<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001523711-12-000067.txt : 20120803
<SEC-HEADER>0001523711-12-000067.hdr.sgml : 20120803
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120803163648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001523711-12-000067
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120803
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120803

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROTHERS ELLEN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001231087

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05647
		FILM NUMBER:		121007239

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MATTEL INC
		STREET 2:		333 CONTINENTAL BLVD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATTEL INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063276
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DOLLS & STUFFED TOYS [3942]
		IRS NUMBER:				951567322
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 CONTINENTAL BLVD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3102522000
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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    <periodOfReport>2012-08-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000063276</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MATTEL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001231087</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROTHERS ELLEN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MATTEL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>333 CONTINENTAL BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6201</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>43922</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>In 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-01</value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>36036</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-08-01</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7672</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7672</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6201</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>6202</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option was granted on August 1, 2012 pursuant to the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan (the &quot;2010 Plan&quot;).  The option vests and becomes exercisable with regard to (a) 33% of the shares granted on the first anniversay of the date of grant, (b) an additional 33% of the shares granted on the second anniversary of the date of grant, and (c) the remaining 34% of the shares granted on the third anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot; or &quot;Units&quot;) were granted on August 1, 2012 pusuant to the 2010 Plan.  Each Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Mattel common stock (or, at the election of Mattel, a cash amount equal to the fair market value of such share).  The RSUs are accompanied by dividend equivalent rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The RSUs vest as to 50% of the Units on the second anniversary of the date of grant and as to the remaining 50% of the Units on the third anniversary of the date of grant.  On each vesting date, for each unit vesting on such date, the reporting person will receive one share of Mattel common stock (or, at the election of Mattel, a cash amount equal to the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date of vesting), subject to tax withholding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As reported on a Form 4 dated August 1, 2010 and filed on August 3, 2010, the reporting person received a grant of 12,403 RSUs on August 2, 2010.  The RSUs vest as to 50% of the Units on the second anniversary of the date of grant and as to the remaining 50% of the Units on the third anniversary of the date of grant.  On each vesting date, for each Unit vesting on such date, the reporting person will receive one share of Mattel common stock (or, at the election of Mattel, a cash amount equal to the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date of vesting), subject to tax withholding.  On August 2, 2012, the first 50% of these RSUs vested, resulting in the issuance of 6,201 shares of Mattel common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to the terms of the August 2, 2010 RSU grant, 2,679 shares of Mattel common stock were automatically withheld at vesting to cover required tax withholding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">As of August 2, 2012, the reporting person had a balance of $329,960.35 in the Mattel Stock Fund of Mattel's 401(k) Personal Investment Plan (&quot;PIP&quot;).  The number of shares has been calculated by the plan administrator for the PIP.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew Paalborg, Attorney-in-Fact for Ellen L. Brothers</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
