New Agatha Primrose Line
Here is the introductory paragraph about Agatha Primrose from the Tonner website:
From the artistic to the technological, from fashion to fiction to science, Agatha Primrose loves the experiences that her life brings. Whether obsessing over Dr. Who’s TARDIS, Hermione’s Time Turner or Doc’s DeLorean, figuring out the recipe for Katniss’ District Four bread, and of course, trying to find a believable female character for her gaming fixation, Agatha is on a fact-finding mission and it’s all for her personal knowledge. You’ll find her wearing the perfect handmade costume at Comic-Con, testing the latest gadgets at the tech store and nose deep in books with places to which she hopes to travel.
She comes across as a more articulated young Marley who is on the nerdy side. I do not care for the open mouth. She's been given a bust and fashion feet but wears very child-like clothing. I guess I'm trying to figure out how old she is.
I love the outfit but something is off here. She's has a gaming fixation? Seriously?
So I like the doll and her outfits but the back story sucks.
Remember this Marley? I loved her hair and face and dress. How does the new one compare?
Another similar looking Marley.
It's all a little too obvious.
An outfit that would have been improved if the doll had flat feet, tighter pants and tall boots.
The link to Tonner's Agatha Primrose dolls:
http://www.tonnerdoll.com/tonner/fashion-dolls/agatha-primrose
If you click on the blonde basic, it says "sold out." I believe it's just not in stock yet.
22 going on 9
ReplyDeleteI really think your take on Agatha is off. I look at her as a refreshing new doll & with the power of imagination & play the collector can turn her into what ever story they wish. I think the outfits are great. I see young teens wearing that type of school uniform all the time. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder, and that is what makes doll collecting interesting.
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DeleteTerri
I think Tonner's trying to do an Anime style doll or the harajuku style. But it's sort of a half-hearted attempt. The school uniform look is definitely that style but then he throws in the prom dress and the plaid. To compliment the school uniforms he could've done some Lolita(anime style Lolita w ruffles and lace) dresses.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough what really bothers me is the teddy bear on her back. I know it's supposed to be a backpack but in pics it clearly just looks like a teddy bear and not a backpack.
No real "wow" factor in the line. It almost seems like a high-priced play line doll.
It's sort of a weird target area... I'd guess the character herself is in her young teens, like many of the anime characters one sees in the iconic junior high/high school sailor suit uniforms, but the fashion line seems all over. The prom dress does seem sort of random... I could see the tweed look as in the "nerdy" vein. Fashion-wise, I feel like there's some crossover with Ellowyne, but I'm not feeling the facial sculpt on this girl. (And those glasses are killing me!)
ReplyDeleteAt that height, I guess she's supposed to be in scale with Tyler & co, like young Marley?
At first, I thought she was a Deja Vu sibling. If any doll cries out for convertible feet, it's this one. The flats could be as cute as fashion heels.
ReplyDeleteLove the glasses, actually! Iffy about the open mouth. The tweed outfit is adorable but, given her backstory, I could never see her wearing that prom dress. Also, I don't know how many adult collectors she will have appeal for. I love sci-fi, but am not interested in gaming. I do like the updated sculpt. IMO, the Marley sculpt was a little bland. The doll's articulation looks good! she might end up being a successful line, kind of like Agnes Dreary. I probably won't buy her because I've gotten away from child and teen dolls, for the most part.
ReplyDeleteYou make very good points.
DeleteLook at that layered cake dress up there. I cant imagine someone gets paid to come up this crap. Sorry, but really? Just stick a candle in it and make a wish.
ReplyDeleteI used to collect Ellowynes and I have 12 - that's where I stopped and moved on to Integrity . what I began to realize with Tonner is that he is a "recycler", especially when he uses licenses like "gone with the Wind". I have seen that prom dress, as well as other fashions in so many versions, on so many dolls including Ellowynes, Deja Vu's, Tiny Kity and Tylers, the fashions are almost identical on different dolls that you collect one, you collect them all. I think by giving Agatha a back story with so many hobbies Tonner is trying to cover different fashion looks to get the most variety and to please almost everyone, just like with his Deja Vu doll where the cover story allowed him to explore different fashion periods, that could either be a good thing or a bad thing in terms of lacking focus and direction and alienating those collectors who look for something cohesive and original in their dolls.
ReplyDeleteTali from Israel
Great post! Thank you.
DeleteTerri
Two of Tonner's small dolls, Tiny Kitty and then Marley, who was completely different in stylistic age, clothing, everything, were both very nice dolls. I miss all the TKs and I probably only kept 3 or so Marley and TK in my Tonner doll cases. There just wasn't space for the small dolls among the larger dolls.
ReplyDeleteI think the space issue gets to be a problem with most collectors. I will choose the most limited or the dolls I consider to be " most special" when I have to downsize, and this latest doll wouldn't make the cut at ALL for me, personally. I realize we are all different and have different likes and preferences.
Something about this doll reminds me of the Tonner Hermoine from Harry Potter.
I was a nerdy tween who had glasses, but never a teddy bear backpack. I'd give her books, maybe mini i-devices ( unbranded I would think) and go more with the nerdy tween image, which in real life is almost always a scholarly- type vs. a glamour girl model in training.
Also, I'm a bit put off regarding the idea of sexualizing, as someone referred to this doll as a " mini Lolita". I've never thought Tonner did that sort of thing, as a matter of respect for females, whether images of tweens, teens or adult women.
But, I'm old enough to have loved and played with Francie, who was my very favorite young teen doll as a child. She was hip, she was edgy for the time, but she was never representative of an inappropriately sexualized teen. Maybe old perceptions and childhood vintage doll love die hard. :)
Amanda
I think this doll has possibilities but her back story is too all over the place and I don't know what Tonner's love afair with the 13" body is about as opposed to the Marley 12" body. It would have been useful for those who already have a Marley collection to be able to share clothes and accessories.
