Monst Dolls

When I first saw Monst dolls on an Instagram post I immediately fell in love with them. I’m a sucker for smaller, child-like fashion dolls that collectors dress up in little toggle coats or Mori-Girl-style dresses and sweaters. So adorable! But being unfamiliar with them, I didn’t know where to buy one, so I turned to eBay. I found several listings, but I had to get Chou Chou. Of the five different Monst dolls, she’s the only one that looks mad, or annoyed, or maybe she’s majorly pissed off. Anyway, I liked her edge. I bought Chou Chou for $71, which seemed to be the going price for Monst dolls on eBay, only to discover shortly after hitting the “Pay Now” button that Ali Express sells them for around $26 – and AliExpress is where everyone is buying Monst dolls (including, I’m sure, the person from whom I bought mine on eBay). I could kick myself!

Monst Dolls are made of vinyl and are eight inches tall. They’re made in China by a company called Spade Designs. According to the pamphlet that came with my doll, the full name for Monst Dolls is “Monst Yemanbaobei Dolls.” I’m not sure what that means, but I think the (very) loose translation is “Savage Baby Rubber Joint Dolls.” At least that’s what sellers on AliExpress are calling them! They’re being sold as “bjd dolls” but they’re not bjd dolls in the traditional sense because they’re not held together with rubber bands. They are articulated in the head and limbs, but they don’t bend or twist at the waist.

Okay.

I don’t think Monst dolls are generic fashion dolls. They seem to be their own brand, like Kuhrn dolls. They come in a cute but understated box featuring a simple font and cute graphics. The front of the box appears to indicate that Monst dolls are intended for ages 15 and up, but their quality is more playline than collectible so in my humble opinion I think they would be appropriate for most children except perhaps very young ones.

Aaaawwww.

There’s a sticker on the lid of each box with a photo and the name of the doll that comes inside, so you know which one you’re buying.

Monst dolls come undressed but the outfit is included. The doll comes in a plastic tray and is held in place with only two twist ties. They’re much easier to unbox than Monster High or Rainbow High dolls, that’s for sure.

Here’s Chouchou out of the box. Her bangs need trimming compared to the promo photos. Monst dolls can’t stand on their own.

The outfit comes in a cute plastic bag with kawaii illustrations of bears and food.

Chouchou’s outfit is simpler and more tomboyish than the outfits of the other Monst dolls. I think it suits her cranky personality, like she’s a fussy little kid in baggy overalls.

No I won’t go to bed early!

By the way, Monst dolls don’t come with shoes. I thought Chouchou’s outfit screamed “Crocs,” so she borrowed the platform Crocs from Rainbow High’s Lila Yamamoto.

No I won’t eat my broccoli!

No I won’t take a bath!

Crocs with socks

The articulation for Monst dolls is pretty good but a little awkward. She can sit cross-legged, and put her hands on her hips, but not in a natural way. And she kind of passes my articulation test (putting her hands to her mouth in surprise or horror).

Gasp!

Chouchou looked sad, so I thought some of her favorite things might cheer her up. Things such as skateboarding, hanging out with a furry friend, or eating her favorite foods.

Nope, still sad. Unless she’s not actually sad. Maybe she has RBF.

So what do I think of Chouchou? I think she’s so stinkin’ cute. Her bangs need a trim but I can deal with that. I can’t wait to dress her in other outfits and do more photo shoots. If you’re interested in Monst dolls, please don’t buy them on eBay and pay overinflated prices like I did. Monst dolls can be found on AliExpress, where prices average about twenty-five dollars. I might be tempted to go there to buy more Monst dolls.

Bye!

Rainbow High Rainbow Vision Royal Three

‘Rainbow Vision is entering its exciting conclusion as the finals are getting underway. The finalists include Neon Shadow from Shadow High, Rainbow High’s own Rainbow Divas, and Royal Three from Seoul Select. Royal Three are arguably the underdogs of the Rainbow Vision song contest. Since Shadow High campaigned for Rainbow Vision to be open to all schools, in an effort to end Rainbow High’s dominance in the competition, new schools have auditioned for Rainbow Vision. Royal Three have come all the way from Korea to try out for Rainbow Vision, and now they’re in the finals!

Royal Three are Tiara Song, Tessa Park, and Minnie Choi.

From semi-finalists to finalists.

Minnie Choi.

Tiara Song.

Tessa Park.

Each member of Royal Three comes dressed in her main outfit. They also come with an additional outfit, a headset, a concert program, and a logo t-shirt. The outfits are very detailed, and although they look great, it proved to be time-consuming to change their clothes. I would imagine that children who play with these dolls might become frustrated with changing their clothes. And some of the faux pearls and beads had already fallen off the outfits before I even took the dolls out of the boxes (see below).

