If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.
Get ready for more Gabby Cats and sprinkle parties! Before Gabby’s Dollhouse debuts on the big screen this fall, the hit DreamWorks kids series is revealing new toys inspired by its creative host (played by Laila Lockhart Kraner) and her crafty feline friends.
The Hollywood Reporter has an exclusive first look at toy maker Spin Master’s lineup of Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie products before they debut today at New York Toy Fair. Gabby’s beloved six-room dollhouse gets a high-tech upgrade with interactive accessories designed to bring even more magic to playtime. (Spin Master says it has sold over three million of the house play sets globally.)
The new Gabby’s Meow-mazing Dollhouse is equipped with LCD “eyes” and speakers that play videos, music, stories and interactive games. Players can press the cat nose button to begin a scavenger hunt throughout the house or watch short “Cat of the Day” videos starring Cakey, DJ Catnip, Catrat, Mercat, Kitty Fairy, Carlita, Baby Box and new characters from the film. The dollhouse includes a Gabby figurine, 10 accessories, a spiral slide and the cat-avator, and the house is compatible with existing room and balcony play sets.
The Gabby’s Dollhouse movie toys also include the Pandy Paws plush and an interactive headband with light-up cat ears, which both feature “Meow-Tech” that responds to or triggers actions in the house. Press the paw of Gabby’s sidekick to activate games, sounds and animations in the house. The interactive ears can also kick off “dance mode” in the house with music and charming reactions, or play the new “Gabby’s Dollhouse World” song featured in the movie.
The Gabby’s Dollhouse movie toys are set to be released this fall. Their reveal comes as Universal Products & Experiences and Canada-based Spin Master announce the renewal of their global licensing agreement for the popular preschool title.
“It’s been a tremendous adventure partnering with Universal Products & Experiences to bring Gabby’s Dollhouse play experiences to kids around the globe,” says Spin Master President of Toys, Doug Wadleigh, in a statement. “Gabby’s Dollhouse has become one of the most sought-after brands in the preschool category, delighting millions of children who are creating their own stories featuring Gabby and her feline friends. And, there is plenty of fun ahead in 2025, with new innovation and more ways to play with this cat-a-rific crew.”
Adds Universal Products & Experiences Global CPG Commercial Officer Rafael Macias, “With a fresh and modern take on traditional dollhouse play, Gabby’s Dollhouse has earned a special place in the hearts and homes of kids and families. Our collaboration with Spin Master has made this a perfect match, pairing imagination with innovation to create best-in-class play experiences that bring to life everything the series offers fans. We are so excited to share what’s in-store for Gabby’s biggest adventure yet.”
The live-action/CGI series recently launched its first game, “Gabby’s Dollhouse A-Meow-Zing Moves,” on Nex Playground‘s active play gaming system.
Laila Lockhart Kraner will reprise her role as Gabby in Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, which debuts in theaters on Sept. 26. Per the logline, the film follows the tween as she goes on a road trip with her Grandma Gigi to the urban wonderland of Cat Francisco. But when Gabby’s dollhouse, her most prized possession, ends up in the hands of an eccentric cat lady named Vera, Gabby sets off on an adventure through the real world to get the Gabby Cats back together and save the dollhouse before it’s too late.
Now in its 11th season and streaming on Netflix, Gabby’s Dollhouse is among the top 10 most-watched TV shows on Netflix in 57 countries. Blue’s Clues veterans Tracie Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey are behind the hit DreamWorks Animation series, which stars Kraner as a 12-year-old who, after unboxing items, uses the power of her magical cat ears to shrink down into an animated version of herself to go on miniature adventures with her kitty pals, called the Gabby Cats. THR previously partnered with the DreamWorks Animation title for its inaugural Kids Power event in 2023.
Read the full article here
