Re-Introducing Kari Mitchell by M and C Toys

Kari Mitchell profile

An anonymous visitor asked for Kari Mitchell photos. So I include these photos showing my only Kari Mitchell doll wearing a summery Barbie dress. This Kari Mitchell doll shows a SuperStar Barbie influence in her permanently bent arms, her open-mouthed smile, and the deep flat forehead before a retroussé nose. However, her eyes are brown. She has brown or blond hair. And her dimpled chin is more substantial than most Barbie dolls. Black Kari dolls are available, too. They were produced from the same face sculpt as my doll's.

Kari Mitchell raises her permanently bent arms.

Back view of Kari Mitchell dressed in a Barbie outfit.

I wrote a brief article about Kari back in 2009. M&C Toys Centre Ltd. produces her as well as the more articulated Power Team action figures. While Kari Mitchell is not as pose-able as the Power Team guys, she is jointed at her head, her shoulders, and her hips. Her knees are click bend style, and she has a twist waist. She's good quality for a Barbie clone; solid weight, decent hair quality and thickness, and clean plastic parts. (Clean as in no sticky or leaky plastic.) 

Even better though, Kari Mitchell dolls tend to be produced with mini wardrobes. Those more realistic-than-Barbie's clothes can be used for other fashion dolls. Big Lots! sells this doll series on the East Coast; she can also be found online at eBay. One or two Kari Mitchell dolls would provide a different face to your doll collection.

Is Dark Horse Comics Producing Game of Thrones Action Figures?

Hey, Game of Thrones fans! Dark Horse Comics has won the license to produce Games of Thrones merchandise. Were you - like I - wishing and hoping that Dark Horse Comics would produce playscale Game of Thrones characters? If so, which characters did you want to see first? I would have liked to have Tyrion Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Catelyn Stark - pause to check the character list - well, you guessed it, most of the characters, ha ha. The first ones Dark Horse is producing though are Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. I can understand why those two were chosen - to avoid any spoilers, I'll just leave it that they are among the most striking of the characters. Now I mentioned playscale, didn't I? Alas, per Toy Examiner Kevin Griffith, Dark Horse is not yet introducing regular, articulated action figures ... they are creating an unspecified scale of sculptures that they are calling "action figures."

Bah!

Sigh. Well, maybe Dark Horse Comics will relent and someday release playscale figures of some of the Game of Thrones characters. Some day ....

Teen Beach Movie Dolls - Big-Heads Strike Again!

If you follow Disney movies, you might be aware of a recent movie called Teen Beach Movie. Teenagers Brady and Mckenzie find themselves in classic teen movie West Side Story. They have to "escape" from the classic movie. Singing and dancing and romantic musical chairs ensue.  These three dolls are based on characters from that movie: Brady, Lela, and Mckenzie.

Musical Brady - the boy. I mention "the boy" because well, I wouldn't have guessed that just looking at his doll face sculpt. I am a little suspicious about his body too. I do have androgynous dolls (see my Takara guys) so I don't mean to sound catty. But this doll does not resemble the actor and does not look boy-like to me. Shrug.

Musical Lela. Okay, the huge big head and the big eyes are creepy. But I do recognize the doll as a representation of the actress. (If only by the coloring and the face screening.) The other dolls in this series fall short on doll-actor likeness.

Musical Mckenzie. If Lela's head is creepy, Mckenzie's cheeks look like you could bounce a quarter off them. But I like the red bandana print cropped top. For another teen doll perhaps ...



Big, big heads they have. How big? I pulled up a beach Barbie to see how the bodies would look next to a Barbie. Here we have Brady and Mckenzie next to a basic swimsuit Barbie.

Hmmm ... aside from a slight bow-legged stance, the bodies are not bad. Width and height-wise, they could work in a Barbie-scale universe. Sad they do not seem poseable, but if you needed straight-armed or straight-legged playscale dolls (for store mannequins?), well, they would do. The big heads though would have to roll go.

The jackets look cute and maybe the tops could be used as well for other fashion dolls or action figures. I look forward to when these hit clearance. I don't see anything particularly exciting about them to rush for them now. No, this set calls for a Muff-like wait for clearance attitude ;-)

Allan and Some Vintage Fashions

Another referral post here. This time, to a blog about vintage toys. Tracy - the blogger - has these photos of Allan that are worth viewing for vintage Allan fans. I have the two-toned shoes myself, but I don't have the red striped socks. Uber cute. If you like vintage fashions, of course.

