Best of 2022 - Number 4 - Learning to Pivot

Just before I retired from teaching, the latest catch phrase in education was "Learn to Pivot".   With all the problems going on in this profession, we were told we had to realize that "the old way of doing things no longer worked" - that you had to alter your way of thinking if you were going to be survive in modern education.  

That's actually true of everything.  Any successful person will tell you that they got that way by picking themselves up every time they got knocked down; they learned from each failure and changed how they responded to the situation.  Nothing could be more true for businesses post-pandemic that are dealing with supply-chain problems, worker shortages, and economic crises.  

One business that seemed to alter its sales model is MGA toys.  The creative genius behind this is Michael Scott Anderson.  In 2020, MGA introduced an Animated Series on Youtube about a group of dolls that attended an alternative arts school, Rainbow High.  Each character has its own designated color choice in wardrobe and backstory.  This built up interest in the dolls before they were actually released.   (Early in its history, Integrity Toys created a similar buyer loyalty with their story cards, which went away for several years but recently returned.)   It took a couple years for the Rainbow High dolls to get established, but now they have a very loyal and fervent following!

The Rainbow High Dolls actually made my #8 spot in my 2021 countdown.   I included quite a bit of history with them at that time Rainbow High Dolls 2020-2021 .  Like the coronavirus, MGA has adapted and morphed quite a bit this year.  

Most of the Rainbow High dolls come with an additional ensemble and retails for less than $30.  Their original cost in 2020 - 2021 was $24.99, but the price increased with Series 4 to $29.99.  Here is a photo of Series 4 that was released May 23, 2022 (on my birthday by the way).  Photos by MGA except as noted.

The hair styles on these dolls are so amazing; the details in the ensembles are just fantastic; the bodies are articulated; the price point just can't be beat.  The Series 4 girls are so inclusive this time.  We have so many special versions!  The third doll from the left is called Delilah Fields, representing a person with albinism.  She is one of my favorites produced so far (I added the white bows).

As the mainline dolls related so specifically to color, MGA apparently realized they were literally "painting themselves into a corner", so they mixed things up a little.  With the world's obsession with competition, MGA decided Rainbow High needed some rival schools.  In 2022, we got Pacific Coast, retailing for $31.88 each (the beach scene sold separately and has been able to be purchased on clearance for $25):

Pacific Coast was followed by Shadow Vision.  Shadow Vision dolls started as a grayscale version and are actually quite phenomenal.  The execution of this line was genius (yes, the picture below is in color). 

Here is a production photo of Nicole Steel representing the color "platinum" in my collection.  

Adding other schools to the storyline opened up all sorts of competition venues!   Walmart got exclusive rights to a Costume Contest!  Being a store exclusive, that allowed Walmart to bump the prices on these dolls to $34.97.

You can't turn on syndicated television in America without seeing some sort of music competition: American Idol, The Voice, The Masked Singer, America's Got Talent, Lip Sync Battle, or The American Song Writer.  How clever would it be to have these rival schools compete in a talent show?  What if we gave them original scores and music videos on Youtube and called the competition Rainbow Vision?  Why not?!  (Each dolls retailed for $39.99 and some of them actually came with instruments like the Rockstars from 2021)

That gave us Rainbow Divas:

Neon Shadow:

And The Royal Three:

These dolls were each quite phenomenal on their own right.  So, there is a little something for everyone.  But MGA also offered a Special Edition Shadow High Ainsley Slater Fashion Trunk Show for $49.99

To respond to the Rainbow High De'Vious Twins, we got a special edition Shadow High Storm Twins, Naomi and Veronica for $69.99 (at Christmas these dolls went on sale on Amazon for less than $30).  Yes, one of the dolls is blowing a bubble with bubblegum!

MGA realized in 2021 that Rainbow High had started attracting a serious group of adult collectors and decided to test the waters by introducing its first "Rainbow High Collector Doll", Jett Dawson, in August 2021.  It even produced 1000 dolls with "Numbered" cards sold randomly through Amazon.  The doll retailed for the most ever asked for a Rainbow High doll $54.99.   It came with a little dress form.

Jett Dawson was quite successful, so MGA continued offering "Collector Dolls" in 2022.  

First up offered on February 1, 2022 is Chinese New Year Lily Cheng.  She sold online for appx $80.  This doll is one of the most perfect Rainbow High dolls made to date.  She is just breathtaking!  Even the box artwork is to die for!

