Interview by Paul Salfen
In a world craving whimsy, DreamWorks Animation has sprinkled some feline-fueled magic onto the big screen with Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie. What began as a 2021 Netflix preschool sensation—created by Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey—has unboxed a global phenomenon, blending live-action surprises with an animated dollhouse realm teeming with adorable cat characters. Kids (and secretly, their parents) have tuned in for one big sprinkle party, learning lessons in flexible thinking and embracing mistakes through Gabby’s growth-mindset adventures.
Now, the series leaps into theaters with a cinematic road trip that promises laughs, heart, and a reminder that play knows no age limit. Young Gabby, played by the effervescent Laila Lockhart Kraner, embarks on a journey with her spirited Grandma Gigi, portrayed by four-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan, to the urban kitty wonderland of Cat Francisco. But when Gabby’s beloved dollhouse falls into the clutches of the eccentric Vera (Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig), it’s off to the races: a real-world quest to reunite the Gabby Cats—Pandy Paws, CatRat, Cakey, DJ Catnip, and more—before it’s too late. The voice cast purrs with comedy gold from SNL vets Ego Nwodim, Kyle Mooney, and Melissa Villaseñor, alongside Thomas Lennon, Jason Mantzoukas, and Fortune Feimster. Directed by Emmy-nominated Ryan Crego and produced by Steven Schweickart (of Kung Fu Panda 4 fame), the film executive-produced by Johnson and Twomey arrives just as the series hits its 100th episode milestone, with Season 11 debuting on Netflix in February 2025. Nielsen crowned it the ninth-most-viewed streaming original in 2024, spawning toys, apps, apparel, and theme park tie-ins worldwide.
Amid the buzz, I sat down with Estefan and Lockhart Kraner, two powerhouses whose infectious energy mirrors the film’s playful spirit. The conversation unfolded like one of Gabby’s surprise unboxings—full of laughs, life lessons, and a dash of magic.
“So good,” Lockhart Kraner beamed when I asked how they were holding up in these “strange times.” Estefan nodded along, her legendary smile lighting up the room. It was clear from the start: this wasn’t just a movie; it was a beacon of joy in a world that needed it.
“It’s an honor to talk about this,” I said, “because it is so good. We’re in a time when something to make us laugh feels essential. That had to be a big motivation, right?”
“Absolutely,” Estefan replied, her voice warm and wise. “It’s a fantasy world with something for everyone—the hardcore Gabby fans, but also stuff for adults, reminding them it’s never too late to keep playing.”
“That’s right,” Lockhart Kraner chimed in, her eyes sparkling with the enthusiasm of someone who’s lived the role since the series began.
As we delved deeper, the on-set tales painted a picture of pure delight. “It looked like so much fun to make,” I noted. “Sets aren’t always that funny—this one was, right?”
“Oh, definitely,” Lockhart Kraner enthused. They had embraced the “power of play,” turning road trip scenes into capers of creativity. Director Ryan Crego had given them the freedom to let loose, and it showed. “You could really see it through the screen. It was just having fun every day.”
Estefan recounts “It was such an important part of why the movie turned out so joyful—everybody was really having a great time.” She recounted walking into the craft room for the first time: “I was in awe. This is what every parent, every grandparent would love. It was really special, unique. Beautiful. You felt different when you walked in—it was magical.”
The duo’s bond felt like an extension of their characters’, a grandmother-granddaughter pair navigating adventure with grace and giggles. As role models to millions—Estefan, the Cuban-American icon who’s sold over 100 million records, and Lockhart Kraner, the young star who’s grown up on screen—I couldn’t resist asking for advice to aspiring dream-chasers.
Lockhart Kraner didn’t hesitate. “If you find something that makes you happy and you have fun doing it, keep on doing that. I was lucky—I found acting when I was really young, and I just kept doing it because I enjoyed getting to play and step into different worlds. That’s the reason I’ve been able to get to where I am today—because I was enjoying and having fun every day.”
Estefan built on it with her signature depth. “It’s not that easy, by the way,” she said thoughtfully. “Sometimes you’re born into your family, your situations, and you think you’re handed this life script. But part of the amazing message of this movie is that you can always think outside the box and make your life the way you want it to be. That discovery of what makes you happy is part of the fun journey of life. And then being able to dedicate yourself to that is a real blessing.”
Their mindsets, it turned out, were the secret sauce keeping them on track amid Hollywood’s whirlwind. For Lockhart Kraner, it’s her family and friends—”the people who keep me grounded and keep me laughing and just enjoying life every day.” Even sharing the screen with Estefan, Steven Yeun, and Wiig brought nerves, but “it’s so important to have that balance and that support system of the people you love.”
Estefan laughed, sharing a glimpse into her own world: “For our family, we laugh every day. We make fun of everything, make fun of each other, take things to ridiculous extremes just in the exercise of finding something funny. It releases endorphins. Laughter is the best medicine—it’s absolutely true.”
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie is now purring in theaters and streaming on Netflix, inviting families to join the sprinkle party. In a story about unboxing dreams and saving what’s precious, Estefan and Lockhart Kraner remind us: the best journeys are the ones where we never stop playing.
