Mattel Television

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mattel Television
Formerly
  • Mattel Creations (2016–2019)
TypeTelevision division/subsidiary
IndustryTelevision production
PredecessorMattel Playground Productions
FoundedMarch 30, 2016; 5 years ago (2016-03-30)
Headquarters
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Adam Bonnett (Executive Producer, Division Head)
  • Frederic Soulie (General Manager and Senior Vice President)
  • Christopher Keenan (Senior Vice President, Content Development & Production
  • Phil Breman (Vice President, Scripted and Unscripted Live-Action Series Development)
ProductsTelevision series and films
ParentMattel
Footnotes / references
[1]

Mattel Television is the television production division of Mattel originally founded as Mattel Creations, an American English-language content production division of the aforementioned company on March 30, 2016.[2] It is headed by GM and senior vice president, Fred Soulie.[3][4]

Mattel Creations[]

Previous logo as Mattel Creations.

Mattel Creations was formed on March 30, 2016, bringing all three of Mattel's internal content production units: Mattel Playground Productions (now Mattel Films), HiT Entertainment and the American Girl creative team in Middleton, Wisconsin under their auspices and absorb them.[5] Mattel's then-chief content officer Catherine Balsam-Schwaber was named to head the unit, while Christopher Keenan was moved up out of HiT to be the division's Senior Vice President of content development & production. Two pacts with DHX Media (now WildBrain) and 9 Story Media Group were placed into Mattel Creations.[2] The DHX partnership with Mattel included HiT properties (Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam) and direct Mattel properties (Little People and Polly Pocket); the partnership included new multi-platform content development and production and distribution of new and existing content.[6] The 9 Story deal was directly with HiT for 2017 revivals of Barney & Friends and Angelina Ballerina; there were originally reboots of both which were announced, but as at now, those plans are/were either scrapped or nothing was heard of in terms of greenlighting them.[7]

Mattel Creations and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group had agreed to an exclusive worldwide SVOD rights agreement for the Barbie film library. This deal started on October 17, 2016, for the next seven years and included the two film releases at the time; Barbie: Star Light Adventure and Barbie: Video Game Hero.[8]

With Balsam-Schwaber taking the general manager position at Craftsy, Mattel's president and chief operating officer Richard L. Dickson took over responsibility for Mattel Creations and was not planning to fill the chief creative officer post.[9]

Reorganization to Today[]

Mattel hired former Disney Channels Worldwide (now Disney Branded Television) programming executive Adam Bonnett as executive producer and head of a reorganized Mattel Television on February 5, 2019, which effectively replaced Mattel Creations.[10] A week later, Mattel TV announced a slate of 22 animated and live-action TV programs.[11] This division works with the franchise management division's senior vice president of content distribution and business development, Frederic Soulie, who would also triple as the new division's general manager and senior vice president.[12]

On February 23, 2021, Mattel Television announced the return of the Monster High brand 3 years after its last production with a and a live-action film, which will both air on Nickelodeon in the United States in 2022.[13][14] On August 30, 2021, with the Universal deal expired, Mattel struck a deal with local home video releasing powerhouses, Mill Creek Entertainment and NCircle Entertainment, for the newer Netflix-based content for DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD distribution to certain geographical regions where streaming platforms have activation, launch and censorship issues.[15][16][17][18][19]

On 7 September 2021, following the debut of the streaming television film Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams on Netflix, Mattel hired former NBCUniversal vice president of current programming, Philip "Phil" Breman, to be the division's vice president for scripted and unscripted live-action series development.[20][21][22] Following its global popularity success, Mattel Television unveiled a planned CGI-animated streaming TV series continuation of the film on 1 February 2022 as the first of a slate of intangible content slate for the year.[23][24]

Production output[]