My favorite PhillyCollector post featured Allan as a stand-in for Ken: curious? If you don't mind nude dolls and action figures, stop by to read that post. I did a brief social commentary in it. Thanks if you choose to stop by ... I'd LOVE to get feedback on that one.

More Mod Barbie Fashions Anyone?

Are you in the mood to see some Mod Barbie fashion dolls and Mod [and psychedelic] Barbie fashions? Well, here is a website for you. Yes, a website chockful of wild, far out, and groovy mod fashions worn by Barbie, Francie, Allan, and other kooky, cool fashion dolls from that era. You will also find tips on cleaning your mod'ern gals and guys.

What I find particularly neat about this website is that the site owner includes some Julia fashions and some Barbie catalog specials. The photos are a little small, but the colors just pop on the screen.

Happy viewing!

Updated Mixis Fashion Doll Guide on eBay - Feedback Request

I have updated my eBay guide about the Mixis dolls. I needed the Guide to reflect the name change for the Mixis Editions and I made a few other changes as well. Only 11 people clicked that they have found it helpful. If you have an eBay account and if you are feeling particularly kindly to me, would you visit that page and let me know what I could do to make the Guide more helpful. Thanks in advance.

Asian DAFs Trying to Stay Cool

There is no "getting hot in here;" we are HOT in Philly. Ninety-two degrees unseemly, steaming, still air. I hate summer. De Cat hates summer. The DAFs hate summer. But a few more Asian dolls and action figures gathered to be photographed. Here they go.

Back row, left to right, standing Hasbro Dreams & Visions G.I. Joe foe Miss Fear, Jakks Pacific G.I.R.L. Force Kulture Shock Jaz, R&D Dolls Ibiza Heat Susie, and Mattel Generation Girl Mari Nakano.

Front row, left to right, kneeling Disney Mattel Captain Li Shang from Mulan and Dragon Mong Kok C.I.D. Wai Sir.

Hasbro Dreams & Visions Miss Fear, Disney Mattel Captain Li Shang, and Jakks Pacific G.I.R.L. Force Kulture Shock Jaz stand strong against the heat.  Miss Fear has borrowed YNU Group Mixis' Rosa's floral sundress; Li Shang borrowed some Ken shorts; Jaz has borrowed a Fashion Fever Teresa halter dress that resembles the iconic white dress Marilyn Monroe wore in The Seven Year Itch.

Standing, left to right: Mattel Generation Girl Mari Nakano, Dragon Mong Kok C.I.D. Wai Sir, and R&D Dolls Ibiza Heat Susie decided to take their outfits down a peg or two. Mari borrowed a top from MGA Entertainment's ANTM wardrobe and shorts of unknown origin; Wai Sir borrowed Ken shorts; Susie borrowed a white My Scene Barbie top and olive My Scene Barbie shorts.


P.S. Mari was removed from her box just for this occasion. Jorge of Clicking Dolls had asked about her.

Happy Birthday, Teresa!

Today is Barbie's Hispanic friend Teresa's birthday/anniversary. This is Teresa's 25th anniversary as a Barbie friend. The Teresa shown today is my favorite Fashion Fever Teresa wearing a Get Real Girl tee shirt and red Barbie shorts. (Yes, at some time Mattel made a pair of red shorts that aren't too scanty or too dowdy. Yay, Mattel.)

I had intended to share the Fashion Fever Teresa fashions that this doll inherited from the other Fashion Fever Teresas, but I could not find her fashions. I'll update this post when I find those clothes.

You can read more about Teresa in this Barbie Wiki and on Vivian's website. Among the notable facts on the former site is that Teresa has a sister - imagine that.

Cumberbach Sherlock by Big Chief Studios Ltd. Alert!

Okay Super Sherlock/Benedict Cumberbach fans get ready. Big Chief Studios Ltd. announced that you can register today to receive information about their 1:6 scale action figures of Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbach) and his companion Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman). Yes, I hear your screams of enthusiasm. Price be damned, you may say. (I am not saying that because alas this is yet another set I must allow to pass me by. But I am not so very keen a Sherlock fan. Which is good for those of you who are. Less challenge, hey? )

So interested fans, register today to make sure you do not miss any of the pre-order thrills. I look forward to seeing the photos as they become available. I can look. Such is the beauty of the Internet ....

Big Chief is starting to remind me of the early Fashion Royalty fever. 