Tiara’s, um, tiara is based on the tiara on the cover of Blackpink’s first album.

The Royal Three dolls have holes for earrings but don’t come with earrings. However, Tiara’s headset fits into her earring holes. The headsets of Minnie and Tessa sit on top of their heads.

I like Tessa’s outfit the best. The attention to detail is amazing, from the elaborate embroidery on her jacket to the hangul characters on her belt and choker. I love how she wears pants and activewear as opposed to skirts like her band mates. She’s like the Sporty Spice of K-Pop.

Each doll comes with a concert program that features the lyrics to “Spotlight,” their Rainbow Vision song. I thought all three dolls came with the exact same program, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that each doll had her own program. While the programs are mostly identical, the centerfold of each program pertained to the doll it came with.

The second outfits that came with the dolls are the girls’ stage clothes.

The Royal Three girls have long fingernails and molded rings, like Demi Batista.

Minnie’s nails are pink and have pearls to match her dress.

Tiara’s nails also match her top.

Tessa’s nails are shorter, in keeping with her sportier lifestyle.

Ainsley and Lila are ready for the Rainbow Vision finals.They even got to meet their favorite act.

The Royal Three dolls were highly anticipated when Royal Three debuted at Rainbow Vision. I think it’s fun that the Rainbow High line includes K-Pop dolls. From their highly detailed fashions and accessories to the quality of their articulation, the Royal Three dolls are everything that Lulu Pop Daisy dolls are not.

Who do you think will win Rainbow Vision? I hope it’s the Royal Three.

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Monster High G3 Ghoulia Yelps

After our Monster High G3 launch day shopping excursion, where we discovered how slim the pickings were, Ghoulia13 and I returned to Target a week later to see if the G3 Monster High dolls came in. They did. I wanted to go to Target because I was on the hunt for the G3 Ghoulia Yelps. Ghoulia was my favorite character from Monster High, and the Ghoulia reboot doll is a Target exclusive. My patience was rewarded, and I left the store with Ghoulia as well as Draculaura.

Here she is out of the box.

Here she is with her glasses. I don’t like how the glasses aren’t entirely clear. It obscures her eyes.

Ghoulia wears an oversized jacket over a cropped t-shirt and pink pleather miniskirt.

Her jacket has a pattern of brain membranes on it, with a band on each arm that says “BRAAAAINS”, you know, ‘cuz she’s a zombie.

Her black cropped t-shirt also has a brain on it. Her skirt has a green plastic zipper and features a scalloped hemline that I think is supposed to imitate drips, like a dripping brain, perhaps? There is a precedent for the drips in a Ghoulia G1 fashion 2-pack which featured red cropped pants ending in drips onto a black background towards the ankles. But I do know those are more brains on the belt.

G1 Ghoulia in fashion pack outfit

Her earrings are tombstones that have yet more brain membranes on it. They say “RIP.”

My favorite part of Ghoulia’s outfit has to be her boots. They’re like silver Doc Martens. The details on them are amazing.

The soles are decorated with – guess what? – more brain membranes.

The inner sides of the boots have the Monster High skullette.

The outer sides have very detailed triple buckles on them.

Ghoulia comes with some fun accessories. She’s a skater, and her skateboard is decorated with her favorite comic-book character, Deadfast.

Ghoulia skateboards to and from Monster High every day.

“I’m home.”

Ghoulia has a grey hipster beanie with a brain on it.

Her backpack also has a brain pattern on it, with a coffin zipper.

After Ghoulia comes home from school, she enjoys having a snack with Sir Hoots-a lot, her pet owl.

G3 Sir Hoots-a lot has glasses, just like Ghoulia. His eyesight must have gotten worse since G1.

Ghoulia’s favorite snack is Brain Puffs.

It looks like they’re jalapeño-cheddar Brain Puffs. Ghoulia must love spicy snacks. I don’t. I once bought a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos by mistake instead of regular Cheetos and I couldn’t eat them. I love the Nutrition Facts on the back of the Brain Puffs.

After her snack, Ghoulia calls her beastie Cleo on her iCoffin. It, too, has a brain on it. I’m sensing a pattern here.

Ghoulia is a gamer and she comes with a Nintendo Switch – Monster High style. The Left and Right knobs are Monster High skullettes. The directional buttons are bones, and the A, B, and C buttons are brains. There are fangs in each of the four corners of the screen. I don’t know what fangs have to do with zombies, though.

