Children’s entertainment is nothing new; in fact, it’s well-established and business is booming. Past generations grew up with Mister Rogers in his neighborhood (1968 – 2001) while newer ones grew and grow up with Mister Rogers’ own Daniel Tiger in his own neighborhood (2012 – present). In between has seen the likes of Blue (with her clues), Pocoyo, Blippi, and Gabby. Now, in 2025, Gabby makes the jump from the small screen to the silver screen with Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, a brand-new adventure with great-big implications for its audience as the youngsters confront the inevitability of growing up while being reminded that play is an active choice to be made. Now, The Movie is out on home video, accompanied by roughly 40-minutes of behind-the-scenes materials for fans to explore, including making-of featurettes, feature-length commentary, deleted scenes, and more.
L-R: Actors Gloria Estefan, Kristen Wiig and Laila Lockhart Kraner on the set of DreamWorks Animation’s GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE. Photo Credit: Leah Gallo. © 2025 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) is excited to spend some time with her grandmother, GiGi (Gloria Estefan). But before Gabby and GiGi can unpack Gigi’s car, Gabby’s dollhouse gets loose and runs off, prompting Gabby to chase after it. Before she can find it however, cat-fiend Vera (Kristen Wiig) mistakes it for a valuable collectible and claims it for herself. Now it’s up to Gabby to find the dollhouse and her friends and bring them all to safety, but it appears that Vera’s collection goes back a long time and some of her collectibles don’t want the fun the dollhouse brings to end.
The following home review is based on a Blu-ray retail copy provided by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
The film, directed by Ryan Crego (Arlo the Alligator Boy) from a script by Mike Lew (Teenage Dick), Rehana Lew Mirza, Adam Wilson, and Melanie Wilson LaBracio, is this reviewer’s first entry point into the Gabby world. Well, technically the toys my youngest pals around with and the dollhouse that my nieces have that my youngest constantly wants to play with — those are my real first entry point, but, having now seen the film, I feel like I actually understand what the toys are and what the series is all about. While it does have that “the audience is part of the story” kidutainment common in series like Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer (2000 – 2019), it never talks down to the kids so much as try to make sure that they’re included. It makes the watch far more charming as it becomes far more active than anticipated, almost as though our imagination is as important as Gabby’s in making it through this latest adventure. (Considering that original show writers Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey also worked on Blue’s Clues, one can see where the significance of including the audience is a baked-in component of the program and, therefore, the film.) This becomes especially important as the script transforms from a mere rescue storyline in the vein of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) into a tale about growing up and maintaining a healthy imagination. The fact that Wiig’s Vera is never presented as truly villainous, just silly and slightly off-kilter, helps soften the intensity of her inclusion and creates the foundation for where the film shifts as it relates to growing up and play. (An added bonus is that the Despicable Me/Saturday Night Live actor is clearly game for the silliness a kid’s tale calls for). The inclusion of Vera creates the space for the catalyst the narrative requires to occur for Gabby to confront the inevitable — it’s easy to make time for play as a child, but it becomes something we must all actively choose when we turn into a grown up.
This aspect of actively choosing to continue to play regardless of age is the most surprising element of the film, especially for someone such as I who has no background in the program. It’s pawsitively filled with the kind of inventive situations and scenarios one expects for a cinematic world powered by imagination — including but not limited to racing toy cars traveling at unthinkable speeds, wooden gnomes brought to life who love to play games, and aquatic creatures who grow more vibrant through — and it’s all capitalized on by a variety of established show voice actors and guests. Much in the way that Trolls World Tour (2020) pushes its young audience to consider colonization and appropriation through a tale of Rock ruling over all songs, Crego’s The Movie utilizes the very real potential aging-out of Kraner (The Secret of Sinchanee) to remind young viewers that getting older isn’t something to be feared or anticipated, but another step in a different adventure that we all take. And that while the Veras of the world try to stamp down that part of themselves (therefore requiring that creative spark to eek out elsewhere), there are also GiGis in the world who manage to balance their practicality with doses of creativity. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing when it comes to play and far too often kids believe that when you’re done speaking as child, it’s time to put down childish things when, in truth, it’s merely a matter of holding onto the parts that make you you without sacrificing your joy in the process. Though my youngest, excited as all get out to view the film was, didn’t make it to the end of the film once the true “villain” of the film appeared (in a move somewhat reminiscent of ParaNorman (2012), if I may), those who don’t get so frightened or who are able to confront their anxiety a bit more will get a taste of an important lesson from a (to them) trusted source. Learning young to embrace play is reason enough to give The Movie a try, especially seeing as it’s a lesson today’s adults need reminding of for themselves.