Next up Walmart offered the most expensive Rainbow High Collector Doll to date, Dia De Los Metros Maria Garcia.  She originally retailed for $129, but has come down in price and is hovering around the $100 mark.  That still puts this doll right up there with high end dolls like Integrity Toys!  The packaging on this doll is as stunning as her predecessor, Lily Cheng.   Maria Garcia's box actually has LED lights around the inside edge that can be turned on and off!  There has been a lot of complaining that the ensemble isn't culturally accurate, but it can't be denied this is still one beautiful Rainbow High doll.

In 2022 Rainbow High produced its first ever "Holiday Doll" with Roxie Grande.  Roxie could actually be found in Target Stores in American and retailed for $59.99.  She was on sale on Amazon for $39.99 and Target even matched the price.  The lower price is reflected in packaging since it was similar to mainline MGA dolls.

The final "Collector Doll" of 2022 was Rainbow High's first celebrity doll.  Can you imagine getting a Rainbow High Paris Hilton character?  Was she worth $99?  Totally - "That's Hot!"

Just when you think you couldn't get any more Rainbow High/Shadow High fun, MGA goes and releases some blind box accessories.  Each box costs $9.97 - the displays in the stores look like this:

There are 27 previously unreleased pairs of shoes (many associated with specific dolls).

And 28 previously unreleased handbags (again, mostly associated with specific dolls).

I daresay there is at least one on many fellow collectors' shelves.  In a year when high-end doll producers are unable to get product into collectors' hands, MGA was able to offer a little something for everyone.  They recognized market opportunity and seized it.  Whether you needed a cute quick fix for less than $30 (and many of these mainline edition dolls hit sales bins for as little $10 or less) or wanted something a little more luxurious like Paris Hilton, Lily Cheng, or Maria Garcia, you could walk away with a deep sense of satisfaction.   

My #4 of 2022 goes to MGA for availability, affordability, and playability.  The doll I chose to represent this line was my personal favorite from 2022, Lily Cheng.  To my surprise, it was the doll I actually asked for under my Christmas tree this year.

A Funny Thing Happened As I Was Leaving Target ...

We all know what it's like when you're waiting on your dolls to arrive and they are being held hostage by the postal system.  We often start lurking on doll sales boards and the dreaded e-bay.   

We have overspent on the Christmas holiday and secondary market prices are just too much ... There's nothing in our collection that we want to redress and play with ... We badly need a doll fix ...

It's at times like this we start wandering the local toy aisles at our retail stores.  Hopefully we'll find a new Mattel ensemble that might look nice on Poppy.  Maybe the new Made To Move Barbies will be out!   

I needed some school supplies for school, and I just happened to have a couple gift cards in my purse that were given to me by my students.  What could it hurt to check out the toy aisle?

There was very slim pickings in the Mattel aisle.  A few fashionistas that had been picked over.  Several Barbie Career dolls.   Some shoe packs.  Nothing interesting.

So I thought I would check out the other aisles.  Maybe I would be inspired to create a little diorama or add something to my displays.  

I went down the next aisle.  There were some cute little food items, but they had faces on them.  Let's try the next aisle.

BIG MISTAKE!  She looked directly at me.  She hypnotized me with those acrylic eyes.  She reeled me in with that flame red hair.   But the deal was closed the second I saw the red, black, and white cheerleader ensemble!  Her price tag, only $22.99.  I would even have gift cards left over!

This is Ruby Anderson, Rainbow High Cheer Squad.  I have avoided the Rainbow High dolls ever since they were first released in 2020.  They are produced by MGA Entertainment (the same manufacturer as Bratz).   I had picked up a couple of them in the store and carefully eyed the clothing, considering the possibility of use on Integrity Toys dolls.   But I REFUSED to get sucked into another play line.

As a teacher whose elementary school is close to a college town for a major university with a huge football following, I am easily drawn to things with this theme.  Ruby Anderson's cheer costume looks a lot like the UGA's.

I started off 2021 by breaking My #1 Rule "Focus my collecting.  If I don't already have one, I don't need one."  This is not looking good.

... So, Ruby is obviously going to be displayed in her original ensemble.  When I was removing her from box (you need a lot of patience, a pair of scissors, and strong fingernails to complete that task), I realized she had quite a sturdy body for a play line doll.  It feels heavy and substantial.  It's also quite articulated.  I thought about undressing her and checking out her body, but I was afraid I might mess something up and the pompoms are attached to her hands by plastic. 

It turns out, some of my students had also given me some Amazon gift cards for Christmas.  Ruby obviously needs a friend.  She can't be all alone on the shelf.  The back of the box shows that there is a separate doll in the Cheer Series representing six colors of the rainbow.  

