adventure andBarbie: Video Game Hero.[15]
Catherine stepped down from her position and left Mattel on February 12, 2018 to take over as general manager ofCraftsy, with Mattel's co-president and chief operating officer, Richard L. Dickson, adding the oversight of the division to his roles.[16]
Mattel hired formerDisney Branded Television programming executive Adam Bonnett as executive producer and head of a reorganizedMattel Television on February 5, 2019, which effectively replaced Mattel Creations.[6] A week later, Mattel Television announced a proposition of twenty-two animated and live-action television programs.[7][8] FormerSaban Brands executive, Frederic Soulie, who was appointed as the senior vice president for content distribution and business development of the franchise management group division set up by Dickson andYnon Kreiz, chairman and CEO of Mattel, to expand the company's entertainment business, was named senior vice president and general manager of Mattel Television.[1][2]
On February 23, 2021, Mattel Television announced the return of theMonster High brand three years after its last production withan animated series anda live-action musical film, both of which aired onNickelodeon andParamount+ in the United States on October 6, 2022.[17][18] On August 30, 2021, with the Universal deal expired, Mattel struck a deal with localhome video releasing powerhouses, Mill Creek Entertainment and NCircle Entertainment, for the newerNetflix-based content forDVD,Blu-ray andDigital HD distribution to the U.S. and Canadian markets.[19][20][21][22][23]
On September 7, 2021, following the debut of thestreamingtelevision filmBarbie: Big City, Big Dreams on Netflix, Mattel hired formerNBCUniversal vice president of current programming, Philip "Phil" Breman, to be the vice president overseeing live-action scripted and unscripted series development.[24][25][26] Following its global popularity and success, Mattel Television unveiled a 26-episode animated streaming television musical serial adaptation and continuation of the film on February 1, 2022 known asBarbie: It Takes Two.[27][28] The first half of episodes were released on Netflix in the U.S. on April 8, 2022 with the other half on October 1, with availability in other countries and territories reached 3 months after the American release. The series also aired on television in Australia, the UK and Ireland, Canada and Portugal.
On October 21, 2022, Mattel announced an agreement extension with Netflix that would make available the pre-2017 film catalogue previously held byUniversal Pictures occasionally through the streaming service and the inaugural interactive "special" in theBarbie media franchise,Barbie: Epic Road Trip, which released 4 days later.[29][30][31] On October 25, 2022, Mattel capitalized on the audiovisual revival ofMonster High by jointly announcing asequel to the live-action film withNickelodeon andParamount+, which began production began the following year on February 7 and premiered on October 5, 2023.[32][33][34][35][36]
On February 16, 2023, Mattel published throughGoogle Drive its content slate portfolio for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 fiscal years,[37] including a revival ofFireman Sam and a makeover revival ofBarney.[38] On March 7, 2023,NBC green-lighted a car makeover competition featuringHot Wheels calledHot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge.[39][40]
On September 28, 2023,Netflix announcedHot Wheels Let's Race, the latest animated serial adaptation ofHot Wheels which premiered on March 4 the following year.[41] On November 16, 2023, Michelle Mendelovitz was hired to head the division.[3]
In August 2024, Mattel Television Studios announced thatHot Wheels: Let's Race! was renewed for a second season. The second season premiered in 9 September 2024.[42]
On October 21, 2024, Mattel Television Studios announced that it would co-develop another television series in thePingu franchise withAardman Animations.[43]
On June 2, 2025, Mattel announced a merger, combination and consolidation of this division and its filming division,Mattel Films, intoMattel Studios, elevating and/or promoting Mattel Films headRobbie Brenner to/as head of Mattel Studios. This is seen as a revival of the brand/banner Mattel used occasionally or sparingly between 2011 and 2013 in place of their main logo in theend credits for media entries ofMonster High,Ever After High andPolly Pocket.[9][10][11][12] Consequestly, productions previously announced and in development with these two banners/divisions will now be assumed by/transferred to Mattel Studios.