G3 Ghoulia looks very different from G1 Ghoulia. I’ve described the differences between G1 and G3 body types in my review of G3 Lagoona. But there are stylistic differences between the two Ghoulia’s. G1 has grey skin whereas G3 has green skin. Personally, I prefer the grey skin. It just seems more appropriate for a zombie, but since G3 Frankie is no longer green, it looks like Mattel decided Ghoulia should be green now. G3 Ghoulia has heavier eyebrows and larger eyes. Whereas G1 has silvery blue hair with cobalt streaks, G3’s hair is mostly cobalt with a tiny amount of the silvery blue strands. Her hair is made of that type of doll hair that feels greasy. I’m not sure if it’s polypropylene, since I’m not an expert on doll hair, but it feels different from G1. Her clothes are hip but not as eclectic as G1’s. I would love to see G3 Ghoulia in pants like G1. And I think Mattel overdid it with the brain motifs on every single article of clothing and accessory she has.

Ghoulia Yelps was my favorite ghoul from Monster High. I was excited to learn that she was coming back for G3 (after being dropped from G2). So it pains me to say that I’m disappointed in G3 Ghoulia. It feels like new Ghoulia is devoid of the personality she had in G1. She’s kind of lackluster. At Monster High, Ghoulia was the “brainy” student (another zombie inside joke?), and G1 Ghoulia’s eyes convey a perhaps-sardonic intelligence. She’s looking directly at you and yes, she’s judging you. G3 Ghoulia has a far-away look in her eyes. She’s pretty, but her face has a rather vacant expression. Pretty…vacant?

The Monster High reboot didn’t do Ghoulia justice. I feel like she’s lost some of her edge. Sure, she’s a gamer and a skateboarder, but G1 Ghoulia was funkier, like a hipster nerd. She just had more personality than G3. Sadly, new Ghoulia is not my favorite doll from G3. That honor now belongs to Draculaura.

She’s still cute, though.

Rainbow High Lila Yamamoto

When Rainbow High dolls debuted in 2020, I wasn’t impressed, to be honest. I didn’t like their big round eyes in their large round heads (although, oddly enough, I love Blythe dolls. Go figure.). I routinely skipped the Rainbow High section whenever I shopped the toy aisles of Target or Walmart. Fast forward to last year when Series 3 was released, and it looks like Rainbow High dolls underwent a slight makeover that, in my humble opinion, has improved the dolls’ appearance. Series 3 dolls had a more refined and sophisticated face mold with eyes that, while still large, were not completely circular but more realistically shaped. For example, compare Series 1 Violet Willow from 2020 to the newly released Costume Ball Violet Willow for 2022 (Photos courtesy of MGA Entertainment).

Series 1, 2020

Lila Yamamoto is one of six dolls released this past Spring as part of Series 4. She’s my first Rainbow High doll. Since I’m a Rainbow High newbie, I don’t know a lot about the dolls yet. I haven’t watched any of the animated episodes, and I don’t know the backstories of the characters. All I know is that they have killer fashions and accessories, and I decided to take the plunge.

Rainbow High is a school for the arts. Lila Yamamoto is an exchange student from Japan. Like all Rainbow High students, Lila has a focus. Her focus is visual arts.

With Lila being my first Rainbow High doll, I was very pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was to unbox her. The doll, the second outfit, and the second pair of shoes each come in a separate compartment. The accessories (the stand, the comb, and the second set of legs) are conveniently bagged together. There were a few ties I had to snip off to free the doll and the clothes from the box, but not as many as Mattel dolls have.

The first thing I like to check when delving into a new doll line is the quality of the articulation. Rainbow High dolls have thirteen points of articulation. And I will say the articulation is good. The limbs aren’t wonky, and they hold a pose very well.

And Lila passes my articulation test with flying (Rainbow) colors.

Gasp!

Lila’s face is very pretty, but I wondered why she was wearing a Band-aid (TM) on her nose. Or was it a Breath-Right (TM) nasal strip? It turns out the bandage and the kawaii stickers on her face are a nod to Decora Kei, a style of Japanese street fashion emphasizing cute, childish motifs and bright colors. Her lips are a glossy red with a little coral and glitter in them. She has acrylic inset eyes and heavy rooted eyelashes on her upper lids. Her lower lids have painted-on lashes and her eyes are rimmed with heavy winged eyeliner.

Her hair is a mix of blonde and purple streaks. It’s very soft apart from her bangs, which are heavily gelled. Her hair is styled in braided space buns. The rooting in the back of the head looks full.

