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| JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS Special Edition Doll: HOLLYWOOD JEM |
Hasbro and Integrity Toys are in business to make money. That's the bottom line.
Marketing gobbledygook:
"As children of the 80's ourselves, working on this project with the Hasbro team was a dream come true for our entire team. JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS has been a major influence for us," says Alain Tremblay, marketing director of Integrity Toys, Inc."We wanted to remain true to the spirit of the original doll line, while paying homage to the animated series, which is something that we as JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS fans always wanted through the years," says Vaughn Sawyers, Integrity's head designer.Bryony Bouyer, Sr. VP, Global Franchise Development for Hasbro said: "We wanted to pay homage to the characters and offer collectible dolls to fans that would showcase the essence of their favorite characters. We admire the high quality dolls produced by Integrity Toys, so this relationship made perfect sense."
Not being a child of the 80's or a fan of Jem and the Holograms, I know absolutely nothing about this cartoon, these characters or the animated series. I looked it up on Wikipedia and learned it ran from 1985 to 1988. "The show is about music company owner Jerrica Benton, her singer alter-ego Jem, her band the Holograms, and their adventures."
Most of Hasbro's action figures sell for well under $20. There are a few playsets for under $35.
In my biased opinion, this doll has a Pink Box Barbie Aesthetic. $125. Seriously?
Links which may be of interest:
Take your $125. and buy the real thing. Buy vintage.
I bought a good condition nude Jem doll last month for five dollars, so the original dolls are out there for pretty decent prices. I do like this new doll a lot, and was excited that the rumblings of a doll revival (that have been around forever) have actually come to pass, but her price is way too high for me. I was hoping that she'd come back as a play line doll, but with the Integrity name and higher prices that come with it I just won't be able to afford it. I am hoping that since she's a Comicon exclusive she's priced on the higher end of the price bracket, but you can never be too sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd her hair looks seriously fried.
My step daughter asked me to buy her a Jem doll. I didn't even know what it was. The ones I saw on eBay were a little pricey for a casual gift but I will be looking for the lower priced ones if you say they are out there.
DeleteThanks for your comments.
Terri
You forgot to add that Jem's earrings are really a link to her supercomputer Synergy that can holograpically change Jem's hair & outfits in a flash of light.
ReplyDelete"showtime Synergy"
Wow...I think.
DeleteHonestly I have no idea what you're talking about.
Terri, the doll I bought was the first year Jem/Jerrica doll which are apparently more common than some. Other dolls get up there in price depending on who you want and their rarity. I found mine locally, so I didn't have to pay for shipping. There's one like mine for ten dollars plus six dollars on Etsy right now: http://www.etsy.com/listing/92377660/vintage-jem-and-the-holograms-jerrica
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't have any clothes, and since her feet are so big they might be hard to find, but it's certainly cheaper than 125 dollars.
And thank you for having such an awesome blog!
Thank you for reading the blog and sharing with me and my readers. It's great to hear from other collectors like you.
DeleteI love Jem! This is the doll update I've been waiting for! She looks amazing--just like the cartoon. I had the original Jem and she is an odd size (same body as Kenner Darci dolls). This is a chance for adult collectors to take their childhood love of Jem and translate it to their love of fashion dolls now! That looks like an FR2 body. IF that's true, then 125 wouldn't be totally out of line. The sculpt almost looks like Elise J. with a smile... Thanks for the news! It made my night!
ReplyDeleteMethinks Integrity will do for Hasbro what Jason Wu did for the Madame Alexander Doll Company and their once attractive Alex line--flush it down the toilet and send them scampering to a new buyer to make heads and tails of
ReplyDeletea floundering line.
BTW, ain't it a tad too early for '80's "nostalgia"?
Bring back Flatsys and the Littlechaps while you're at it, Hasbro, and no "updating." Please!
I'm not impressed. If I were a Jem fan I might be unable to resist this doll....but I'm not. This is a very specialized product for a really small niche market. Now...if this were a Emma Peel doll that really got Diana Rigg, I would probably be writing the check as I type!
ReplyDeleteIT's top end lines seem to have lost a lot of their cache over the last few years. Now it seems like they are just throwing anything out there hoping somthing will fly.
love the blog
Will C.
To me, this doll's hair just looks like a mess... not feathered 80's splendor.
ReplyDeleteNo offense, but I don't think this new doll is aimed at older collectors.
ReplyDeleteIt will probably be a huge it with the collectors in their 30's who grew up with the show. Being a SDCC exclusive, it's clear that they want to target that "younger" crowd.
