Barbie Appreciation Month

This is an annual event that happens in July. Throughout the month there are new prompts and themes everyday for all of your giffing, graphic making, drawing, and writing skills. Remember to use #barbieappreciationmonth on your posts!

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Barbie Appreciation Month Week 1, Day 4

Favorite Fantasy Ship: Mariposa and Catania, Mariposa and the Fairy Princess

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Barbie Appreciation Month Week 2, Day 2

Favorite Barbie As Herself Characters: The Flairies, Fashion Fairytale

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Barbie Appreciation Month Week 1, Day 3 

Fantasy Sidekick: Nori and Romy, Secret Door

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Barbie Appreciation Month Week 1, Day 2 

Favorite Fantasy Character: Alexa, Secret Door

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 2: Barbie as Herself | Day 13: Barbie + Character

Barbie + Raquelle (from Barbie: A Fairy Secret) – This was only of the only redeeming factors of A Fairy Secret. I think Barbie and Raquelle’s progression into friendship was done pretty okay, especially in comparison to other elements of the film. The circumstances were…less than ideal, to put it nicely, but it was effective. Being put into the Fury Sphere together actually made them sit down and talk about their feelings instead of regressing back into bickering every two seconds. It’s a really nice moment when they forgive each other and are rewarded with real wings.

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barbie appreciation month | week 1: fantasy day 3: sidekick appreciation –> romy

“what’s a boy?”

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barbie appreciation month | week 1: fantasy day 3: sidekick appreciation –> nori

“pretty soon i’m gonna have my wings.”

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 2: Barbie as Herself | Day 12: Favorite Barbie Look

All of Barbie’s outfits in The Barbie Diaries – When I was a kid this was one of my favorite Barbie movies, because despite the…awkward animation, I did like the soundtrack and characters, and I made it a tradition to watch it the night before each new school year up until I was a high school senior. This movie also happens to have some of my favorite Barbie outfits. I actually wanted her whole wardrobe when I was a teen! I think my very favorite one was the outfit from the “This is Me” opening sequence. It was simple but it just looked so cool to me. It actually became an inspiration for outfits that I helped put together when I was in a girl group junior year (that was a weird time).

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 2: Barbie as Herself | Day 11: Favorite Ships

Barbie and Ken – Also known as “Karbie”, Barbie and Ken are THE Barbie OTP. They’re so great for each other and nothing can convince me otherwise. They’re definitely my favorite couple from all of the “Barbie as Herself” movies. I wish they were together in Dolphin Magic, and Dreamhouse Adventures too, but I’m fine with them being just close friends right now.

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 2: Barbie as Herself | Day 10: Pets or Sidekicks

Percy & Violet (from Barbie: Spy Squad) – Every spy needs a good sidekick, and these pets are just right for the job! I think the Techbots are really cool because they’re cute talking animals that also have a lot of useful functions. I really liked seeing Percy do all he can to help the girls on their missions. I wish Violet had gotten a bit more screentime with them, but when she is there she’s such a delight!

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Barbie Appreciation Month Week 2, Day 1

Favorite Barbie As Herself Movie: Dolphin Magic

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 2: Barbie as Herself | Day 9: Favorite Character(s)

Barbara “Barbie” Millicent Roberts – What I love best about all of the “Barbie as Herself” movies is just, well, Barbie herself! She’s kind, caring, and is always ready to help anyone. Fashion house closing? Let’s put together a whole fashion show in just a few days! Hometown in danger of bankruptcy? Time to find a legendary treasure that may not even exist! A secret agency needs help tracking down gems that could charge a very powerful and dangerous EMP weapon? Sign her up! Barbie never backs down from a challenge, even when everything is against her. She was one of my biggest childhood role models and continues to inspire me today.

Marie-Alecia/Alice (from Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale) – I relate a lot to Alice. I can be quite insecure about my talents and abilities, sometimes feeling like I should just give up. But like her, I know I have to believe in myself. I also like that despite the fact that she’s a little shy, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind, like when she calls out Jacqueline multiple times for her dirty deeds. I know a lot of people think her designs were “too girly” or “too frilly” or whatever, but I still think they’re quite pretty! Most of them aren’t really my own style, but I bet they’d look super cool in real life. Also, I like that she keeps her glasses on the entirety of the movie. Often in “makeover” scenes in movies or when the time comes for a character to put on their “big fancy dress”, that character removes their glasses. I honestly really dislike that trope. Yeah, sure, glasses can be a pain and get in the way, but as someone who doesn’t like contacts, it makes me feel good that Alice keeps hers on in her ballgown.

