BARBIE as RapunZeL

BARBIE as RapunZeL
Barbie as Rapunzel is a 2002 direct-to-video Barbie film directed by Owen Hurley. It is the second in a series of computer animated Barbie films, and features the voice of Kelly Sheridan as Barbie. The story is adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Rapunzel".

The StoRy
The story is being told by Barbie to her little sister Kelly, who does not have confidence in her painting abilities.
Rapunzel lives as a servant to the witch Gothel, who resides in a castle isolated in the woods. She grows up believing that Gothel saved her from abandonment as an infant. Rapunzel finds companionship in Penelope, a timid dragon, and Hobie, a worrisome rabbit. Rapunzel spends what free time she has painting pictures of her friends.
One afternoon, while preparing cookies for Gothel, Rapunzel and her animal friends find a secret staircase which leads to an old room below the manor. In it they discover a gift from her parents who allegedly deserted her: a silver hairbrush engraved with the following: “Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved. To Rapunzel on her first birthday. Love always, mother and father.” These words leave the young artist questioning her past for the first time. Her diversion is quickly interrupted by Gothel’s calls for tea.
After serving Gothel her meal, Rapunzel and her friends revisit the cellar where they expose yet another secret: a tunnel leading to the nearby village. Rapunzel takes this path to the small kingdom and is able to rescue a princess named Katrina from a pitfall. For her good deed, Rapunzel is introduced to Katrina’s elder brother, the Prince Stefan. He explains to her that the trap Katrina managed to escape was put there by King Wilhelm, the ruler of an opposing kingdom. Enchanted by the mysterious maiden, Stefan asks to meet her again, to which she agrees, though their meeting is ended abruptly when she quickly rushes back to the woods to avoid being discovered by Gothel. Unknown to Rapunzel, Gothel’s pet ferret, Otto, has witnessed the entire exchange.
Gothel punishes Rapunzel for her behavior, transforming her bedroom into a high tower and stations Hugo, Penelope’s father, outside. Gothel refuses to let Rapunzel go until she tells her the name of the boy she met. Rapunzel is left alone with Hobie and Penelope, who cheer her up with new paint to replace the ones taken away from by Gothel. The hairbrush, which turned into a paintbrush, has magical properties and whatever Rapunzel paints comes to life. She paints her way out of the tower by creating a secret passageway into the palace gardens and continues to secretly meet with Stefan.
Once again, Gothel discovers the truth and destroys Rapunzel's magic paintbrush and the paintings she'd made. Because Rapunzel refused to tell the truth, Gothel puts a spell around her tower, which holds people who lie forever and can never be broken. An angered Gothel storms to King Frederick and Stefan's castle, intent on destroying them. Back at the tower, Rapunzel manages to escape with the help of Penelope and rushes to save Stefan.
Wilhelm appears before Frederick, hoping to end the feud by force. It is revealed the source of the feud was because he believes Frederick kidnapped his daughter, who has been missing since she was an infant. Frederick replies that he planned nothing of the sort and he has no idea where Wilhelm's daughter is. Gothel arrives just in time to stop them from fighting and Wilhelm recognizes her. It is revealed that Gothel has loved Wilhelm and was broken-hearted when she learned that he only looked to her as a friend.
A brief skirmish ensues, eventually resulting in Gothel entering the enchanted tower and being unable to leave. Otto is then forced to do all the labour for her. Rapunzel is reunited with her parents, and marries Stefan, thus their fathers reconcile to re-unite their kingdoms.

Cast
Kelly Sheridan as Barbie & Rapunzel
Chantal Strand as Kelly and Princess Katrina
Anjelica Huston as Gothel
Mark Hildreth as Prince Stefan
Cree Summer as Penelope
David Kaye as Hugo
Ian James Corlett as Hobie
Christopher Gaze as King Frederick
Russell Roberts as King Wilhelm

Posted by barbie_ladies at 9:20 PM 0 Comment

BARBIE as The Princess and The PAUPER

BARBIE AS THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER

Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper is a 2004 direct-to-video computer animated Barbie film, and the first musical in the Barbie series. It was directed by William Lau and starred the voice of Kelly Sheridan, who has been voicing Barbie in all the CGI films to date, as both Anneliese and Erika. The story is loosely inspired by the Mark Twain novel The Prince and the Pauper.

