Child Toys Guide » Barbie http://www.child-toys-guide.com Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:43:39 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Bratz Dolls May Give Girls Unrealistic Expectations Of Head Size http://www.child-toys-guide.com/bratz-dolls-may-give-girls-unrealistic-expectations-of-head-size http://www.child-toys-guide.com/bratz-dolls-may-give-girls-unrealistic-expectations-of-head-size#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:35:39 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/?p=84 I just ran into one of the most retarded, and fun, videos about dolls lately. I was surfing on Youtube the other day and all of a sudden, I run into this ‘Onion News Network’ report about the Bratz dolls.

I couldn’t help laughing. Apparently, we live in a world that puts too much importance on a girl’s head. In order to be beautiful, you have to have a head that’s two times the size of your torso.

“They’re fun, they’re fashionable and they have enormous heads!” Hahaha, that was a good one. Take a look at the video here. Forget about the Youtube comments, most of those there didn’t get the joke.

Bratz dolls were first introduced in 2001 and they’ve been a best seller ever since, challenging the leader of the last half a century, Barbie.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/bratz-dolls-may-give-girls-unrealistic-expectations-of-head-size/feed 0 Barbie And Bratz Go To Court http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-and-bratz-go-to-court http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-and-bratz-go-to-court#comments Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:23:18 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2008/07/12/barbie-and-bratz-go-to-court/ The tiny, fake fur was flying as the Barbie-Bratz court battle wrapped up Thursday, with toy industry giant Mattel Inc. and upstart MGA Entertainment Inc. both claiming ownership of the hugely successful Bratz line of dolls.

MGA, which seven years ago debuted the saucy Bratz doll, has maintained from the May 27 start of the trial that Mattel was trying to unfairly stomp out competition to its faltering Barbie empire.

“For 40 years Barbie was the only doll in town,” Tom Nolan, lawyer for Van Nuys-based MGA, said in his closing argument. “And then Bratz came in and knocked her off her pedestal.”

Mattel, headquartered in El Segundo, sued in 2004, claiming that Bratz — known for hip-hugging outfits and bare midriffs that have given some parents fits — were secretly created by one of its own Barbie designers, Carter Bryant, even though he had an exclusivity contract with the company.

Mattel lawyer John Quinn argued to the jury that MGA knew of Bryant’s contract when it committed to developing the Bratz line.

“They helped him because they needed a successful product,” Quinn said. “MGA was with him every step of the way.”

Shortly before the trial began, Bryant and Mattel reached a settlement, the terms of which were sealed by the court and have not been revealed. Bryant has earned more than $30 million in royalties from his Bratz brainchild.

That left MGA to slug it out alone with Mattel, which wants a stake in the Bratz franchise.

The fact that the Bratz dolls have been a sizzling success was one of the few things not in question during the proceedings in U.S. District Court in Riverside. MGA is a private company and doesn’t disclose its earnings, but Mattel contends that its smaller rival has made $500 million a year off Bratz sales, licensing and other revenue. Some analysts place the total as high as $2 billion annually.

During five hours of closing arguments, the lawyers revisited evidence and testimony but, freed of the restrictions that have to be obeyed when questioning witnesses, the gloves came off.

“That’s not evidence,” MGA’s Nolan snarled at one point. “That’s drama.”

He was speaking of Mattel’s questioning the honesty of Bryant’s mother and his life partner, both of whom testified that the designer showed them Bratz drawings in 1998. That’s when Bryant was living with his parents in Missouri and not working for Mattel.

“Mothers don’t lie,” Nolan told the jury.

Quinn was careful not to brand as a liar the silver-haired Jane Bryant, whose videotaped deposition was shown in court.

“Mr. Bryant’s mom sees him through the filter of the greatest love you can have for someone,” he told the jury. “We are saying her testimony should not change yours.”

As for Bryant’s partner, Richard Irmen, Quinn said, “He and Mr. Bryant share a life together. They also share $30 million.”

One of the most discussed pieces of evidence was an ordinary-looking spiral notebook that Bryant used to make notes about a 1999 bank account. Mattel’s Quinn called it the “surprise evidence” in the case.

A paper expert testified in the trial that some of the first Bratz drawings had been done in the notebook and then torn out. It challenged Bryant’s assertion that he no longer had another notebook that he said he used for the first drawings. And Mattel argued that it showed the true Bratz birth came in 1999 when Bryant was working at Mattel.

Nolan dismissed its significance, saying that Bryant uses notebooks randomly, not sequentially. “He grabs a notebook when he needs to make a note,” Nolan said.