There has been some controversy surrounding Lila’s clothes. Although she’s from Japan, collectors have noticed certain elements of her wardrobe were closer to Chinese traditional dress. Critics believe the doll designers at MGA didn’t understand the distinctions between the traditional dress of different countries in Asia, and didn’t do enough research. To rectify this, MGA has clarified Lila’s backstory to indicate that her father is Japanese and her mother is Chinese. Her first outfit is inspired by her Japanese heritage. Her white top is styled like a kimono, with a diagonal-wrap front and bell sleeves. The lilac-colored obi around her waist is a separate piece. Her burgundy faux leather “studded” skirt features the Kanji symbol for “wisteria.”

The detailing of her clothes and accessories also reflects a Japanese influence. The Sakura cherry blossom can be seen in her earrings as well as the hardware on the straps on her top.

More details, including a belt buckle with the letters “RH” and a carabiner clip with more cherry blossoms on it. The skirt has faux studs and a realistic-looking but non-working zipper.

Lila wears fingerless “leather” gloves that allow her purple manicured nails to be displayed.

Her feet are arched so she can wear heels. And it looks like my Lila is plagued with the same black mark problem that other Rainbow High collectors have complained about.

Lila is wearing platform Crocs! I keep telling Ghoulia13 that Crocs are cool but she’s not convincedThe fact that a fashion doll is wearing them too is proof.

Crocs with socks. And gibbitz.

They even have the adjustable straps that Lila could wear in front or in back. This is very impressive attention to detail.

Lila’s second outfit pays homage to her Chinese heritage. Her top is evocative of a silk cheongsam. It’s paired with a large plum-colored sash. Her Fortuny-pleated skirt is accentuated by a large sash tied with a tassel featuring more cherry blossoms. Though not a literal interpretation, I think this ornamental tassel is based on a decorative element called jinbu. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese dress to hold down the skirt.

Lila comes with a second pair of legs with flat feet so she can wear her second pair of shoes. I didn’t know Rainbow High dolls came with additional legs. Her second pair of shoes have a flat arch. They are inspired by Chinese chopines.

It was difficult to tie tiny bows on these tiny shoes. I couldn’t do it.

So what do I think of my first Rainbow High doll? I’m impressed. The quality is better than I expected. Their bodies are pretty solid with some heft to them, and they have great articulation. The quality of the clothes and shoes are very good, made with substantial fabrics and with lots of fun little details. Likewise, the accessories are also highly detailed. I’m not sure about the marketing concept of including the second pair of legs, though. They could have given the dolls articulated toes to allow them to alternate between wearing flats or heels, like some of the 16” Integrity dolls have. Maybe articulated toes are too difficult to do with 11” dolls. But I appreciate the effort to allow the dolls to wear both flats and heels.

Lila is my first but not my last Rainbow High doll. Since I bought Lila I’ve already purchased a few more Rainbow High dolls, with more on the way from Amazon. Stay tuned for more reviews in the works.

Do you collect Rainbow High dolls? What do you like or dislike about them? Comment below. I’m still new to Rainbow High and would love to hear from other collectors.

Lulu Pop Daisy Doll Ella by Samg Entertainment

Lulu Pop Daisy dolls by Samg Entertainment are Korean fashion dolls based on an all-female K-Pop group called Daisy. Daisy consists of four members: Bella, Ella, Iliana, and Tania. The thing that makes Daisy unique from the countless other K-Pop groups out there is that they’re not real. Daisy is a virtual band (see video above). I guess they’re similar to vocaloids like Hatsune Miku. Now I love dolls and I also love K-Pop, so when I saw these dolls based on a K-Pop group, albeit fictitious, I was like “Shut up and take my money!”

Photo courtesy of Samg Entertainment

The virtual version of Daisy. Photo courtesy of Samg Entertainment.

I’m getting serious Blackpink vibes.

Daisy was the first virtual K-Pop band from Samg Entertainment. Samg Entertainment calls itself a digital idol fashion-doll brand. Their virtual idols exist in Lulu Pop World which, according to Samg, is an “unlimited meta-verse“ which “presents new concepts of music and music video when releasing each album to entertain our eyes and ears.” Their YouTube channel, called Lulupop_official, features a mix of music videos and commercials for the dolls based on their virtual idols.

Daisy Dolls are nine inches tall. I bought the Daisy doll Ella for $35.99 from Amazon.com. They come in a verycute box. I’m a sucker for cool doll packaging. If a doll box is bright and colorful, it makes me feel like there’s something special inside. Lulu Pop boxes are fun, and when I opened my box for Ella it felt like Christmas. Lulu Pop dolls come with cute accessories. Each accessory is tucked away in separate compartments in the box. The gatefold-style box has lyrics on the inside cover. The song is called Mystic Heart, and the lyrics are in Korean. Well, most of the lyrics are in Korean. What does Cheeky checky heart pop cheeky checky pop mean?