Under Mattel Creations (2016–2019)
Title Release Date(s) Type Co-Producing Companies Distributor(s) Notes
Thomas & Friends: The Great Race
  • May 21, 2016 UK theatrical
  • September 2016 (DVD)
  • early 2017 (TV)
 Animated Arc Productions National Amusements (UK theatrical)
Multiple (TV)
Barbie: Star Light Adventure July 30, 2016 (Fathom Events)
August 29, 2016 (Home video release)[25] 		Computer-animated film Fathom Events (U.S.; Limited theatrical release)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video release) 		Final production of Arc Productions before payroll glitch-turned-bankruptcy and re-opening as Jam Filled Entertainment's Toronto division/branch
Barbie: Dreamtopia 10 January 2016 – 1 April 2018
June 26 2016 		2D CGI-animated shorts
2D CGI-animated film 		Snowball Studios YouTube Kids
 2–4 minutes
44 minutes[26]
Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef June 23, 2016 DHX Media Vancouver
  • Cartoon Network (Latin America)
  • Nickelodeon (United States; worldwide)

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video formats) 		61 minutes[citation needed]
WellieWishers September 8, 2016 2D-animated series Submarine Studios Amazon Prime Video (US)
Tiny Pop (UK) 		2 seasons: 26 episodes x 11 minutes; American Girl doll franchise[27][28]
Barbie & Her Sisters in A Puppy Chase October 18, 2016 Computer-animated film Rainmaker Entertainment Nickelodeon (U.S. broadcast)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video release; international)[29][30]
Barbie: Video Game Hero January 31, 2017 Last Barbie film to be shown on either Nickelodeon or other/another children's TV network(s)
Barbie: Dolphin Magic September 18, 2017 Computer-animated streaming television film First aired on YTV in Canada on 17 September 2017 before debuting on Netflix US a day later; Aired on ) in the UK & Ireland on 13 October that year; Only Netflix-exclusive Barbie film to be released on home video (DVD and Digital HD) by Universal.[31]
Monster High: Electrified February 12, 2017 CGI-animated film Flaunt Studios 64 minutes
  • Cartoon Network (Latin America)
  • Nickelodeon (United States; worldwide)

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (home video formats)
The Toy Box April 7, 2017 – November 19, 2017 Reality series Hudsun Media
Electus 		ABC (U.S broadcast)
Electus International[26] 		2 seasons[32]
Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures[a] May 3, 2018 – April 12, 2020 CGI-animated streaming television series Mainframe Studios Netflix 5 seasons, 52 episodes[26]
Under Mattel Television (2019–present)
September 1, 2020 CGI-animated television film Mainframe Studios Netflix streaming television film
Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday April 16, 2021
Masters of the Universe: Revelation July 22, 2021 – present 2D-animated series Powerhouse Animation Studios 2-part animated series
Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams
  • September 1, 2021 (US Launch)
  • August 28, 2021 (UK Launch)
 CGI-animated television film Mainframe Studios Streaming television film
Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go! September 13, 2021 – present 2D-animated series Nelvana Cartoon Network (US) Treehouse TV (Canada) Reboot of Thomas & Friends
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe September 16, 2021 – present CGI-animated streaming television series Netflix Reimagining of the eponymous original 1983 TV series produced by Filmation.
Upcoming Productions
Title Release Date(s) Type Co-Producing Companies Distributor(s) Notes
Barbie: It Takes Two[23][24] Q2 2022 CGI-animated streaming television series Mainframe Studios Netflix The series will be available only in the United States;[24] serial continuation from Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams
Monster High TBA 2022 Live-action musical film[33] Nickelodeon (U.S)[34] Announced alongside an animated series on 23 February 2021; Casting and commencement on production announced on 9 October the same year; Awaiting further developments and clarity.[35][36]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Began production under Mattel Creations for seasons 1 & 2 and Mattel Television for seasons 3–5.

