Parents' Guide to

Barbie as Rapunzel

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Barbie-themed fairy tale a bit passive but arts-focused.

Movie NR 2002 84 minutes
Barbie as Rapunzel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Fiel J.
Fiel J. Adult
April 16, 2023
age 3+
First movie I’ve ever watched in my childhood. I just hope these Barbie movies came out in this year. More technology and easy to give reviews. These movies could have been boost up. 🥺❤️ But these old Barbie movies got a good lessons and I learned a lot from it. I was abandoned by my parents growing up at the age of 3 and watching this, leads me to be successful.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
meydiana.rizki
meydiana.rizki Parent of 16-year-old
November 3, 2020
age 4+

Great Fairytale

Great movie This is a good barbie movie. I feel like mattel actually put effort and tried to make this a good movie. Yes, I know they made this movie just to sell more dolls,

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BARBIE AS RAPUNZEL, Barbie (voiced by Kelly Sheridan) makes her debut as Rapunzel, a flaxen-haired prisoner under Gothel's (Anjelica Huston) watchful eye. Using her painting skills and a little magic, she finds her way past the castle's magic wall and into the town, where she meets a kind, handsome prince. Will she find her way back to him before Gothel ruins her chances of finding true love?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (5):

The age of this animation (2002) means the film looks more like a turn-of-the-century video game than an animated movie, but that won't matter to Barbie fans. They'll still enjoy Barbie's sidekicks, the magic paint brush, and the whimsy of this medieval world. Parents may want to offer a counter to the traditional fairy tale narrative here, but can still likely appreciate the focus on Rapunzel's good naturedness, her big heart, her emphasis on following her dreams, and her message about believing in yourself.

The Rapunzel story has its own limitations -- handsome prince, captive princess, impractically long hair and only one way down. This take adds a few details: a love for painting, some quick thinking, the importance of friendships, and a big show of forgiveness on Rapunzel's part to the evil Gothel who did her wrong.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way fairy tales often show women as passive, or as a relationship with a man as the ultimate destiny or source of happiness. For little girls watching, families can talk about their goals and dreams for when they grow up, and encourage their choices and interests.

  • The dragons in the film were shown as being disliked because they were different. Have you ever been afraid of someone who was different? What did you do? How did the situation turn out?

  • For kids who have seen Tangled, how does this version of the Rapunzel story compare?

Movie Details

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