To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Barbie in the Nutcracker, Mattel has announced a new animated special that will roll out on Netflix this year.
The new 45-minute special will deliver a modern animated look and updated storytelling to the classic, honoring the legacy of the 2001 film. Rob David and Teale Sperling are overseeing for Mattel Studios.
“This anniversary is an opportunity to honor where Barbie’s animated storytelling began—and to invite a new generation to experience these worlds in their own way,” said Nathan Baynard, VP and head of Barbie at Mattel. “Barbie in the Nutcracker has always been about imagination in motion, and this new chapter opens that world again through reimagined content, inspired products, and experiences that encourage discovery and play.”
Beyond the special, Mattel has lined up a range of new dolls that will be available at mass retailers ahead of the Netflix premiere. Additional consumer products, including collaborations with Loungefly, Tutu Du Monde, Brown Girl Jane, Funko, Hallmark, Glamlite, Just Play, Townley, Centric Brands, Alex + Ani, and Crayola, will also be available. Plus, Mattel Press will release Barbie: The Nutcracker, a hardcover picture book.
Mattel is also re-releasing classic Barbie specials, including the original Nutcracker film, Barbie & Her Sisters in a Pony Tale and Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus. on the Barbie YouTube channel, plus select streaming platforms and broadcasters globally. Barbie in the Nutcracker will also be released on Netflix later in 2026.
