Barbie Meets Anime: A Stunning Fan Art Collaboration

An upcoming Barbie movie is generating buzz, with a unique twist on the beloved doll. An artist has created a hybrid Barbie model that merges the iconic toy with the legendary anime character Akira. While some are still unsure of how the film will translate the strange world of Barbie, Mattel has produced a plethora of Barbie films over the years, making it a well-established cinematic universe for young viewers.

Indonesian-Canadian artist Alex Louise H. (@alx_egg) saw an opportunity to flex her creative muscles when Barbie took the headlines - having already been working on Barbie animation for some time. A self-proclaimed anime enthusiast, Louise decided to dress Barbie in pink racing leather and pair her with a matching pink Ducati-style motorbike, creating an Akira poster that caught the attention of Twitter users all over the world. While it may seem like an unlikely pairing, Barbie's versatile nature makes it easy to picture a special edition model that looks just like this. Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga has been popular since its release in 1982, but it wasn't until the eponymous film came out six years later that it became a true anime classic.

Robbie's past experiences with high-profile movies have left her wary of taking on risky projects. While Barbie's promotional efforts, including a web app for creating custom film posters, align well with Louise's artwork, Robbie can't help but feel apprehensive about the potential outcome. However, both Akira and Barbie have achieved international recognition and popularity in their respective genres, highlighting the potential for success.

Barbie is scheduled for release in theaters on July 21, 2023.

Source: @alx_egg | Twitter