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Barbie in the Nutcracker is the first of Mattel's CGI range of Barbie movies. It was released in 2001 and directed by Owen Hurley. The story is loosely adapted from the E.T.A Hoffman story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and features Tchaikovsky's music from the original Nutcracker ballet.
The story is being told by Barbie to her little sister Kelly as a way of cheering her up after Kelly gives up on her ballet lesson.
Clara lives with her stern Grandfather Drosselmeyer and younger brother, Tommy. On Christmas Eve, the family receives a surprise visit from the vivacious Aunt Drosselmeyer, who comes bearing gifts for her niece and nephew. Clara receives a Nutcracker, but Tommy, jealous that Clara got such a strange gift, tries to take it away and breaks it.
Clara manages to fix the Nutcracker and falls asleep near the Christmas tree. She awakes to see her Nutcracker fighting the Mouse King and his mouse army. When Clara tries to help, the Mouse King shrinks her down to his size, though he is still unable to defeat them and temporarily retreats.
The Nutcracker reveals that he has been enchanted and seeks to find the Sugarplum Princess, the only person who can stop the Mouse King from taking over his world. Following the advice of the wise owl of the grandfather clock, the Nutcracker suggests that Clara follow him, since the Sugarplum Princess is the only one who can make Clara her original size again. A wooden owl on the clock that has come to life gave Clara a heart-shaped locket from a ballet dancer ornament. This locket has the power to send Clara back home after they find the Sugarplum Princess. With that, the Nutcracker and Clara set off on their journey.
The two journey into the Land of Sweets, where the locals reveal that the rightful heir to the throne, Prince Eric, has gone missing in the wake of the Mouse King's attempts to conquer the world. Clara quickly figures out that her Nutcracker is the missing prince and he reveals that his irresponsibility is the reason why he was enchanted by the Mouse King in the first place. He knows he must take responsibility for his past actions hopes to redeem himself by finding the Sugarplum Princess and make things right again.
Joined by the arrogant and , the group sets out to find the Sugarplum Princess and defeat the Mouse King, who is watching and attempting to sabotage them along the way. When Clara is separated from the group, who are all captured by the Mouse King, she ventures alone to the Mouse King's palace to free her friends.
After being freed, the Nutcracker fights a final battle with the Mouse King. Just as the Mouse King seemingly gets an advantage over the Nutcracker, Clara leaps in between them. The Mouse King tries to turn Clara smaller, but the Nutcracker uses his sword to defect the Mouse King's magic back to the Mouse King himself. The Mouse King shrinks into the size of a real mouse and flees into the sewers.
Once the Mouse King is defeated, Clara is revealed to be the Sugarplum Princess. Then the Nutcracker's enchantment is broken and he returns to his true form. Clara and Prince Eric, who have fallen in love with one another, dance as the citizens of the Land of Sweets celebrate their victory. However, The shrunken Mouse King makes one final attempt to defeat Clara, He swoops down on Clara upon his bat minion's back and steals the heart shaped locket she wore and opened it. Thus Clara fades away, much to the couple's despair. Fortunately, the Mouse King doesn't enjoy his victory for long, as he fell to the ground (presumably to his death) after his bat minion was knocked out cold by a snowball.
Clara wakes up in the living room where she fell asleep. Disappointed that her adventure was a dream, she greets her grandfather and Aunt Drosselmeyer, who has brought the son of a friend to visit. Clara is surprised and happy to see the young man is actually Eric and the couple happily finish their dance. The snowglobe shows the Prince and the Sugarplum Princess dancing happily in the Palace courtyard.
The story goes back to Kelly and Barbie. Kelly realizes the importance of not giving up and makes one more attempt at the ballet move she just can't do. Kelly and Barbie dances to the music and Kelly finally gets her steps right.
Kelly Sheridan as Barbie, Clara/The Sugarplum Princess
Kirby Morrow as The Nutcracker Prince/Prince Eric
Tim Curry as The Mouse King
Peter Kelamis as Pimm
as Major Mint
Ian James Corlett as Captain Candy
Chantal Strand as Kelly
Kathleen Barr as Aunt Elisabeth Drosselmayer/Owl
French Tickner as Grandfather Drosselmayer
Alex Doduk as Tommy
Danny McKinnon as Gingerbread boy
Britt McKillip as Peppermint girl
