Showing posts with label Twilight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twilight. Show all posts

4/02/2014

Tonner 2014 Mainline Release

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the television series entitled Big Bang Theory, I will explain. The character Sheldon is obsessive compulsive and when he knocks on his neighbor Penny's door, he has to knock three times and say Penny. He does this three times.
It has become a meme.


On to the Tonner release...

Here's Sheldon!
SHELDON COOPER - First Edition $149.99
Robert did a great job sculpting the likeness. It's one of his best ever! While it's not a doll I need in my collection, I think the price is right. What troubles me is the finishing of the clothing. It's one of those details that is important to me.
Anyway, a huge portion of this release consists of childlike dolls: Half Pint, who has the (annoying) Kickit's sculpt, Patsy and Patsyette. The Patsy and Patsyette are very cute and their clothes are adorable. I don't collect this type of doll.  I look at the Tiny Kitty outfit and sigh. If you know anything about sewing and fabric, you will agree that the wrong fabric was used for this gown. The gathering is awful. My Tiny Kitty collection is done. It ended with glitter and I doubt that anything will bring me back.
Here is a screen shot of the entire new release. 

http://www.tonnerdoll.com/2014-mainline-release

























The Jon, Cami and Liu Liu are nice looking dolls but their fashions, if one can call them fashion, are ignorable. And the Party Stripes Cami...seriously...was she high already when she got dressed? A short lime green skirt and striped top is not fashion or fashionable. Who the heck signed off on that doll? She should have been sold nude or as a basic in a bodysuit.

New opportunities for "Who Wears It Better" have cropped up recently.


I think the 22" American Models are lovely.  I'd have to build another level onto my home to accommodate more of them. There have been many that are so gorgeous.  These two come to mind immediately.

But I digress.

It's a no-brainer that a manufacturer cannot maintain the same quality of goods as prices keep rising.
Lowering the quality is not the answer.  
Make it better and charge more.
Then sell the lower priced items as basics without stands, clothes or any extra doo dads. 
Refine the line.
There are collectors who spend small fortunes for beautiful dolls with fabulous clothing. I'm not just talking about OOAK dolls.


1/12/2012

Breaking Beds...I Mean Breaking Dawn

Your own married Edward and Bella can recreate the breaking bed scene soon. Mattel is issuing dolls modeled after the Twilight series wedding couple. February is the target date so get the island love nest ready and have plenty of blood on hand. Price for the dead one and the soon-to-be dead one - $29.95 each.






Will we get Renesme shortly after?

2/14/2011

Tonner 2011 Toy Fair Release

 Today Tonner released the images and information on their 2011 Toy Fair products. I applaud the Tonner Doll Company for their extensive line-up which introduces new lines and enhances existing ones.
Everything underlined is a link.
Antoinette 
There's no shortage of fabric here. Lots of layers, ruffles, more layers and mermaid hems.
 Sweeping LE150 $249.99;       Bold LE150 $199.99;         Luxurious LE150 $219.99;        Picturesque LE150 $209.99
Freedom for Fashion.
New Japanese sculpts. Female dolls have the 16 inch Antoinette body with Cameo skintone and males have the 17 inch Matt O'Neill body and Cameo Skintone. All dolls have brown eyes and black hair.
There are two basic dolls, two dressed dolls and three separate outfits. I am just showing the dressed dolls here.
Wonderful and inspired new line. I love the dressed dolls - both of them.
Sori Aiko LE500 $189.99
Hogyo Yoshio LE500 $199.99

Theatre de la Mode
I am thrilled to bits that this line is back. One dressed doll whose fashion inspiration is waiting to be discovered opens today.  She has a new "Fashion" head sculpt on the Antoinette body blue eyes, blonde  hair and Cameo skintone.  I am going to have to order her although the price is quite high. Sigh.

