Romina and Samantha

Samantha Parkington is probably the most popular and well-known American Girl Doll to be released. However, not everyone knows that she had a previous identity: Romina. Allow me to explain.

Photo credit: American Girl

Romina was a doll created by the Götz doll company. Wait, wasn't American Girl created by Pleasant Company? The answer is yes, but the dolls were initially manufactured by Götz factories. 

When she set out to create AG, Pleasant Rowland purchased the Romina face sculpt from Götz, which is still used today, along with their remaining stock of soft-bodied Romina dolls (Most had a plastic torso). The original white-bodied Samantha dolls are actually slightly modified Romina dolls! Molly and Kirsten had to be completely created from new parts, so they look extremely different from early Samantha dolls. The biggest difference in my opinion is the eyes and eyelashes. Samantha had looooooooong glamorous eyelashes that were spaced out (Think SpongeBob, just not as dramatic), While Kirsten and Molly had shorter eyelashes that tended to look like a single block of eyelash. As soon as the stock of "Romina era" Samantha dolls sold out, she took on a look closer to Molly and Kirsten, as well as much darker brown hair. 

Photo Credit: American Girl

The original Our New Baby dolls (Now known as Bitty Baby) used the sculpts and bodies of a Götz baby doll line, which wasn't as popular as the ones with closed eyes, which is most likely why Götz allowed Pleasant to buy them. The dolls no longer use the original sculpts, but they closely resemble them. The blonde baby initially had platinum blonde eyelashes which kind of looked like spaghetti noodles...? These were later changed to light brown, and once Mattel took over, they had hard black eyelashes that don't break or bend easily.

Basically, Pleasant Company reused old doll parts!

I really hope you enjoyed reading about this; I thought it was very interesting.

'til Next Time!  - JCole

I HAVE RETURNED!!

I'M BACK!! I honestly feel like my last few posts were like "I'm back!" Disappears. "I've returned!" Gone again. "I'm really back this time!" Whoosh, gone. I feel terrible for that, and I hope that you all can forgive me. 

A few big things have happened to me in my absence. First, I got Felicity Merriman!! I got her August 31. I really hope to show her to you all and review her! 
Second, I turned 14! That's pretty neat. 

Honestly, typing these out, it doesn't seem all that great, but it's still neat to me.😁 I hope you'll enjoy the new and (hopefully) improved Living the Doll Life, Boy Style! It's crazy to think I've had this blog for two years! I hope you'll stick with me for a few more!

One last thing before I leave! I've got an email for my blog: oneboldblog@gmail.com, If you have anything to tell me, or even if you just want to say hi. Or, of course, you could just leave a comment on any of my posts. I'll try my best to respond quickly!

'til Next Time!  - JCole

American Barbie vs. Japanese Licca-chan

Photo Credit: The Japan Times

This is Licca-chan. She enjoys the same popularity in Japan that Barbie enjoys here in America. She came out in 1967, eight years after Barbie came out. Barbie never sold well in Japan. Licca, however, stole the hearts of Japanese children, with her big eyes and young look. She also has an extensive background.

Her full name is Licca Kayama, and she is eleven years old. She attends Shirakaba Gakuen Elementary school. Her father's name is Pierre and is a French Musician. Her mother's name is Orie and is a Japanese Fashion Designer. Licca-chan is 4 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 75 pounds (The character- not the doll. she's actually 8.3 inches) and she loves Doraemon comics (manga?)

She also had an anime based off of the Licca Kayama character, called Super Doll Licca-chan or Sūpā Dōru Rika-chan (Licca-chan is Rika-chan in Japan-they don't have the 'L' sound.)

Photo Credit: Mattel

As you all know, this is Barbie. She was introduced in 1959. She is very popular with children in America, as she has an endless wardrobe and careers, some of which might be a bit strange for a teenager, such as president or a NASCAR driver. 

She also has a bit of background information, but much of it isn't widely known. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, she is 17, and she grew up in Willows. Wisconsin, attended Willows High, and moved to Malibu, California when she was younger

Barbie has starred in several movies since 2001. Originally, they were Barbie as something, like Rapunzel, but more recent movies star Barbie herself and usually her sisters. Currently, she has a vlog on YouTube and a vlog-type show, called "Dreamhouse Adventures". 

I've taken a liking to Licca because she reminds me of Sailor Moon and Fruits Basket, my favorite anime.

This is Sailor Moon!
(Credit: VIZ Media)

What do you think? I'd love to get my hands on a Licca doll to compare to Barbie!

'til Next Time! - JCole

The Disappearance of the Doll Bloggers

I'm sorry. I keep on disappearing for months on end, without explanation. The short story is, I completely forgot. That's all there is to it. Several good doll blogs have disappeared into oblivion, or just ended, but I have no plan to stop writing. I still love dolls, I'm still a doll-obsessed teenage boy! A few planned reviews never got written, such as Skylar's Doll Hospital visit back in August, or my Malibu Barbie. I don't know if I will review those, but I've not been sucked into oblivion. I'll be writing some American Girl related posts soon, so keep an eye out for that. Thank you to the few who still come check back here. I will try my best to write more often, and not leave without warning. I hope you're having a wonderful 2019!
'til Next Time! - JCole

BeForever Molly is (kinda) Official!!

Costco. Who thought an American Girl Doll would be released at Costco?! The BeForever Molly has been released at Costco, but not anywhere else yet. She comes with her glasses (Yay!!), locket (Double Yay!!) purse (Okay), money (meh), pajamas, and a copy of A Winning Spirit. Oh, and a coupon (Y'know, why not empty your wallet, while you're at it) for Stars, Stripes, and Surprises. 

I'm so excited!! They retail for $119 (USD), and she's really cute! I've always wanted Molly, and This is a great deal, because the accessories are usually $24, and the pajamas are another $24, and so the worth of this set is $158 (You get $5 off when you buy a doll with their accessories).
You can also get Maryellen. But Molly!!!

What do you guys think about this? Do you think She'll be a Costco Exclusive, or do you think she'll eventually be sold directly from American Girl?

'til Next Time!  - JCole