Barbie & the Diamond Castle is a 2008 computer-animated musical film directed by Gino Nichele and produced by Mattel Entertainment with Rainmaker Entertainment. It first premiered on Nickelodeon on September 7, 2008,[1] and it was later released to DVD on September 9, 2008.[2][3]
Barbie & the Diamond Castle | |
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![]() DVD cover art | |
Directed by | Gino Nichele |
Written by | Elana Lesser Cliff Ruby |
Produced by | Nancy Bennett Luke Carroll |
Starring | Kelly Sheridan Cassidy Ladden Maryke Hendrikse Kathleen Barr Jeremy From Noel Johansen |
Edited by | Tim Jones |
Music by | Arnie Roth |
Production companies | Mattel Entertainment Rainmaker Entertainment |
Distributed by | Universal Studios Home Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
Countries | Canada United States |
Language | English |
The thirteenth entry in the Barbie film series, the film features the voice of Kelly Sheridan as Barbie and the cover of the song "Connected" recorded by Katharine McPhee. It follows the story of Liana and Alexa (the in-universe roles of the dolls, Barbie and Teresa)[4] on their journey to find the mysterious diamond castle.[5][1]
"Barbie and Teresa tell us the fairy tale story of Liana and Alexa, best friends who share everything including their love of music."
"One day their simple lives change when they are given an enchanted mirror and befriend the girl trapped inside! To save their new friend, Liana and Alexa embark on a dangerous journey to the hidden Diamond Castle, that will put their friendship to the test. But through the power of song and with the companionship of two adorable puppies, the girls face their challenges together and learn that friendship is the true treasure."[6]
The story is told by Barbie and her best friend Teresa to Barbie's sister, Stacie, who had a fight with her own friend, Courtney. This is to teach Stacie the power of friendship.
Liana and Alexa are two friends who live in a cottage, where they grow and sell flowers for a living. They both share the same love for music. One day, they find two heart-shaped stones and make them into necklaces to symbolize their friendship. That evening, a storm rolls in, destroying their garden. The next day, Liana offers her food to a poor, old woman who gives them a mirror in exchange. Later, the two hear a voice from the mirror and find a girl inside it named Melody. The trio bond over music and Melody teaches them a song of her own, but are soon attacked by a dragon named Slyder. They manage to escape him, but their cottage catches fire and burns down.
Melody explains that she was once the apprentice of the three Muses who lived in the Diamond Castle. One of the Muses, Lydia, turned evil and planned to take the Diamond castle for herself. After hiding the castle and entrusting Melody with its key, the other Muses, Dori and Phaedra, were turned into stone by Lydia, and Melody sealed herself in the mirror to hide. Melody tells Liana and Alexa that Lydia can be defeated if they play the Muses' instruments. Liana insists on helping Melody and Alexa reluctantly agrees. On their journey, Liana and Alexa adopt two puppies, naming them Sparkles and Lily. At the village, Liana and Alexa meet twins, Ian and Jeremy. The girls are confronted by Lydia who orders them to hand over Melody. When they refuse, Lydia attempts to hypnotize them with her flute but they are shielded by the stones on their necklaces (revealed to be from the Diamond Castle). The girls escape with the help of Ian and Jeremy who join them on their journey but are separated when Liana and Alexa are carried off by a magic bridge.
After running out of provisions, Alexa begins to lose heart. They arrive at a nearby mansion and are greeted by its gracious hosts who, hypnotized by Lydia, tell them that they are the mansion's prophesied owners. Taken in by its luxuries, Alexa suggests abandoning their quest and living in the mansion, but Liana insists on helping Melody, driving them apart. Liana and Melody leave and Alexa angrily takes off her necklace, whereupon she is abducted and hypnotized by Lydia. Liana is captured by Slyder and her hands are tied up by ropes. Alexa is ordered to leap off a ledge if Melody does not give her the castle's location. Melody agrees, to save Liana and Alexa, but Slyder unties Liana and knocks them off the ledge anyway. Liana manages to hang on to the ledge and Alexa. Liana returns Alexa's necklace and breaks Lydia's spell.
After making amends, Liana and Alexa are rescued by the boys, who go with them to the Diamond Castle's location. While Slyder is distracted by the twins, Lydia creates a whirlpool and orders them to walk in and drown, but Liana manages to grab her flute. Lydia demands its return, threatening to break the mirror, but Melody shatters the mirror from inside to stop her. The mirror is thrown into the whirlpool but is saved by Sparkles and Lily. When Lydia's flute drops in the water, she wades in to get it, but the flute, waterlogged, backfires and Lydia seemingly disappears.
Thinking the Diamond Castle can bring Melody back, the girls realize that Melody's song is the key. They sing together and the Diamond Castle reappears. Stepping inside, Liana and Alexa are magically given new dresses and Melody is freed from the mirror. The girls enter the music room but Lydia returns with Slyder. The three of them play the Muses' instruments and sing together, overpowering Lydia and turning her and Slyder to stone. The other Muses are freed and Lydia's spells are finally undone.
Liana and Alexa are then crowned princesses of music and Melody finally becomes a Muse. Melody invites them to live in the castle, but they choose instead to return to their old life with their new pets, with the Muses giving the two magic seeds which can blossom instantly into golden flowers.
As the story ends, Stacie realizes nothing can break true friendship and goes to apologize to Courtney; Barbie and Teresa resume playing music together, happily.
Barbie and the Diamond Castle: Original Movie Soundtrack | |
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Soundtrack album by various artists | |
Released | September 2, 2008 |
Recorded | 2008 |
Genre | Showtune, pop, teen pop,[7] pop rock, acoustic |
Label | Koch Records |
A soundtrack for the film was released on September 2, 2008.[8][9] The soundtrack's track list is as follows:
...Barbie & The Diamond Castle on Nickelodeon, which aired Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 1 p.m.
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