Thoughts on 2013 Barbie Dolls of the World Philippines

Before reading my thoughts on the 2013 Barbie Dolls of the World Philippines, one should understand that being a Filipino, I have long wanted a doll like that. (Heck, I'm breaking my own rule on blogging about new dolls because of it.) I wanted it so bad that I have made a number of Filipino costumes and let my dolls wear them. Other Filipino collectors have done the same. Having seen a number of Filipino clothes on dolls, all I can say about the costume is that I'm not impressed. It doesn't mean I'm disappointed. It's just that I've seen better.

 

example of an impressive Filipino attire on a doll

Having said that, the next question would be, "Will I buy it?" I'm still undecided. I'm thinking maybe I should let other collectors buy it especially those who can't customize dolls to look like they're from the Philippines. Aside from the not-bad costume, the doll itself already looks like OR can be made to look like my other dolls, specifically the other south-east Asian DOTW's. This is not a bad thing since there is some resemblance between Filipinos and their south-east Asian neighbors. The mold has been used on dolls with wide range of ethnicities and the over use of the mold can make the demand for it very low. It just makes the doll  fall under the category of one-of-those or close to ordinary.

I don't know if Mattel still has the time to do something to make the doll more appealing to someone like me but I'm still gonna share my idea. If the doll uses a Kira/Oriental mold, with less cartoonish face paint, I think the doll would be a bigger hit. That mold has been missed a lot and not by me alone. When the Barbie Basics came out, people were excited with the diversity but after a while some people were looking forward to see the older molds. Just try asking around.

  

Kira/Oriental face mold

But then again, the doll is already getting positive reviews so Mattel may not want to change anything about the doll. Plus, there's a rumor that the Oriental face mold have been destroyed making the dolls having those molds extra special now.

Want to see more dolly fashion? Visit here:

http://dolldelusions.blogspot.com/search/label/fashion

Fashionista News from Fashionisto2K

1. The bust joints are back.

2. There apparently is a new skin tone for the dolls.

3. A new facemold for Raquelle and it looks like a smiling Lea/Kayla mold. Finally a smiling Asian. At least my whining (it's actually praying) has paid off! (Or maybe Fashionista sales dropped considerably that's why they're putting in some improvements.)

4. It may not actually be news since a lot of people already knew about it but it's all good, is it not?

Here and here. If the Flickr links don't works, it's probably because the owner deleted the pictures already. We were informed that the pics are only temporarily.

UPDATE:

Photos of the dolls and package is here.

Articulated Barbie Basics

I'm definitely not gonna buy the Basics Jeans. I'm gonna wait for these beauties!

Barbie Basics Grapevine

Barbie Basics with articulation? Really, now?

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1243903@N25/discuss/72157625779096874/

I think I read somewhere (I forgot where) that ONLY the knees will be articulated, like the 2010 Harley Davidson Barbie. Yay!

Ken Be Better

Playline Ken with jointed wrists? This make me lose interest with the male basics more and more.

Seamless!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECClIgcV81g *

A different bust size would have made it more interesting for me...but then again maybe not. It definitely doesn't have that fashion doll feel to me.

More talks about that here and here.

_________

* Thanks to Otaku for sharing the link to the video.

Mixed Emotions on the Asian Ken

It has been a long wait for the first Asian male doll in the Barbie line. Now that he will be released soon as the first male doll in the Dolls of the World line (representing Japan), it is difficult to tell if I should be pleased or not. Clearly authenticity nor cultural accuracy is not the goal here. That being said, he looks like an anime villain sans the big eyes. He also looks fat (not that it's bad).

I guess I was expecting the first Asian Ken to have that oval face and androgenous look like a lot of current Asian male pop celebrities. I'm not a fan of the wide jaw in earlier Ken dolls. This is of course a personal preference that does not reflect all Asian doll hobbyists' view. The mean looking sword wielding doll, of course, doesn't help with the image that Asian men are traitorous.

This doll was made to be sold so the more important question should be, will I buy it? Had it been just another Asian Ken, I definitely won't, but this is the first Asian Ken and judging from the things that went wrong with that doll, there might not be another one, so I guess I have to buy it. I did ask for an Asian Ken and Mattel might get the idea that Asian dolls don't sell like what some blogger proliferates (although I'm doubting if ethnicity has something to do with it or there might me something wrong with the design or the marketing strategy), so I guess I have to buy it.

Basics Sneak Peek?

Thanks to Jason for the link...

http://myscene.freeforums.org/barbie-basics-t2899-325.html


03Sep2010 update:
Whoops! The 12 Barbie Basics Jeans are now available for pre-order.

Random thoughts on each models:
#1 Um duh!
#2 I actually like the hair cut although I think it's bordering on plain.
#3 The AA dolls decreased. If they made #4 white, they could have at least made #3 dark skinned.
#4 She reminds me of this. I do like her brightly colored hair.
#5 I didn't really like #3's hair from the 1st collection.
#7 When sequels look like a repackaged 1st version, chances are, they won't sell but who am I to know?
#8 I like her hair but at the same time don't like it.
#11 Have I seen her in the FashionFever line before?
#14 Like
#15 Like
#16 QaF
#17 Like

The dolls will be out by December 2010. Just like the 1st collection this may reach Asia and the Pacific next year by March, that is if they want to release them here. If not, then it's not really my loss.