There are lots of unusual plush toys and fancy resin dolls these days. Far more than there once were. First they were made for humor’s sake — the Albert Einstein and Shakespeare action figures. Then for education’s sake — the Presidents of the United States action figures. But now merchandising has become a parody of itself. There’s no need for novelty stores or stories on The Onion.
Behold: Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” Barbie® Doll.
Officially licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP, Mattel offers the following appealing selling points for “adult collectors”:
From the doll’s classic ensemble to the perfectly painted expression to the accompanying black birds, every aspect captures the film’s infamous appeal.
The best part, of course, is that “The Birds” Barbie is completely interoperable with fifty years of Barbie friends and accessories. You may already have a pink convertible in your home, ready for recreating the final, ambiguous scene of Hitchcock’s picture.
My favorite part of the Barbie Collector product page for the doll: “A Note to Parents: The Birds is rated PG-13. Consult www.filmratings.com for further information.” Make sure to cover Skipper’s eyes.
What famous fictional or historical figure would you like to see in Barbie form? How about Yentl? Howard Hughes? Or Karen Carpenter?
Comments
MargaretWV
Karen Carpenter has been done as Barbie, in the Todd Haynes film “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=1932260
“An unusual facet of the film was that, instead of actors, almost all parts were played by modified Barbie dolls. In particular, Haynes detailed Karen Carpenter’s worsening anorexia by subtly whittling away at the face and arms of the ‘Karen’ Barbie doll.”
Ian Bogost
Wow. I wonder if I’d seen that and forgotten about it, or if it is just a concept that one is likely to fall upon.
Jose Zagal
They should do a series with characters from Mad Men. 😉