Hot Wheels and Barbie are getting manga from TOKYOPOP

Summary

Mattel and TOKYOPOP are collaborating to create a manga based on Hot Wheels and Barbie.
Manga and anime are becoming more and more mainstream in Western media, increasing the possibilities for collaboration.
The first Hot Wheels and Barbie manga sets are scheduled to be released in 2026.

Quick links

- Barbie and Hot Wheels as never seen before

Manga is going mainstream

When it comes to making toys for children, there are few names as recognizable as Mattel. And when it comes to publishing manga in English, there are few companies as famous as TOKYOPOP. You might never have anticipated the collaboration between these two giants in their respective industries, but that's exactly what 2025 will give us. Mattel and TOKYOPOP have teamed up to give some of Mattel's biggest toys new life through manga.

A press release published by AnimeNewsNetwork last week dropped news of this unexpected collaboration. In it, Mattel and TOKYOPOP announced that they were teaming up to create “manga-style graphic novels” based on two of Mattel's biggest properties. Toys that are branching into the manga world are currently Hot Wheels and Barbie. The first manga sets are scheduled to be published in 2026.

baldurs-gate-3-barbie-and-ken-build-recreation

Baldur's Gate 3 Player Creates Barbie and Ken as Tava and Guardian

Baldur's Gate 3 player shows off his impressive build and transforms Barbie in the game with Ken as her guardian.

Mattel becomes manga

Barbie and Hot Wheels as never seen before

The collaboration between Mattel and TOKYOPOP comes as part of Mattel's efforts to develop more into storytelling with its products. The toy company announced its own publishing imprint in 2024, and it looks like it's continuing to push for this kind of brand expansion. Both Mattel's Global Head of Publishing, Ryan Ferguson, and TOKYOPOP COO and Publisher, Marc Visnick, spoke positively of the upcoming collaboration.

Quoting Ferguson in a press release, “Hot Wheels and Barbie have long been symbols of storytelling, creativity and inspiration that engage audiences across generations. We are thrilled to partner with TOKYOPOP to expand these iconic franchises through compelling stories and new adventures for fans.” Visnick further elaborates by saying:

“Hot Wheels and Barbie are two of the most admired toy and entertainment brands in the world, and we are thrilled to partner with Mattel to develop and publish new original manga-style graphic novels. The TOKYOPOP catalog is known for its best-selling titles featuring remarkable characters for readers of all ages. Adding Barbie and Hot Wheels to our roster brings an exciting dimension, and we look forward to sharing these legendary brands and bold new adventures with our global readership.”

While no further details have been released regarding the stories the manga will feature or what characters we can expect, TOKYOPOP and Mattel have announced that the first set of the manga will be released sometime in 2026.

Revealing Mattel's first Comic-Con exclusives: Batman, Deadpool, Marvel Secret Wars and more [EXCLUSIVE]

Ahead of Comic-Con 2024, Mattel is unveiling its first lineup of exclusives that are sure to be worth watching for Batman and Marvel fans.

Manga is going mainstream

From niche to mainstream

December 2024 Best Selling Manga Series Revealed

In the past decade, anime and manga have increasingly made their way into the mainstream. While manga and anime were extremely fringe interests for people twenty years ago, they have become more and more normalized. Much of this shift can be attributed to accessibility. Anime and manga can be legally watched and read in your native language like never before. Goods can be purchased on the high street and in shopping centers.

It's never been easier to be a manga or anime fan. And with huge Japanese titles like Demon Slayer, Attack on Titanand more are coming to international cinemas – and Studio Ghibli took home its first Oscar last year – anime and manga are quickly becoming a regular part of Western media. This means that it is watched by more than just teenagers and adults, because children are more used to it and are exposed to it when they turn on the TV or go to the store.

This is probably what led to the unexpected collaboration between Mattel and TOKYOPOP. The two mega-companies have identified a new audience to reach with their products – specifically, readers aged 8 to 12 who would be interested in reading manga about things they care about. That's why Mattel probably suggested its two biggest properties, Hot Wheels and Barbie, as the first themes for this new and innovative project.

Even if we don't see any Hot Wheels or Barbie manga until sometime in 2026, it's definitely an exciting time. It's always interesting to see more and more Western and Japanese companies working together and sharing their ideas and features. Although the end result may not have the same level of success as something similar Star Wars: Visionswhich she put together Star Wars and Japanese anime studios to create something incredible, there is no doubt that what Mattel and TOKYOPOP create will be interesting to say the least.