StoRy
In an unnamed mountain kingdom, a blonde princess and a brunette pauper are born at the same time and grow up unaware that, except for their hair color and the princess' birth mark, they are identical to each other. The princess, Anneliese, craves freedom from her royal duties, especially when she is informed by her widowed mother, Queen Genevieve, that she must marry the wealthy king of a nearby kingdom because their own royal treasury is nearly bankrupt. The pauper, Erika, craves a different sort of freedom, as she is an indentured servant at the bullish Madam Carp's dress emporium to work off her parents' debt.
Preminger, Queen Genevieve's advisor, is hatching a secret plan to become ruler of the kingdom. His minions Nick and Nack have been stealing the gold from the royal mines for some time, which is what led Queen Genevieve to believe she is nearly bankrupt. Preminger plans to announce his newfound wealth to Queen Genevieve, which he believes will allow him to marry Princess Anneliese. However, Preminger learns that Queen Genevieve has already approached King Dominick of the neighboring kingdom to marry Anneliese, and decides that a change in plan is in order. Preminger orders Nick and Nack to kidnap Anneliese, so that Preminger can stage his "rescuing" her, hoping that Queen Genevieve will be so happy that she will give him Anneliese's hand in marriage.
Back at the palace, Anneliese's tutor, Julian, is sad that Anneliese will be getting married in a few days. Anneliese and Julian have feelings for each other, but know that there is nothing that can be done about it. As a treat, Julian decides to take Anneliese out into the town for a taste of freedom. There, Anneliese crosses paths with Erika. The girls are shocked to see how identical they are, except for their hair color and the crown shaped birthmark on Anneliese's shoulder. The two quickly become friends, but then Anneliese has to return to the palace.
That night, Anneliese is kidnapped by Nick and Nack, who plant a fake letter which states that Anneliese "ran away" in order to avoid being married to King Dominick. Julian suspects that it was a kidnapping with Preminger as the mastermind, so he asks Erika for help to impersonate the princess until he can rescue the real Anneliese. Erika agrees to the temporary ruse and surprises Preminger when she arrives to greet King Dominick's arrival. Dominick and Erika fall in love, despite Erika's fear of being rejected when she is revealed to be an imposter.
Meanwhile, Anneliese manages to escape from Nick and Nack, but is turned away from the palace by the guards, who believe that "Anneliese" is in the palace with Dominick and the Queen. Anneliese is then mistaken for Erika by Madam Carp, and she is locked in the dress emporium. Preminger, who has started to suspect that Erika is a fake, discovers that the real Anneliese is being held at Madame Carp's and takes her away to the gold mines, where a captured Julian is already being held prisoner.
Now realizing the truth, Preminger returns to the castle where he exposes Erika as a fraud and claims that she had conspired with Julian to kill and then replace the real princess. Erika, unable to prove her good intentions, is locked in the dungeon. She manages to escape, but then bumps into Dominick, who reveals that he doesn't believe that Erika is the person that Preminger says she is. Elsewhere, Anneliese and Julian work together to escape the mines.
Preminger, in the wake of Anneliese's supposed death, has convinced Queen Genevieve to marry him in order to save the kingdom. Queen Genevieve loathes him, but cannot see any other option. Just as the ceremony is about to go through, Anneliese arrives. The true story is revealed and Preminger gets his just rewards.
Anneliese confesses to her mother that she loves Julian and does not wish to marry King Dominick. She has also solved the problem of the kingdom's gold shortage; the rocks discarded by the miners are actually geodes and the mine is full of them. Dominick confesses to loving Erika for who she is and if she should choose to, he would be willing to marry her. With Madam Carp out of business (thanks to Anneliese taking her business elsewhere), Erika chooses not to accept just yet and achieves her dream of being able to sing around the world, discovering that the place she would really like to sing is among her friends. She returns several months later and marries Dominick while Anneliese marries Julian.

VOICE cast

  1. Kelly Sheridan as the Narrator
  2. Annellese and Erika as the Speaking
  3. Julie Stevens as Erika (singing)
  4. Melissa Lyons as Anneliese (singing)
  5. Mark Hildreth as Dominick (speaking)
  6. Mark Luna as Dominick (singing)
  8. Martin Short as Preminger
  9. Ellen Kennedy as Queen Genevieve
  10. Pam Hyatt as Madam Carp
  11. Kathleen Barr as Serafina
  13. Lee Tockar as Ambassador Bismark
  15. Jan Rabson as Nack and Midas
SOUNDtrack
This film is the first musical in the series of Barbie CGI films. An official soundtrack album has not been released to date. The songs in the film are, in chronological order:
from: Barbie as Rapunzel at the Internet Movie Database

Posted by barbie_ladies at 8:34 PM 0 Comment

BARBIE as The IsLand Princess

BARBIE as The ISLand of PRincess

Barbie as the Island Princess is a 2007 direct-to-video computer animated Barbie film. It is the second musical in the Barbie series of movies. As with the previous Barbie films, a line of dolls, toys, and other products were produced based on the movie and were released in conjunction with the movie. The film features the voice of Kelly Sheridan, who has been voicing the female protagonist in all the CGI Barbie movies to date, as Rosella.


