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Mattel Television
Television arm of Mattel (2016–2025) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mattel Television, alternatively known from 2023 to 2025 as Mattel Television Studios and formerly known as Mattel Creations,[3] was an American television production company and the television division of American toy and entertainment company Mattel that operated from March 31, 2016[4][5] to June 2, 2025.
Originally formed as the successor to Mattel Playground Productions, it was rebranded to its latest name with the hiring of former Disney Branded Television programming executive Adam Bonnett on February 5, 2019[6] and transitioned heavily towards the production of streaming media for release on YouTube variants and Netflix while maintaining the television forays of its previous incarnation.[7][8]
On June 2, 2025, Mattel announced a merger, combination and consolidation of this division and its filming division, Mattel Films, into Mattel Studios, elevating and/or promoting Mattel Films head Robbie Brenner to/as head of Mattel Studios. This is seen as a revival of the brand/banner Mattel used occasionally or sparingly between 2011 and 2013 in place of their main logo in the end credits for media entries of Monster High, Ever After High and Polly Pocket.[9][10][11][12]
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Background
Before the formation of Mattel Creations, Mattel signed a pact with DHX Media (now WildBrain) on December 16, 2015 to co-produce and co-distribute newer productions and episodes of existing television shows and web series based on Polly Pocket, Little People and HIT Entertainment brands Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam.[13] At MIPCOM 2015, HIT Entertainment itself, through its owner Mattel, announced its last partnership in its existence with 9 Story Media Group to revive/reboot Barney & Friends and Angelina Ballerina for distribution in 2017, but nothing was disclosed of in terms of green-lighting them since then.[14]
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History
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Mattel formed a division called Mattel Creations on March 31, 2016, seeking to unify, centralize and revamp its entertainment business; it absorbed its main entertainment division at the time, Mattel Playground Productions, HIT Entertainment and the American Girl creative team in Middleton, Wisconsin on its launch.[4] Mattel then appointed its then-chief content officer, Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, as its head and had HIT Entertainment president Christopher Keenan elevated or promoted to being its senior vice president overseeing development and production of productions from the division.[4][5]
Mattel Creations signed an exclusive 7-year global subscription video on demand (SVOD) rights agreement with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for the Barbie film library on October 16, 2016, including the two films released at the time; Barbie: Star Light Adventure and Barbie: Video Game Hero.[15]
Catherine stepped down from her position and left Mattel on February 12, 2018 to take over as general manager of Craftsy, with Mattel's co-president and chief operating officer, Richard L. Dickson, adding the oversight of the division to his roles.[16]
Mattel hired former 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.[6] A week later, Mattel Television announced a proposition of twenty-two animated and live-action television programs.[7][8] Former Saban Brands executive, Frederic Soulie, who was appointed as the senior vice president for content distribution and business development of the franchise management group division set up by Dickson and Ynon Kreiz, chairman and CEO of Mattel, to expand the company's entertainment business, was named senior vice president and general manager of Mattel Television.[1][2]
On February 23, 2021, Mattel Television announced the return of the Monster High brand three years after its last production with an animated series and a live-action musical film, both of which aired on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ in the United States on October 6, 2022.[17][18] 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 the U.S. and Canadian markets.[19][20][21][22][23]
On September 7, 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 vice president overseeing live-action scripted and unscripted series development.[24][25][26] Following its global popularity and success, Mattel Television unveiled a 26-episode animated streaming television musical serial adaptation and continuation of the film on February 1, 2022 known as Barbie: It Takes Two.[27][28] The first half of episodes were released on Netflix in the U.S. on April 8, 2022 with the other half on October 1, with availability in other countries and territories reached 3 months after the American release. The series also aired on television in Australia, the UK and Ireland, Canada and Portugal.
On October 21, 2022, Mattel announced an agreement extension with Netflix that would make available the pre-2017 film catalogue previously held by Universal Pictures occasionally through the streaming service and the inaugural interactive "special" in the Barbie media franchise, Barbie: Epic Road Trip, which released 4 days later.[29][30][31] On October 25, 2022, Mattel capitalized on the audiovisual revival of Monster High by jointly announcing a sequel to the live-action film with Nickelodeon and Paramount+, which began production began the following year on February 7 and premiered on October 5, 2023.[32][33][34][35][36]
On February 16, 2023, Mattel published through Google Drive its content slate portfolio for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 fiscal years,[37] including a revival of Fireman Sam and a makeover revival of Barney.[38] On March 7, 2023, NBC green-lighted a car makeover competition featuring Hot Wheels called Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge.[39][40]
On September 28, 2023, Netflix announced Hot Wheels Let's Race, the latest animated serial adaptation of Hot Wheels which premiered on March 4 the following year.[41] On November 16, 2023, Michelle Mendelovitz was hired to head the division.[3]
In August 2024, Mattel Television Studios announced that Hot Wheels: Let's Race! was renewed for a second season. The second season premiered in 9 September 2024.[42]
On October 21, 2024, Mattel Television Studios announced that it would co-develop another television series in the Pingu franchise with Aardman Animations.[43]
On June 2, 2025, Mattel announced a merger, combination and consolidation of this division and its filming division, Mattel Films, into Mattel Studios, elevating and/or promoting Mattel Films head Robbie Brenner to/as head of Mattel Studios. This is seen as a revival of the brand/banner Mattel used occasionally or sparingly between 2011 and 2013 in place of their main logo in the end credits for media entries of Monster High, Ever After High and Polly Pocket.[9][10][11][12] Consequestly, productions previously announced and in development with these two banners/divisions will now be assumed by/transferred to Mattel Studios.
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Filmography
Mattel Studios/Mattel Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Lyrick Studios (1997-2001/02)
Gullane Entertainment (1989-2002)
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Notes
References
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