  
Noir #99   LE300   $249.99
Twilight
Jasper Hale, Alice Cullen's boyfriend...he's the one who tried to 'eat' Bella when she visited their home.
Excellent resemblance. Jackson Rathbone/Jasper Hale Head Sculpt and 17" Matt O'Neill™ Body; Umber Eyes w/ Blended Hair and Cameo Skintone.
Jasper Hale  LE1000  $1149.99
Tyler Wentworth
Two dressed Tylers with the original Tyler head sculpt and one dressed Sydney. All are on the 16" Tyler BW body. Signature Statement is a name and color take off on the Signature Style Tylers of the past who wore white blouses and black pants or skirts. This one is beautiful! Fire Opal is a knockout with that fabulous wig and eye candy gown. Sydney's makeup seems to be a blast from the past with the eyeliner top and bottom and lighter lips - 1970's style.
Signature Statement Tyler Wentworth LE300 $199.99
Fire Opal Tyler Wentworth LE300 $224.99
So Sleek Sydney Chase LE300 $199.99
The other lines that have new additions are American Models, DC Stars, Disney Princess Collection, Harry Potter, It's A Small World and The Vampire Diaries.  This is a link to the index.

2/05/2011

2011 Barbie Fan Club: Will you be joining?

This is not a membership card!
The BFC club renewals go on sale 2/9/2011 at 9AM PST. That's Noon next Wednesday here in New York. There are 7,500 slots open and according to Mattel, last year's club sold out.  For one week 2010 members will have priority to renew. Then on February 16, 2011 membership is open to any registered member of BarbieCollector.com.
To those who wonder, this is what you get:

  • The opportunity to purchase BFMC® Ekaterina™ Barbie® doll (one per member, while supplies last*) and three other Club-exclusive dolls (limited quantities, while supplies last**)
  • Up to $80 in BarbieCollector.com Online Shop rewards – $20 per calendar quarter***
  • A snap-closure photo key ring, embossed with the new Barbie Fan Club logo
  • Designer Chats, sneak peeks and surprises, downloadable goodies, Fun Facts, doll community "celebrity" features, and so much more!
 I'm wondering if we will be able to use our first $20. coupon towards Ekaterina. I have a feeling that the answer is no.


I will be getting this Twilight doll because of her outfit. There's really nothing else in the line-up that appeals to me besides the redhead Ekaterina and the ridiculously expensive Silkstone Darya. And that's OK.

The Twilight Saga Eclipse Jane $24.95. Available now.


1/31/2011

More Commentary on IDEX 2011

Many who attended IDEX this past weekend posted their reviews and more photos today.
I love what Tom Courtney posted on Prego. Here it is, in its entirety, with his permission.
You, know...I've been doing this a long time...some of the faces change...but the dolls never fail to delight, amuse and inspire...

To those I did get the pleasure of seeing...so wonderful for me...to those I did not...I am very, very sorry I missed you...lots of things to accomplish on this visit...and it was all wonderful.

Tonner's line is as rich and full as always...no disappointments there...I felt like I did back before I worked there...I'm a collector again...making more of those critical decisions about what I hope to acquire in the next year. Getting everything is no longer an option...so now it's more up to scrutiny...and love. Alice in Wonderland will get my dolly cash...as will Harry Potter in both sizes. I LOVE that Robert is offering both sizes to explore two different worlds of Harry. And I am very much looking forward to more articulation in 22" dolls...and the NEW TYLER!!! As the original #1 Tonner Cheerleader...I can say I am most thrilled listening to his plans for his beloved Tyler. Robert nevers fails to take the doll introductions from IDEX...and keep them fresh and surprising through Toyfair, truly making it a season of wonders!

Cheryl Crawford...LOVE. It is THE return of the artist's doll...and not a mere BJD. Add the level of clothing detail and serene faces...I must get one of these...problem is choosing. Congrats, Cheryl! J'adore.

Joan Greene's Cordelia...fun concept...beautifully conceived collection. Would loved to have seen a factory doll...but I understand how that goes...and I know Joan has the eye for detail. Watching this collection closely...especially the Vault. Helen Skinner...the face painting was so gorgeously rendered - it was beautiful magic to behold. Sandra - thank you for everything...it means the world to me.