Ruby Anderson is Red, Poppy Rowen is Orange, Sunny Madison is Yellow, Jade Hunter is Green, Skylar Bradshaw is Blue, and Violet Willow is Violet.  The Indigo color is missing.  It seems that the manufacturer wanted to release a black doll for the Indigo version but had production problems.  These six original characters also appeared in Series 1 which included an additional ensemble for each doll.   

Before choosing I decided to do some online research.  My goodness MGA has quite a thing going with these dolls.  They have their own website:  Rainbow High Website.  There is even a Youtube channel for them with animated stories about the dolls!  Rainbow High Youtube Channel

In addition to the original six characters for Series 1, there have been three exclusives produced: Amaya Raine (Hair Studio), Avery Styles (Fashion Studio), and Kia Hart (Valentines Day).  The Second Series was also just released with six different dolls, including the much anticipated Krystal Bailey representing Indigo.

I decided that I wanted to get the most bang for my buck.  I had enough Amazon gift cash for Avery Styles Fashion Studio ($49.99 with free shipping).

I chose this doll because she was wigged (Rainbow High dolls have so much rooted hair, it is difficult to photograph the bodies).   I also wanted all those mix n match clothing pieces (the box cover says over 300 looks).  But the piece I most needed was that clothing rack!  (Its wheels even roll!)

Excluding the Cheer Squad, The Rainbow High dolls come with a stand.   (I am using it to hold the second wig in this picture.  I used a kaiser stand for Amaya.)  The shoes in the Fashion Studio come with really nice acrylic boxes!  

This is how she looks out of her packaging.

When you remove the wig (which is held in by a peg with a small hole in her head), you find that she has molded pink hair in a pixie cut!  Cute attention to detail here.  The head is not "rubbery" at all.  The plastic seems firm.  She has painted on panties for modesty.  The faces have a shimmery finish that I have read is easy to remove with acetone.  The eyes have beautiful eyelashes!

The arms are articulated at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist.  The hands can be removed to dress the doll.  This is very similar to Made To Move and Integrity Toys dolls.

Here is a comparative photo with a Made To Move Barbie body (on the right) and an Integrity Toys Poppy Parker body (in the middle).  

Rainbow high dolls are shorter.  They have bigger feet, shorter torsos, and slightly bigger hips (which looks more enhanced by the shorter torso).  Rainbow High dolls are missing the articulation at the breast plates and ankles.  Like the Made To Move body, they have the added twisting articulation at the thighs.

When redressing the Rainbow High dolls to try on other lines' clothing, the pants are usually too long, and sometimes the feet can't get through the holes.  Rainbow High dolls seem to fit the pants and skirts from the "Fresh" and Made To Move Curvy doll lines best.  (Photo comparison with Curvy Fashionista body)

Collectors have been looking at different wig possibilities for this doll.  I found out that Rainbow High heads are similar in circumference to the Wilde Imagination Ellowyne Wilde line (which is another line I collect).   Here is a wig I had purchased for my Ellowynes.

What do you think?

So... my final thoughts.  These dolls are actually excellent play line dolls.  They have nice articulation, acrylic eyes, and are quite sturdy.  Their clothing is well constructed "on a budget".   The regular line features one dressed doll, a stand, comb, and an extra ensemble that includes footwear.   At the price point of $26.99, they are comparatively priced to Mattel dolls and are a fraction of the cost of Integrity Toys products.  (Sadly, I have read that they are more expensive in other countries.)

Their bodies, heads, and feet are exaggerated but "fit their characters", making them unique among what is available to the general public.  (Their neck holes apparently allow for body switching if you are up to it and can find a good skin tone match.)  Improvements that I would like to see would include more articulation at the neck (their heads can only turn side to side).  There are youtube videos that provide guidance for removing and replacing the neck knobs that will fix this, but I think the manufacturer should correct this in the production process.  It would also be nice if they had articulated ankles.  At least one of the characters has flat feet, so they all cannot share footwear.  Articulated ankles would fix this.  I would also like them to have a breast plate articulation or a swivel waist.  It would allow greater poseability.

Now, for the $30 question.  What do other dolls look like wearing the Rainbow High clothing?  First, the Rainbow High pants look more like crop pants without boots.  Good boots will hide that they are too short.  The tops and skirts aren't too bad on smaller bodies.

Here is Summer Magic Poppy Parker modeling two of the pieces from the Avery Styles Fashion Studio.

Judge for yourself.  As for me, I'm afraid that every time I need a "quick doll fix" I'll be heading to Target or Walmart.  I'm afraid as more doll collectors become aware of these dolls and their potential, they may get harder to find.  Apparently, some of the Series 1 dolls are becoming more rare.  Dare I complete the series?  Only time will tell.