Spring Break 1961™ Barbie® and Ken® Giftset | Barbie Collector

Spring Break 1961™ Barbie® and Ken® Giftset | Barbie Collector

Okay, this set is from the 2011 National Barbie doll Collectors Convention. But look at that Ken! He reminds me of Johnny Mathis! Ohhhhh! Wish I had gone to that Barbie Convention! Wish I had bought this guy. The set was created by designers Matt Sutton and Matt Trujillo.

There is an European American version, too. I had typed "caucasian," then went to check the spelling. Came across this humorous definition. Now I feel awkward typing "White." Oh me oh my.

Hope you enjoy seeing the doll.

Big Chief Studios Pre-orders for Fourth Doctor Sold Out!

It's too late, Doctor Who fans, to place your pre-order for either the 50th Anniversary Signature edition or the Limited edition playscale Fourth Doctor aka Tom Baker at BigChiefStudios.

Here is what we missed:

• 1 x Fourth Doctor Head Portrait featuring an Authentic Likeness of Tom Baker
• 2 x Hairpieces (Hat and Hatless)
• 1 x Long Woollen Effect Scarf
• 1 x Velvet Effect Frock Coat
• 1 x Tartan Waistcoat
• 1 x Woollen Effect Trousers with Bracers (suspenders)
• 1 x White High-necked Shirt
• 1 x Cravat Neck Tie
• 1 x Pair of Brogue Shoes
• 1 x Pair of Socks Tubes (Partial)
• 8 x Interchangeable Hands
• 1 x Display Base with Illuminating Gallifreyan Symbol & Stand
• 1 x Signature Plaque Stand
• 1 x Autograph Plaque Hand-signed by Tom Baker

Accessories

• 1 x Fedora Style Hat
• 1 x Sonic Screwdriver
• 1 x Bag of Jelly Babies
• 1 x Yo-Yo
• 1 x Key to Time
• 1 x Time Tracer
• 1 x Hand of Fear
• 1 x TARDIS Control Room Printed Card Backdrop

The Signature edition would have come with these two additional items:

1 x Signature Plaque Stand 1 x Autograph Plaque Hand-signed by Tom Baker

The Signature edition's price : £189.99  (Ex Tax: £158.33)

The Limited edition's price : £169.99  (Ex Tax: £141.66)

Sigh. Did you notice that I did not convert the prices to U.S. dollars? Moot point. I won't be getting either although the Fourth Doctor was my Doctor Who, the one that I first saw in that role. Guess I am not the ultimate Doctor Who fan. I'll have to enjoy the online photos and stories of other Doctor Who fans. 

P.S. I couldn't resist. Here is the currency converter result.

189.99 GBP	=	286.923 USD
British Pound	↔	US Dollar
1 GBP = 1.51020 USD		1 USD = 0.662164 GBP

Head Swap for Articulated G.I. Joe for the Dr. Dolly-Frankensteins

Am I alone? I thought this video was fun AND a little funny. Something about how Hutt Wigley describes a G.I. Joe head as "wimpy" and how he fits the heads into the secret head opener device. (No, I am not gonna tell what; you have to click through to see it.) 



If you like this video, check out the others, especially the one with the articulated doll cycling. Neat.

Even More Asian Fashion Dolls and Action Figures

I did write that I had more Asian fashion dolls and action figures to show. You may recognize some of these figures.

Reclining Hasbro Special Response Team G.I. Joe. Standing left to right: Dragon Ekin Cheng, Dragon Michael Chan, arms stretching Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Hrithik Roshan, Mattel Amazing Nails Lea, M and C Toys StarRunner Hung, and Dragon My Story Jackie Chan. Kneeling Playmates Sulu (2009).

Closer photo of Hasbro Special Response Team Japanese-American G.I. Joe, Dragon Ekin Cheng, and Michael Chan.

Closer photo of Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Hrithik Roshan, Playmates Sulu (2009), Mattel Amazing Nails Lea, M and C Toys StarRunner Hung, and Dragon My Story Jackie Chan.

Face close-ups of Mattel Amazing Nails Lea, M and C Toys StarRunner Hung, and Dragon My Story Jackie Chan show varying degrees of realism. Dragon figures look the most life-like, but this Mattel doll and this M and C Toys action figure are more life-like than say Mattel's Asian Disney characters.

M and C Toys StarRunner Hung and Mattel Amazing Nails Lea call for another photo. They are attractive, but not necessarily a couple. Alas Hung has boxing gloves for hands so he's not "made for" romance.

Playmates Sulu (2009) and Mattel Amazing Nails Lea look a little more couple-like. Not that they are yet, but who's to say?

Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Hrithik Roshan strikes a dramatic pose to show off his long legs in groovy bell bottoms boot cut jeans. If Asian male dolls are hard to find in the U.S.A., Indian Asian male dolls are even more elusive. Mr. Roshan came from Great Britain by way of Amazon.co.uk . He's worth every extra bit of postage I paid for him.

Dragon's Michael Chan refused to take off his well-tailored gray suit. Well, he's allowing a peep at the inner construction of his jacket. The jacket has shoulder pads and his trousers have darts, center front and back creases, and belt loops. Like many action figures, he has a realistic face.  
 

Hasbro Special Response Team G.I. Joe wants everyone to know that unlike the Japanese Air Force Officer, he is a Japanese-American Joe. (Well, he has the new Japanese head sculpt.*) This distinction matters because the earlier Asian characters in the playscale G.I. Joe line were foreign soldiers. (I am curious about when the first Asian G.I. Joe appeared; the first Black American Joe appeared in 1965, a year after Joe broke the doll action figure scene. Need to find that out.)

Last photo for this set: close-up of Ekin Cheng.I will be posting photos of Mattel's Generation Girl Mari, R and D's Susie, Volks' Who's That Girl, and other Asian fashion dolls and action figures soon. Please stop by to see them.


*Unfortunately, the website showing the named Hasbro head sculpts has been removed. I will have to find another source to verify the Joe head names.

Yay, I'm Back!

I am sooo happy to announce: PhillyCollector is BACK. You may have noticed an interruption of this blog yesterday. Well, it has been restored. Yay!

Did I say I was happy. Okay. I did.

Should you ever "lose" your Blogger blog, visit Blogger's support page for help.

46 Manufacturers Who Produce(d) Asian Fashion Dolls or Action Figures

These manufacturers have produced Asian playscale fashion dolls or action figures. Some of the manufacturers are no longer in business, but armed with the names, you can find your Asian figures online.

If anyone knows of additional manufacturers of Asian playscale fashion dolls or action figures – not seeking other scales or statues – please submit those names. I’ll add them to this list.

 

46 Manufacturers Who Produce(d) Asian Fashion Dolls or Action Figures
 
Aoshima/Skynet

Azone Incorporated

Blue Box International Ltd. aka "BBi"

ChinaSprout

Dragon

Edation

Elite Brigade

Get Real Girl

Get Set Club

Hasbro

Headplay

Helene Hamilton

Hot Toys Limited

Integrity Toys

Jakks Pacific

Kumik

Kurhn

Lanard

Loading Toys

M and C Toys

Mattel

Medicom

MiKelman

MGA Entertainment

Obitsu

Petworks

Phicen

Playmates Toys Inc.

Pullip

R&D Dolls

Sears Holding Corporation

Sekiguchi

Sideshow Collectibles

Simplz Toys

Smartees

Soldier Story

Soldiers of the World

Sonokong

Spinmaster

Takara

Triad Toys

Ultimate Soldier (21st Century)

Varner Concepts

Volks

YNU Group Inc.

Yue-Sai Kan Holdings, Ltd.

Disclaimer/confession: I am not Asian American or Pacific American. To my knowledge, I have no Asian or Pacific American ancestors. However, I do appreciate racial variety in my collection. And I love a challenge. No Asian figures? Ha. 

Go seek and may you find,
D7ana

More Photos of Asian Diaspora Dolls and Action Figures

Back row, standing: Hasbro JEM Starlight Girl Banee, Asian everGirl, Mattel 1 Modern Circle Ken – Daytime, Get Real Girl Skylar Ron, Lanard I-Girl Asia, MGA Entertainment America's Next Top Model Sidney, and Hasbro Foreign Soldiers Collection Japanese Air Force Officer.

Front row, seated or kneeling: Playmates Toys Inc. Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, Azone Incorporated Original Doll Loco Island Minako, BBi Asian Body Builder, Bbi JASDF Ueda, and Azone Incorporated Original Doll Jelly Beans Generation Reimy.

Hasbro JEM Starlight Girl Banee, Playmates Toys Inc. Asian everGirl, Mattel 1 Modern Circle Ken – Daytime, Get Real Girl Skylar Ron, and Lanard I-Girl Asia.

Playmates Toys Inc. Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu and Mattel 1 Modern Circle Ken – Daytime.

Azone Incorporated Original Doll Loco Island Minako, BBi Asian Body Builder, and Bbi JASDF Ueda.

