Happy St. Patrick’s Day

I missed seeing the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but I want to acknowledge the holiday here. Irish Barbies are everywhere online so I decided to photograph any dolls and/or action figures wearing green. I found a Black Barbie, a copper-tressed Midge, a YNU Group Inc. Mixis Houda, an M & C Toy Centre Power Team Elite Para jumper, and a Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Kajol already dressed in green. Here they are along with my wish that all celebrating St. Patrick’s Day are having  or have had a jolly one.

Barbie Birthstone Beauties: May wearing an emerald green glittery lace minidress with a green bolero jacket

YNU Group Inc. Mixis Houda wears her original sundress and Mattel Surf City Midge wears a Fashion Avenue outfit

M & C Toy Centre Power Team Elite Para jumper wears an olive green zipped jumpsuit and Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Kajol wears a green and gold trimmed blouse and skirt

Oh and I must not forget this video that explains how the wearing of green became associated with this holiday.

May the road rise to meet you.

Step Three: More Than 10? Review Again

Two removed from the list. Now, who do I really, really, really like? In this second elimination, I separate dolls and action figures (DAFs) that I like from DAFs I love. A List versus B List. Like B list actors, B list DAFs are keepers. They just lack that je ne sais quoi that the A list or Top 10 DAFs have. Meet the B List DAFs new in 2009:

• M & C Toy Centre World Peacekeepers E.O.D. Technician Power Team Elite
  
• Mattel Ballerina Barbie
  
• Mattel SiS So in Style Kara
  
• Mattel SiS So in Style Kianna
  
• Mattel Beach Party Nikki
  
• Mattel High School Musical 3 Graduation Day Ryan
  
• Mattel High School Musical 3 In the Spotlight Sharpay Evans
  
• Play Along Ltd. Cheetah Girls Growl Power Dorinda
  
• Revell GmbH& Co. KG Kick-O-Mania Hamburger SV Benjamin Lauth
  

The World Peacekeepers E.O.D. Technician is cute. But although he is an older man - and not as well represented in the DAF world as might be expected, he misses falling into the Top 10 list because he is not that exciting.

Ballerina Barbie, SiS Kara, Nikki, and Sharpay are pretty dolls. But that's the most I can say about them. I like them in my collection, but nothing stands out about them. Kianna works the cute factor - who can bypass curly pigtails - but she looks like the other SiS little sisters. Graduation Day Ryan has the kilt working in his favor. Oh and the soft curled, rooted hair. Move past the hair and the kilt though and where's the draw? Yawn. Stretch.

I like the Cheetah Girls Dorinda ... she looks like a character more than some dolls who look doll, but she just misses the wow factor. Sigh. I like Benjamin Lauth, another character, but articulation-wise, he's on the stiff side. For an action figure. I like that he isn't as pretty/handsome as my Kens, but again, no wow factor.

So where am I now? Who are the remaining 10 by manufacturer?

1. Aoshima/Skynet Girl's Mission No. 4 Mai
   
2. Haschel Toys Olga Tanon
   
3. Integrity Dynamite Girls Heartbreaker T.J.
   
4. Integrity Fashion Royalty Bewitching Hour Luchia
   
5. M & C Toy Centre World Peacekeepers Combat Engineer Power Team Elite
   
6. Mattel High School Musical 3 In the Spotlight Tiara Gold
   
7. One2Believe Tales of Glory Esther
   
8. Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Hrithik Roshan
   
9. Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Kajol
   
10. Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Priyanka Chopra
    

Next step will be to rank them. Now that will be fun ... groan. Not.