Synopsis

Ro/Rosella is a girl who was shipwrecked as a young child on a tropical island and is grew up under the watch of several animals, including Sagi the red panda, Tika the baby elephant, and Azul the peacock who believes he is royalty and likes to be called a prince. Ro has the special ability to talk to animals, but she can't remember anything about her past. The only two clues she has is a flag with a white rose on it and two letters found on the broken nameplate of a chest. Both items washed ashore with her. Ten years later, an adventurous prince, Antonio, discovers Ro's island. After she saves him and a friend from some crocodiles, he asks her to come back to his kingdom with her. Her friends are reluctant to leave, but Ro is determined to find out about her past and in the end, she leaves with Antonio. Her animal "family" comes with her. When they return, Antonio's parents, King Peter and Queen Danielle, don't approve of Ro at all (especially Peter), even though Antonio himself is in love with her. Determined to have his adventurous son settle down, Peter has arranged for Antonio to marry a princess from a neighboring kingdom named Luciana. Like Antonio, Luciana doesn't want to marry someone she doesn't love, but she's pushed on by her controlling mother, Queen Ariana. Unknown to Luciana and the others, Ariana is actually plotting to kill the entire royal family at the wedding and take over their kingdom. Her motive is to get revenge for her parents, who were banished for the attempted murder of Antonio's parents years ago. Now seeing Ro as a threat to her plans, Ariana plots to get rid of the "island girl". Over the next few days, Ro tries to please Antonio's parents, but thanks to Ariana's meddling, all attempts end in disaster, further aggravating the king. Ro also tries to find her family and becomes friends with the queen's pet monkey, Tallulah. Later, Ro attends Antonio and Luciana's engagement ball. The guests are stunned by her grace and beauty. Even Antonio's parents are impressed. When Antonio reveals her feelings for her, Ro also reveals her own feelings, but says he should be with Luciana. After a dance together, she leaves him. Outside, Sagi tells Ro that he spotted a flag upon a carriage outside the castle that bore the same design as the one on the flag Ro was found with. Ro asks the carriage's horse if the family had any daughters, but is disappointed to know that they only had sons. Disheartened, Ro walks away. Seeing that Antonio has fallen in love with Ro, Ariana becomes even more determined to get rid of her. Later that night, she has her three pet rats put a deadly sleeping herb in the food of all the animals in the kingdom. The next day, animals all over the kingdom are unable to wake up, including Tallulah. Ro is able to identify the herb and knows how to make an antidote, but thanks to more of Ariana's meddling, Ro is blamed for bringing an unknown disease to the kingdom and is put in jail with her "beasts". Antonio pleads with his father to let her go. Peter relents, only on the condition that Antonio takes up his duties as a prince and marry Luciana. Heartbroken, Antonio is forced to agree. Ro is banished from the kingdom and put on a boat back to her island. Ariana pays the ship's captain to do away with Ro permanently. As they sail out to sea, Ro and her friends are thrown overboard. Ro's memory is triggered as she struggles to stay afloat. She remembers that the ship she was traveling on sank in a violent storm and she was knocked overboard. She also remembers a man yelling her real name, Rosella. Ro resurfaces, calling for help. Dolphins come to rescue their rescue and takes them back to the castle. As Antonio and Luciana's wedding starts, Ariana sneaks some sleeping herb into the wedding cake, planning for Antonio and his family to meet a slow, painful death. Ro arrives and quickly starts to mix a cure for the animals from a flower, an Island Rose. A little bird, that she helped earlier, flies up to her and tells Ro that it saw Ariana putting something in the wedding cake. Ro reconizes the herb again and finishes making just one antidote before the king's guards discover her. While Tika distracts them, Sagi escapes and takes the antidote to Tallulah. Hearing the commotion, Antonio, Luciana, Antonio's parents, Ariana and their guests hurry over. Antonio is happy to see Ro again, but Peter wants her thrown back in jail. She tries to explain the animals have really been poisoned and that she can cure them. The king is hesitant at first, but then a cured Tallulah appears with Sagi, showing that Ro is telling the truth. She then exposes Ariana's plot to everyone. Ariana denies it, but a shocked Luciana confirms Ro's story by saying that her mother had told her not to eat any wedding food, in fear of "bad luck". Why would she do that unless she had really placed something in the food? Exposed, Ariana tries to make a getaway in the wedding carriage, but is stopped by Ro when she javalin throws a stick into the front wheel. The carriage crashes and Ariana is captured. Peter apologizes to Ro and his son. He gives the couple his blessing and embraces Ro. She tells the royal family that her real name is Rosella. A guest behind them, Queen Marissa from another neighboring kingdom, overhears Ro and comes forward. She tells them that she had a daughter named Rosella. Ro pauses and then starts to sing a lullaby she knew since she was little. Astonished, Marissa joins in! Antonio, his parents and Ro's animal friends watch happily as the reunited mother and daughter embrace. Realizing that Marissa is a queen, Tika exclaims that Ro is really a princess! Later on, Ro and Antonio are married. Luciana also attends the wedding and meets a handsome young prince. The happy couple wave goodbye to everyone as they set sail on a honeymoon voyage with Sagi, Azul, Tika and Tallulah in tow!


