Sunday, October 29, 2023

Doll-A-Day 2023 #292: Minnie's Ballet Studio

   Today we're looking at some more $1 buys I got at the bin store. This one is a Sweet Seams set, Minnie's Ballet Studio, made by Moose Toys.



  There were loads of these sets in the millions of bins at that store. Nobody 'seamed', (ha), to want them. I decided to buy one, and do a post and then donate it to a Christmas toy drive.  It includes cute little dolls of Minnie Mouse and a little dog. 


  Minnie is about 6 inches tall. Both dolls are pretty flat, with only their heads and Minnie's skirt being puffy.


Minnie has a very 'anime' appearance, and a ribbon and a rosette on her ear.



Each of the dolls has one hand that's a loop, and one hand that's a knot. That's so they can 'hold hands'. The knot goes through the loop. No Velcro required.


Inside the right side of the package is the ballet studio. 





The box proclaims that there are three play areas: the dressing room, the stage, and the studio.


This is with just the two halves opened up.


This is with the flap on the right folded open.


  As you can see above the set comes with stickers, and a tissue paper wrapped 'surprise. It's not really a surprise, because they tell you on the back of the box that there is a 'mannequin' included. More of a dress dummy really. There's also a tissue paper bundle in the drawer in the bottom of the  middle section.

  It contains Minnie's ballet slippers.


  Not wanting to mess up the packaging, so I can donate it, I didn't want to unwrap the dress dummy. I don't think I could replicate that twist on the top of the paper. But the dummy opens to reveal another pair of ballet slippers.



  The slogan on the front of the box is 'Friends stitched with love'. There's a whole series of Disney characters, mostly the princesses. but also some other characters, like Jessie, from Toy Story. Here's the online description of the set I found:

Small "Rag Doll" style collectable Dolls of your favorite Disney Characters! Six inch soft Dolls with a handmade look and feel with simple yarn details and hand-like painted features. Slide open the Matchbox style box to reveal 2 Dolls, accessories, and Playset to create your own stories! Discover Minnie Mouse and her dog Fifi in this feature filled Deluxe Ballet Studio Pack! Minnie's Playset has 3 play areas and 2 pairs of Ballet Shoes, Mannequin and Stickers!

And then there was this description:

Each story in a box playset embodies a specialty look and feel with homemade, unique handcrafted-inspired details of your favorite Disney characters you know and love.These whimsical "rag doll" style 6-inch soft Dolls are truly special with homespun elements woven throughout! From their hand painted-inspired features, classic yarn hairstyle, elongated dangling arms and legs with knotted limbs and iconic Disney character outfits. 

T I think they're pushing that 'homemade look' a bit too much. They don't look home made at all. And what's with 'hand painted inspired'?! What does that even mean?! They don't look hand painted at all, and stop trying to make them sound hand made. THEY ARE MASS PRODUCED! There must have been more than one series of toys too, because I also found this:

  • Discover 12 of your favorite Disney Characters over Series 2 including Rare, Ultra Rare and Limited Edition Dolls to find.

Minnie wasn't amongst the 12 they were referring to either.

  That's today's doll. See you again tomorrow with another $1 bin store find.

2 comments:

  1. Hmmm, I would not have recognized this as a Disney product without seeing the packaging. As you point out, it does look a bit Anime. I wonder if it was made initially for a European market and then redirected (and repackaged) for an English speaking market.

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    1. Not necessarily. A lot of things are given the anime's treatment these days. It's very popular. I've seen very anime' looking toys called Tsum Tsums of Disney characters, as well as a lot of others, and they are sold at The Disney Store.

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