| As Mattel Creations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Release date(s) | Type | Co-producer | Distributor(s) | Notes |
| Thomas & Friends: The Great Race |
| Animated film | Arc Productions |
| |
| Barbie: Star Light Adventure |
| Animated film |
| Final production of Arc Productions before payroll glitch-turned-bankruptcy and re-opening asJam Filled Entertainment's Toronto division/branch | |
| Barbie Dreamtopia[45] |
| Animated web serials |
|
| Began with a teaser promo video released on YouTube on 14 January, followed by 4 3-minute shorts also released on YouTube between 5 May to 21 July and then a 46-minute television special released byUniversal on 16 June, all in 2016, which was broadcast on television in 5 countries and regions. The positive reception obtained resulted in thegreen-lighting of a web special released on 4 May 2017 called "Festival of Fun" and a 26-episode web series, which was released from 5 November 2017 to 1 April 2018, both onYouTube andYouTube Kids. The former would be re-released in 3 pieces as part the first batch of the latter. Ireland-based Relish Studios produced a web mini-serial spin-off of the franchise titledBarbie Return to Dreamtopia as part of a broader animated web series franchise known asBarbie's Dreamworld which was released between 21 July and 21 October 2021. |
| Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef | June 23, 2016 | Animated film | DHX Media Vancouver |
| 61 minutes[46][47] |
| WellieWishers | September 8, 2016 | Animated series | Submarine Studios |
| 2 seasons, 26 episodes;American Girl doll franchise[5][48] |
| Barbie & Her Sisters in A Puppy Chase | October 18, 2016 | Animated film | Rainmaker Entertainment | Pre-production done by Arc Productions prior to its closure. The film was brought over to Rainmaker Entertainment for completion. | |
| Barbie: Video Game Hero | January 31, 2017 | LastBarbie film to be shown on either Nickelodeon or other/another children's television network(s) in the United States | |||
| Monster High: Electrified | February 12, 2017 | Flaunt Studios |
| 64 minutes | |
| The Toy Box | April 7, 2017 –November 19, 2017 | Reality series |
| 2 seasons[51] | |
| Monster High: Adventures of the Ghoul Squad | August 11, 2017 –February 9, 2018 | Animated web series | YouTube | 12 11-minute episodes | |
| Barbie Dolphin Magic | September 18, 2017 | Animated film | Rainmaker Entertainment | Television:
| Only Netflix-exclusiveBarbie film to be released onhome video (DVD andDigital HD) andvideo on demand by Universal.[52] |
| Thomas & Friends | September 18, 2017 –January 20, 2021 | Animated series | Jam Filled Entertainment |
| Continued from The Britt Allcroft Company/Gullane Entertainment andHIT Entertainment |
| Pingu in the City | October 7, 2017 –March 30, 2019 | NHK Educational TV | 2 seasons | ||
| Minecraft Mini Series | October 26, 2017 –May 10, 2018 | YouTube | |||
| Fireman Sam | November 18, 2017 – present |
|
|
| |
| Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures[a] | May 3, 2018 –April 12, 2020 | Animated streaming television series | Mainframe Studios | Netflix (U.S., International) Television:
| 5 seasons, 52 episodes[45] |
| Polly Pocket | July 8, 2018 – present | Animated series | WildBrain Studios |
| |
| As Mattel Television | |||||
| Barbie: Princess Adventure | September 1, 2020 | Animated streaming television film | Mainframe Studios | Netflix | |
| Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday | April 16, 2021 | Inaugural film to starChelsea Roberts in a lead role sinceBarbie: Dreamtopia | |||
| Masters of the Universe: Revelation | July 23, 2021 –November 23, 2021 | Animated streaming television series | Powerhouse Animation Studios | 2-part animated series | |
| Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams |
| Animated streaming television film | Mainframe Studios | InauguralBarbie-branded production starring Barbie Roberts fromMalibu and a darker-skin tone Barbie Roberts fromBrooklyn,New York City in Mattel's statement push to showcase absolute diversity within future productions inits media franchise. It was given a limited theatrical release in theBritish Isles on 20 August 2021 before the American Netflix debut. | |
| Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go | September 13, 2021 –September 11, 2025 | Animated television series | Nelvana |
| Reboot ofThomas & Friends |
