The score was composed by Arnie Roth, with songs written by Megan Cavallari, Amy Powers and executive producer Rob Hudnut. It was released direct-to-DVD on September 18, 2007, with a television premiere five days later on Nickelodeon.[3]
Plot
Sagi, a red panda, and Azul, an Indian peacock, live on a tropical island in the South Seas. One day, they discover a little girl and her chest of belongings washed up on shore after a storm. They decide to take her in and name her "Ro," as those were the only two letters left on the chests' broken nameplate. Ten years later, Ro has learned to speak with animals and grown to be a beautiful young woman, spending her days playing on the island with Azul, Sagi, and an Asian elephant, named Tika.
Prince Antonio of Apollonia is out exploring the South Seas, and finds himself on Ro's Island. She saves him from a float of crocodiles, and Antonio invites her to return with him to his kingdom, so she can find out more about her past. Ro agrees, bringing her three friends with her. During the journey, Ro and Antonio begin to fall in love.
Upon arriving in Apollonia, Antonio's parents, King Peter and Queen Danielle, are shocked when they meet Ro. While Antonio had been away, Peter had arranged a marriage for him so that he can become king and stop adventuring. He dislikes the "wild island girl" for disrupting his plans; however, Antonio's little sisters, Princesses Rita, Sofia, Gina, and Danielle's pet rhesus monkey, Tallulah, immediately befriend Ro and her animals.
Antonio's betrothed, Princess Luciana, and her mother, Queen Ariana, later arrive in Apollonia so that he could finally meet them. Unbeknownst to everyone, even her daughter, Ariana and her parents committed treason by attempting to kill Peter and Danielle and were demoted to be swineherds by Peter many years ago. Ariana had married an elderly king in order to become a queen and regain her former status, and now she is seeking a way to enact her revenge on Peter; seeing Ro as a threat, she works to sabotage all Ro's attempts to fit in. However, this causes Antonio to fall more in love with her, and kindhearted Luciana feels sorry for her.
Ro, demoralized by her "failures," thinks about returning to her island. Tallulah, Sagi, Azul and Tika cheer her up and help her get dressed up for the royal ball. At the ball, everyone is impressed by Ro's beauty and grace, and Antonio privately proposes to her. However, Ro refuses, reminding Antonio of his duty to obey his father.
Antonio argues with Peter and abdicates the throne to Rita. He leaves a note for Ro, saying he will run away with her. Tika, jealous of Antonio and afraid of losing Ro, overhears and hides the note. Meanwhile, Ariana sends her pet rats to spread "sunset herb" through the kingdom. The poison causes all animals who ingest it to fall into a coma, including Tallulah and Azul. Peter, concluding Ro, Sagi, Azul, and Tika had brought the "disease" to Apollonia, imprisons them.
Peter strikes a bargain with Antonio – Ro and the animals would be freed if Antonio married Luciana. Antonio reluctantly agrees. Shortly after, Ro and her animals are sent away on a ship, and Tika, realizing her mistake, confesses to Ro about hiding the note and is forgiven by her. A sailor, bribed by Ariana, knocks them all overboard. In the water, Ro suddenly remembers the shipwreck that happened in her childhood and that her real name is Rosella.
Returning to Apollonia with the help of dolphins, Ro learns from a little bird that Ariana had put sunset herb in the wedding cake to kill Peter and Antonio. Ro makes an antidote to wake Azul and the other animals, but is stopped by guards. Tika disrupts the wedding and gets Antonio to come to Ro's rescue, while Sagi takes the antidote to Tallulah, waking her. When Ro accuses Ariana, no one believes her; until Luciana, remembering her mother had forbidden her to eat anything after the wedding, agrees with and defends Ro. Ariana attempts to flee in a carriage, but is wrecked and flung into a pigsty.