References[]

  1. ^ Zahn, James. "EXCLUSIVE: FRED SOULIE NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER, MATTEL TELEVISION". The ToyBook. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Castleman, Lana (March 31, 2016). "Mattel centralizes content output in new division". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  3. ^ "Exclusive: Fred Soulie Named Senior Vice President, General Manager, Mattel Television • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  4. ^ "Mattel Television Names SVP and General Manager". licenseglobal.com. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  5. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (March 31, 2016). "Mattel Creations Formed To Centralize Toy Giant's Theatrical, TV & Digital Content". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (December 16, 2015). "DHX Media & Mattel pact on content creation". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  7. ^ Vlessing, Etan (October 6, 2015). "MIPCOM: 'Barney & Friends' Set for Relaunch by Mattel, 9 Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  8. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (October 16, 2016). "UPHE Snags Exclusive 'Barbie' SVOD Rights from Mattel". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  9. ^ Whyte, Alexandra (November 10, 2017). "Mattel CCO Catherine Balsam-Schwaber departs". KidScreen. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (February 6, 2019). "Disney Channel Alum Adam Bonnett Joins Mattel Television". Variety. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  11. ^ Kit, Borys (February 15, 2019). "Mattel Launching Slate of 22 Multi-Platform Television Shows (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  12. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (February 18, 2019). "Mattel Announces 22-Series Slate Inspired by Top Franchises". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "Mattel Television and Nickelodeon Announce Plans to Produce an Animated Series and Live-Action Television Movie Musical Based on Iconic Monster High Franchise" (Press release). Nickelodeon. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  14. ^ White, Peter (23 February 2021). "'Monster High' Live-Action TV Movie & Animated Series Reboot Set By Nickelodeon & Mattel". Deadline. Retrieved 1 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "NCircle & Mill Creek pick up Mattel rights". Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  16. ^ "Mattel Inks Disc, Digital Distribution Deals With NCircle and Mill Creek Entertainment – Media Play News". Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  17. ^ "NCircle, Mill Creek Entertainment Announce Agreement with Mattel". licenseglobal.com. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  18. ^ "NCircle and Mill Creek Entertainment Announce Multi-Year Physical and Digital Distribution Agreement with Mattel". Mill Creek Entertainment. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  19. ^ "Mattel Inks Physical Distribution Deal for Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Masters of the Universe Animated Content • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  20. ^ White, Peter (2021-09-07). "Former NBC Exec Phil Breman Joins Mattel To Oversee Live-Action TV Development". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Mattel hires NBC alum Phil Breman to lead live action TV". TBI Vision. 2021-09-08. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  22. ^ Anderson, Justin (2021-09-07). "Mattel taps Phil Breman to lead live action TV development". Realscreen. Retrieved 11 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ a b Karaca, Kristine; Kazakos, Niki (1 February 2022). "Mattel Television Doubles Down On 2022 Barbie® Content Slate". Mattel Television (Press release). Mattel. Retrieved 6 February 2022.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ a b c Porter, Rick (1 February 2022). "Mattel Adds to Barbie Series Slate With 'It Takes Two' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Barbie: Star Light Adventure". Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ a b c Dickson, Jeremy (October 12, 2016). "Mattel Creations greenlights two new Barbie series, more kids content". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  27. ^ Castleman, Lana (March 31, 2016). "Mattel centralizes content output in new division". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  28. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (October 18, 2016). "'WellieWishers' Gets UK Deal, Season 2 Greenlight". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  29. ^ "Barbie & Her Sisters in A Puppy Chase". Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Barbie: Video Game Hero". Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "Barbie: Dolphin Magic". Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ "Shows A-Z - toy box, the on abc". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  33. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (9 November 2021). "'Monster High': Nickelodeon & Mattel Set Cast For Live-Action TV Movie, Begin Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ Clayton, Tessa (10 November 2021). "Monster High movie musical coming to Nickelodeon in 2022". Toy News. Retrieved 26 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ White, Peter (23 February 2021). "'Monster High' Live-Action TV Movie & Animated Series Reboot Set By Nickelodeon & Mattel". Mattel Television (Press release). Nickelodeon. Retrieved 1 March 2021 – via Deadline Hollywood.
  36. ^ "Mattel Television and Nickelodeon Announce Plans to Produce an Animated Series and Live-Action Television Movie Musical Based on Iconic Monster High Franchise" (Press release). Nickelodeon. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
Retrieved from ""