Voice Cast

SOUNDTRack

The songs in the film, in chronological order, are as followed:

  1. Here On My Island
  2. Right Here In My Arms
  3. A Brand New Shore
  4. I Need To Know
  5. Love is for Peasants
  6. At the Ball
  7. The Rat Song
  8. Always More
  9. Right Here In My Arms Reprise
  10. When We Have Love

References and Cameos There are sereval references and cameos to two other Barbie movies; Barbie Princess and the Pauper and Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses One example is Geneive's dress being shown by Taullah in the song 'at the Ball' Another is Wolfie's (Erica's dog-like cat) being shown in 'The Rat Song' Geneve's older sisters appear and disappear throughout ball, weddings, and a girl simlair to Courtney was pulling a honeymoon chariot.

from: Barbie as the Island Princess at the Internet Movie Database

Posted by barbie_ladies at 6:02 PM 0 Comment

The Barbie Diaries

THE BARBIE DIARIES


PLot
The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007)
The Barbie of "Barbie Diaries" is somewhat different from her usual portrayal. She has strengths: working hard in school, singing, playing guitar, and a good sense of right and wrong. However, she also has weaknesses: shyness, and a lack of belief in herself. This Barbie also encounters the problems that real-life teens encounter: making new friends, dating, gossip, and getting involved in school.


Cast


Do you have a story about The Barbie Diaries ? PLease post your story in Comment .. Thanks ^_^

Posted by barbie_ladies at 9:21 PM 0 Comment

THE PIRATE BARBIE DOLL

GOES GLAM ON THE HIGH SEAS

For centuries, the quest for fortune, infamy, and adventure have lured men and women alike to a pirate’s life. That quest just got a little more glamorous, thanks to The Pirate Barbie®. This stunning swashbuckler joins a long line of infamous and fabulous females who have all shared a zest for buried treasure and living life off the map on the high seas. Barbie® doll captures this adventurous essence in both edgy and glamorous detail.

The Pirate Barbie® doll wears an exceptionally detailed costume that suits her swashbuckling style. A long striking brocade coat, blue velvet breeches, lacy vest, and ruffled white blouse make this brave lass look like she's already discovered buried fashion treasure. Stylish hat, lace up boots, red bandanna, and a sculpted "sword" add to her allure. Fierce finishing touches include striking face paint and a bold multi-braided hairstyle.


"With pirates being so popular right now, we wanted to create a pirate look for Barbie® that was a little daring while still being glamorous," Sharon told BarbieCollector.com in a recent interview. "It was especially important to work with the hair and face paint teams to collectively create a sophisticated swashbuckler."

Mission accomplished! The Pirate Barbie® doll is available now in the online shop. When you add this daring doll to your collection, you just might discover your own sense of adventure — and maybe some buried treasure!

Taken from : barbiecollector.com

Posted by barbie_ladies at 8:17 PM 0 Comment

THREE CHEERS FOR DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADERS

Who's the most recognized doll in the world? Barbie®, of course! What about the most legendary cheerleaders in the world? Without a doubt, it's the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. These two exceptionally relevant brands have at long last joined forces to celebrate their timeless appeal with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Barbie® doll. And because both entities embrace and celebrate multiculturalism, Barbie® Collector has created not one, not two, but three fabulous dolls— a stunning blonde Caucasian, a gorgeous brunette Latina, and a breathtaking African American. Now that's something to cheer about!

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Barbie® doll represents a passionate pairing between Mattel and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders organization that's been in the works for some time now. In fact, everyone involved in the project brought their own bit of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders history to the table. Growing up in Texas, Barbie® Collector’s own Liz Grampp once dreamed of donning the iconic uniform and cheering the Dallas Cowboys to victory. In more recent years, designer Robert Best fell in love with the Texas cheerleaders through their reality TV show Making the Team. Robert became so smitten with the show that late one night inspiration struck and he began sketching his vision. He then shared his ideas with Liz and voilà! - a doll was born.

From the famed blouse, star-spangled vest and belt to the white shorts, cowboy boots, and blue and silver poms, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Barbie® doll captures the spirit and enthusiasm of the world's most famous cheerleaders.

According to Robert, “These girls really are America's sweetheart. Their sheer athleticism and energy is incredible. This is just one of those projects that was a dream to work on.”