There’s a QR code inside the box. When you scan it, it takes you to the official YouTube channel of LuluPop World.

Behind the inner box is a packet with extra little goodies. Lulu Pop dolls come with stickers, a photo card, and a pamphlet.

The doll is nestled between two molded trays of plastic. The doll and the accessories fit into separate compartments. Unlike a Monster High or Barbie Doll, there were no plastic ties and tabs to cut. I just removed the top tray and took the doll out. Easiest doll unboxing ever!

Ella has very long light brown hair with space buns and a long braid on each side of her head. She wears a black lace choker and a red knit one-sleeved top with a red tulle bow. Her silver miniskirt is accentuated with a black belt. Black stockings and pink strappy heels complete the look.

The shoes remind me a little of Monster High shoes.

Her hair is long and full. It feels very soft and smooth. Good thing Ella comes with a hairbrush.

Lulu Pop dolls have articulation at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and legs. They also have click-and-bend knees, but they only click once.

The doll comes with a fair amount of accessories: a stand, a hairbrush, a dress hanger, a pair of earrings, a bracelet, a pair of sunglasses, a purse, and shoes.

I know I’m stating the obvious here, but Lulu Pop dolls look very similar to LOL OMG dolls, with their large round heads and oversized eyes. However, there are some slight differences between LOL OMG dolls and Lulu Pop dolls. Lulu Pop dolls’ eyes aren’t quite as round as those of the LOL dolls, and their irises are heart-shaped. It’s very kawaii. And I love how the smiles on the Lulu Pop Dolls are crooked. They have attitude!

Lulu Pop is a damned catchy name for a K-Pop-idol-fashion-doll business. The packaging and graphics are fun, and the dolls are really cute. The idea is genius, but the execution could be better. The quality of the dolls leave room for improvement. The articulation is a little wonky. For example, it’s difficult to get the arms to hold a pose, and the click-and-bend knees are hard to bend. But the material of the clothing is not bad. It’s heftier than that papery type of fabric that some cheap doll clothing is made from. Also, the hair is full and luxurious, not skimpy or sparse. But I don’t think Lulu Pop dolls are worth the $36 price tag, especially considering that the new Monster High dolls or Barbie Extra dolls are sturdier and with better articulation for about ten dollars less. I think Lulu Pop dolls are super-cute, perhaps better for display than play, although I’m sure children could have a lot of fun playing with them.

Heart hands.

Monster High Haunt Couture Lagoona

Before the G3 Monster High dolls launch on October 1 (see previous post), Mattel is releasing a G1-style collectors line called Haunt Couture. The Haunt Couture line features the original core lineup of Draculaura, Frankie, Clawdeen, and Lagoona in highly detailed outfits. The dolls come in a coffin-shaped case. So far Mattel has released Draculaura, Clawdeen, and Cleo. Today Mattel’s official Monster High page announced that Haunt Couture Lagoona will go on sale on September 16. From the Monster High Facebook page:

Put your fins together for Haunt Couture Lagoona Blue! 🌊 The latest doll in the collection makes waves from down under, in fierce and bubbly fashion. Take your Monster High skullection to a totally tidal new level this Friday 9/16 at 9am PT, only at MattelCreations.com.

Photo courtesy of Mattel

I’m assuming Haunt Couture Lagoona will retail for $75 like the other three Haunt Couture dolls. I’m also assuming that Lagoona will sell out in a matter of hours like the other three Haunt Couture dolls. If you want to get one, don’t delay.

Monster High is Coming Back and We Have Thoughts

Ghoulia13 and I are huge Monster High fans, as if you couldn’t tell by our names, and our avatar as Deaditors-in-Chief. Our love of Monster High was a huge motivation in creating Dollsville USA. We loved the first generation dolls (G1), but we stopped collecting them when they rebooted the line in 2016. We weren’t crazy about the second generation (G2) dolls, which were re-designed in response to critics who were concerned that Monster High Dolls were inappropriate for little girls. The G2 dolls had more innocent facial screenings, simpler clothing, and fewer accessories. But the biggest nail in the coffin (no pun intended) for Monster High Dolls was the fact that Mattel took away the articulated limbs, rendering Monster High Dolls as useless for play as Barbie Fashionistas (which also used to be articulated).

Draculaura G1. Photo courtesy of Mattel.

Draculaura G2. Photo courtesy of Mattel.