Aunt Millicent (from Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale & Barbie: A Perfect Christmas) – I just think she’s a delightful character. I like that even though she’s certainly an older character she isn’t put into a “old and can’t do much” box. It’s refreshing to see that she still has tons of energy and drive and doesn’t just sit around giving advice but says she’s “too old” to do things herself. There’s a lot of elderly characters that are forced to just sit back and let the young people live out their dreams while they dream about the past or just watch from the sidelines. I wish we had seen more of her.

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barbie appreciation month | week 1: fantasy day 4: favorite ships –> annika/aidan

“looks like you took a wrong turn, princess.”

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barbie appreciation month | week 1: fantasy day 4: favorite ships –> alexa/liana

“wherever you go in this world, i’ll come along.”

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 2: Barbie as Herself | Day 8: Favorite Movie

Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale – Fight me, this is a really fun Barbie movie. Yeah, I’ve got my problems with it, mainly that Diana Kaarina is a bit too shrill as Barbie in this one (I love her in the other movies she’s in though) and I guess the lore behind the Flairies is a bit weird, but I still really like this movie. Marie-Alicia/Alice and Aunt Millicent are awesome female characters, and it’s the first movie to actually feature KEN! I also really like the soundtrack; it’s really lively and every song is honestly a straight BOP.

Something else interesting to note here is that Barbie herself isn’t actually the center of the conflict. I mean, she does her own conflict with Ken “breaking up” with her and trying to get over it, but that isn’t the main conflict. It’s actually about Millicent’s Fashion House going out of business and Marie-Alecia having to come out of her shell to save it. In a way, Barbie is more of an Obi-Wan to Alice’s Luke, which I think is really cool. And even though Barbie, Alice, and Aunt Millicent have to go through the lesson of “believing in yourself”, it’s again more about the latter than the former. 

And again, this movie features KEN in an actual major role. He takes over the B-plot of this movie by trying to get to Paris any way he can. See, Raquelle tricked Barbie into thinking he broke up with her, but instead of calling her he does the whole 9-yards and drops everything to get to Paris. That’s a bit extra, but so romantic!!  

Overall, this is a Barbie film that I just can’t bring myself to dislike.

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Barbie Appreciation Month | Week 1: Fantasy | Day 7: Underappreciated Characters/Free Day

Underappreciated Characters: Basically all the major characters in Pearl Princess – I feel like a fool for putting Pearl Princess on my Least Favorites list before because after watching it again I realized all of the characters are so charming. Lumina, though a bit oblivious to social cues, always means well, and Kuda does her best to keep her out of trouble. Sandrine is just a pure gem, Cora was sweet, and Madam Ruckus was just awesome. Honestly, I had a great time the last time I watched this movie and I’m glad I did. I think these characters were just too nice to dislike. I also liked Fergis and Aunt Scylla. It could’ve been so easy to make one of them a villain (like make Fergis mean and snooty like his dad or make Scylla more of a Gothel character) but they’re actually very sincere and have good hearts.

Free Day: Favorite Song – Okay, so technically my favorite fantasy song is from a stage musical, but since it’s Fairytopia it still counts. I’m, of course, talking about the song “Rise Above It All” from Barbie Live! In Fairytopia. I really wish I could’ve gone to see this a child, because from the few clips I’ve seen it looks like it would’ve been awesome to see. The songs are genuinely nice, even if not masterpieces of musical theatre. They’re just fun, which is a trait I feel like a lot of modern theatre snobs don’t want musicals to be. “Rise Above It All” is my favorite because it’s a great, uplifting song and it makes me happy whenever I sing it. Here’s a video of Erin Elizabeth Coors, who plays Elina, singing the song on Good Morning America!

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Barbie Appreciation Month

Week Two - Barbie as Herself Day One - Favorite Movies

To view, the complete list of prompts and categories see here.