Editing Mattel (section)

==Media and entertainment ventures==
{{main|Mattel Films|Mattel Television}}

Mattel has a long history of media engagement since its foundation with the [[advertising]] of products from its brands including ''Barbie'', ''Monster High'' and ''Polly Pocket'', but the venture into full-time entertainment began in May, 1970, when it teamed up with producer [[Robert B. Radnitz]] to form a joint venture film production company, "''Radnitz/Mattel Productions''".<ref name="lat" /> [[Masters of the Universe]] and its lead character [[He-Man]] had [[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe|a cartoon series]] which released between 1983 and 1985 and was followed by [[Masters of the Universe (1987 film)|a live-action film]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Jon M. Chu In 'Masters Of The Universe' Talks|url=https://deadline.com/2012/07/jon-m-chu-in-masters-of-the-universe-talks-310080/|access-date=December 20, 2016|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]]|date=July 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225184913/http://deadline.com/2012/07/jon-m-chu-in-masters-of-the-universe-talks-310080/|archive-date=December 25, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1986, Mattel launched a television syndication unit; ''MTS Entertainment'', headed by John M. Weens, to distribute the ''[[Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future]]'' syndicated [[television show]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 November 1986|title=Syndication Marketplace|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|publisher=World Radio History|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-11-10-OCR-Page-0075.pdf|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>

''[[My Scene]]'', with Mattel's flagship ''Barbie'' brand, launched in 2002 and wasted little time in invoking a film franchise of DVD-exclusive/direct-to-DVD animated films. "''Polly Pocket''", which was originally founded and designed by Chris Wiggs in 1983 for his daughter Kate as a private toy and from 1989 housed in Bluebird Toys which Mattel acquired in 1998, also followed suit.

With [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment|Lionsgate]] and its acquired and merged companies in [[Artisan Entertainment]] and [[Family Home Entertainment]], Mattel's flagship [[Barbie]] brand was adapted into [[list of Barbie films|a series]] of successful animated [[direct-to-video]] films, which moved to [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal]] in late 2006. As of September 2021 it has been jointly handled by Mill Creek Entertainment and NCircle Entertainment, with the latter solely for American retailers.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alexandra|last=Whyte|title=NCircle & Mill Creek pick up Mattel rights|url=https://kidscreen.com/2021/08/31/ncircle-mill-creek-pick-up-mattel-rights/|website=[[Brunico Communications|Kidscreen]]|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=31 August 2021|first=Erik|last=Gruenwedel|title=Mattel Inks Disc, Digital Distribution Deals With NCircle and Mill Creek Entertainment|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/mattel-inks-disc-digital-distribution-deals-with-ncircle-and-mill-creek-entertainment/|website=Media Play News|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=31 August 2021|title=NCircle, Mill Creek Entertainment Announce Agreement with Mattel|url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/toys-games/ncircle-mill-creek-entertainment-announce-agreement-mattel|access-date=7 November 2021|website=[[informa|License Global]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NCircle and Mill Creek Entertainment Announce Multi-Year Physical and Digital Distribution Agreement with Mattel|url=https://www.millcreekent.com/blogs/news/ncircle-and-mill-creek-entertainment-announce-multi-year-physical-and-digital-distribution-agreement-with-mattel|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Mill Creek Entertainment}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Zahn |first=James |date=31 August 2021 |title=Mattel Inks Physical Distribution Deal for Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Masters of the Universe Animated Content • The Toy Book |url=https://toybook.com/mattel-inks-physical-distribution-deal-for-barbie-thomas-friends-masters-of-the-universe/ |access-date=7 November 2021 |website=The Toy Book}}</ref> [[Monster High]] followed Barbie just months after its launch in 2010<ref name="vty1">{{cite news|last1=Graser|first1=Marc|title=Mattel to Create Original Entertainment Through Playground Productions Banner|url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattel-to-create-original-entertainment-through-playground-productions-banner-exclusive-1200727243/|access-date=6 June 2016|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=15 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613071552/http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/mattel-to-create-original-entertainment-through-playground-productions-banner-exclusive-1200727243/|archive-date=June 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and many “[[American Girl]]” films were made.<ref name="vty1" />

Mattel agreed to purchase [[HIT Entertainment]] without the stake in [[Universal Kids|the Sprout TV channel]] (formerly ''PBS Kids Sprout'' and now ''Universal Kids'') from [[Apax Partners]] on 25 October 2011, for $680 million,<ref name="wsj" /> which closed on 1 February 2012,<ref name="MatHIT" /> making it part of its Fisher-Price division. HIT Entertainment was absorbed into Mattel Creations (now ''Mattel Television'') in 2016 with its [[intellectual property]] (IP) brands shared equally between itself and Mattel Films upon the latter's formation on September 6, 2018.

On October 16, 2013, with reports of high profitability, Mattel launched an in-house film studio, [[Mattel Playground Productions]] (shortened to '''Mattel PGP''' or just '''PGP''') as its in-house film studio to handle multimedia productions and foster creative storytelling for its brands for global multi-platform distribution.<ref name="PGPL" /><ref name="vty" /><ref name="vty1" />

Mattel formed a division named ''Mattel Creations'' on March 30, 2016, to absorb Mattel Playground Productions, HIT Entertainment and the [[American Girl]] content creation team in [[Middleton, Wisconsin]] and centralize its multimedia content output.<ref name="dl" /> Mattel Playground Productions was revived as [[Mattel Films]] on September 6, 2018, and it solely bases its films on its brands as opposed to its predecessor.<ref name="MatF">{{Cite news|last=Ng|first=David|date=7 September 2018 |title=Mattel creates new film division to turn toys into movies|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mattel-film-division-20180906-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907022414/http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-mattel-film-division-20180906-story.html|archive-date=7 September 2018|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=7 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Luke Y.|date=September 7, 2018|title=Why Mattel's Latest Movie Studio Announcement Doesn't Impress|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2018/09/07/why-mattels-latest-movie-studio-announcement-doesnt-impress/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110014109/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2018/09/07/why-mattels-latest-movie-studio-announcement-doesnt-impress/|archive-date=January 10, 2019|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=January 9, 2019}}</ref> The 2023 movie ''[[Barbie (film)|Barbie]]'' was the first movie released by Mattel Films. Mattel reorganized Mattel Creations renaming it to [[Mattel Television]] on 5 February 2019, hiring former [[Disney Branded Television]] programming executive Adam Bonnett as its head.

Mattel announced it started construction on the Mattel Adventure Park, slated to open in 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The 9-acre park will include popular Mattel brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Thomas & Friends and Uno. It will have multiple themed-roller coaster rides amongst other attractions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coming to Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale: Hot Wheels roller coasters, Barbie Beach House |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2023/08/07/mattel-adventure-park-glendale-arizona-latest-update/70531487007/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref>

Mattel announced a new game called ''Pictionary Vs. AI'' in September 2023. It is a version of its visual guessing game where an AI model does all the guessing. A smartphone is used as the medium. Players draw cards that assign a given word, then draw whatever that word is before letting AI guess what they've drawn.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=2023-09-26 |title=Mattel's Pictionary Vs. AI leaves the guesswork to the bots |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/26/23889925/mattel-pictionary-vs-ai-board-game-google-quick-draw |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>