It seems that everyone at Mattel and beyond agrees. According to Liz, “The dolls get a fantastic reaction from anyone who sees them.”

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are no exception. Robert and Liz recently traveled to Dallas to unveil the dolls to the entire Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders organization.

“The response was amazing. Everyone was so excited,” Liz recalled.

“There were cheers when the dolls were unveiled,” Robert added. “That's the reason to make a doll. When collector response is good, you know you've done your job. But when you represent a brand and they feel the same way, it's extra special.”

The dolls weren't the only ones who got cheers in Texas. Just as Robert had been a big fan of the cheerleaders' reality show, they too were fans of his from Project Runway. And when reality stars collide, you never know what'll happen. Case in point: you can catch Robert unveiling the dolls in an upcoming episode of Making the Team 2. (Robert confesses it was a dream come true to be on the show!)

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Barbie® dolls are available now at Walmart.com and Dallas Cowboys Pro Shops. When you add one or more of the dolls to your collection (or even if you give them as a gift), they're sure to bring some added cheer to your holiday season.

Posted by barbie_ladies at 7:48 PM 0 Comment

doLL VaLue



Like many collectors, you may find yourself wondering what your Barbie® collection is worth. Mattel does not maintain secondary market pricing information, nor do we participate in secondary market trading, buying or selling of older dolls. Collector books, doll magazines, and Internet auction sites are your best bets for determining the value of a particular doll. Remember, this information may vary considerably and fluctuate over time, so it is best to consult a variety of sources. Mattel does not specifically endorse these sources or attest to the accuracy or reliability of any information they may provide.

PRICING SOURCE
Mattel does not guarantee that any product will increase in value. Some dolls increase in value, some depreciate and others remain the same. Countless books have been published about the history and evolution of Barbie® dolls, with some specifically devoted to the hobby of collecting. Such books can serve as tremendous resources, so browse your local bookseller for the most current titles available. The online trading community is another good place to obtain value information. Check Internet auction sites for completed items to get a better idea of what your dolls may be worth.

INVESTING IN BARBIE
So, how do you decide if dolls are worth the investment? Stay informed. Read books and magazines. Talk to fellow collectors. Go to shows. Join a local club. Know prices. Think about a doll's uniqueness, quality and workmanship. And, perhaps most importantly, buy those that appeal to you most. That way, investment or not, you've made a beautiful choice.

(from : barbiecollector.com)

Posted by barbie_ladies at 6:23 PM 1 Comment

fuLLa BarBie

See Fulla for the figures in Norse mythology.
See Fulla for the ethnic group in Africa.
Fulla is the name of an 11 1/2 inch Barbie-like fashion doll marketed to children of Islamic and Middle-Eastern countries as an alternative to Barbie. The concept of her evolved around 1999, and she hit stores in late 2003.[1] Fulla was created by a Syrian manufacturer from Damascus, and a toy company called NewBoy Toys. Fulla is also sold in China, Brazil, North Africa, and Egypt, while a few are sold in the United States. Although there had been many other dolls in the past that were created with a hijab, such as Razanne and Moroccan Barbie, none of them had ever been as popular as Fulla. Fulla is a role-model to some Muslim people, displaying how many Muslim people would prefer their daughters to dress and behave.

Development and information
APPEARANCE

At first, Fulla was developed to have long coal black hair streaked with auburn and brown eyes, but later, dolls with lighter hair and eyes were introduced. The product development team considered about 10 different faces before deciding on her look. She was dressed in a black abaya and head scarf for the Saudi market, but no veil in other markets; because the product development didn't want to "go to extremes." For more liberal countries, Fulla has a white scarf and pastel coat. Her outdoor clothes have since become more colorful, but her shoulders are always covered and the skirt always falls below her knees, as traditionally, Muslim women do not show much skin. Her indoor clothes, however, are designed like modern outfits and include skirts, swimwear, and even lingerie.

ARAB VALUES
Barbie was banned in Saudi Arabia because she promoted values not shared by that society. Fulla was created as an alternative for Barbie to reflect Muslim values. She is named for a fragrant jasmine flower found only in the Middle East. Her personality was designed to be "loving, caring, honest, and respects[ing of] her mother and father. She's good to her friends. She's honest and doesn't lie. She likes reading. She likes, rather, she loves fashion. Fulla has two friends, Yasmeen and Nada, as well as a little brother and sister. An older protective brother is in development for her, as well as a teacher and doctor Fulla, which are two careers that Fulla's creators believe to be respectable. Fulla will have a boyfriend, because Muslims believe that it is not an Islamic value. Fulla's creators believe that Muslim parents become angry by the Western-inspired changes in views on sexuality and on the role of women, meaning that Fulla is supposed to show traditional Islamic values and social order. She does, however, have many costumes, in addition to the hijab, that reflect the everyday wear of Muslim girls nowadays in Middle Eastern countries that attain to Muslim values, yet are still considered fashionable in the West.