| He-Man and the Masters of the Universe | September 16, 2021 –August 18, 2022 | Animated streaming television series | Netflix | Re-imagining of theeponymous original 1983 TV series produced byFilmation. | |
| Barbie: It Takes Two[27][28] |
| Mainframe Studios | Television:
| Unveiled on 1 February 2022, via the Mattel website.[27][28] Television adaptation ofBarbie: Big City, Big Dreams. First aired on television in Australia on 4 March and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 2 April before launching on Netflix in the U.S. on 8 April. Also aired on television in Canada on 10 April[57] and in Portugal on 17 April.[58] The first half of episodes was released on 8 April and the other half on 1 October. | |
| Deepa & Anoop | August 15, 2022 –November 7, 2022 | Animated musical streaming television series | Kickstart Entertainment | Netflix | The inaugural television show based on original homegrown intellectual property. Created byBollywood animator Munjal Shroff, written by Lisa Goldman and produced by Heather Kenyon, the show follows the adventures of a 7-year-old girl named Deepa, voiced by Pavan Bharaj, and her friend, a color-changing baby elephant named Anoop.[59] 2 seasons.[60] |
| Barbie: Mermaid Power | September 1, 2022 | Animated streaming television film | Mainframe Studios |
| This film was also shown in theatres/cinemas across Europe and the Middle East between September and October 2022. Second television film and third production overall to feature two girls named "Barbie Roberts". Perceived among fans as the sequel toBarbie Dolphin Magic. |
| Pictionary | September 12, 2022 –May 30, 2025 | Game show |
| Syndication | |
| Monster High: The Movie | October 6, 2022 | Live-actionmusical film[62] |
| Both were announced on 23 February 2021.[18][17] | |
| Monster High[18][17] | October 6, 2022 –October 24, 2024 | Animated television series | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | Nickelodeon | |
| Barbie: Epic Road Trip[29] | October 25, 2022 | Animated streaminginteractive special[64][65] | Mainframe Studios | Netflix (U.S., International)[66] | The 4th production to feature two girls named "Barbie Roberts". The inauguralinteractive special of theBarbie media franchise. |
| Barbie: Skipper and the Big Babysitting Adventure | March 16, 2023 | Animated streaming television film | Mainframe Studios | Inaugural film to starSkipper Roberts in a lead role with more screen time than previousBarbie-branded productions. | |
| Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge[39][40] | May 30, 2023 – August 8, 2023 | Reality series |
| NBC | |
| Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge[68] | July 17, 2023 – September 2023 |
| HGTV | ||
| Polly Pocket: Sparkle Cove Adventure | August 21, 2023 | Animated streaming television special | WildBrain Studios | Netflix | Mattel Television and WildBrain created this special as a way to close out Summer 2023. The special follows Polly Pocket as she explores an unknown world filled with magic. It is a 66-minute long film.[69] |
| Barbie: A Touch of Magic | September 14, 2023 –April 18, 2024 | Animated streaming television series | Mainframe Studios | Streaming: Netflix (US, international) Television:
| |
| Monster High 2 | October 5, 2023 | Live-action musical film |
|
| Announced on 25 October 2022 alongside the debut ofBarbie: Epic Road Trip.[32][33] Production began on 7 February 2023 with moments and scenes shared on social media.[34][35] |
| Masters of the Universe: Revolution | January 25, 2024 – present | Animated streaming television series | Powerhouse Animation Studios | Netflix | Sequel toMasters of the Universe: Revelation. |
| Hot Wheels Let's Race[70] | March 4, 2024 – March 3, 2025 | Sprite Animation Studios OLM, Digital | |||
| Scrabble | October 3, 2024 – present | Game show | Hasbro Entertainment Lionsgate Alternative Television | The CW | First television series co-produced by Hasbro and Mattel.[71] |
| Barney's World | October 14, 2024 – present | Animated television series | Nelvana |
| |
| Title | Original run | Format | Network | Co-production with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little People | 1999–2007 | TV series | Direct-to-video |
| |
| Barbie | 2001–2014 | Film series |
|
| Films released between 1 September 2010 and 31 March 2014 were under the sales mark name of "Barbie Entertainment". |
