I finally got my hands on the Made To Move Barbie produced by Mattel Corporation. There's been a great deal of discussion already on the boards about these dolls. Some collectors were able to find them in November and started taking photos. Toys R Us stores got them in stock over the holiday season, and I was able to grab a couple. Here is what the packaging looks like.
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And the back that shows three dolls in different skin tones: Theresa dark Caucasian, Barbie regular Caucasian, and Lea with a paler skin tone which is used with the Asian dolls. It has been reported that the black skin tone Target exclusive is beginning to show up in stores this weekend. These are the first four in the line and two more have already been rumored for 2016. Hopefully this shows Mattel's dedication to the new line.
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Let's take one out for a test drive, shall we? Can she dance like a ballerina? Yep!
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How about Pilates? Very nice.
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She is advertised as being able to do Yoga poses (explains the workout attire). A yoga mat included in the package would've been a very nice touch! It's amazing how her hands can gracefully touch her face.
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Maybe a comfortable sitting position on the floor. Alright!
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Is she easy to redress? Not only does she come apart at the biceps and upper thighs, she has handspeak and footspeak! Similar to her expensive counterparts over at … cough … cough … Integrity Toys.
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How does she look nude? The joint seams don't bother me too much. It's little to compromise for the realistic posing. I don't think I would choose to put her in a bikini. As you can see the thigh and bicep joints actually rotate completely (which allows the added mobility for posing).
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Look at her sitting in this chair! How cool is that?
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So, how does the body compare to other Mattel bodies? Her waist is a little thicker but her torso mold is more defined. Her upper arms and thighs are a little more muscular. Her height is about the same (looks shorter because she is flat-footed in the photo) as are the length of her legs, arms, and torso. I like the breast plate better. It doesn't set up so high (not pointing at the sky!).
The body has a very nice weight to it. It is not as light or flimsy feeling as you would expect. It wouldn't be fair to compare her to those expensive cousins Momoko, Misaki, or Poppy Parker. After all, she only costs $14.99. (I actually prefer her body to Momoko - her proportions are a little better and she's a bit taller. She is shorter than Misaki/Poppy and not as thin, but her proportions a little more realistic.)
She can be a little bit of a challenge to redress. Many pants/skirts won't close in the back. But when you get her redressed, she looks great! She's got an athletic appearance to her body. I really like it. (Notice how she can really cross her arms!)
So what could the release of the Made To Move line mean? When you pause to consider the implications, I think Mattel has just produced a true "game changer". Collectors who like articulation should be very impressed by these dolls. No one can buy a better posing doll for $15 anywhere. I did not use a stand for this doll or photoshop out strings. She actually stands well on her own. The engineers did a fantastic job balancing her body.
I bet this line is causing a number of headaches for those high-end doll production companies. (Yes her hands are actually touching her head!)
For one collector … I am, frankly, quite impressed. This is one well-deserved fuss being thrown about a doll line! A doll who stands up to the claim that she is the "ultimate posable Barbie". She may be the ultimate posable 12" doll period.