Step One: List of DAFs Received in 2009 to Date

Manufacturer and Doll or Action Figure (DAF) Name

1. Aoshima/Skynet Girl's Mission No. 4 Mai
   
2. Haschel Toys Olga Tanon
   
3. Integrity Dynamite Girls Heartbreaker T.J.
   
4. Integrity Fashion Royalty Bewitching Hour Luchia
   
5. M & C Toy Centre World Peacekeepers Combat Engineer Power Team Elite
   
6. M & C Toy Centre World Peacekeepers E.O.D. Technician Power Team Elite
   
7. Mattel Ballerina Barbie
   
8. Mattel SiS So in Style Kara
   
9. Mattel SiS So in Style Kianna
   
10. Mattel My Scene Lindsey Lohan
    
11. Mattel Beach Party Nikki
    
12. Mattel High School Musical 3 Graduation Day Ryan
    
13. Mattel High School Musical 3 In the Spotlight Sharpay Evans
    
14. Mattel High School Musical 3 In the Spotlight Tiara Gold
    
15. One2Believe Tales of Glory Esther
    
16. One2Believe Tales of Glory Noah
    
17. Play Along Ltd. Cheetah Girls Growl Power Dorinda
    
18. Revell GmbH& Co. KG Kick-O-Mania Hamburger SV Benjamin Lauth
    
19. Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Hrithik Roshan
    
20. Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Kajol
    
21. Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Priyanka Chopra
    

These are the DAFs I have received for 2009 to this date. Please note: any other DAFs received but NOT shown here are gifts to be given to me at Christmas. Those DAFs are not in my possession yet.

List of DAFs I Considered Asian

Aoshima/Skynet	Kelly Jackson	Lady's Mission	Series No.4
Aoshima/Skynet	Madam Ryu Reika	Lady's Mission	Series No.21
Aoshima/Skynet	Kyoko Tenryu	Lady's Mission	Series No.22
Aoshima/Skynet	Tanaka Miina	Lady's Mission	Series No.24
Aoshima/Skynet	Code Name - Mai	Girl's Mission	Series No.6
Azone Incorporated	Belinda
Azone Incorporated	Minako
Azone Incorporated	Reimy
Azone Incorporated	Reina
Hasbro	Foreign Soldier	G. I. Joe	Japanese Air Force Officer
Hasbro	Miss Fear	G. I. Joe	Dreams & Visions
Hot Toys Limited	TrueType 38 Figure: Series 3	01-Male
Integrity	Candi	Candi
Integrity	Ayumi Nakamura	Fashion Royalty: NuFace
Integrity	Kyori Satori	Fashion Royalty
Integrity	Jade, playline
Lanard	Asia	I-Girl
M &C Toy Centre	StarRunner	Hung	KC Boxing Gym
Mattel	Mulan	Disney	Princess
Mattel	Li Shang	Disney	Captain
Mattel	India	Barbie
Mattel	Indian	Barbie
Mattel	Japanese	Barbie
Petworks	Momoko
Sears Holding Corporation	Jade Princess
Sekiguchi	Momoko
Sideshow Collectibles	Michelle Yeo	James Bond
Sonokong	Sharp
Spinmaster	Hrithik Roshan	Bollywood Legends
Spinmaster	Kajol	Bollywood Legends
Spinmaster	Priyanka Chopra	Bollywood Legends
Takara	Motoko Kusanagi	Cool Girl	Ghost in Shell: Ninja-Suit Version
Takara	Princess Jun	Cool Girl	Battle of the Planets
Takara	Kaori Chan
Takara	Kisara
Takara	Lina
Takara	Meiren
Takara	Mitsuki
Takara	Moe
Takara	Rie
Takara	Sayaka
Takara	Shion
Takara	Shou
Takara	Tamaki
Takara	Uno Kanda
Volks	Kana	Who's That Girl
Yue-Sai Kan Holdings	Yue-Sai Wa Wa

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.

Top Ten DAFs of 2009 (Steps Four-Six)

• 10 - One2Believe Tales of Glory Esther
  
• 9 - Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Priyanka Chopra
  
• 8 - Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Hrithik Roshan
  
• 7 - M & C Toy Centre World Peacekeepers Combat Engineer Power Team Elite
  
• 6 - Mattel High School Musical 3 In the Spotlight Tiara Gold
  
• 5 - Spinmaster Bollywood Legends Kajol
  
• 4 - Haschel Toys Olga Tanon
  
• 3 - Aoshima/Skynet Girl's Mission No. 4 Mai
  
• 2 - Integrity Fashion Royalty Bewitching Hour Luchia
  
• 1 - Integrity Dynamite Girls Heartbreaker T.J.
  