Integrity...plain and simple, they rock. It was all beautiful...but David, that red gown in tiers of bias...was a triumph in miniature couture.

Horsman deserves a second and third look...Kurt, you really 'get' it...and I look forward to seeing more from your imagination.

Wilde...Joe: Evangeline's wardrobe is so over-the-top in the best of stylish ways...and dare I say it, it garnished [sic] quite the buzz around the room. So very hauntingly beautiful, indeed. Ellowyne: you may be bored...but we certainly aren't...keep up your therapy, it'll all work out.

So much more to say...so many other things to observe...but have otherwise been beautifully reported by others. I loved reading all the comments and observations!

Tom

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This Tonner info was culled from several people's posts:

-New action figures coming: Electra, Frost (?), Captain America, Wolverine, Rogue.
-Next Halloween convention will be in Vermont. (?)
-May convention is selling out quickly.
-Tyler 2.0 line is not done.
-Other sculpts will be on Antoinette body.
-There will be more sculpts for the 13 in Revlon body.
-There are going to be ten Theatre de la Mode fashions for the Antoinette and Tyler body.
-A new "Mood" Tyler, Esme and Sydney will be a build your own doll with inset eyes, 15-20 wigs to choose from, 3 chest plate sizes, removable hands and feet and various hand styles.
-A new American Model in a Goth style will come as a basic doll with inset eyes and better articulation. -There will be a new Johnny Depp Pirate figure. There will also be a Penelope Cruz doll.
-Twilight series will get two Volturi figures.
-More Harry Potter large sized figures.
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Angelic Dreamz showed two new resin males. See them at the AD website soon.
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Here is a scan by James of Joan Greene's story cards for her new line. Click on the image to see its original size.
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Juan's Flickr Photos

7/15/2010

Alice Cullen ~ Twilight Character Figure ~ Dolls

Alice Cullen is my favorite character from the Twilight series of books and in the movies. She is also the latest addition from the Tonner Doll Company to their Twilight line of dolls.
 I think she is adorable with her "Ashley Greene Head Sculpt", 16" Ballerina bust Tyler convertible body, amber eyes, wigged hair and cameo skintone. She is wearing a reproduction of an outfit she wore in New Moon.  The retail price of Tonner's Alice is $139.99 and she is expected to ship in September, 2010.


Here is NECA's prototype of Alice. It was shown at the New York Toy Fair in 2009. I could not find this one for sale.



Here's another from NECA being sold at Amazon .com. I cannot locate a better photograph of this doll. She is obviously wearing the same costume as Tonner's doll.  This one is only 7" tall and is called Twilight "New Moon" Alice Cullen. Price at Amazon is $39.95.
Finally we have the Barbie Collector Twilight Saga "Eclipse" 11" Alice doll for $24.99. This doll will ship in August, 2010. This one has the cutest face and changing the shirt to white was a good idea. It would be an even better idea to make all the dolls with a pivotal body. A vampire has to move, doesn't she?

Which of these dolls is your favorite?

2/12/2010

Twilight Werewolf, Jacob Black from Tonner Doll Co.

I like his sneakers and that's about it. The pretty boy face belies the raging wolf inside. He doesn't even look native American. But then again I didn't like the Edward or Bella dolls either.
Jacob Black has Tonner's athletic male body and is 17" tall.
The retail price is $149.99 and there are 3000 of them being produced.
My suggestion...wait 4 months for the first discount. In one year you will be able to get him for much less.
Mattel has a Barbie Twilight Jacob Doll. He's $29.95, 12" tall and looks even dorkier than Tonner's.

9/03/2009

Twilight's Bad Guys (and a Girl)

Three new Twilight character figures were announced today by the Tonner Doll Co. If you haven't read the series, these three are a small nomadic group of vampires who provide most of the plot of Twilight. Victoria is a major bitch.You may or you may not be wondering what happened to her shoes. This trio of phlebotomists goes shoeless. What? Did you think they forgot shoes for the dolls? Victoria actually comes with flat and high-heel feet so she can run around on her toes. Doesn't everyone?