When Ro reveals to Antonio she remembers her full name, one of the wedding guests, Queen Marissa of Paladia, comes forward and says that her daughter, Princess Rosella, had gone overboard in a shipwreck while they were at sea many years ago. Ro's memory returns, realizing she's the long-lost princess of Paladia, and she and Marissa then sing a lullaby from her childhood together, confirming the truth. Peter then begs Ro's forgiveness and thanks her for saving their lives. Ro and Antonio are then married, while Luciana meets a handsome prince at their wedding. Ro and Antonio then sail off to go on new adventures, with Tika, Sagi, Azul, and Tallulah in tow.
Kelly Sheridan as "Ro"/Princess Rosella of Paladia, Queen Marissa's long-lost daughter (played by Barbie)
Melissa Lyons as Singing Voice of Ro
Alessandro Juliani as Prince Antonio of Appolonia (played by Ken), Luciana's betrothed.
Christopher Gaze as Sagi, a wise and kindly red panda who takes Ro in after the wreck and acts as a father figure.
Steve Marvel as Azul, a flamboyant and self-important Indian peacock.
Susan Roman as Tika, a young Asian elephant who looks up to Ro as an older sister, and is jealous of Antonio.
Garry Chalk as Frazer, Antonio's traveling companion/friend/manservant. Chalk also voiced a minor character named Calvin.
Russell Roberts as King Peter, Antonio's father and Danielle's husband, who disapproves of his son's adventuring.
Patricia Drake as Queen Danielle, Antonio's mother, Peter's wife, and the doting owner of Tallulah. Drake also voices the Mama Pig.
Bets Malone as Tallulah, Queen Danielle's friendly but somewhat spoiled rhesus monkey who was orphaned on a South Seas island, and discovered and brought back as a pet for Antonio's mother.
Britt McKillip as Princess Rita (played by Chelsie), Antonio's little sister.
Carly McKillip as Princess Gina (played by Becky), Antonio's other little sister.
Chantal Strand as Princess Sofia (played by Kelly), Antonio's other little sister.
Andrea Martin as Queen Ariana, a woman who plots to get her revenge on King Peter by having her daughter, Luciana, marry Prince Antonio.
Candice Nicole as Princess Luciana (played by Summer), Arianna's kindhearted and friendly daughter, and Antonio's betrothed.
Kate Fisher as Queen Marissa of Paladia, Ro's long-lost mother.
As a gag credit, Matt, the mime rat, is credited to be voiced by himself.
Songs
The songs are written by Megan Cavallari and Amy Powers, with executive producer Rob Hudnut.
"Here on My Island" – Melissa Lyons, Steve Marvel, Christopher Gaze and Susan Roman
"Right Here in My Arms" – Lyons
"A Brand New Shore" – Alessandro Juliani, Roman, Gaze, Marvel and Lyons
"I Need to Know" – Lyons and Juliani
"Love Is for Peasants" – Andrea Martin and Candice Nicole
"Right Here in My Arms" (Greenhouse) – Lyons
"At the Ball" – Bets Malone, Gaze, Lyons, Roman and Marvel
"The Rat Song" – Martin, Scott Page-Pagter and Ian James Corlett
"Always More" – Lyons
"Right Here in My Arms" (Reunion) – Lyons and Kate Fisher
"When We Have Love" – Nicole, Kate Fisher, Malone, Marvel, Roman, Gaze, Lyons and Juliani
"I Need to Know" (pop version) – Cassidy Ladden
Reception
Paul Mavis of DVD Talk wrote, "Barbie as The Island Princess is a well-executed CGI animated fantasy with a sweet, tender, believable approach to its love story that will no doubt make little girls sigh with delight."[5] Catherine Dawson March of The Globe and Mail called the film "enchanting" and considered its songs to be "on par with Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper".[6]
Common Sense Media's Nancy Davis Kho wrote of the film, "parents can rest assured that the subject matter is entertaining and kid-appropriate, and put their energies toward worrying about all the commercialism surrounding it." Kho praised the animation and "lush original score", and wrote that Ro and Luciana are positive role models.[7]
Video game
2007 video game
Barbie as the Island Princess
Barbie as the Island Princess cover art (North American Wii version)
