Seen at Target: Chelsea and Her Friends. Cute Overload

Run, don't walk to see the new Chelsea and friends dolls at Target. I expect lots of cute and adorable in this post's comments and elsewhere. Squeal of delight. My two favorites are Renee and Tamika so far. The box that held a set of the new dolls only had one Renee and one Tamika per that box.

At first, I thought that Renee and Tamika might have new ethnic facemolds. Then I realized that their faces are pretty much the same as Kitsie's. The illusion of difference is due to the complexions. Hmmm ... something to think about.

More little darlings ...

And the box back ....

Need Another Johnny Depp as a Pirate Figure?

Okay, this post is mainly to doll collectors, but there might be a few action figure collectors who would like to chime in or to comment. Your chiming and your comments are welcome - big smile on my part.

Hot Toys has a new Captain Jack Sparrow action figure. O - M - G - have they got a figure! Check this promotional review at MWC's website. Jeff Parker provides a delicious review with equally superb photos. Had I space and money to spare enough, I would soooo love to buy this action figure.

Okay, not even being able to afford the lovely Mattel version, I accept that I am even less likely to nab this one at this time. But ... I can dream, hey?

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).

Sweet Sixteen Grace Gets a Car

Okay, it is Grace's sixteenth birthday, and what does she get? Think Mattel here, think tradition ... yes, you knowwhat she got. A car. Screaming much?

Have car, can travel. Grace's girlfriends, Trichelle and Kara, look on. Chandra is not in this photo. Maybe the photographer just grabbed the two available dolls. Maybe Chandra is tired of all the Grace-Grace-Grace stuff of the day. Maybe she didn't get there in time to ogle the new purple vehicle. Maybe next photo session, she'll return.

Dolls or Action Figures? A Sideshow (Collectibles) Quartet

Once upon a time, it was easy to differentiate a doll from an action figure. Dolls had limited articulation and usually rooted hair. They wore cloth clothes that could be put on and taken off. Action figures had molded plastic clothes that were part of their plastic bodies; they had molded hair or molded headgear. Action figures were articulated in several spots to allow them to move. So what are the four characters in this photo? Dolls or action figures?

Okay, if you recognize the manufacturer - Sideshow Collectibles - then you will have a good sense that these are action figures. Sorry to blow the suspense and the surprise for the doll collectors who may not be familiar with Sideshow Collectibles.

The four figures from left to right are

Odd Job from James Bond series

Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer series

Wai Lin from James Bond series

Tee Hee from James Bond series

So how can you tell that these are action figures?

1. The size of the eyes. Yes, action figures' eyes are usually smaller than fashion dolls' eyes. Action figure eyes tend to be more realistic than dolls' eyes although there are idealized, manga-styled action figures and character fashion dolls resembling (more or less) human characters.

2. The demeanor of the figure and expression of the eyes. Action figures look at you or look away, but their gaze usually is more remote than fashion dolls. Fashion dolls flirt. They are sooo happy to see you. Or they really, truly do NOT care, they are above you, they ... hey, do YOU notice THEM, NOT noticing YOU?! Fashion dolls are divas. They crave attention.

Action figures would rather you NOT notice them. They have all sorts of plans that may or may NOT involve you. And if you think that that grin on Tee Hee's face has any ingratiating inclination ... well, let me tell you that Grandma's teeth were never that long. No, action figures are not necessarily evil. They just aren't that into you.

See Odd Job's expression? Does he look as if he wants anything from you? Nope. Come or go, it's all the same to him. And the second Buffy there? (Sideshow's first 1:6 scale Buffy had molded hair.) Well, that Buffy doesn't seem comfortable in that white satin dress. She's thinking about staking the Master, the evil vampire who killed her. Wai Lin? Why is she here now? Why her, why here, why now? And what is Angel up to now?

I could continue, but I made my point. However we use them, dolls and action figures are NOT the same. Not just due to gender issues although here is an article about gender and our figures that takes a similar line to what I've written although it's written by an outsider, a NON-collector/enthusiast. I thought it was an interesting piece. But my ramblings emerge from the mind of a fervent collector/enthusiast. So I am not completely aligned with all of the author's ideas.

When I return to this theme, I'll either mention other action figures or start on the doll end.

Happy New Year!

For Sale: Fashion Royalty Nadja, Bratz Sanity Vanity, Others

My For Sale entries over at TheDollPage are not complete yet, but if you are curious, check what I have on that site.

Two Faces of Justin Bieber (Doll)

Visited Walmarts - for inexpensive cat food. Yes, the cat has to eat, and either Walmarts or Target have the best prices for his food. Target is usually more tempting - for non-cat food things - so I sacrificed and went to Walmarts instead. Halo intact, I ventured over to the toy section - just to "look see." Found something unexpected: new Justin Beiber faces: one open-mouth (grinny); the other closed-mouth. The Bridge Direct, Inc. - the company who bring the playscale Justin Bieber dolls to vinyl - now offer combable aka rooted hair and talking Justin Bieber dolls.

The open-mouthed doll is called "Talking Justin Bieber"; other JB dolls are called JB Performance Collection dolls OR JB Style Collection dolls. The talking doll amused me because he has such tiny teeth. He has a smidge more personality than the closed-mouth dolls. He reminds me of Mattel's "Sweet Talking Ken." Weird, hmmm? Mattel's Ken resembles Justin Bieber whose doll in turn pulls a Ken act. Justin, however, has 12 set mushy phrases like "I heart?love? my fans." Sigh. Poor Ken. Your fiftieth anniversary and NO VOCABULARY of your own.

Snore. Oh, sorry. How rude to fall asleep over my own blog post. Can you imagine having a friend so vapid that he only repeats what you tell him to say? Who couldn't speak his own lines? I mean, you might as well date a tape recorder with voice distortion replay, lol. But the new Beiber doll has hair you can comb. Head falls forward. Yes, I am TOO awake still.

For additional photos of the Basic or the Style Collection dolls or outfits or playsets? You can find them at the company's website for Justin Bieber toys. Related news briefs can be found here as well.

In the meantime, here is the special set that I saw:

The Concert set looks cute ... nice looking musical instruments. Guitar, keyboard, and DRUMS.