ADVERTISING
Fulla is marketed as an alternative to Barbie in Middle Eastern countries. In Saudi Arabia, animated commercials display Fulla's life, such as showing the doll saying her prayers as the sun rises, baking a cake to surprise her friend, or reading a book at bedtime. Abidin says that these scenes are "designed to convey Fulla's values" and show what behavior Fulla is promoting. Often, her commercials begin with her singing in a high voice in Arabic: "She will soon be by my side, and I can tell her my deepest secrets". Another series of commercials advertises her to be family-oriented, showing a group of Syrian actresses who display Fulla silverware, stationery, and accessories. Fulla's commercials often promote modest outfits, as one of Fulla's commercials had warned, "When you take Fulla out of the house, don't forget her new spring abaya![14]"


DIFFERENCES WITH BARBIE
Fulla and Barbie are alike in many ways, such as in size, height, and popularity, that Fulla is sometimes nicknamed a 'Muslim Barbie'.Differences between them include lifestyle and appearance. Fulla's activities mostly include shopping, spending time with her friends, cooking, reading, and praying. Barbie dolls come in a wide range of hobbies and careers. According to the brand manager at NewBoy, there will be a doctor and a teacher Fulla in the future, as "these are two respected careers for women that we would like to encourage small girls to follow."
Although they both have a wide range of clothes, furniture, jewelry, and other equipment, Fulla's outdoor clothes do not include swimwear or anything similarly revealing. Compared to Barbie's curves, skinny legs, and large breasts, Fulla has a smaller chest, is skinnier, and may be younger than Barbie. While the standard Barbie has blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, the standard Fulla has dark hair, brown eyes, and olive skin. Despite this, they are both criticized "for presenting the same unrealistic idea of beauty... a certain image for women to conform to." Fulla was actually once described to be the physical antithesis of Mattel's Barbie.
Fulla was designed to promote Muslim values and be a role model for Muslim girls worldwide, whereas Barbie is targeted to Americans.

POPULARITY
Fulla is sold with a line of accessories, including umbrellas, watches, bicycles, corn flakes, cameras, CD players, inflatable chairs, and swimming pools. She was designed to be unlike Barbie and to be the traditional Muslim woman whose life revolves around home and family.Some Muslim parents have claimed that if girls dress their dolls in headscarves, they will be more encouraged to wear a hijab themselves. Fulla has been praised as giving girls a Muslim role model.
Over 1.3 million Fulla dolls have been sold. A Hong Kong manufacturer, SAIF Enterprise, Ltd., has introduced a doll very similar to the Fulla in China, called Fulah, sold in nearly identical packaging.
Compared to the $3,100 average income in the countries she is sold, Fulla is relatively expensive at about $10 for the standard doll. Because of this, NewBoy created a cheaper version of the doll called Fulla Style.

(Taken From : Khaleej Times Online.com. "Fulla" - the Arab world’s Barbie)

Posted by barbie_ladies at 8:44 PM

BARBIE MINIE KINGDOM

 Barbie Mini Kingdom is a new line of miniature Barbie dolls manufactured by Mattel that are about 6" in height (about the size of the Dawn doll and Pippa Doll), featuring the main female characters from most of the Barbie movies. The line was started in 2006 with a special set of Clara from Barbie in the Nutcracker, Rapunzel from Barbie as Rapunzel, Odette from Barbie of Swan Lake, and Anneliese and Erika from Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper. The line has extended to have birthday dolls that include Annika from Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus and Genevieve from Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses. The dolls came with various accessories and a pet. The line also included a castle and a horse-and-carriage sized appropriately for the smaller dolls.


TRIVIA
Barbie has never been this size before, but the Bild Lilli doll, the predecessor of Barbie, was available in this size.
Barbie Mini Kingdom is a group of Barbie Fairy Tale Princesses,featuring Clara from 'Barbie in The Nutcracker'(2001),Rapunzel from 'Barbie as Rapunzel'(2002),Odette from 'Barbie of SwanLake'(2003),Anneliese and Erika from 'Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper'(2004),Annika from 'Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus'(2005),Genevieve from 'Barbie in The Twelve Dancing Princesses'(2006),Rosella from 'Barbie as The Island Princess'(2007), and the new princess that will be lunched on September 19,2008,Clarette from 'Barbie as The Sleeping Beauty',featuring eleven new original songs,with music by Arnie Roth,based on the immortal music of Tchaikovsky's 'The Sleeping Beauty ballet' and cheorographies by Peter Martins,with dancers from New York City Ballet.Their will be more and lots of surprises in this movie.Barbie Mini Kingdom have dolls,toys and accesories,made from Mattel,just for little girls,that is based to its movie itself,that you will only find in your favourite malls.
(Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie_Mini_Kingdom")

Posted by barbie_ladies at 6:21 PM 0 Comment

Barbie and Their Own Life

WHAT IS A BARBIE-DOLLS?
Barbie is a best-selling fashion doll launched in 1959. The doll is produced by Mattel, Inc., and is a major source of revenue for the company. The American businesswoman Ruth Handler (1916-2002) is regarded as the creator of Barbie, and the doll's design was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli.
Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for nearly fifty years, and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parody of the doll and her lifestyle. In recent years, Barbie has faced increasing competition from the Bratz range of dolls.


