“Gabby’s Dollhouse” movie brings kids’ content to the big screen

A young girl named Gabby is taking a leap from streaming to big screen along with her animated cat friend’s zoo.

Universal DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie is the latest kids’ television program that continues in their footsteps. Paramount PAW PATROL and SPONGEBOB SquarePants franchises.

“We felt like we had reached a point where there was enough fandom to justify the theatrical event. We wanted to expand the world.”

Children’s programming has become an increasingly important media situation in recent years. Just as Linear TV has replaced streaming, studios are looking for ways to drive and sustain subscriber growth. For “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” establishing a theatrical presence will increase brand awareness, spark fresh excitement from existing fans, and spur new opportunities for products in the retail market.

“Gabby’s Dollhouse,” “Blue’s Clues” veterans Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey Netflix 2021. It has already been running for 11 seasons and will be held in November 12th. Each season has 6-10 episodes, each taking about 25 minutes.

This year was the most viewed streaming original series for kids, according to Nielsen.

Each episode begins with a live-action Gabby played by Laila Lockhart Kraner. She wears a cat ear headband and shrinks down to become an animated character, joining a cat friend called Gabby’s Cat. Like many kindergarten shows, Gabby stops to ask questions to the audience and invite them to play together.

All of these elements will appear in the full-length feature film that arrived at theaters on Friday. It combines animation with live action, but on a larger scale.

Kohn said the goal was to “create a theatrical experience similar to a ‘rocky horror picture show’ for young children. Invite them to sing, dance and applause. ”

“Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” debuts when family-friendly options are limited on the movie calendar. The latest major releases in the genre are Disney’s “Freakier Friday” and Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2”, both released in early August.

There has been a steady stream of family-friendly fares in recent years, but after a rather dry spell caused by the pandemic and the double Hollywood workforce shutting down production. At the same time, the popularity of streaming services has changed consumer habits, and studios have reduced the time it took for movies released in cinemas to reach their home market.

However, the younger audience is the most attractive and the main driver for bringing their families to the theatre.

Children are some of the most enthusiastic streaming users as they tend to watch the same content over and over again, leading to high involvement. So children’s shows offer a unique value proposition for studios despite the lack of reliability in traditional linear television and theatrical landscapes.

Presenting their favorite characters in more places may mean spreading wealth and ultimately burning their appetite for more.

“Just looking at the synergy of the big screens, small screens created by Kpop Demon Hunters, we can see how “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” can leap from the 2025 Small Screen 2021 series to the big screen movie event.”

Global theatrical releases will not only serve a strong domestic market, but will also expand the scope of “Gabby’s Dollhouse” internationally. Kohn pointed out that Europe is one region where the show has gained traction.

“As a relatively new franchise with a prominent reach in the world of marketing for today’s youngest generation, this is a film that should capture the interest of its audience and continue to showcase its fresh brand strengths.”

And it could be a relatively affordable way to expand the scope of a franchise.

“Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” had a production budget of over $30 million, a small investment for Universal and DreamWorks animations, compared to other theater children’s films. For example, lighting, a franchise film for Disney’s Pixar and other Animated Arms from Universal, could cost over $200 million.

“At DreamWorks, we know how to adjust our budget,” Cohn said. “We make some really big, high budget all-director animated films. But we’re also doing small films like “Captain Underpants” and the latest film with “The Dog Man.” You know how to make high quality movies for low prices. ”

Paramount Media reports show that the two PAW patrol films had similarly small budgets. According to ComScore data, “Paw Patrol: The Movie,” released in 2021, generated $40 million domestically and more than $145 million worldwide. Meanwhile, 2023’s Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie raised $65 million domestically and $200 worldwide.

Universal said Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie won $13.7 million in domestic ticket sales at the opening weekend. This is a shy thing from $15 million to $25 million predicted by box office analysts.

The revenue from theatre is important, but bringing “Gabby’s Dollhouse” to the big screen is part of a broader strategy. Content is part of an interconnected ecosystem that includes toys, books, products and live events.

“It came from Nickelodeon,” Korn said. “We studied a lot of the audience and we knew they liked to watch the show, but they wanted to play it, iterate and experience the characters and ideas in their own way.

DreamWorks partnered with Toy Company Spin Master to produce a toy line tied to “Gabby’s Dollhouse.” The product range includes playsets, figures, gorgeous toys, games and puzzles. Since launching the line, Spinmaster has sold 4 million dollhouses tied to the show.

Cohn described the “success of cultivating and brewing” of “Gabby’s Dollhouse” through Spin Master Partnership, “the success of cultivating and brewing” of “Gabby’s Dollhouse” through the production of YouTube shorts, grassroots marketing and travel live shows. Walmart.

“The series has grown, grown, grown, grown,” Korn said. “And it will reach a certain point where you can achieve greater strategic franchise expansion with live entertainment and shows in parks and music.

According to data from Circana, “Gabby’s Dollhouse” was the top five kindergarten toy property in five of the last eight quarters. Top 10 properties for 10 quarters.

In addition to the toys, Gabby’s Dollhouse has a collection of products with Walmart. target and Amazon, It includes apparel, household items, games, and even toothbrushes. As the film heads to the theatre, audiences can buy a themed popcorn bucket, drink a tumbler, and drink other specialized items.

The franchise will also become part of Universal’s theme parks, with character encounters and Qing Reet with Gabby and retail areas where guests can buy headbands, gorgeous, apparel.

And Universal doesn’t stop there. “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” sets a bigger future for Gabby and the potential spinoff series. As the film’s credits roll, Gabby puts the finishing touches on the new dollhouse.

When asked about what “Gabby Dollhouse” fans could clearly expect to continue, Korn teased, “You have to wait.”

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of Fandango and NBCuniversal, which own CNBC. Versant has become the new parent company of Fandango and CNBC due to the Bersant spin-off planned by Comcast.