Looking forward to it.
Joe C.
I agree 100%
DeleteShe's cute but NOT 125.00 cute.
ReplyDeleteActually very Barbie-esque, even with the articulation...and the hair doesnt look any better than a pink label Barbie...sorta fried and a mess.
I liked Jem as I'm sure other Hasbro collectors do/did...but I don't see Hasbro toy collectors shelling out 125.00 on a fashion doll...and lets face it - to comic-geeks(especially the ones I know personally - this is just a fashion doll(and Jem wasn't even a true comic-character.)
As for the Integrity re-style -she looks like she's on a Vampire body in caucasion skin-tone with a DG fashion and a Barbie style 'smiley' sculpt.
Why couldn't she be marketed around the DG price tag of 60.00 and even a 'Friend of the Dynamite Girls'?? They easily carry off the 80s vibe!?
It's a cool idea and all but even as a fan of the short lived show - I rather have one of the 'vintage' dolls to fix up and customize.
(I wonder how long it will take before this sculpt ends up as another DG character or in the NuFace line??)
;)
I bought a fixer-upper last night for $10.25 just to see what I can do.
DeleteJust dawned on me....
DeleteShe reminds me of Tawny Kitaen from a White Snake video than she does Jem...well, maybe if her hair was auburn?
lol ;)
http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/nggallery/post/our-10-favorite-celebrity-rocker-couples-of-the-80s-and-90s-a-rock-of-ages-fashion-flashback/image/70203
I'm 35 so I watched Jem. I was never a huge fan. I posted about this doll on Facebook and several people I know got very excited. I think it'll definitely be popular with those of us who grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons. I must admit... the doll is truly outrageous. (I really can't stop making Jem references. Also, watching the cartoon as an adult - really bad idea!)
ReplyDeleteHehe...I watched Saturday morning cartoons in my day, too. Betty Boop, etal.
DeleteVery nice realization of a Jem playdoll. I don't want one. I guess $125 is what the market will bear. Or maybe not... Jem has a lot of fans, I guess. Cool doll, I'll give em' $10 bucks. ;) Truly, The Integrity dolls must cost quarters to make. Who knows?
ReplyDeleteI wonder...if they can produce the highly detailed dolls and fashions of the Dynamite Dolls and sell them for $65. each.....
DeleteBut of course, there is the take that Hasbro will get on each doll as well. Who knows? They won't be telling.
Great point, Terri! Hmmmmmmmm, I wonder too.
DeleteI can appreciate that collectors who feel a strong affection for Jem are thrilled, and I hope they really enjoy her. That's what dolls and toys are for.
HAHAHA! Too funny!
DeleteI think she's an overpriced piece of crap :o)
ReplyDeletexoxo
I know that Alain has always been a Jem fan, so I am sure this was a blast for him...
ReplyDeletebut I do agree, the price point seems very high.
I LOVE that they are producing this playline looking doll for $125.00, I am excited it is a doll that I won't want and I will save money. (It will be in keeping with the money I saved on Holly Go Lightly dolls, Poppy as Audrey dolls, "seasonal" Dynamite dolls and this year's 16 inch dolls - oh and also the Monograms. - You know all the dolls that are still sitting at the dealers due to being overpriced). The good news is Integrity is having a sale on many of those dolls. Maybe collectors who cannot afford Jem at $125 will get lucky later and they will go on sale :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a child of the 80s. (I think. Possibly 70s.) And, I LOVED Jem. $125 bucks is a LOT (yes) for a doll that looks very "playline." Hopefully, it's just the price for this "Special Edition" doll. $65 is more like it. BUT --- I'm looking forward to having all of The Holograms and The Misfits. Something tells me it's going to be drama getting it. I hope not. I don't want to be punished for being part of the collector's market. But, I know what I like. Kind of obsessed right now. (Also, Terri, your site is one of the best out there. I'm always excited to hear about the newest and the best of the industry. You rock!!!)
ReplyDeleteHey Victor: I wish you luck in getting her. I think this first edition might go fast but keep checking the Hasbro site on the day of Comicon to find out when they will go on sale.
DeleteTerri
And, just like that, Terri --- she's gone. :-( I have been periodically checking to see if she would pop up on Hasbro's site. She never did and when she finally --- she's gone. Oh, well. I said I will not obsess over these things. Hopefully, the next wave will not be "special editions" and $125 bucks a pop!!! This interest should tell Hasbro that there's still an audience.
ReplyDeleteThere will be more - have no fear.
Delete