And Evidence Eliminator, a software program used on Bryant’s laptop two days before it was scheduled to be examined, was again front and center. Nolan said that Bryant had gotten the program, which can destroy files beyond recovery, to cover the fact that he sometimes looked at pornography.

But Quinn suggested the program might have been used to destroy documents relevant to the case.

There also was much evidence presented that Bryant at least worked on the doll when he was at Mattel. But Nolan argued that the only thing that mattered was when it was actually created.

Bill Price, also arguing for Mattel, got the last word. He said of MGA: “There is a right way and a wrong way to compete, and what you did here is cross that line.”

That being said, the 10 members of the jury were led to a place that’s probably present only in dollhouses for kids who want to grow up to be judges — the jury room.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-and-bratz-go-to-court/feed 0 Sindy to battle Barbie with 'realistic' revamp http://www.child-toys-guide.com/sindy-to-battle-barbie-with-realistic-revamp http://www.child-toys-guide.com/sindy-to-battle-barbie-with-realistic-revamp#comments Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:39:56 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2007/02/05/sindy-to-battle-barbie-with-realistic-revamp/ Sindy, the 40-year-old British fashion doll, is to get her most radical makeover in a relaunch planned for next year. Licensor Pedigree is to differentiate the brand from US rival Barbie and make Sindy a more realistic role model for young girls.

The new Sindy launches in autumn 2004 and will no longer have the height and long legs she shares with Barbie. Safeway shoppers will be the first to see the revamped incarnation later this month when a smaller six-inch version of the doll, under the sub-brand 100% Sindy, goes on sale. The range includes clothing and cosmetics.

100% Design & Development, a joint venture between Pedigree and New Moons licensing company, will handle marketing for Sindy’s relaunch and is in talks with ad agencies. Pedigree was the original licensor in 1962 and re-acquired the Sindy licence from Hasbro in 1999.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/sindy-to-battle-barbie-with-realistic-revamp/feed 0 Hilary Duff is being made into a Barbie doll http://www.child-toys-guide.com/hilary-duff-is-being-made-into-a-barbie-doll http://www.child-toys-guide.com/hilary-duff-is-being-made-into-a-barbie-doll#comments Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:03:18 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2007/01/04/hilary-duff-is-being-made-into-a-barbie-doll/ Mini Hilary Duffs are soon to go on sale in toyshops.

The Red Carpet Glam Hilary Duff Doll – wearing a polka-dot dress and red satin sash – will be available in early 2007.

‘Hilary is a great role model to girls,’ says Jamie Wood, Mattel’s vice president of Barbie marketing.

‘Not only is she a stylish entertainer, actor and fashion designer, but she also shows girls that there are no limits to what they can do.’

The 5ft 1in star will be following in the footsteps of Beyoncé Knowles and Reese Witherspoon, who have also had Barbie dolls made in their likeness.

 

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/hilary-duff-is-being-made-into-a-barbie-doll/feed 0 Mattel licenses Barbie for Emerson Radio electronics line http://www.child-toys-guide.com/mattel-licenses-barbie-for-emerson-radio-electronics-line http://www.child-toys-guide.com/mattel-licenses-barbie-for-emerson-radio-electronics-line#comments Sun, 17 Dec 2006 10:08:06 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2006/12/17/mattel-licenses-barbie-for-emerson-radio-electronics-line/ Mattel  and Emerson Radio have started a new licensing partnership where Emerson will produce a line of Barbie Real Electronics, the companies said Wednesday.

The companies will launch the new line at the International Consumer Electronics show in January 2007, and they will be available in spring 2007. It will include the Tune Blossom personal CD player, the Hour Garden talking alarm clock with night light, the Bloombox portable CD player and a 13 inch television with digital tuner and a matching DVD player.

The line is designed for girls 4-8 years old and features a Barbie pink style. Items also include a “gemstone” fun button featuring Barbie-themed play experiences.

Parsippany designs, markets and licenses lines of televisions and other video products, microwaves, clocks, radios, audio and home theater products.

El Segundo-based Mattel is the world’s largest toy maker. Its brands include Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/mattel-licenses-barbie-for-emerson-radio-electronics-line/feed 0 Here's a Crazy Barbie Idea http://www.child-toys-guide.com/heres-a-crazy-barbie-idea http://www.child-toys-guide.com/heres-a-crazy-barbie-idea#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:09:18 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2006/11/10/heres-a-crazy-barbie-idea/ A UK dealership hopes some resident bimbette — or the Fleet Street banker who sweats her — will pay more than double the price of a Nissan Micra C+C just because it’s pink, and because it comes with a registration tag reading BARBIE.

