Bratz are Back Again! A 2018 Bratz Collectors’ Exclusive Review: Look One

Greetings GenNext readers!

I’m sure every Bratz fan knows by now that the 2018 Exclusive Collector Bratz dolls’ photos have been revealed on Twitter and Instagram. I planned on doing a review after we’ve seen everything from the collector line (because I get the feeling there’s going to be more leaks over the next couple of days). But I received a request to give my perspective on the new dolls, and some of ya’ll may want to know what I think thus far.

A lot of people have especially asked my opinion on the reactions from the veteran or OG fans versus the general doll community, as it seems they feel differently about the new dolls. There’s been a mixed reaction. Many of the old-time fans have been very critical of the new dolls, while the general doll community feels the dolls are better than what we’ve been seeing on toy shelves. Then, there are people who are fans of Hayden Williams’s illustrations who really wanted to see dolls from him.

So let me break down how I feel about each Bratz girl and then give my opinion of the overall line and the community situation. If you don’t like reading, watch my video below! Skip to the Bottom

Let’s talk about Sasha first.

Sasha

When I first saw Sasha’s full look on the artwork, I personally loved it, but I wondered or worried how the general fashion doll public would see it. The look is avant-garde for sure, and most people wouldn’t wear what Sasha’s wearing on a day-to-day basis. I wondered how the artwork would translate on the doll.

So far, it looks okay to me. I love outrageous fashion, as I’ve mentioned before in other videos and articles, and Sasha delivers it without being too gaudy. I don’t like the fit of the outfit, but it’s okay. I can deal with it.

Does she live up to her fashion passion? Yes! Far more than she did in 2015. Sasha is supposed to be into fashion that’s inspired from the streets-a little bit of old school and a little bit of new hip-hop. This outfit Sasha is sporting reflects a lot of what current hip-hop, Black pop, and R&B artists are sporting. I can see artists like Rihanna and Nicki Minaj wearing something like this. The jacket seems to be inspired from something Ariana Grande has worn.

Granted, it looks more like a stage outfit than something the average person would wear on a daily basis, but it’s fun. And Sasha isn’t your average character, so it suits her.

Sasha has also been characterized as “always being on the hunt for a new look”, so she’s into clothing that’s experimental and avant-garde. This outfit delivers that. She also likes it “flashy and classy”. Not sure if this is super classy, but it’s definitely flashy (without all of the colors).

Of course, it’s important for us to remember that we’re just looking at ONE outfit and a few accessories. Hayden mentioned on Twitter that there will be mix-and-match fun, so I actually look forward to whatever other surprises Hayden and MGA have with this comeback.

Okay, so let me break down Sasha’s look piece by piece.

Head

I’ve never been a fan of snapbacks advertised forward. I hated it in the artwork. I like the pulled-back look, even if people think it looks thuggish. But I like the snapback itself. It gives the entire look an urban flair that I love. It has real fabric and pleather. I love that accessory. I hope it goes with other outfits in the line. Sasha seems to have a bit of a sporty look with the snapback and jacket. I don’t know about how I like it on her head though…Or even with this outfit….

Sasha’s hair looks nice with the tiny braids. Of course, I was hoping for natural hair, cornrows, or micro-braids, but this will do. Long loose hair allows the hair to get styled in different ways. And, as an African American, I know people of other races get frustrated with our hair. Imagine being us trying to find different ways to style it everyday! I hear people complaining about the coarseness of American Girl’s Addy doll (different doll brand but still…), so I know some people just can’t get it. Still, I would’ve liked Sasha to sport some styles that are really popular in the Black community. Maybe I should be specific…Black American community…Honestly, Hayden Williams is from the U.K., so maybe the styles Black people sport there are a little different. I don’t know. Anyway…

I feel like we lost the elaborate Bratz hairstyles somewhere in 2005. It’s not bad, I just think the hairstyle set the whole outfit off. I know most people like the long silky hair because it allows people to style the hair the way they want to, but I would like some dolls to sport hair bobs, braids, etc. That’s just me. The hairstyles also give the girls individuality and add value to the photos.

Sasha’s face looks ways better than she did in 2015. Some Bratz fans don’t like that she looks straight ahead rather than giving the sassy “side-eye” Bratz are known to have from 2001 to 2009 screenings. Even 2010 dolls got the “side-eyes”.

I personally…do not care this time around because she looks sassier than the last dolls that stared straight ahead. Maybe some people will say I’m not a real fan. Honestly, I’m open to new screenings, new things period, as long as it looks sassy and not cute. I do agree she looks like the 2015 Bratz more, which I didn’t like, but I like that all the dolls do not have the same glances. I think that individualizes them.

