Saturday, 02 Nov 2024

Not every version of Barbie and her friends was a hit. Check out these flops


Not every version of Barbie and her friends was a hit. Check out these flops
1.6 k views

There's nothing Barbie has loved more in her 64 years in the toy world than to keep reinventing herself.

She boasts more than 200 careers on her resume - doctor, astronaut, computer engineer, CEO and even presidential candidate. She's had an enviable motley crew of doll friends who've stood by her through the decades, and her dollhouse mansions put Bel Air mega estates to shame.

But some much-needed aspects of her evolution have also taken longer to happen.

Barbie for years was light-skinned - white - slender, blonde, with a very narrow waist, ample bosom and always teetering on impossibly high heels.

Finally, in 2016, facing softening sales of the doll, Mattel (MAT)crafted a more realistic depiction of a female doll, making the newer Barbies more inclusive and diverse in their appearance. Barbie was reintroduced in four body types and seven skin tones, with 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles. And her progression continues with Barbie Fashionistas, a diverse representation of beauty that encourage kids to fight the stigma around physical disabilities.

But along her journey, Barbie and her crew have delivered a few headscratching moments, too. The "Barbie" movie, which premiers Friday in US theaters, surfaces a few of them, if you're quick to catch them.

"Barbie, with her 64-year history, we can't expect everything about her and her world to be zingers," said James Zahn, editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, a toy industry publication. "There's going to be some hits and some misses."

you may also like

  • by travelandtourworld
  • descember 09, 2016

Air Canada is joining forces with Vince Carter to celebrate his career as the Toronto Raptors prepare to retire his jersey tomorrow evening.

read more