This movie is a sequel to Barbie: Dolphin Magic, and is the first movie in the Dreamhouse Adventures era to be a direct followup.
Due to "Barbie: Dolphin Magic" being primarily recorded in Canada while this movie is recorded in America, Isla and Marlo get new voice actors. Vivian Lu and Melanie Minichino voice the characters instead of Shannon Chan Kent and Maryke Hendrikse.
This is the first project in the Dreamhouse Adventures era where Chelsea is voiced by a different voice actress instead of Cassidy Naber. However, she still voices a character in the movie.
There were complaints from viewers about how Marlo from Barbie: Dolphin Magic was seen as a negative butch lesbian stereotype due to her more masculine appearance. As such, Mattel executives asked the people working on the movie to reform her.