Of course, like all the other fans, I was hoping for older screenings, too, particularly 2001 screenings. I can’t understand for the life of me why MGA won’t use them. But these are Hayden exclusives, so it’s fitting that the screenings feel like Hayden.

I do understand that the artwork may have mislead some fans. Sasha was looking to the side, so I understand that was what was expected. You’d be surprised how those little details in the art impact or influence fans.

I think the makeup is okay. It’s subtle. I was hoping for more of a smokey eye though because the artwork made it seem it would be darker on the eyelids. Still, I think it’s alright. I’m glad Hayden went with a brownish color for her lips.

I LOVE the earrings. The silvers are a nice combo. Simple yet sassy.

Overall, I think her face is okay. She’s pretty. Her eyes are staring right into me though.

Body

I love the top and jacket. The detail of the jacket is really good. Could it have been fluffier? Yes, but it’s still a cool item to have as a collector. I’ve never had a doll with this kind of jacket. I hope there’s a faux zipper on it.

I think Ariana Grande wore a similar jacket style in different colors.

I love Sasha’s top. It was the thing that made me really like the outfit. It’s dangerous. I like the fishnetting feel of it. I wish I could see the sleeves because I liked it in the artwork but I’m not sure how it translates on the doll.

I personally love the shorts-garter-pant-denim combination. It’s unique for any doll line. I was hoping the shorts would be pulled higher, basically giving it a high-waistline look as it appeared in the art. But I still think it’s okay. It looks like a gimmick though.

I wonder if the bottom of the pants can be detached. That would be cool. That would allow more mixing and matching, which would be fun. I love the denim fabric so much. I can’t wait to touch it.

I like the choker. That sets the whole look off if you ask me. I love the design.

The bag has that real fabric that I love. I love the accessories to tell you the truth.

Feet

I think the shoes are my least favorite thing about this look. I’m not a fan of the camouflage for this outfit. I was also hoping the heel would have a sharper curve and would be higher. They aren’t ugly, I just don’t like them for this look. They have a “granny heel”. They might go with another outfit of Sasha’s.

Overall, the doll is a lot better than what we got in 2015, and I feel Sasha’s is both stylish and identifiable. But I feel the execution could’ve been polished better. I actually feel this about all of the dolls. I already like them, but I think I would’ve been blown away if they had been executed differently.

What do I mean by that?

Well, a fan named @WhatCollectorsWant on instagram did some edits to make the dolls look closer to their art. I think he nailed them.

https://www.instagram.com/whatcollectorswant/

Notice how those slight alterations make a world of a difference. I loved these edits so much, they made me more critical. At the same time, after viewing the edits it made me want the dolls more than I did! Sasha was definitely one of the dolls that had to grow on me.

In the edit, we see the smokey eye and darker lips that were in the art. Her face seems even edgier and sassier with the darker makeup. Yes, I still prefer a “side-eye” for her. The shorts have been lifted higher and curved at the bottom, giving the doll some sass. MGA’s version looks like it’s hanging off her. The shoes are curved at the bottom making the heel higher. This edit made me like the shoes (which I wasn’t feeling too much before).

The jacket is puffier, which makes it feel much more urban and less like it’s a school windbreaker that lost its stuffing.

Yasmin

Yasmin is naturally considered the most gorgeous doll to most people, so she could easily sell on her looks alone. However, I was most disappointed with the execution of her look. When I first saw the art, she was actually one of my favorites. But the execution wasn’t as strong as I’d hoped. She’s still a good doll. When I say disappointed, I’m not thinking on 2015 terms. I just can see it being done differently.

Does Yasmin live up to her fashion passion? Absolutely! So that’s not a problem of mine. In fact, it’s why I initially loved this look so much. Yasmin loves Bohemian styles in earth tone colors, with exotic prints and textures. She combines many different styles together into one look. She is also a little retro or “antique” in her approach.

This outfit has that Mary-Kate Olsen “homeless trash” bohemian look. I don’t know if any of you all are familiar with the Olsen twins, but one of the twins are known for that look. It’s “bohemian-bourgeois”. I really like that about Yasmin’s outfit. There’s some hint of retro in there as well.

Overall I like the concept, but I wish it could’ve been executed differently, particularly with one aspect of the look.