Laurent doesn't play much of a role in the books, but this doll is the best of the three IMO. I love the faux leather jacket and the tight cords. He's even got the tops of his boxer shorts sticking up from above his belt.James is a serious predator. His outfit makes more sense to me. I don't understand why they describe him as "devilishly handsome." This doll is the only one out of all of Tonner's vampires that actually has a sickly pallor and could be a vampire.
Pictures above: Tonner Doll and Me! Mine is the second one of each pair of shots.

When I saw these dolls at the reveal at the Tonner store last month I wondered why one would want the bad vampire dolls. Then again, why would anyone want vampire dolls in the first place? Logic does not belong in this discussion.
I understand the attraction to Edward as he is highly romanticized in the book. I have to admit that I read them all...at least I think I read them. They're like Chinese food. You're hungry again shortly after reading them. They are quick reading, not frightening (unless you know good literature) and possibly entertaining if you want to know what the teeny boppers are screaming about.
All I want from this trio is the clothes.

The suggested retail price for each doll is $179.00. Apparently between August and now, the price was raised by $20 per doll. Did the economy suddenly get better when I wasn't looking? You may be able to see the price on the cards of my photos. It says $159. These vampires exact quite a price, don't they?
Production is 1000 of each and they are due to arrive from the beginning of October through December.
Pre-Order at Cherished Friends for $153.



What did I do with that garlic necklace?

Aren't they cute?

8/14/2009

I Vant to Suck Your Blood

Until recently Vampires were the stuff of horror novels and movies. Stories of the undead go way back in mythology and folklore but according to Wikipedia, the "charismatic and sophisticated vampire of modern fiction was born in 1819 with the publication of The Vampyre by John Polidori..." "However, it is Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula that is remembered as the quintessential vampire novel and provided the basis of the modern vampire legend."

My Mom told me that when she was a teen she saw the original Dracula movie and was truly terrified. It was reported in newspapers that at the opening of this film, members of the audience actually fainted at seeing the horror. Bella Lugosi could scare the crap out of a door knob without saying a word.
Oddly enough it was my mother who introduced me to Anne Rice's books. First I read the fabulous Mayfair Witch series and then I went on to read The Vampire Chronicles and the rest of her books. If you have never read her witch novels, you don't know what you're missing! The two themes ultimately entwine. They are very satisfying. The Twilight series pales by comparison. There are similarities Meyers sprinkled in her books but like the entire series, there is no depth.
This wasn't meant to be a book review but I just finished reading the Twilight series. Most of it was fun and rather simple-minded. There was nothing scarier than speeding cars in any of the four books. The really scary vampires get torn to pieces or go floating off back to Italy.
For those who couldn't get enough of the Twilight movie, Robert Tonner produced Edward and Bella last year. They are two of the most boring-looking dolls that could be imagined. Robert Pattinson does not look like this doll. I wonder what he thought when he saw it. Kristen Stewart is prettier than her vinyl counterpart as well. But I think the vacant look on the doll portrays Bella's personality well. Edward's hair looks afraid.
Images are property of Tonner Doll Company.
Last week, Mattel revealed their version of Bella and Edward. The Mattel dolls are truly tragic. There was no attempt to make the Bella doll look like the character at all. She's Barbie. The Edward doll looks like a miniature Tonner Edward with bad skin.
Image property of Mattel.
Come on...this guy is fabulous-looking. I collect Tonner's dolls and if there were a doll that looked like Robert Pattinson, it would have been in my house already.
What will 'Twilight' stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson think of their Barbie doll counterparts?
Now for a little more realism in a set of (just under) 7" action figures from NECA. According to promotional material they are posable and highly detailed. They're very appealing at under $30 for the pair compared to $139.99 retail for Tonner's dolls. Mattel's duo come in at about $25 each.
Give me Lestat, Louis or Marius any day.


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Photo: Vampire bat

By the way, bats are good. They eat mosquitoes.