Barbie Micra

It’s one of 275 Micra C+C models Nissan delivered in pink to support charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

But the dealership is working with license tag provider Newreg.com to offer a package deal — £14,750 for the car and £21,500 for the tag, for a total of £36,250. Seems a bit, well, high? Right, well unlike in the states, where vanity tags can be had by the DOT for a nominal fee, in the UK they’re big business.

The dealership, Chorley Nissan, vowed to make a £250 donation to the charity, and Newreg.com pledged an undisclosed sum. Now all they need is the overindulged wife of a footballer and a fat cheque. Good luck with that.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/heres-a-crazy-barbie-idea/feed 0 Barbie – One Of The 101 Most Influential People http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-%e2%80%93-one-of-the-101-most-influential-people http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-%e2%80%93-one-of-the-101-most-influential-people#comments Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:17:53 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2006/11/07/barbie-%e2%80%93-one-of-the-101-most-influential-people/ A new book has hit the stands that has been a “filler” topic for many talk radio programs this week. Called 101 most influential people who never lived, the book is penned by three authors who rate fictional characters of literature and film who they feel had the greatest influence on society.

The book is being treated as light, amusing reading, with USA Today quoting author Lazar as saying, “The point of the book is to entertain”. Most radio interviews I have heard have treated it as a “fun” topic.

Lazar also issued a few digs at how capitalism has made his characters able to influence these bad things in our society. The radio host noticed the pattern. “A lot of these are pretty negative on capitalism” he said. Dr. Lazar agreed, pointing out that the reason they put Barbie on the list is because “Barbie teaches every girl that, to be happy, you have to own everything.”

That greedy girl.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-%e2%80%93-one-of-the-101-most-influential-people/feed 0 Barbie and Bratz continue fighting. http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-bratz-fight http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-bratz-fight#comments Tue, 23 May 2006 20:24:49 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2006/05/23/28/ There’s an ongoing battle between today’s most popular Fashion dolls, Barbie and Bratz.
While it’s a normal thing commercially speaking, I’m not sure how far Mattel and MGA entertainment willing to go.

The latest rumor is that both Barbie and Bratz will feature real gemstones! Isn’t this getting a little to weird? Do kids really need this?

On another level, the companies accuse each other for rip-offs regarding Mattel’s My Scene dolls.

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-bratz-fight/feed 0 Barbie broke the silence http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-broke-the-silence http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-broke-the-silence#comments Fri, 07 Apr 2006 18:13:05 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2006/04/07/barbie-broke-the-silence/ After years, Barbie breaks the silence and tells the world her story for the first time with the help of actress Erin Coors, who plays her character in “Barbie Live in Fairytopia.”

During the few hours interview, she talks about all of the 90+ carries that she had, starting as a teenage model from Willows, Wisconsin, to an extraordinary astronaut or actress.

Hello, Barbie! Have you been to Detroit before?

“I have not. This is my first national touring stage show.”

What are you looking forward to?

“I’m just really excited about seeing my fans.”

You never age. How do you stay looking so great?

“I just keep in good shape. This show, with the dancing and singing, it’s very athletic.”

]]> http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-broke-the-silence/feed 0 Barbie is better than Bratz http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-is-better-than-bratz http://www.child-toys-guide.com/barbie-is-better-than-bratz#comments Tue, 04 Apr 2006 18:07:17 +0000 Eugen Lisov http://www.child-toys-guide.com/news/2006/05/04/barbie-is-better-than-bratz/ Barbie, the most popular of all dolls, recently began being booed by feminists and other groups that really have nothing in common with the doll.

Heather Robbins wrote an article on this matter to try to stop this trend. She makes it as clear as possible:

What I don’t understand about feminists’ hatred of Barbie is that she was a pioneer in the feminist movement.

She was the first female doll to be an astronaut, firefighter, scientist, doctor, soldier and pilot when these professions were dominantly male.

One of the reasons for the Barbie’s decline is the Bratz doll, which enjoys a much more ‘aggressive’ marketing from its creator, Mattel.

Girls today beg their mothers to buy them Bratz, totally forgetting about the doll that made history.

No matter what people say, Barbie doesn’t not embody any bad traits.

If girls use Barbies to play party and kissing games, the influence is coming from other places, not Barbie.

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