DOLLS

Worldwide Superstar Gets Her Own Fashion Doll

JAKKS Pacific is launching a line of fashion dolls, accessories and playsets based on top international performing artist, Kylie Minogue. The fashion doll includes coordinating outfits and accessories that replicate the beauty of the artist through intricate face sculpts using Real Scan technology.

The Cabbages Are A-Blooming Again

Play Along Inc. has entered into a licensing agreement with Original Appalachian Artworks,™ Inc. to introduce the world-famous Cabbage Patch Kids™® for a whole new generation of kids. Play Along plans to capture the heart and soul of this amazing brand and share it with anyone who adopts a Cabbage Patch Kid. The phenomenon, which began in 1983, sprouted when designer Xavier Roberts captured attention by making each doll an individual with its own unique look and personality. The "Kids" will be "up for adoption" at all major retailers in the U.S. and Canada beginning Summer 2004.

Bandai Knows Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Bandai is expanding its successful Strawberry Shortcake line with a line of scented dolls and toys featuring new themes, fashions, play environments and interactive features. Highlights include the interactive Singin´ Surprise Strawberry Shortcake; Berry Talkin´ Apple Dumplin, Strawberry Shortcake´s baby sister who learns how to talk the more that girls play with her; and a line of ice cream-inspired fillies.

Bandai´s new Hello Kitty line includes a whole new set of dolls, and themes, as well as collectibles and accessories.

American-Styled Dollhouses

PlanToys has developed a number of unique dollhouses for the United States market specifically, including the Colonial Dollhouse ($100), featuring a back-entry play design, rather than the front-opening version common to wooden dollhouses. It also features a removable front porch that can also be attached to the side of the home as well as shutters and a ladder that leads into the attic. The Contemporary Dollhouse ($100) features a sleek curved wood roof design and colorful plexi-glass. Also being introduced are updated versions of American, Ethnic and Asian Doll Families ($19 each) and a wood Fire Place accessory ($15).

A new line is being introduced under the dollhouse line, which includes a Stable Set ($30) with a horse and pony, wood stable and accessories. Sold separately is a Horse and Rider ($16), and an Equastrian Barrier Accessory set ($16).

Betty Spaghetty Goes On A Shopping Spree

The Betty Spaghetty fashion doll has a new line of imaginative and interchangeable gift assortments and play sets from The Ohio Art Company. New additions include the Betty Spaghetty Birthday Sets (Available Spring 2004; $9.99), which come filled with balloons, birthday cake and candle, party hats, party-wear and a surprise gift (a bracelet hidden in a gift box); Mall Makeover Madness (Available Fall 2004; $12.99) features a new wardrobe, mix-and-match decals stored in a lipstick case and compact for Betty Spaghetty and Hannah; Betty Spaghetty Mix n’ Mini’s (Available Fall 2004; $7.99) is a is a new 4” version of Betty Spaghetty with themed sets including a fashion shop, beauty salon and electronics store; Betty Spaghetty Write On! (Available Spring 2004; $7.99) helps girls write in style. Each removable leg has a different color ink, and girls can use them to express their thoughts in the included journal; and the Betty Spaghetty Special Gift Assortment (Available Spring 2004; $4.99), single-doll assortments that include one doll, complete with games and trivia that allow her friends to answer questions about each doll’s favorite activity and personal style.

Teeny, Tiny T*Neez

A new lifestyle brand for girls ages 4 years and up, the T*Neez ($4.99) from Bandai America feature a collection of bendable and pose able figures, vehicles, playsets and handheld toys. The brand celebrates who every girl is and what every girl is doing, whether she likes hanging out at the café or going to the mall with friends. The T*Neez stand out with their trendy fashions, funky hair and uniquely “magnetic” personalities. The line includes the T*Neez Scenes assortment, featuring 24 individualized figures with magnetic feet that can be posed on an interchangeable scene. Other items include vehicles and playsets with light, sound or action features that are triggered via the figures’ magnetic feet and handheld toys that come with an address book, calendar or diary function.

Doll Couture

Thomas Originals is making its debut at Toy Fair 2204, showcasing their full line of doll clothing and accessories. The company specializes in affordable classic accessories and costumes for contemporary fashion dolls of 11.5", 16" and 18" toddler dolls. The designs are inspired historic characters and events, as well as by great moments in fashion history. The line includes lingerie, accessories, jewelry, hats, bags and complete outfits.

PlayMates Toys Launches New Doll Lines

Expanding on the success of the Disney Little Princess dolls, Playmates Toys is introducing a deluxe line of Little Princesses that allow girls to add color change surprises to their Magic Color Change Surprise Doll. By using a special wand and a touch of cold water, pretty designs will appear on the doll’s cheek, lips, nails and outfit. My Baby Princess launches in Fall 2004 as a little girl’s “My First” princess baby doll.