One-Five




Six-Ten

Liv Fashions Worn by Other Dolls

Here are three photos showing Spinmaster's Liv fashions on dolls other than Liv. Most of us have Mattel fashion dolls so Nikki, friend of Teen Skipper, HSM Sharpay, and Flavas Kiyoni Brown model a few of the Liv jacket separates. The Liv sleeves are long for Teen Skippers and HSM Sharpay. Jointed at her elbows, Kiyoni might have been a better match for the black leather jacket or the orange-red jacket, but who could resist that bright turquoise jacket against Kiyoni's rich brown complexion? Not I.

The next two dolls are less commonplace: Who's That Girl Kana and Takara's Mitsuki model Liv jackets, too. Again, the sleeves on the long-sleeved jackets are too long. I probably could have swapped these jackets - had Mitsuki wear the yellow-black herringbone jacket and Kana the gray-pink camo one, but the selected styles suited the dolls better. I'd rather the outfit "fit" the doll's character than that it fit the doll's body. Although it is best when both size and style fit.

Me, I will overlook the over-sized hood. Kana tried to "work it" by stuffing her long hair in that cavity. Kana has a small head anyway. The hood is deep. I don't think that it ruins the outfit.

Here the five teen dolls pose for a group photo

That will "wrap" this post ... but wait, Belinda has an offering. Belinda chose the Liv boy shirt for her photo.

Belinda had to go there. Sigh.

I have some other Liv outfits that I will show on Momokos and other dolls in a future post. These four photos will allow you to see Liv fashions on other dolls. And you can see Liv fashion quality. How do these doll clothes compare with others? Well, these are playline fashions. Liv fashions use velcro and have unfinished hems. I would rate them as better than the current Barbie playline fashions, but no where near the exquisite tailoring in Integrity's Fashion Royalty clothing line. Spinmaster has their pulse on current fashions - as far as I can tell - I have seen the open-toe boot in trendy fashion stores in Philadelphia. These outfits are affordable, trendy, and now part of my doll wardrobe.

2012 Spinmaster Liv Neon Colors and a New Doll Blogger

I saw Spinmaster's new color-focused Liv dolls in a Philadelphia Target store: Liv for Color and Liv Brites. So I did some online investigating and discovered a new-to-me doll enthusiast's Flickr photo album. (Flickr seems to be the place to go for the latest in new doll discoveries.) Emily, the new-to-me blogger, reveals some unfortunate news about these new Liv line: less articulation than previous lines - please read her blog post about the vivid Liv dolls.

Liv for Color

Sophie with blue hair and blue dress, Alexis with pale pink hair and pale pink dress, and Katie with dark pink hair and dark pink dress shown in above photo.

Hayden with purple hair and purple dress and Daniela with red hair and red dress in photo below.

Target Exclusives Brites

Alexis (orange hair), Katie (purple), and Sophie (pink hair).

New Terrority - Amazon.co.uk and Bollywood Dolls

I have discovered Amazon.co.uk .

No, I am not claiming I found land or created a website. I realized that I as an
American could purchase some items from Amazon.co.uk .

WWWWWWHHHHHAAAAAA-HHHHHHOOOOOOO!

Okay perhaps every other doll and action figure collector has made this discovery a long time ago. This is great news to me though because now I can get more dolls than I used to. Some things not available here like 12" Bollywood dolls ... now, I MIGHT be able to get them. Might. All dolls and action figures and other items presumably are NOT available. Licensing conflicts. Sigh. But oh the figures I can get.

The Bollywood Legends dolls are by Spinmaster. I see four dolls on Amazon.co.uk through a store called "Fairy Dust Dolls Ltd." The ones I will be getting are Mr. Hrithik Roshan, Ms. Kajol, and Ms. Priyanka Chopra. The fourth doll is named Shah Rukh Khan (male). Photos will be posted after the dolls arrive.

So ... dolls from Japan, from Taiwan, from Canada, and now ... the United Kingdom.

Here is a link for those willing to view new temptations:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spinmaster-Bollywood-Legends-Hrithik-Roshan/dp/B000GWUPTI/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_3

ToysRUs Clearance Sale Today! New Liv Series!

Okay, it isn't the greatest of sales. I checked the two pages of Barbie stuff. Nothing I wanted. But then, I am not You, so there might be something that You, Faithful Reader(s), might want. Or the free standard shipping for orders of $75 or more might lure you to the ToysRUs site. (Note: video game hardware, software, accessories are NOT included in this free shipping offer.)