Then Monster High dolls disappeared from store shelves. Mattel occasionally offered online-exclusive collector-edition dolls such as the Grady Twins from The Shining or Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice, but these dolls were expensive and sold out quickly. So this summer when San Diego Comic Con offered a Monster High exclusive doll for the first time since 2016, it looked like Monster High was on the verge of making a comeback. Now photos and videos have been popping up online in the past few weeks of new Monster High dolls in what is being referred to as G3. The thing is, Mattel has been very tight-lipped about it. Monster High used to be prominently displayed on Mattel’s front page as one of their top brands. Now they’ve practically disappeared from Mattel.com. The only Monster High Dolls on the website are reproductions of the core line of G1 girls – Draculaura, Frankie, Clawdeen, and Lagoona; and the sold-out Monster High Collectors Cleo De Nile doll.

So what will the G3 dolls look like? Youloveit.com has compiled extensive information on the new G3 dolls, with plenty of photos. It looks like new releases include a Ghoul Spirit six-pack. Individual dolls include deluxe editions of Lagoona, Frankie, Clawdeen, Cleo, Draculaura, Deuce, and Toralei as well as budget versions of Frankie and Clawdeen. A Creepover series of slumber party-themed dolls, and a new Coffin Bean playset are also on the way.

Looking at the photos online of the new G3 dolls, Ghoulia13 and I have thoughts. The fashions and accessories look as great as the G1 dolls. It’s great to see that the articulated limbs are back (yay!). The faces are different, and that’s our biggest issue. The G3 dolls have new molds. Their faces are rounder and their features are different. They kind of look like Rainbow High faces. The facial screenings are a little different from the G1 dolls, but at least they don’t reflect the vapid, wide-eyed innocence of the G2 dolls that were made as a concession to those mothers who objected to the G1 dolls. The new faces make it seem like these dolls are not quite the old friends we knew and loved. They’re not bad, they’re just different. But the most dramatic change from G1 to G3 are the body types. G1 Monster High Dolls were exaggeratedly thin. The G3 bodies are heftier, for lack of a better word. They have thicker thighs and torsos that, like their faces, bring Rainbow High dolls to mind. Was this a deliberate attempt by Mattel to compete with the Rainbow High franchise that became popular during Monster High’s absence? The G3 dolls also vary in height. Draculaura in particular is shorter than the other dolls. Her body also looks similar to the curvy Barbie body type. We love this new awareness of body diversity for Monster High dolls. Draculaura has always has pointed ears, like a vampire should, but it wasn’t always obvious underneath her hair. G3 Draculaura’s ears stick out so you can really see them. Totes adorbs, as Draculaura would say.

Ghoulia13 and I are itching to get our hands on some new Monster High dolls, but we’d like to see the dolls in person before we buy them. Draculaura looks adorable so I would probably get her first, even if I have to buy her online. The deluxe editions pay amazing attention to detail with their clawsome fashions and accessories. With new dolls, we hope Mattel will bring back Monster High fashion packs at some point.

In addition to thoughts, we also have questions. When are the G3 dolls being released? Where can we buy them? In answer to both, the dolls are scheduled to be released on October 1st, but some collectors have purchased them already on eBay. A quick check on eBay shows the exorbitant prices of G3 Monster High dolls. Individual dolls range in price from $50-$80 dollars. Ghoul Spirit sets are listed at over $200, but some sellers have broken up the sets to sell the dolls individually. The one shocker, however, is this individual Lagoona G3 doll that, at the time of this writing, is going for $1013 with less than two days to go.

This doll will retail for $25.

This reviewer was able to get the Ghoul Spirit six-pack, a Walmart exclusive, because Walmart accidentally posted the link to purchase the dolls early. The link was subsequently taken down. It’s September, and Halloween is right around the corner. This would be the perfect time to rekindle our love of Monster High dolls. We understand that some collectors want to get these dolls as soon as possible, and that’s fine, but we can wait until these dolls are available in stores. Past experience has taught us Monster High new releases will eventually hit the stores after the initial frenzy has died down. Then we can buy them at the suggested retail price. A little patience will save us a lot of money.

Until we can find the G3 Monster High dolls, we’re including our favorite posts about Monster High from Dollsville USA. These include the Ghoul Chat dolls, Monster High Goes to McDonalds, the Monster High Student Lounge, and the Art Studio playset. They remind us of how much fun we had with Monster High dolls.

Will the new Monster High Generation 3 reboot, with its new facial screenings and body types, be as popular as the original line? Only time will tell. Oh yeah, one more question: when is Ghoulia Yelps coming back?

Ghoulia trying to win that Lagoona doll on eBay.

Monster High is Back! (And so is ComicCon!)