History
The original Barbie was launched in March 1959 Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara at play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel's directors.
During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli.[1] The adult-figured Lilli doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. Lilli was a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became popular with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.
Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the design of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was given a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. This date is also used as Barbie's official birthday. Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped. The first Barbie doll wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model," with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. Around 350,000 Barbie dolls were sold during the first year of production.
Ruth Handler believed that it was important for Barbie to have an adult appearance, and early market research showed that some parents were unhappy about the doll's chest, which had distinct breasts. Barbie's appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll's eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.
Barbie was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on television advertising, which has been copied widely by other toys. It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.[2]
The standard range of Barbie dolls and related accessories are manufactured to approximately 1/6th scale, which is also known as playscale.[3] Barbie products include not only the range of dolls with their clothes and accessories, but also a huge range of Barbie branded goods such as books, fashion items and video games. Barbie has appeared in a series of animated films and makes a brief guest appearance in the 1999 film Toy Story 2.
Almost uniquely for a toy fashion doll, Barbie has become a cultural icon and has been given honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974 a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed Barbie Boulevard for a week, while in 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie.

Biography
Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents' names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie has been said to attend Willows High School and Manhattan International High School in New York City, based on the real-life Stuyvesant High School. She has an on-off romantic relationship with her beau Ken (Ken Carson), who first appeared in 1961. Like Barbie, Ken shares his name with one of Ruth Handler's children. A news release from Mattel in February 2004 announced that Barbie and Ken had decided to split up, but in February 2006 they were back together again.
Barbie has had over forty pets including cats and dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and a zebra. She has owned a wide range of vehicles, including pink convertibles, trailers and jeeps. She also holds a pilot's license, and operates commercial airliners in addition to serving as a flight attendant. Barbie's careers are designed to show that women can take on a variety of roles in life, and the doll has been sold with a wide range of titles including Miss Astronaut Barbie (1965), Doctor Barbie (1988) and Nascar Barbie (1998).
Mattel has created a range of companions for Barbie, including Hispanic Teresa, Midge, African American Christie and Steven (Christie's boyfriend). For more details, see the List of Barbie's friends and family.

Controversies
Fulla is marketed as an alternative to Barbie in Middle Eastern countries
Barbie's popularity ensures that her effect on the play of Western children attracts a high degree of scrutiny. The criticisms leveled at her are often based on the assumption that children consider Barbie a role model and will attempt to emulate her.
In September 2003 the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia outlawed the sale of Barbie dolls, saying that she did not conform to the ideals of Islam. The Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice stated "Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful." In Middle Eastern countries there is an alternative doll called Fulla who is similar to Barbie but is designed to be more acceptable to an Islamic market. Fulla is not made by the Mattel Corporation, and Barbie is still available in other Middle Eastern countries including Egypt. In Iran, Sara and Dara dolls are available as an alternative to Barbie.
The word Barbie has come to be used as a derogatory slang term for a girl or woman who is considered shallow, most notably in the 1997 pop song Barbie Girl (see Parodies and lawsuits below).
In July 1992 Mattel released Teen Talk Barbie, which spoke a number of phrases including "Will we ever have enough clothes?", "I love shopping!", and "Wanna have a pizza party?" Each doll was programmed to say four out of 270 possible phrases, so that no two dolls were likely to be the same. One of these 270 phrases was "Math class is tough!" Although only about 1.5% of all the dolls sold said the phrase, it led to criticism from the American Association of University Women. In October 1992 Mattel announced that Teen Talk Barbie would no longer say the phrase, and offered a swap to anyone who owned the doll.

Barbie's waist has been widened in more recent versions of the doll
One of the most common criticisms of Barbie is that she promotes an unrealistic idea of body image for a woman, leading to a risk that women who attempt to emulate her will become anorexic. A standard Barbie doll is 11.5 inches tall, giving a height of 5 feet 9 inches at 1/6 scale. Barbie's vital statistics have been estimated at 36 inches (chest), 18 inches (waist) and 33 inches (hips). According to research by the University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, she would lack the 17 to 22 percent body fat required for a woman to menstruate. In 1965 Slumber Party Barbie came with a book entitled How to Lose Weight which advised: "Don't eat." The doll also came with pink bathroom scales reading 110lb, which would be around 35lbs underweight for a woman 5 feet 9 inches tall. In 1997 Barbie's body mold was redesigned and given a wider waist, with Mattel saying that this would make the doll better suited to contemporary fashion designs.