Head

The hat is my favorite part of the look to be honest. To me, it looks better than the artwork. I like that detail in the middle. I’m not sure, but is there lacing in the middle? I think it’s dope. I would wear it. I was hoping the buckle would be more to the left like it was in the art, but I don’t care about it that much. The hat is still awesome. I love flamboyant hats like this.

This is kind of a throwback to the Rock Angelz days, and honestly really a throwback to the 2K era when these newsboys caps were popular. Yasmin is into the retro thing, so it’s fitting.

I notice that everytime Bratz is promoted with hats, the fans hate it. Many fans didn’t like the Rock Angelz hats. I was mad when my dolls didn’t come with it. I hope these dolls still come with the hats. I know it’s hard for some fans to like hats because of the Bratz dolls’ balloon heads. But that makes me love them even more!

Yasmin’s hair is silky, long, and strong, as usual. It’s fluffy and full and seems to be of good quality.

The face has that side-glance everyone loves. It does make her sassy. I think this is why everyone loves the actual doll so much. But as for me…I think the makeup is too light. A lot of fans actually like the “pink lips”. I preferred the darker nude pink I thought she would sport. Darker lips would give Yasmin more edge, drama, and would go with her autumn-earth-tone nature. I was also hoping for a smokier eye.

The new face is sweeter and softer, so I know it resonates with fans who see Yasmin as a “princess”, and their idea of a princess is someone who is feminine and sensitive. And she is all of that, but it just doesn’t give me the vibe I thought it would.

I LOVE the earrings. It looks so amazing against her outfit and hair.

Body

The choker looks really good. Once again, the jewelry is really cool. I love that aspect.

The top looks like it has lace detailing on the torso, as was specified. I like this top  even though it wasn’t what I expected. I was waiting for more of a sweetheart shape to her neckline. I would like to see the top without the jacket to see if the other aspects are there.

I really like the jacket. It’s definitely that “trash boho” look. I like the detail and it looks like it will feel real. I like the lace on the sleeves. Some fans have said they don’t like it. I love that lace detailing. It reminds me of Prince. I would’ve liked there to be more brown in the jacket to make the skirt pop. But I’m not mad. Boho isn’t meant to really match.

Some people also said they hate the skirt. I like it. I like the suede style of it. My only complaint with it is I expected it to have a high-waist style (just like Sasha’s shorts). I expected it to be tucked tighter or pinned in around the waist like in the art. I still like it well-enough though. It doesn’t “wow” me, but it’s decent.

The bag is really cool. I love the texture and pattern. It looks like a computer bag, but that’s really fun to have in doll form.

Feet

The boots…Ya’ll I think Bratz’s foot game this comeback is a little weak to be honest. And it’s not really the style in all of the cases, it’s the execution.

With Yasmin, it’s a little of every problem for me. First off, they gave her the Dynamite Nevra treatment.

Basically, instead of making a whole boot, they took two parts and put them together to make it looks like a knee-length boot. Nevra got away with it because at least the bottom color matched the top color.

I know there’s an issue with Bratz and knee-high boots because of the snap-off feet. But I think it could still be executed differently. I think the fabric from the bottom could’ve been placed over the root of the foot and stretched higher. They wouldn’t have to make two parts to do that. Maybe it’s just not difficult in my mind?

I think the top half of the boot should at least look like the same fabric as the lower half…

Some fans thought it was going to be socks or short stockings and heels. I thought the boots were going to be of the same material as the hat. I would’ve liked it to be of a darker leather material. It seemed shiny somehow in the art. I wasn’t expecting velvet, but the velvet could’ve worked with a different execution.

Overall, I think Yasmin’s look is still very stylish, but the boots really throw the look off for me. I hope there are some other shoes in the set. I guess I can always take the top half off, but then I still feel like there’s something missing…The velvet magenta is completely out of place.

I liked What Collectors Want’s take on Yasmin. Still not a fan of the velvet magenta, but I liked his execution and wonder why they didn’t go for it at MGA. At least the velvet magenta sets off the trash boho look.

The eyes are smokier in his version. The lips have that darker nude color. It gives her so much edge in comparison to the pink lips. The top has the sweetheart design I was expecting. The skirt is tucked in higher. Most importantly, the boot looks like it belongs together with itself. The bottom half is cut just right so it looks like at least most of the shoe is complete. I also like the lace detailing at the top of the boot, too.

 

Cloe

Overall, Cloe’s look is one of the most public-friendly of the Pack. I like the leather details in her look.

