Links for Integrity Toys' Janay, Alysa, and Playline Dolls

While searching links for the Integrity Male Complexion post, I found these related sites. I am excited to share them with fellow Integrity playline collectors. The Master Collector link might have been provided before. But the others, I found by checking no longer available sites in the Internet Wayback Machine. Note: all sites do not have the photos, but the text there could be useful for dates - although confirmation from other collectors helps since, sometimes, dolls shown may NOT have been produced for the market. (I'm thinking of Shalaly)

Master Collector
2002 Integrity Dolls
Beautiful doll photos with wave titles


Dolls, Dreams, and Cuddy Things (Suzanne)
2002 Dolls
Reference for doll names and year; I could not open the photos belonging to the links

2003 Dolls
Aha! Giselle and Justin Wedding Set and Not-Produced Shalaly listed

2004 Dolls
Designer kits with unpainted Janay and friends heads - kitbashers dream!


Louise Fritsch's Candi Corner
Alysa and Jade
Reference for dolls and some photos show


Happy reading! Oh and don't forget that Therese of Dolls of Color is working on a Janay database. If you have Janay or other Integrity Barbie-scaled photos, links, etc. please share. Thanks!

Shades of Black, Part Three: Integrity Male Complexions

Meet Tariq (left) and Jordan (right), Integrity playine dolls. These are the only versions of these doll characters that I have so I cannot show the color range of their complexions from my collection.

However, by grace of the wonderful Internet Wayback Machine, I found a site showing breathtaking photos of Tariq taken by a doll dealer. Behold, Tariq in various shades of brown from light reddish brown to dark brown: the wave titles are African Legends, Ancient Legends, Fashion Insider, and Icons. (Note: you can see the other Integrity Janay and friends available in 2004 here as well.)

I *think* that there was some complexion variation for Jordan as well, but Jordan is a much trickier character. Why? I think that he was taken/removed/transferred? from the Integrity playline to become Mikelman's Dominic doll. BUT that's a story for another post.

Shades of Black, Part Two: Hasbro Male Complexions

The action figures shown above are from left to right:

G. I. Joe Basic Training Heavy Duty Lamont A. Morris, Heavy Ordinance Specialist
G. I. Joe Tuskegee Fighter Pilot
Star Wars Attack of the Clones Mace Windu
G. I. Joe Valor vs. Venom Roadblock a.k.a. Marvin F. Hinton
Star Wars Return of the Jedi Lando Calrissian

Hasbro colors their Black males from medium red brown (Mace Windu) to dark expresso brown (Lando Calrissian). A recent exception though would be the Black Joe character, Ripcord in the recent G.I. Joe movie.

Aside: Hasbro's newer action figures avoid the "Ken bump" or "no bump" by dressing their male figures in molded underpants either in "flesh" colors OR in the color of the molded on tee shirt or top. Later Kens have used the same approach to male dolls' anatomy. Would be interesting to see if the molded underpants proved less traumatic than the "no bump" body.

Presenting ... Disco Wanda by Shindana!

DBG of Black Doll Collecting wrote an interesting article on Shindana's Disco Wanda.

Check Disco Wanda's face. There she is shouting to one of her friends across the room. Is she a happy party-goer or what? What about those late 70s, disco fashions ;-D

Webshots Updates - New Folder for Mattel Playsets

I have made additions to my Webshots folders. I will add more photos over the weekend. Stop by for a look if you can.

Thanks,
D7ana aka Dana

One of the Best Flavas: Choice Awards Tre

Let's go back in time. 2003. Mattel Barbie vs. MGA Entertainment Bratz. Bratz are taking over the fashion doll market. Barbie sales are lagging. What does Mattel do? Create the Flavas line - the Mattel version of Hip Hop. Well, Barbie survives, but the Flavas? Crash and cancel.

I was disappointed. Cancelled. The Flavas had different sizes, coloring, AND face molds. Yes, there was friction from people who disliked the droopy pants and bare midriffs. Yes, there was ire from "Hip Hop" fans who thought the dolls mocked them. Yes, I thought the Flavas female dolls' heads were too big for their bodies. I could re-body them. Need I repeat - new head molds? Sigh.

So, I bought the dolls that I wanted from all the Waves that I wanted except ONE Wave: the Choice Awards Wave. Oh. That was the coolest Wave of all, but I could not find them online or off.

(Eventually, I bought Tawny from another collector. Paid more than she would have been in a store, but she was meant to be here.)

Fast forward to 2005. I'm in a Value City store in Cheltenham. Not expecting anything. Just looking. Bam! Not the Television Chef Emeril. No, that was me. Value City had Flavas Choice Awards Liam AND Tre! $3.99 EACH. The elusive ones. Giddy glad was I. I bought two of each doll. (Since then, I have sold the extra dolls to another collector.)

And for years it was enough just to have them.

Until I started deboxing dolls and action figures and came across my elusive darlings. Sigh. So I have deboxed my Awards dolls. The better to enjoy them. Wow, wow, wow! Enough commentary from me though - check the photos:









For more of my Flavas photos, check my Webshots folder.

For more information about Hip Hop.

Toy Fair 2010: Links for Doll and Action Figure Previews

Barbies and Joes and Harumika, oh my!

It's that time again. Mid-February means Toy Fair is here. New dolls, new action figures, new playsets, etc.

ASMzine has doll AND action figure news.

However, if action figures are your preference, try Master Collector online for updates on 12" G.I. Joes and other playscale figures. There might be some doll news, but the emphasis here is action figures and toys (non doll items).

Other 2010 photos and reviewers can be found online in various Yahoo Groups, collectors' photo albums, etc. The best part of Winter is here. View, savor, plan, and enjoy!