New from the Waterbabies brand, the Wiggly Waterbabies feature three dolls with classic play patterns, wearing trendy outfits and accessories. A line of licensed Waterbabies will include a line of Care Bears, Shrek 2, Baby Looney Tunes and Peanuts dolls.

Playmates Toys will also launch a line of Hilary Duff dolls that capture the many talents of Hilary’s career, including Rock Star, Movie Star and TV Star dolls. With the release of Hilary’s new movie, A Cinderella Story in July, the company will offer an exclusive Special Edition doll that features fashions and accessories straight from the movie.

Baby´s Got Bottom

New from Fanny´s Playhouse (ToyDirectory, ToyShow), a company that specializes in products that cater to the early childhood school market and specialty stores, are Baby Bottoms dolls. This line of 12" anatomically correct, multicultural dolls have adorable faces and soft, huggable bodies and are machine washable. These cute dolls, great for kids of any age, are especially useful to teach children about their bodies.

Team GK Dolls Offer Training Manual

Teddi Toys Inc.´s (ToyDirectory, ToyShow) popular line of TeamGK dolls now include a Top Secret Manual that gives dolls owners the information they need to join and be a part of TeamGK, a group of nine characters that fight together to defeat the evil forces of today. The manual is loaded with fun games and puzzles for kids of all ages, as well as the addition of "Trouble´s Monkey Rules," which help give clarity and direction to basic behavioral guidelines parents can teach their children. Also included with each purchase are a set of TeamGK stickers and a "Trouble" the Monkey pencil top. These dolls are a great way to help enlighten, teach and empower children.

Key to the Classics

The Brass Key, Inc. (ToyDirectory, ToyShow) was recently granted licenses to create porcelain dolls from Warner Bros. Consumer Products for Gone with the Wind TM and The Wizard of OzTM. Characters from these classic properties will be created in porcelain for the first time as highly detailed, affordable doll lines, to be revealed at the American International Toy Fair this month.

Neva Dolls: Modern Dolls Made with Old World Techniques

Neva Dolls by Neva Imports, LLC (ToyDirectory) are handcrafted by master artisans in St. Petersburg Russia using ingenious Old World doll crafting techniques that have been passed down through the generations. Each doll comes complete with a background story and certificate of authenticity. The Russian fashion doll manufacturer has pledged that a percentage of all proceeds from the sales of Neva Dolls will go to the Tolmachevo Children’s Orphanage of Luga, located in the St. Petersburg region of Russia.

Language Littles Expands Doll Line

To commemorate its third anniversary in the specialty toy industry, Language Littles (ToyDirectory) is expanding its line of dolls. January 2004 will bring the first of the Language Littles school supply line with the Language Littles Talking Journals. The journals, available in Spanish Lizzie and Ricky, French Jolie, Chinese Ling and Italian Sophie, will feature a talking Language Littles face on the front of the fuzzy journal and pages printed with “Hello, Hola, Bonjour, Ni Hâo, Ciao,” an added language tool. At Toy Fair 2004 in New York, Language Littles will unveil its two newest languages: Greek and Korean.

The company has also recently introduced Cutie Cakes. Each collectible doll celebrates a different party that young girls celebrate, including Birthday Party Becky, Slumber Party Samantha, Garden Party Gracie and Craft Party Chloe. They each come with a purse in the shape of a cake to store accessories.

Takmay Gets Dolled Up

New from Takmay Industrial Company Ltd. (ToyDirectory) comes a line of dolls that do much more than just sit pretty. Baby Crawler comes with a switch that makes her crawl on laugh; soon after she falls and cries, then gets back up and crawls again. B/O Lifelike Crying Expression Baby with Accessories comes with a nappy, rattle, bucket and vinyl duck. She also cries, laughs, blinks and moves her mouth like a real baby. With a press of a button, the B/O Dancing Doll dances by moving her head, arms and legs.

Madeline, The Classic Literary Heroine, Turns 65

To celebrate Madeline’s 65^th birthday, RC2 Corporation (ToyDirectory) launching a new line of toys inspired by the classic literary heroine. Available in limited quantities, the 18” Madeline Doll features a stylized vinyl face, poseable limbs, signature outfit, and comes in a collectible gift box. In addition, the Talking Madeline Ragdoll speaks five basic phrases in both English and French when her tummy is pressed.

Also in the special collection, the Madeline 8” doll comes with a redesigned face, updated clothing, longer hair and bendable joints. La Petite Madeline is a new take-along collection of 3: Madeline mini-dolls, including accessories and play sets.