Current Notes: G3 is not held in esteem by current MLP fans... but I rather like these two !
I confess, I’m not sure
which I wanted those two small-toy grab bags from the thrift store for – the G3
Happy Meal MLP toys, or the tiny
dolls. I’m probably gonna keep nearly all of it !
Since only one doll needs my
attention – the other two have molded hair – I got a brush out and started
working on the two ponies. Researched while I worked. I have a Sparkleworks and Star Swirl (who’s not bearded at all !),
both from 2005. Wow. Nearly ten year old toys, and they show up in a baggie at
a thrift store. They’re both so cute, even if they’re not the current Friendship is Magic versions. Their
manes are both really ratty at the ends, but I got them looking a little
better.
Sometimes I wonder about Happy
Meal-type toys. I mean, these ponies are almost as nice as the ‘real’ ones on
toy store shelves at the same time. Maybe the molded-plastic tails put them in
the cheap seats, but I’d have played with them right along with my ‘real’ ones
as a kid. And my parents would have seen a $2. meal-with-toy as a much cheaper
alternative to the $5. packaged ones, so I’d have probably snagged two or
three, even back in the day when a trip to McDs was on the same level as a
birthday party. Still, it’s the company – Mattel, Hasbro, etc. – that provides
the toys to McDs… are they aware that, while the HM toys will probably end up
trashed or in a 25c bin at the yard sale, for a while, they replaced the
retail-for-sale version ? I think that’s why Mattel doesn’t do Barbie shoes or
accessories in kid meals, just small, darn near useless dolls. New enough to
excite a kid for a few minutes, good for promotion, but not even gonna cost
them one $8. doll or $3. doll outfit sale. Mattel makes sure those mini Barbies
are in no way compatible with the miniature Barbie or Disney Princess dolls and
playsets they sell, it seems.
Anyway.. on to yesterday’s
TRU visit. While we spent most of our time with the ponies, I got to peruse
dolls for a few minutes. No beheadable Equestria
Girls Rarity dolls in stock, otherwise I may have come home with one. I’m giving
serious thought to obtaining a Jane Boolittle and calling her Luna. I’ve seen
her in person, so to speak, at Justice! before, but was resolutely uninterested…now
I’m having second thoughts. Still, at $22., I can think about it a bit longer. I’m
also considering a 2009 Rainbow Brite Moonglow doll for that slot as well. If I can find one inexpensive enough…
Finally saw the Mystixx dolls in the harsh light of retail.
Glad I held off, I wasn’t attracted at all. Not to the vampire line or the
zombie one. In person, they really looked cheap and, frankly, kind of
repulsively reptilian, both lines. And I kind of like snakes ! Perused the
Barbie and Disney Princess aisles – and had a repeat of my Mal-wart experience
in the Frozen section. Not a single
Elsa anything there, except for a ‘twirling sisters’ kind of mini-doll set.
Nope, every doll, infant to Disney Princess and Me, dress, prop, t-shirt, accessory,
or side items like banks and crayons was Anna. All else (Elsa) was sold out. I
read on a message board that this was unexpected, but Diz and Mattel plan to
have lots more out in time for the March release to home video. And I’ve come
to the conclusion that it’s the Disney Store Elsa I want. (sigh) Like I need
more dolls around here…and I need endless expensive chases for ‘em…
I do hope by "current MLP fans" you don't mean the people who call themselves bronies.. I've been a fan of MLP for nearly as long as the franchise existed and I like G3 ponies just fine.. :D
ReplyDeleteI remember this idea from your old blog, and I agree HM toys are often kind of junky; I guess the idea is sort of that if you got a pair of Barbie shoes but maybe weren't actually well-off enough to afford a Barbie, that'd kind of suck, so have a mini version "just like the real thing" (only not) instead. With how cheap and abundant clones are these days, even that is pretty pointless.
Back when I was the "proper" age to play with ponies, Hasbro put out some Happy Meal G2-styled ones that were just perfect. They were tiny but SUPER detailed, with LARGE playset-like accessories, sparkly rhinestone eyes a proper mane and tail and everything. Now I remember them I'm kicking myself for not holding on to them and letting them become lost over the years, haha.
http://www.kimsites.net/dreamvalley/graphics/new/n-dkmcd.jpg
:)