Omar Khalid
Dolls have been a source of fascination for children and adults alike, with some becoming viral sensations and must-have items. From the Kewpie doll fad of the 1910s and 1920s to the more recent Labubu dolls, these playthings reflect societal trends and desires. Labubu dolls, with their cute and quirky designs, have attracted adults seeking a retreat into childhood comforts. Barbie, the first mass-produced doll with adult features, has become a global icon, selling over a billion units worldwide. Other fad dolls, like Chatty Cathy and Polly Pocket, have also captivated generations, offering interactive features and imaginative play. These dolls not only provide entertainment but also shape the toy industry and become cultural phenomena.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Labubu Dolls |
| Debut | 2019 |
| Creator | Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised artist Kasing Lung |
| Inspiration | Nordic mythology |
| Target Audience | Adults |
| Marketing Strategy | Restricted supply concept of distribution |
| Appearance | Cute fluffy ears and sharp-looking teeth |
| Accessories | Tiny plastic shoes |
| Price | $22 for tiny plastic shoes |
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What You'll Learn
Barbie, the global icon
Barbie, the plastic doll created by Mattel in 1959, has become a global icon with more than a billion dolls sold worldwide. Barbie has been a staple in the toy scene for decades, with her companion Ken joining the scene two years after her debut. The Barbie franchise has expanded to include the iconic Barbie Dreamhouse and a range of diverse dolls representing various ethnicities, body types, and careers.
Barbie has broken cultural, social, and linguistic barriers, showcasing a fabulous fashion sense and embodying different styles, trends, and identities. She has had a significant impact on fashion and popular culture, with her image evolving from a child's toy to a global icon. Barbie has become the voice of contemporary women and a symbol of American pop culture.
The Barbie: A Cultural Icon exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design explores Barbie's 65-year history and her global influence. The exhibition showcases the evolution of Barbie, from her original ensemble outfits in the 1950s to the diverse range of dolls representing different ethnicities and body types in the 2000s. It also highlights the impact of the Space Age on Barbie's design and the creation of Christie™, the first Black Barbie doll.
Barbie's global impact extends beyond the toy industry, as she has inspired life-size fashion designs and influenced style, careers, and identities. She has become a voice for women in popular culture and a symbol of breaking barriers. Barbie's popularity has led to her being featured in various media, including books, movies, and video games.
Overall, Barbie's journey from a plastic doll to a global icon has been remarkable, and she continues to inspire and empower people worldwide.
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Kewpie dolls, inspired by illustrations
Fad plastic dolls have been a source of fascination for children and adults alike over the years. From Barbie to Chatty Cathy, and from Furbies to Cabbage Patch Kids, these toys have sparked joy and, at times, frustration for parents. One such doll that gained immense popularity in the early 20th century was the Kewpie doll, inspired by the illustrations of Rose O'Neill.
Rose O'Neill, a Nebraska native, worked as a writer and illustrator in New York City. In 1909, she created the Kewpie, a cartoon intended for a comic strip. The idea for these cherub-faced characters, according to O'Neill, came to her in a dream. The Kewpies were described as "a sort of little round fairy whose one idea is to teach people to be merry and kind at the same time." The name Kewpie is derived from Cupid, the Roman god of erotic love.
O'Neill's comic, featuring the Kewpie characters, was first published in the December 1909 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. The characters quickly gained popularity among both adults and children, and O'Neill began to illustrate and sell paper doll versions called Kewpie Kutouts. In 1912, the Kewpies were produced as bisque dolls in Germany, marking the beginning of their journey as three-dimensional toys.
The early German Kewpie dolls were signed by O'Neill herself and featured various poses. They were released in nine different sizes, ranging from 1 to 12 inches in height. The small dolls became an international hit, and by 1914, O'Neill had become the highest-paid female illustrator in the country. The Kewpie brand became a household name, widely used in product advertising for companies like Jell-O, Colgate, and Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
The Kewpie dolls were initially made exclusively of bisque, but composition versions were introduced in the 1920s, followed by celluloid versions in subsequent decades. In 1949, Effanbee created the first hard plastic Kewpie dolls, and soft rubber and vinyl variants were produced from the 1960s to the 1990s. Today, the early bisque and composition Kewpie dolls are highly sought-after by antique and doll collectors, with some rare versions, such as a 20-inch doll, valued at $20,000.
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Chatty Cathy, the talking doll
Chatty Cathy is a pull-string "talking" doll created by Ruth and Elliot Handler and manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965. The doll was first released in stores and appeared in television commercials beginning in 1960, with a suggested retail price of $18.00, though it was usually priced at under $10.00 in catalog advertisements. Chatty Cathy was on the market for six years and was the second most popular doll of the 1960s, after Barbie (also made by Mattel).
Chatty Cathy was originally designed with blonde hair in a short bobbed style and blue eyes, depicting a five-year-old Caucasian girl. Mattel introduced brunette and auburn-haired versions of the doll in 1962 and 1963, respectively, along with an African-American version featuring a brown skin tone. In 1963, Chatty Cathy's hair was restyled into long twin ponytails. The doll's eyes were designed to be lifelike decal eyes that could close when the doll went to sleep, and its mouth was designed with lips slightly parted.
