Kids
LIBERATION 45: NIGHT COMBAT MAX STEEL
Mattel has been hungry for a big share of the action figure market ever since the decline of their last big success, He-Man. While their Disney based action figures continue to sell, they don’t have the marketplace…
LIBERATION 44: BANDAI ASIA SPECIAL EDITION SAILOR MARS
The Sailor Moon license has gotten a steady workout since the first line of dolls was produced in 1993. In every country where the show has aired, fans of all ages have clamored for dolls of their…
LIBERATION 42: BRITNEY SPEARS
Every new group of high schoolers, it seems, promotes one of their own to the position of ‘video diva’. This position is usually held by a young woman with an overstated sexuality, a peppy song, and a…
LIBERATIONS 40 AND 41: THE TOY STORY 2 WOODY & BO PEEP GIFT SET
To mangle an old phrase, “Irony, thy name is Mattel.” When the original Toy Story movie was still in the very early stages, Mattel flatly refused permission for Pixar to use Barbie in the story, feeling that…
LIBERATION 39: SMARTEES’ ASHLEY THE ATTORNEY
The motto for the Smartees dolls is “Smart friends for smart girls.” It’s an ambitious premise, but I have to admit I like it. Rather than attempting to have one doll that is everything to everybody, Smartees…
LIBERATION 38: WALT DISNEY WORLD 2000 BARBIE
The Disney family of companies and Mattel have had a long and profitable relationship, happily intertwining their respective specialties to part the consumer from their money. They have also created some wonderful exclusive dolls. (Anyone else remember…
LIBERATION 37: TREE TRIMMING BARBIE
Tree Trimming Barbie is this year’s supermarket store doll. If you enjoy informally-dressed holiday themed dolls, this line can be a real treasure. Each year’s doll is dressed in a casual outfit in preparation for a holiday…
LIBERATION 36: BRANDY
If you’ve visited this site before, you probably know that I really like celebrity dolls. When properly done, I think dolls based on real people can add some much needed variety to a fashion doll collection. Just…
LIBERATION 34: TOTALLY YO-YO COURTNEY
Yo-yoing is one of those wonderful kid’s games that is ‘hot’ at least one time in every child’s life. This has been one of the ‘hot’ years for yo-yoing, and Mattel jumped right on the bandwagon with…
LIBERATION 33: Real Friends Fashion Deluxe Set
Perhaps because of the decision that Mattel and Toys ‘R’ Us had conspired to fix prices on fashion dolls, Toys ‘R’ Us is now producing their own line of low-end 11.5 inch dolls. The ‘Real Friends’ line,…
