The class stratification is so deeply ingrained into this movie that it makes me wonder what the backstory to all of it is. The explanation behind this is likely that it was a way to placate the members of the lower classes by saying “It’s not impossible for you guys to have political power! Just enter the lottery and join this ultra-oppressive school that is filled with classist brats and hope one of the actual royal kids likes you enough to make you her advisor!”. Some of the students are part of the royal families, others come from rich citizens looking for political power, and one student every year comes from a regular family who wins a scholarship from a lottery. In this universe the world’s political system has regressed to feudalism (straight out of Frank Herbert’s Dune), and in order to create semi-capable political figureheads, a school was established to train children in the ways of the complex upper-class social customs. The Plot: Okay I get that this is basically The Princess Diaries but there’s much more to it than that and I actually love it. It actually makes all her “final forms” a bit cooler considering the fact that she always ends up practically draped in her kingdom’s flag. There’s an in-universe explanation for why everything is always bright magenta. The national colors/flags of the kingdoms these movies take place in are pink. I had a sudden realization when watching this movie. The character designs are alright, I like the original uniforms a bit better than the modified ones, though that just might be my dislike of the puffed shoulder sleeves Barbie always wears. The sets are a bit bare, which the animators try to make up for by making everything neon pink, but the result just looks plastic and cheap. The lighting is getting better and the movements are more natural, though it’s far from perfect. It certainly looks better than A Fairy Secret. The animation: Far too pink for me, but otherwise alright. Upon rewatching it today my opinion hasn’t changed much. I’ve had a bit more time to think about this one. I had fond memories of it, and I still occasionally re-watch it with my sisters. Initial Thoughts: This was the last barbie movie I watched while I was in the target age group for these films.