I won't be getting anything this time: spent my doll funds last Saturday. Got a few of those Liv jackets for sale. Thanks, Ms. Leo! No, really thanks ;-D

However, there is more to the ToysRUs website than the for sale items.  Example? Doll research! Yay! Guess who will be bringing new, tanned, JOINTED bodies out? You guessed it - Spinmaster. Cheers. Applause. The series is called Liv Color Change and you can click on the last word of this sentence for a link to show three of the tanned Liv girls. Love their robes and the foot bath thing. Neat.


Additional links to Liv dolls include these two websites: Liv Color Change dolls and Liv dolls dancing to Beyonce's "Single Ladies."

Good luck! Happy Viewing.

Organizing Update: Progress by Room

Update on the organizing project:

DOLL AND ACTION FIGURE ROOM

•     Missing dolls: Get Set Vanessa, Harley D Barbie, Mystery Squad Barbie
•     Sorting accessories by type (FUN); see photos below
•     Where will I store loose dolls and action figures?

MY BEDROOM

•     Storing most IKEA bags holding boxed DAFs here
•     Need to sort loose dolls and action figures and accessories
•     Need to list For Sale stuff

FRONT ROOM

•     All bags holding DAFs have been removed from this area
•     Storing cardboard boxes with doll magazines here
  
  
  
  
  

Playscale art supplies

Playscale costumes

Playscale Musical Instruments

Playscale sports items

Note: I LOVE semi-clear plastic shoe boxes.

Seen at Target - Halloween Chelsea and Others

I stopped in a Target the other day. Three Halloween Chelseas, 4 of the five Fifth Harmony dolls, and some other dolls were out.


These are the 2015 Halloween Chelseas. Remember, they are only available at Target (and on the secondary markets). What I find interesting is that the suntanned Chelsea is a ghost while the palest Chelsea is a pumpkin. I would have thought that the palest doll would be the ghost. Then again the white satiny dress contrasts nicely against a tanned complexion, and the orange brightens the paler complexion. Junior-fashionistas-in-the-making!

Pumpkin Chelsea

Witch? Chelsea

Ghost Chelsea

Were I in the mood for buying now, I would buy the Pumpkin and the Ghost Chelseas. Oh heck, the redhead is cute, too. I love all their coloring. Wonder if they have any Black Halloween Chelseas? I remember Mattel did for Kelly, but I'm not sure about Chelsea. Is the black-haired Chelsea Asian? Hmmm ....


Next, I saw Barbie and her other two sisters appear in a Great Puppy Adventure gift set. I would like Skipper's dress - sunflowers on a dark background, but I don't like how the edges are finished.



I almost like this single Skipper doll's outfit - a dark tee shirt and denim jeans. If the pants didn't have the rips. I like fringe, but rips look sloppy to me. This Skipper has lilac eyes. Pass.



Rock n Royals band member. She's very pale like the Pumpkin Chelsea. Blue streaked hair with one side cut shorter. The short hair cut differs from the overflowing tresses most fashion dolls wear. Hmmm ... Rachelle face mold? The doll I saw has an odd look to her vinyl/plastic that reminds me of cheaper dolls. A waxy look.
            

I saw most of the Fifth Harmony dolls. Yay! Now I've decided, I just want Ally from this set. Why? The others look too much like other dolls I either have or have seen. Unless I come across a doll with vastly different face screening, I can pass. Good for my wallet, yes? Yes!

Possibly one for me - Ally of Fifth Harmony

Normani of Fifth Harmony - Another Desiree face mold

Dinah of Fifth Harmony - Another Asha face mold

Camila - Another Alex Russo? face mold

Same doll aisle, different manufacturer: a new Disney line, Descendants, rendered by Hasbro. The Descendants are the children of Disney heroes and villains. There are four female characters and two male: Mal, Evie, Jane, Lonnie, Ben, and Carlos. I like the articulated bodies, but I'd have to sell the big heads.

Hasbro Disney Descendants Coronation Jane

Hasbro Disney Descendants Coronation Audrey

---

More new bodies! Yippee! I LOVE new body options. These are the Project MC2 dolls by MGA Entertainment. If you'd like to see a comparison of these bodies along some other articulated doll bodies, I suggest you check Picklepud's Flickr site. The Doll Circle offers a YouTube video that has a brief comparison of the Project MC2 dolls to SpinMaster Liv dolls and the quality of the dolls.