Photo courtesy of Mattel

This weekend, San Diego ComicCon has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. The return of ComicCon also sees the return of the discontinued doll franchise Monster High. From 2010 to 2016, Mattel released a special Monster High doll that was exclusive to ComicCon. The first one was Frankie Stein, rendered in black-and-white to pay tribute to the old Universal monster movies, including Frankenstein. As an homage to the first Monster High ComicCon doll, this year’s doll is also a black-and-white Frankie Stein, with a twist.

Photo courtesy of Mattel

Voltageous is Frankie’s superhero alter-ego. She was originally part of the Powerghouls, the Target-exclusive series of superhero dolls, along with Wonder Wolf (Clawdeen) and Polterghoul Spectra). Their arch-enemy? Cat-tastrophe (Toralei). The SDCC Voltageous has a spectacular new uniform. She is fierce and determined. According to Mattel:

Lightning strikes and in a blinding flash, she’s back and more electrifying than ever! Meet Voltageous, Frankie’s teenage superhero alter ego! Bolts still tingling, she’s ready to zap crime in style. Colors and decorations may vary.

• Monster High Voltageous Frankie Stein Doll, Black-and-White
• 10.5 inches tall
• Articulated for killer superhero poses
• Ready to zap crime in a shocking silver jumpsuit, dazzling metallic jacket, and boots
• Also includes 1 doll stand, 1 skull comb, and 1 tiny “Power Ghouls” Voltageous comic book
• Premium black-and-white packaging
• Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Photo courtesy of Mattel

Voltageous Frankie comes with the bare minimum of accessories, including a stand, a hairbrush, and a tiny copy of a “Voltageous” comic book. The stand and the hairbrush are silver-colored and look like molten silver.

Photo courtesy of Mattel

Photo courtesy of Mattel

The back cover of the Voltageous comic reads “Be on the lookout…Another hero is following the claws of chaos.” Those glasses look awfully familiar. Could this be Deadfast Ghoulia Yelps, the 2011 Monster High ComicCon doll? Could the Claws of Chaos refer to Cat-tastrophe? Perhaps the Voltageous comic book holds the answer.

Photo courtesy of Mattel

Voltageous Frankie Stein retails for $75. When the first Monster High ComicCon Dolls were released, they were only available at ComicCon. By 2016, Mattel offered all Mattel ComicCon exclusives, including the Monster High Dolls, for sale on Mattel’s website. This year was no exception. However, at the time of this writing, many of the SDCC exclusives have already sold out, including Voltageous Frankie. Oh well. I’ll just get her the way I’ve gotten all of my other Monster High SDCC Dolls – by paying exorbitant secondary prices on eBay.

Photo courtesy of Mattel

What do you think of SDCC Voltageous Frankie Stein? Would you purchase her? Did you go to ComicCon?

LOL Surprise 2021 Holiday Surprise and Winter Chill Dolls

Hey, Ghouliette here! It’s the holiday season, and I’m a sucker for winter- and holiday-themed toys and dolls. This year, LOL Surprise does not disappoint. The 2021 limited edition Holiday Surprise and Winter Chill Dolls have dropped, and I just had to pick them up (see what I did there?).

When I reviewed my first LOL Surprise Doll in 2017, I concluded, and I quote: “LOL Surprises are cute, but I bought mine more out of curiosity than with the intent to collect them.” Famous last words, to be sure, because twenty-three LOL Surprise Dolls later, I am fully entrenched in the LOL Surprise phenomenon.

The first few series of LOL Surprise Dolls were rather complicated to open. The 7 surprises came in a plastic ball ensconced in five layers of plastic to peel off, followed by five compartments to open, one for each individually wrapped surprise (not including the sticker and the hint). These days, LOL Surprise Dolls are much easier to open. The plastic ball has only two layers of plastic to peel off, and the ball comes in two halves. The Winter Chill series features six dolls. The Holiday Surprise Series feature only two characters, Sleigh Babe and Tinsel. Like the 2020 Halloween dolls or the 2021 Year of the Ox doll and pet, you know which Holiday Surprise doll you are getting, since an illustration of it is featured on the outer packaging. Does that defeat the purpose behind the concept of LOL Surprise Dolls? Well, yes. Does it make it any less fun to open each doll? No!

Let’s start with the Holiday Surprise Dolls. Sleigh Babe is giving me Santa-Claus-meets-Gwen-Stefani vibes.

Photo courtesy of Gwen Stefani’s Instagram account

Sleigh Babe has white hair like Santa, pulled back into a ponytail. Her white opera gloves, red pantsuit set, and fascinator hat are a hip, feminized version of Santa’s suit. Even her bottle looks like a Santa suit.

Tinsel is a Christmas tree personified.