| Hot Wheels: World Race | 2003 | Miniseries | Cartoon Network | Mainframe Entertainment | |
| Rescue Heroes: The Movie | Film | Direct-to-video | Nelvana | ||
| Fisher-Price Baby Development series | Miniseries | Direct-to-video | Benjamin Productions | ||
| Polly Pocket: Lunar Eclipse | 2004 | Short film | Mike Young Productions | ||
| My Scene: Jammin' in Jamaica | Film | Curious Pictures | |||
| My Scene: Masquerade Madness | |||||
| Polly Pocket: 2 Cool at the Pocket Plaza | 2005 | Short film | Direct-to-video | ||
| Hot Wheels: AcceleRacers | Television special series |
| Mainframe Entertainment | ||
| My Scene Goes Hollywood: The Movie | Film | Direct-to-video |
| ||
| PollyWorld | 2006 | Film | Nickelodeon | Curious Pictures | |
| The Barbie Diaries | Animated motion-capture film |
| This film only showed the Mattel logo after the closing credits, which only happened once in aBarbie film, until 2014. | ||
| GeoTrax | 2007–2008 | TV series | Direct-to-video | ||
| Planet Heroes | 2008 | ||||
| Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse | 10 January 2012 – 27 November 2015 | Web shorts | Arc Productions | ||
| Max Steel | 2013–2015 | TV series |
| Title | Original run | Network | Co-production with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas & Friends | 1984–2021 |
|
| Continued from The Britt Allcroft Company/Gullane Entertainment and finished by Mattel Creations/Television |
| Fireman Sam |
|
|
| Brand was acquired by Gullane Entertainment in 2001 and, in turn, acquired by HIT Entertainment |
| Pingu |
|
| ||
| Captain Zed and the Zee Zone | 1991 | Children's ITV | ||
| Where's Wally? | 1991 |
|
| |
| Barney & Friends | 1992–2010 | PBS Kids | Continued from The Lyons Group/Lyrick Studios | |
| The Wind in the Willows | 1995 | TVC London | Television film | |
| Professor Bubble | 1996–1997 | ITV | ||
| Percy the Park Keeper | 1996–1999 | ITV | Grand Slamm Children's Films | |
| The Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge | 1996–2000 | BBC One |
| |
| The Willows in Winter | 1996 | TVC London | Television film | |
| The Phoenix and the Carpet | 1997 | BBC | ||
| Animal Ark | 1997–1998 | ITV |
| |
| Kipper | 1997–2000 | ITV | Grand Slamm Children's Films | |
| Big Sister, Little Brother | 1997 |
| ||
| The Three Friends and Jerry | 1998–1999 |
|
| |
| Anthony Ant | 1999 | Funbag Animation Studios | ||
| Bob the Builder | 1999–2011 | (series 17–18) | ||
| Fly Tales | 1999 |
| ||
| Ted Sieger's Wildlife | 1999 | ZDF | Hahn Film | |
| Faeries | 1999 |
|
| |
| Sheeep | 2000–2001 | CBBC | Grand Slamm Children's Films | |
| The Magic Key | 2000–2001 | BBC Two | Collingwood O'Hare Entertainment Limited | |
| Untalkative Bunny | 2001–2003 | Teletoon |
| |
| Oswald | 2001–2003 | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | |
| Angelina Ballerina | 2001–2006 | ITV | Grand Slamm Children's Films | |
| Rubbadubbers | 2003–2005 |
| HOT Animation | |
| Wobbly Land | 2007 | Nick Jr. | Brown Bag Films | |
| Frances | 2008 | PBS Kids Sprout | The Jim Henson Company | |
| Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps | 2009–2010 | PBS Kids | SD Entertainment | |
| Rainbow Magic: Return to Rainspell Island | 2010 | Direct-to-video | The Answer Studio | |
| Mike the Knight | 2011–2017 |
| Nelvana | |
| Bob the Builder | 2015–2018 | Channel 5 PBS Kids(series 1-2) |
| Finished by Mattel Creations |
| Title | Original run | Network | Co-production with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barney and the Backyard Gang | 1988–1991 | Direct-to-video | The predecessor toBarney & Friends | |
| Barney & Friends | 1992–2010 | PBS Kids | The predecessor toBarney & Friends | |
| Wishbone | 1995–1997 | PBS Kids | Big Feats! Entertainment | |
| Kids for Character | 1996 | Direct-to-video | Special | |
| Kids for Character: Choices Count | 1997 | |||
| Wishbone's Dog Days of the West | 1998 | PBS Kids | Big Feats! Entertainment |
| Title | Original run | Network | Co-production with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shining Time Station | 1989–1993; 1995 | Catalyst Entertainment (seasons 2–3) | |
| Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales | 1996 | PBS | |
| It's a Mystery | 1996–2002 | ITV(CITV) |
|
| Captain Pugwash | 1974-1975 1998-2000 | BBC 1 (1974 series) ITV(CITV) (1998 series) | BBC Television (1974 series) John Cary Films (1998 series) |
| Toy brands |
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