Barbie as Rapunzel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbie as Rapunzel
DVD cover
Directed by	Owen Hurley
Produced by	Jesyca C. Durchin Jennifer Twiner McCarron
Written by	Elana Lesser Cliff Ruby
Starring	Kelly Sheridan Cree Summer Chantal Strand Anjelica Huston
Music by	Arnie Roth
Editing by	Greg Richardson
Studio	Mainframe Entertainment Mattel Entertainment
Distributed by	20th Century Fox Artisan Entertainment
Release date(s)	October 1, 2002 (2002-10-01)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	Canada United States
Language	English

Barbie as Rapunzel is a computer-animated fairy tale movie from 2002. It was directed by Owen Hurley and went straight to DVD. This film is the second one in the popular Barbie movie series. Kelly Sheridan voices Barbie in this story. The movie is based on the classic fairy tale "Rapunzel" by the Brothers Grimm.

What is Barbie as Rapunzel About?

The story begins with Barbie telling a tale to her younger sister, Kelly. Kelly feels unsure about her painting skills. Barbie's story helps Kelly understand that creativity is a special kind of magic.

Rapunzel's Life with Gothel

Rapunzel is a young woman with very long hair. She lives as a servant to a mean witch named Gothel. Their home is a magical manor hidden deep in the woods. Rapunzel's only friends are Penelope, a friendly dragon, and Hobie, a shy rabbit.

Rapunzel loves to paint pictures. She dreams of visiting the places she paints when she is finally free. Gothel doesn't like this. She tells Rapunzel that she saved her from being abandoned as a baby. Gothel makes Rapunzel feel like she should be thankful.

A Secret Discovery

One day, Rapunzel and her friends accidentally find a secret passage. It leads to the basement of the manor. There, Rapunzel discovers a special gift from her birth parents. It's a silver hairbrush with a message carved into it. The message says how much they love her. This makes Rapunzel wonder if Gothel's story about her being abandoned is true.

Penelope the dragon also finds a hidden tunnel under the floor. Rapunzel follows this tunnel, and it leads her outside the magical woods. She finds herself in a nearby kingdom.

Meeting Prince Stefan

Outside the castle, Rapunzel sees Princess Katrina trapped in a pit. With the help of Katrina's older brother, Prince Stefan, Rapunzel saves the princess. Stefan tells her that the trap was set by King Wilhelm. King Wilhelm rules a different kingdom and has a long-standing disagreement with Stefan's father, King Frederick.

Rapunzel quickly leaves before learning Stefan's name. She doesn't want Gothel to find out she left. However, Gothel's pet ferret, Otto, followed Rapunzel. Otto tells Gothel that Rapunzel met a man.

Gothel's Punishment

Gothel questions Rapunzel, but Rapunzel insists she doesn't know the man's name. In anger, Gothel destroys Rapunzel's paintings. She also magically changes Rapunzel's room into a tall tower. Penelope's father, Hugo, a large dragon, is ordered to guard the tower. He must make sure Rapunzel never leaves.

As Rapunzel sleeps, the silver hairbrush magically changes into a paintbrush.

The Magic Paintbrush

Rapunzel tries to use the new paintbrush. A beautiful mural of the kingdom magically appears on her wall. She soon discovers that this painting is a secret portal! Rapunzel uses the portal to meet Stefan again. She still asks him not to tell her his name, fearing Gothel. Stefan gives her an invitation to the masquerade ball that night.

Penelope worries that her father, Hugo, will be punished if Gothel finds out Rapunzel left. So, Penelope goes through the portal and begs Rapunzel to return. Rapunzel promises to meet Stefan again. She paints a portal back to the tower and returns with Penelope. Back in the tower, she paints herself a beautiful costume for the ball.

Gothel's Deception

Sadly, Otto the ferret steals Rapunzel's invitation. He takes it straight to Gothel. When Gothel finds out, she is furious. She cuts off Rapunzel's long hair. She then shatters the magic paintbrush and destroys the portal to the kingdom.

Gothel asks Rapunzel again if she knows the man's name. Rapunzel truthfully says she doesn't. Gothel then puts a powerful spell on the tower. The spell is meant to trap any "lying" prisoner inside forever.

Escape and Reunion

With the help of her friends, Rapunzel manages to escape the tower. The spell didn't work because Rapunzel had not lied about not knowing Stefan's name. Penelope flies Rapunzel and Hobie to the castle.

At the ball, Stefan is tricked into going outside. Gothel, disguised and wearing Rapunzel's cut hair, attacks him. At the same time, King Wilhelm sneaks into the castle. He plans to end the disagreement with King Frederick by force.

Gothel then arrives and reveals a big secret. She admits that she was the one who took King Wilhelm's daughter, Rapunzel, many years ago. She did this because she wanted King Wilhelm for herself, and he didn't feel the same way. She wanted the two kingdoms to fight and destroy each other.

Rapunzel arrives at the ball. King Wilhelm immediately recognizes her as his long-lost daughter. Rapunzel then cleverly tricks Gothel. She makes Gothel run into her painting of the tower. Because Gothel was full of lies, the spell on the painting traps her inside forever.

Rapunzel is finally reunited with her real parents. She marries Prince Stefan. The long-standing disagreement between the two kingdoms ends. They become united, and Rapunzel's dreams of freedom finally come true.

At the end, Kelly feels much better about her painting. Barbie reminds her that true magic in art comes from creativity.

Who are the Voices?

Music in the Film

The movie uses a lot of music from Antonín Dvořák's famous Symphony No. 9. This symphony is also known as the New World Symphony. This might be a hint to Rapunzel's journey into the "new world" outside her tower.

See also

In Spanish: Barbie Rapunzel para niños