The included bonus features intermix materials meant for young fans and older ones who might enjoy a look behind the curtain. The lone deleted scene, “Vera Meets Cakey Cat,” begins with a brief intro from Crego before we watch an alternate take of Vera’s meeting with Cakey Cat (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld). Then there are four featurettes under the title “Meet the Clowder” in which we’re invited to listen to the cast and crew talk about the making of the film from their unique perspectives, including Kraner, Wiig, the inhabitants of the dollhouse, and the new folks we meet here. All four of the featurettes include moments from the film intercut with watching the cast in the recording booth, as well as other behind-the-scenes moments. For those looking for a general view of the making of the film, head over to “Gabby’s Dollhouse: Making the Meowvie” for a six-minute walkthrough lead by Kraner of the making of the film from sketches to animation to vocal recording and more. No home release would be complete without the usual gaffs members of the cast make when recording and that’s where the four-minute “Pawsome Performances” comes in, showing you where they may have made mistakes or generally just had a good time. As with other kid-centric home releases from Universal/DreamWorks, there are also two demos for creative projects: “Kitty Cat Surprise Snack Box” and “Cakey’s Pretzel Cabin.” The first is a more traditional arts and crafts project while the second requires a touch more supervision. Thoughtfully, both include a complete tools list that’s easy to pause on before beginning to make either one.
Be advised that the physical edition includes a feature-length commentary track with Producer Steven Schweickart, Visual Effects Supervisor M. Scott McKee, Head of Story David Colman, and Head of Character Animation CJ Sarachene. The iTunes digital edition also includes this track but the MoviesAnywhere edition does not.
Seeing as the film has been out to own for several weeks by now, it behooves me to point out one aspect that may trouble some parents or surprise young viewers — the final moment of the film suggests that Gabby has a younger sibling arriving. Their parents aren’t mentioned in the film and this aspect seems to come out of nowhere, which may cause some audiences to come away thinking that Kraner is stepping down. Considering the number of partners Blue has had, the number of Blippis, and other actors who have replaced those who’ve grown up or out of their roles, this won’t surprise too many parents, but the unprepared children may find it jarring if they pick up what the film is implying. That said, it’s actually a lovely moment that’s supported by the thematic elements of the film through the exploration of growing up, getting older, and whether or not play is possible as an adult. So be ready to acknowledge these concerns (should your kids notice or react), reminding them that Gabby will always be there for them in their imagination and on home video.
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Special Features*:
- Deleted Scene: “Vera Meets Cakey Cat:” An exclusive scene featuring Vera (Kristen Wiig), Cakey Cat (Juliet Donenfeld), Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner), Grandma Gigi (Gloria Estefan), and Kitty Fairy (Tara Strong) (1:29)
- Gabby’s Dollhouse: Making The Meowvie: Join Laila Lockhart Kraner for a day on the DreamWorks Animation campus as she shows us what went into the making of GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE (6:09)
- Pawsome Performances: It’s not all work, work, work in the recording booth! This fun and funny video shows some of the more lighthearted moments from the cast’s ADR sessions (3:55)
- Four (4) Meet The Clowder Videos: Clowder is the collective name for cats and in this fun and informative video, we get to meet the humans behind the voices of our cool cat cast!
- Kitty Cat Surprise Snack Box: Today’s Kitty Cat Surprise Box doubles as a popcorn bucket – purrrfect for your movie night at home! Learn how to make your very own complete with fun decorations, sparkles, cat ears, and lots of room for your favorite movie night snack! (7:17)
- Cakey’s Pretzel Cabin: In the film, Cakey Cat whips up a beautiful and tasty cabin made of pretzels, frosting, and sprinkles, and in this fun how-to, we’ll show you how to make your very own! (5:55)
- Feature Commentary with Director Ryan Crego, Producer Steven Schweickart, Visual Effects Supervisor M. Scott McKee, Head of Story David Colman, and Head of Character Animation CJ Sarachene (1:38:01)
*Digital buyer receives limited license to access content. See retailer’s terms for details.
Available on digital October 14th, 2025.
Available Blu-ray and DVD November 25th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie website.
To purchase, head to the official Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
Share this:
Categories: Home Video, Reviews, streaming
Leave a Reply