Chatty Cathy spoke one of eleven phrases at random when a chatty ring protruding from its upper back was pulled. This ring was attached to a string connected to a simple phonograph record inside the cavity behind the doll's abdomen. The doll's mouth did not move when it "spoke," but its lack of movement did not detract from its popularity.
The success of Chatty Cathy inspired Mattel to introduce several variations, including Chatty Baby in 1962, followed by Tiny Chatty Baby, Tiny Chatty Brother, and Charmin' Chatty in 1963. Singin' Chatty, released in 1965, was the last doll to have the word "chatty" in its name during that decade. Mattel trademarked the name "chatty" in the 1960s, and the boxes for their talking dolls such as Drowsy, Baby Cheryl, and Tatters featured the tag line "A Chatty Doll by Mattel."
Chatty Cathy's popularity extended beyond the toy industry, with references and parodies appearing in various media. The doll's influence can be seen in television shows like "That '80s Show," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Arrow," as well as commercials by GEICO. Additionally, the character Gabby Gabby in the 2019 film "Toy Story 4" was inspired by Chatty Cathy.
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Polly Pocket, the tiny doll
Polly Pocket is a toy line of dolls and accessories sold by Mattel. The line was founded and designed by Chris Wiggs in 1983 and was first sold to the public in 1989. The toys have been the basis for four movies, a TV series, and a web series and have been featured on clothing and other fashion products.
The original Polly Pocket toys were plastic cases that opened to form a dollhouse or other playset with Polly Pocket figurines less than an inch tall. The dolls folded in the middle, like the case, and had circular bases that slotted into holes in the case interior, allowing them to stand securely at particular points in the house. Because the dolls were so small, they sometimes came enclosed in pendants or large rings instead of the more typical playset cases.
In 1998, Mattel redesigned Polly Pocket. The new doll was larger, with a more lifelike appearance than the original dolls. She had a straight ponytail, rather than the curly bob hairstyle used previously. The following year, Mattel also introduced "Fashion Polly!," which used the same characters from the new Polly Pocket (Polly, Lea, Shani, Lila, etc.), but they came in the form of 3+3⁄4 inches (9.5 cm) plastic jointed dolls.
In 2002, Mattel stopped producing the smaller Polly Pocket playset range but continued to produce the larger fashion doll. In 2004, Mattel introduced the Polly Pocket "Quik Clik" line. Instead of having rubbery clothes, the dolls had plastic clothes that would click together with magnets. On November 22, 2006, 4.4 million Polly Pocket playsets were recalled by Mattel after children in the United States swallowed loose magnetic parts.
In early 2020, Mattel introduced the Sand Secrets line of mystery boxes. Each mystery box comes with a micro doll, three accessories, and a bag of colorful sand. One of the accessories typically includes a stamp mold for play with the sand. This is the first line of the 2018 Reboot series to include brand new characters other than the four main cast members, such as Gwen and a Mermaid.
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Labubu dolls, the adult fad
Labubu dolls are causing a frenzy among young adults worldwide. They are based on a series of illustrated books called "The Monsters", which feature a playful tribe of female elves called Labubus, created by the artist Kasing Lung. Inspired by Nordic fairy tales, Labubu dolls come in a range of sizes as figurines and plushies. The most popular ones come in blind boxes, which means the figure inside is a mystery until opened. The surprise element and the chance to unbox a rare "secret" doll are part of the appeal.
Labubu dolls come in various colours and are often clipped to bags or belt loops. The global craze around them has sparked markets for doll clothing and counterfeit Labubus, sometimes called "Lafufus". The dolls have also inspired people to dress up as the plushie at a Pride parade and a protest against immigration raids in Los Angeles.
The popularity of Labubu dolls has led to high demand, with long lines outside toy stores and online sales selling out in minutes. The dolls often resell for double or triple their original price, with a rare Chestnut Cocoa Labubu fetching over $149 on eBay. A life-size Labubu figure recently sold for more than $170,000 at an art auction in China, drawing nearly 1,000 bidders.
The concept of blind boxes is not new, tapping into a long-standing fascination with mystery and chance. Labubu dolls have become a popular fashion trend and a sought-after collectible among young adults, with people willing to pay a premium for the chance to own a rare or unique variation of the doll.
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Frequently asked questions
Fad plastic dolls are dolls that have become extremely popular, sometimes for a short period of time. Examples include Barbie, Baby Alive, and Kewpie dolls.
Barbie is a plastic doll that was first introduced in 1959 and has since become a global cultural icon. It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide. Barbie was inspired by a German novelty doll and offered baby-boom generation girls something different from the usual miniature facsimiles of human beings that had come before.
Baby Alive dolls were a fad in the 1980s. Unlike other dolls, Baby Alive simulated the perils of caring for a child by forcing children to cope with its eating, drinking, and urinating needs. The doll was designed to be disgusting yet irresistible to children, with a mechanical mouth that could "chew" special food packets.