Whoa - did I get two of the same Bbi guys? No. Blue Box International made two similar figures: JASDF Ueda who came boxed with loads of accessories or "nude" and Body Builder Elite Force, Asian.

Query: how can you distinguish between BBi’s Asian Body Builder and BBi’s Ueda action figures?

Answer: the Body Builder figures have nude hands; Ueda has gloved hands.

Get Real Girl Skylar Ron and Lanard I-Girl Asia. Fun, poser bodies. Alas for the big heads and more cartoony look.

Lanard I-Girl Asia, MGA Entertainment America's Next Top Model Sidney, Hasbro Foreign Soldiers Collection Japanese Air Force Officer, and Azone Incorporated Original Doll Jelly Beans Generation Reimy.


And yes, I have more.

Happy Independence Day!

For those celebrating this July 4th and the extended long weekend, Happy Independence Day!

Alas, no photos today but ... I will have some up tomorrow and over the weekend.

I will have more Asian fashion dolls and action figures, a follow-up to an older post about Ryan Whitaker, choosing which Jamal-faced male dolls to keep and more.

Photos of Some Asian and Asian-American Dolls and Action Figures

Perhaps it's an East Coast thing, but Vanessa of Fashion Dolls at Van's Doll Treasures and I are both submitting posts about our Asian/Asian American dolls and action figures today. I was taking photos of my figures earlier - photos that should have been taken and been uploaded last month, but here they are now. More photos will follow.

From left to right and standing: Dragon Detective Chow, Mattel DotW Princess of Japan Barbie, Mattel DotW Japan Ken, M and C Toy Centre Power Team Elite Exploration Unit Skier, Aoshima/Skynet Ladies Mission Basic Infantry Kelly Jackson, Mattel StarDoll Fallen Angel 1, Mattel Rio de Janeiro Lea, Sears Holding Corporation Just Girlz Jade Princess, RnD L.A. Luxe Susie, and Hot Toys True Type 38 Asian.

From left to right: 
Aoshima/Skynet Ladies Mission Woman's doctor Tanaka Miina seated; Mattel DotW Princess of Japan Barbie, Mattel DotW Japan Ken, and M and C Toy Centre Power Team Elite Exploration Unit Skier standing; Dragon "Linh" Vietcong Scout seated; Aoshima/Skynet Ladies Mission Basic Infantry Kelly Jackson and Mattel StarDoll Fallen Angel 1 standing; Sideshow Michelle Yeo as Wai Lin from James Bond, Mattel Kelly Picnic Friend, and Aoshima/Skynet Girl's Mission Mai seated.

From left to right: Aoshima/Skynet Ladies Mission Woman's doctor Tanaka Miina seated; Dragon Detective Chow, Mattel DotW Princess of Japan Barbie, and Mattel DotW Japan Ken standing.

From left to right: Aoshima/Skynet Ladies Mission Basic Infantry Kelly Jackson, Mattel StarDoll Fallen Angel 1, and Mattel Rio de Janeiro Lea standing; Sideshow Michelle Yeo as Wai Lin from James Bond and Mattel Kelly Picnic Friend seated.

From left to right: Aoshima/Skynet Girl's Mission Mai seated; Mattel Hawaiian Jenny and Mattel Renee standing.

From left to right: Mattel Rio de Janeiro Lea, Sears Holding Corporation Just Girlz Jade Princess, RnD L.A. Luxe Susie, and Hot Toys True Type 38 Asian standing; Sideshow Michelle Yeo as Wai Lin from James Bond and Aoshima/Skynet Girl's Mission Mai seated.

From left to right: M and C Toy Centre Power Team Elite Exploration Unit Skier, Aoshima/Skynet Ladies Mission Basic Infantry Kelly Jackson, Mattel StarDoll Fallen Angel 1, Mattel Rio de Janeiro Lea, Sears Holding Corporation Just Girlz Jade Princess, and RnD L.A. Luxe Susie standing; Sideshow Michelle Yeo as Wai Lin from James Bond seated.

So that's the identification of the pictured dolls and action figures.

Toshiko had her head down at first - sulking anyone? - because I had left her name off my list last month. (Also, we were having some trouble getting her adjusted to her new body - the Sinatra Barbie body. Alas, poor Jo is temporarily body-free now.)

Alert for Doctor Who Fans!

Big Chief Studios has a new website. And this news ...


Their 1:6 scale version of the Tenth Doctor is sold out.


You can still get the Eleventh Doctor though and Amy Pond.


Good luck!

 

P.S. Michael Crawford's site has a review of this Amy Pond figure.