National Dog Day 2014

Yes, August 26, 2014 is National Dog Day in the United States of America.

Those who celebrate this special day might volunteer at a local pet or throw a dog-themed party or donate funds. I am sharing this blog post in honor of the day. When I was a little girl, I wanted a dachshund. I thought it looked so cute. After a few encounters with loose street dogs, I changed my mind: dogs were not necessarily nice. They barked. They might bite. A cat was a better choice.

Then a neighbor had two kittens she had to give away. For half a day, my sisters and I had  those two kittens - a white long-haired who would be "Fluffy" and a black short-haired who would be "Barnabas." Our joy was short-lived. My Dad would not live with cats. He told my mother if the cats stayed, he would leave. He called my Grandmother to back him up. Sigh. Our mother pointed out that fathers paid bills so that we could eat; fathers outranked cats. No matter how adorable. So bye bye Fluffy and Barnabas.

Then I met Louie. And Louie is a keeper.

But I never ever had a dog.

However, I do have a few play scale dogs. They have not achieved the personality of Beauty over at Brini's Doll Domain, but they're loved by the dolls and/or action figure who keep them. Anyone recognize these four-legged friends?

Play scale dogs by Mattel, SpinMaster, JakksPacific, etc.

Moved them around. Recognize any breeds here?

This cutie is in the Bedroom Desk & Chair set from 2006.

If are interested in live dogs in photos, click this link. If you have time to click your way to a good deed, do not forget the Animal Rescue Site.

Remember to keep "cool" on this dog day of August: follow this guy's example

Louie Cooper, all the "dog" I need

.

The South Asian American DAF Heritage Post

Possible Bollywood Extras shown in photo above: top, Mattel Juliet; right, Mattel Amazing Nails Kayla; bottom, Mattel Flavas Party Tika; and left, Lanard I-Girl Sahara.

Isn't May "Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month," period? With the adjective Asian referring to people from both South and East Asian countries? In the U.S.A., yes. So why am I breaking the list into two sections? To see what I can see. I assume that because I have more East Asian dolls that possibly, there are more East Asian dolls available. Let's start with the South Asian list - as listed - to test that assumption. Note: please share any South Asian heritage, playscale dolls or action figures that I have missed here. (Thanks in advance ;-D)

Countries falling under "South Asia" include India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka: for a complete list, see the World Bank website. Dolls in this post lists have heritage from those areas.

Aside: I need to ask your indulgence on a small matter. I have cheated: some dolls listed are not ALL based on American citizens. I confess to stealing English, Irish, and other citizens to provide greater representation. Why does that matter? Well, this is an American ethnic heritage month, but here I am bogarting dolls and characters outside of the United States. Sigh. I warn you in advance though.

INDIA

Funskool 

Miss India Sindy 1996-2005        
Additional Sindy



Integrity Toys

Isha
Malika
Poppy Parker 




Leo Company (with Mattel)


Expressions of Barbie 
Barbie / Ken / Skipper sets




Mattel


Barbie I Can Be [a] Movie Star - Katrina Kaif 2010
Dhoom Barbie 2014
Dhoom Ken 2014

Diwali Barbie 2006
India Barbie 1982       

India Barbie 1996       

India Barbie 2012       

Princess of India Barbie 2000



MGA Entertainment

Bratzillaz Back To Magic Illiana Honesty


One World Doll Project, Inc.

Dahlia (to be released Fall 2014)


SpinMaster

Priyanka Chopra 2006
Kajol 2006
Hrithik Roshan 2006
Shah Rukh Khan 2006
(None of these actors are American.)



YNU Group

Mixis Bollywood Outfit - Bright colored tunic, palazzo pants, and tailored dupioni shoes
2 Mixis dolls not yet on the market have Indian heritage. Bios and photos on FB Mixis Jr.

PAKISTAN

Hasbro

Zayn Malik 
(Mr. Malik has English-Pakistani heritage.)

SRI LANKA 

Vivid Imagination


Siva Kaneswaran 
(Mr. Kaneswaran has Irish-Sri Lankan heritage.)

Additional Reading

South Asian Dolls (larger scale)