DeleteLolita style in the anime world and in Japan is something different. It's where they dress in almost goth Victorian style dresses that are short (knee-length not mini)but with lots of lace and ruffles. The outfits in pics I've seen have not been revealing or sexualized.
ReplyDeleteI never thought they were meant to be sexual like as in the Lolita movie. But I could be wrong. I've just run into that style and Harujuku when looking up anime.
Integrity did some dolls in that style for their Asian conventions. They were definitely not "sexualized"
I think the problem with the Lolita style is often that young women are seen to be dressing to look a lot younger than they are, more like much younger girls. Think Ariana Grande.
DeleteTo me she looks like a young Deja Vu doll. I don't feel attraction to this line although I think she's cute and the blue uniform is a very nice outfit. I prefer also the old child Alice and Marley dolls. But I'd like to point that if the glasses are the main characteristic of this doll, why they don't suit her well? In all pictures they are so highly placed for her face!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation.
ReplyDeleteT
I like the look of the "nerdy" Marley- the top outfit is pretty cute. Not quite cute enough to actually GET of course, but I do like her :D
ReplyDeleteI like this doll a lot. I think the glasses are a cute extra touch probably since I had to get glasses at eight years old. I am not a fan though of the pink ruffle dress. Some of the Tyler dolls he made with the changeable feet, perhaps he will make some Agatha dolls like that to.
ReplyDeleteI agree that she looks very "Deja Vu". The highly stylized body and face have worked very...very well for Tonner over the last couple of years and they appear to be responding to market demand.
ReplyDeleteThe range of outfits suggests to me that they are testing the market to see which direction to go in developing the line. The whole Hogwarts/Sailor Moon/Manga thing doesn't work for me but it may get them a lot of business.
I won't be buying her but I'm glad to see them trying new lines and I hope they find a market for her.
As always love the blog.
Will C.
"Gaming fixation" very likely refers to games such as Dungeons and Dragons, and Pathfinder Society, if that helps.
ReplyDeleteI was at the stage where I was divesting myself of all my Tonner dolls except for TK and then Agatha Primrose came along. I really don't like the open mouth look but I love her face and most of the outfits. I hope that Mr. Tonner continues to design new clothing for her so that I can continue to dress her. I was a rimmed nerd myself in the 1970s so Agatha strikes a chord with me. Love your doll blog! :)
ReplyDeleteThis one caught my eye. Maybe we nerds just need to stick together.
ReplyDeletethank you teri for the overview of agatha and marley. i needed this message because i have had marley for about a year and lover her. i purchased agatha today and wanted to find out if she can wear marley's clothes (i am suppose to be on a budget). she will arrive friday. hope she can wear marley's clothes for now. i know she has breasts and my marley is flat-chested. i love agatha's outfits and glasses. yes she is a different image from my marley but she will be partnering with her when she arrives. marley can't wait.
ReplyDeleteagatha arrived today. she is adorable. i love her rimmed glasses. yes she is quite different from marley, but i have paired them in my family of dolls. actually she can pull off many different styles. i would have liked her to have convertible feet like my jaci tonner doll but can work with it. she is able to wear outfits i have for marley.
ReplyDeleteMy YOYO MODE Agatha arrived today. I really love her and look forward to making her many fashions
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get the Tech Agatha Primrose before it sells out. I'm so disappointed that I missed the ComicCon Alice one! If anyone know where to get one or the costume please let me know ( that's a reasonable price). As for age, I'm guessing that she's between 14 to 17.
ReplyDeleteActually, I like the open mouth look- reminds me of some old Ashton Drake & one of the current "adult" fashion Tonner dolls. I haven't seen it in person, but it looks different but a possible compliment to Agnes Dreary... Btw, does anyone know if Agnes Dreary's clothes or any SoulDoll clothes will fit Agatha?
I really like her clothes... Does anyone know if her glasses fit on her face well size-wise? I would love to also see cat-eye glasses.
As a teen, I was very nerdy & geeky & wore glasses as a toddler. I did wear cosplay (before I knew what that was), costumes, pop culture, hippie/punk fusion & grunge. I still wear all-of-the-above (outside of work) & stuffed animal backpacks (albeit Ghibli & Gremlins) at age 44!
I agree that the prom dress seems out of character...at that age, I had NO desire to go to prom or homecoming. And flat feet seems more in character. It's very unlikely that a geeky teen would want to wear (or can wear due to physical challenges) high heels. At the most, platform shoes... Doc Martins/combat boots, sandals, animal sneakers or shoes that would work w/cosplay like elf shoes. As for the more mature physique, that's not an issue. Again, there are teens & adults who dress this way (w/exception of the prom dress).
I'd like to see more cosplay & clothing & accessories that match her interests. I work w/kids w/Aspergers & Nonverbal Learning Disorder & I can see a potential appeal towards Agatha. I know that kids/adults are very passionate towards their interests: anime, gaming (be it computer & role play/LARP), fantasy & animals. Many of the kids I work w/are obsessed w/cats(!)...rabbits & unusual animals. As for other interests: fairies, monsters & steampunk are major interests (as young as 10 yrs old). I can also see animal onesies to sleep in.
She is the reason I started to like Tonner dolls. This doll caught my eye immediately. The only thing I do not like are her high heels, but the shoes coming with her (the anime one) stand very well without a doll stand surprisingly. I can't get enough of her and am ready to dress her in my way in the future. Her back story doesn't bother me at all. Her looks explains everything I need to know, and I know a doll's "personality" can easily change depending on how she is dressed. Besides, according to the photos of her I have seen on the internet, she has loads of potential. I really think she deserves more popularity!
ReplyDelete