Oreo Fun Barbie from 1997 became controversial due to a negative interpretation of the doll's name
"Colored Francie" made her debut in 1967, and she is sometimes described as the first African American Barbie doll. However, she was produced using the existing head molds for the white Francie doll and lacked African characteristics other than a dark skin. The first African American doll in the Barbie range is usually regarded as Christie, who made her debut in 1968.[15][16] Black Barbie and Hispanic Barbie were launched in 1980.
In 1997 Mattel joined forces with Nabisco to launch a cross-promotion of Barbie with Oreo cookies. Oreo Fun Barbie was marketed as someone with whom little girls could play after class and share "America's favorite cookie." As had become the custom, Mattel manufactured both a white and a black version. Critics argued that in the African American community Oreo is a derogatory term for a person like the chocolate sandwich cookie itself, meaning that the person is black on the outside and white on the inside. The doll was unsuccessful and Mattel recalled the unsold stock, making it sought after by collectors.
In May 1997 Mattel introduced Share a Smile Becky, a doll in a pink wheelchair. Kjersti Johnson, a 17-year-old high school student in Tacoma, Washington with cerebral palsy, pointed out that the doll would not fit into the elevator of Barbie's $100 Dream House. Mattel announced that it would redesign the house in the future to accommodate the doll.
In March 2000 stories appeared in the media claiming that the hard vinyl used in vintage Barbie dolls could leak toxic chemicals, causing danger to children playing with them. The claim was rejected as false by technical experts. A modern Barbie doll has a body made from ABS plastic, while the head is made from soft PVC.
In December 2005 Dr. Agnes Nairn at the University of Bath in England published research suggesting that girls often go through a stage where they hate their Barbie dolls and subject them to a range of punishments, including decapitation and placing the doll in a microwave oven. Dr. Nairn said: "It's as though disavowing Barbie is a rite of passage and a rejection of their past."

Collecting

Vintage #7 Ponytail Barbie doll from 1964-66. The doll's hair has been restyled and she is wearing a different outfit from the red swimsuit of the original.
Mattel estimates that there are well over 100,000 avid Barbie collectors. Ninety percent are women, at an average age of 40, purchasing more than twenty Barbie dolls each year. Forty-five percent of them spend upwards of $1000 a year.
Vintage Barbie dolls from the early years are the most valuable at auction, and while the original Barbie was sold for $3.00 in 1959, a mint boxed Barbie from 1959 sold for $3552.50 on eBay in October 2004. On September 26, 2006, a Barbie doll set a world record at auction of £9,000 sterling (US $17,000) at Christie's in London. The doll was a Barbie in Midnight Red from 1965 and was part of a private collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls being sold by two Dutch women, Ietje Raebel and her daughter Marina.
In recent years Mattel has sold a wide range of Barbie dolls aimed specifically at collectors, including porcelain versions and depictions of Barbie as a range of characters from television series such as The Munsters and Star Trek. There are also collector's edition dolls depicting Barbie dolls with a range of different ethnic identities. In 2004 Mattel introduced the Color Tier system for its collector's edition Barbie dolls, ranging through pink, silver, gold and platinum depending on how many of the dolls are produced.

Parodies and lawsuits
The 1997 song Barbie Girl by Aqua led to a five year lawsuit
Barbie has often been referenced in popular culture and is frequently the target of parody. Some of these occasions include:
- In 1997, the Danish pop-dance group Aqua released a song called Barbie Girl. It contained lyrics such as "You can brush my hair / Undress me everywhere" and used graphics similar to the pink Barbie logo. Mattel argued that this constituted a trademark infringement and filed a defamation lawsuit against MCA Records on September 11, 1997. In July 2002, Judge Alex Kozinski ruled that the song was protected as a parody under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
A commercial by automobile company Nissan featuring dolls similar to Barbie and Ken was the subject of another lawsuit in 1997. In the commercial, a female doll is lured into a car by a doll resembling GI Joe to the dismay of a Ken-like doll, accompanied by Van Halen's version of the song You Really Got Me. According to the makers of the commercial, the dolls' names were Roxanne, Nick and Tad. Mattel claimed that the commercial had done "irreparable damage" to its products, but lost the copyright infringement lawsuit.

(Taken from : "In an interview with M.G.Lord, the author of Forever Barbie, Ruth Handler said that she saw the doll in Lucerne, Switzerland. However, the book points out that on other occasions Handler said that she saw the doll in Zurich or Vien")















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