Her green-tinsel beehive hairdo looks like a Christmas tree, and her pink and gold crinoline dress mirrors a Christmas tree skirt. She comes with a glittery pink and gold bottle and the matching star-shaped sunglasses are like the star that tops the Christmas treeTinsel certainly lives up to her name – she sparkles. Her beehive hairdo reminds me of the girls from The B-52s.

Kate Pierson of The B-52s

I purchased three Winter Chill series dolls. Fortunately, I didn’t get any duplicates.

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Top to bottom: Vacay Babay, Waves, Rip Tide, Precious, SPF Q.T., Treasure. Image courtesy of lolsurprise.com

The three Winter Chill Dolls I got are Precious, SPF Q.T., and Treasure. I really wanted SPF Q.T. because I love her freckles and that she comes with earmuffs. According to the accompanying Collector’s Guide leaflet, Treasure is Rare, and Precious is Ultra-Rare. In four years of collecting LOL Surprise dolls, I never got any of the rare ones until now.

Ultra-Rare Precious

SPF Q.T.

Rare Treasure

Treasure wears ice skates!

The Winter Chill dolls this year have caused a controversy of sorts. The 2021 Winter Chill dolls are re-releases of the 2020 Holiday Present Surprise series. The ”holiday present surprise” was a tiny elf doll in a tiny gift box. The 2021 dolls don’t come with the elves, but MGA Entertainment, along with some retailers, such as Walmart, used last year’s photos and product descriptions that still included the elves to promote this year’s dolls. When collectors purchased them this year, they were disappointed to discover the elves were not included. One reviewer on the official LOL Surprise website wrote “Thanks LOL for making my three year old cry.” Yikes!

Image courtesy of Walmart.com

There it is: Surprise #4: a tiny elf! Image courtesy of Walmart.com

Walmart is using the photo for last year’s Present Surprise series on the page for this year’s Winter Chill series. Image courtesy of Walmart.com

The official LOL Surprise website subsequently replaced the old photos with new ones that removed the elf. The official reply from MGA Entertainment to the negative reviews was as follows:

“The images for this item were incorrect. We have updated the images on the website to reflect that this item does not come with an elf. Please contact us through our website form to discuss your order. Thank you.”

As of today, Walmart.com is still using the photos and the description featuring the elf. They’re charging $16.99 for them. Interestingly, there are no reviews posted for the Winter Chill dolls on the Walmart page for them, which makes me wonder if they removed them because of negative reviews.

The packaging for the Winter Chill and the Holiday Surprise dolls doubles as a Christmas ornament. The doll can be displayed inside (the front half is clear), and then the ball can be hung by an attached ribbon on the Christmas tree.

The packaging for Precious was missing its ribbon to hang it on the tree. I had to make one out of the elastic that I use to make face masks.

I purchased both LOL Surprise Holiday Surprise Dolls from lolsurprise.com for $10.99 each. I bought the Winter Chill dolls from my local Target, but they’re also available at lolsurprise.com for $10.99 each. Not surprisingly, they have taken center stage on my Christmas tree.

This past year, like last year, has been challenging for us all. We hope 2022 will be a better year for all of us, and that everyone is happy and healthy. We really appreciate every one of our readers and fellow doll-collectors. Merry Christmas from Ghouliette and Ghoulia13!

Sis, Trixie’s Here

Photo courtesy of Integrity Toys

BREAKING NEWS: Trixie Mattel announced today that Integrity Toys is taking pre-orders for their Trixie Mattel doll. I love Trixie. This multi-talented drag queen is a creative makeup artist who owns her own cosmetics company. She is also a Billboard-charting musician who plays the guitar and auto-harp and has released three albums. She collects toys and has a very impressive collection of Barbie dolls (hence the name “Mattel.”) So it’s only fitting that Trixie become a doll herself.

Photo courtesy of Integrity Toys

The doll features Trixie’s signature makeup and wig, and her dress is a replica of one of Trixie’s dresses. Accessories include Trixie’s pink acoustic guitar and mini-replicas of all of Trixie’s albums. Also included are interchangeable hands that will allow the Trixie doll to “play” the guitar.

Photo courtesy of Integrity a Toys

The doll costs $145, with a non-refundable deposit of $35 due now. Integrity will take pre-orders until November 26 at noon EST. Those who do not pre-order by the deadline will be unable to order a doll later on because the dolls will be made to order based on the pre-orders.The dolls are expected to ship in mid-to-late 2022. Click the link below to pre-order.

https://wclubforum.com/trixie/

And watch Trixie’s YouTube video to get all the details on the Trixie Mattel doll.

https://youtu.be/33qqJHWrT6M