Does her look live up to Cloe’s fashion passion? Probably not as much as some of the others in my opinion. It definitely reflects her sweet and tough personality though. Cloe’s fashion passion includes animal prints and sparkly or shimmery fabrics. She loves anything dramatic. I don’t think this outfit is particularly dramatic. But it is in Cloe’s favorite color blue. Her boots are also in a “snakeskin” design, which says “animal print” to me.

Head

I love the leather hat. I love leather hats. I loved the star detail in the art and was hoping that would be included, but it doesn’t need that gimmick.

I love Cloe’s face the most. Oh my goodness! She looks gorgeous to me. I love the puckered red lips and smokey eyes. Definitely has that Bratitude.

I can’t really see her earrings clear enough. I hope she still has the pearls.

Her hair looks nice, fluffy, and full. Overall, her head is my favorite. It gives me a Ooh La La type of tease. The eyes aren’t quite as seductive, but it’s still near to that level.

Body

I find it interesting that they traded Cloe’s beaded necklace for the new one. I really like the new one, but I hope she still comes with the pearls. I think it gave her look a sweet touch.

The top of the outfit is not my favorite to be honest. I don’t like the collared thing, and pulled up…it looks worse to me. I hope it can be pulled down a little more to give it a true-blue off-shoulder look though. I love the detailed corset in the middle.

I think the skirt is nice and I like the little chain on it, but I was expecting shorts. When I saw the dolls’ group photo, I decided I like the skirt a lot. Still, I thought shorts would be really unique. It would feel like a one-piece jumper, which we haven’t seen with Bratz.

To me, it looked like it was meant to be shorts, but someone said Hayden intended it to be a skirt, so… I’m wondering what that shadow in the middle of the artwork’s skirt is because it makes it look like shorts.

I was expecting the bag to be much smaller. I thought it would be more like a clutch. But I like the big bag. The chain on the strap is just very cute. It’s better than the basic strap in the artwork. Wouldn’t it be cool if we got both purses? That would make this the ultimate mix-and-match line.

Feet

I’m okay with the snakeskin look. I feel it fits with this edgy look and I think it highlights Cloe’s interest in animal-print. However, I was expecting more of a plaid pattern. Someone told me on instagram it was always supposed to be snakeskin…I don’t see it. Honestly, I preferred the plaid one simply because I feel the heel should’ve been higher and actually thicker like in the art.

Though I like Cloe’s look, What Collectors Want also showed some edits that I feel are more true to the art and make Cloe’s look better in my opinion. I think the edits basically nailed it.

Cloe has the star on her hat. Her collar is shaved down to give her a true off-shoulder look. I like the unique shorts. The plaid boots make the outfit pop. I like the higher heel.

Jade

When I first saw Jade’s teaser artwork with just the pants, I had very low expectations. It turns out Jade is my favorite by far! The irony! Jade has always been one of my favorites. I love her style. Some Bratz fans have said they’ve seen a look like this on her before and that it’s nothing new, but that’s why I like it. It feels like Jade.

Does it live up to her fashion passion? DUH! Jade is always on the cutting edge of cool! Jade is into anything quirky and extreme. She can be a little sporty, too. She is inspired from the feline persuasion and has a “sizzlin’ flair”. This outfit just screams Jade from head to toe.

Head 

I love, love, LOVE the beret hat. It is so unique in the doll world. I like the look and it seems like it will feel good to the touch. It’s very artsy.

Her face is the closest to how I envisioned her. Still would like smokey eyes, but I like the lips well enough. Her lips could have been a tad bit darker.

The earrings are cute.

She’s back with the bangs. But are the bangs a little asymmetrical or is that the hat making it look that way? In any case, it’s Jade’s signature look done in a very stylish way. I like.

She’s giving me chills with that side-eye. I’m for it.

Body

I know we aren’t seeing too many accessories, but the other girls were shown with their necklaces. I hope Jade still comes with her choker because that will set this look truly on fire.

I like the top so, so, so much. I have to express myself in threes. So, so, so! Even though the tassels or tighteners or whatever weren’t in the original artwork, it should’ve been! I haven’t felt an outcome was better than the artwork in a long time.

Okay, there is one thing I don’t love. I can’t say for certain yet, but I hope the tighteners on the top aren’t print-ons and are real. Still, it looks good. I love the netted arm pieces.

Okay Jade! Over here looking like a snack!

The pants even look better than I thought they would. I actually like the fire print. This is actually what I expected of Sasha back in the 2002 Funk N’ Glow era. I didn’t expect fire, just actual print. I wasn’t disappointed in Funk N’ Glow, it just wasn’t what I expected.

 

But back to Jade…

Jade’s purse is like a flame in Jade’s hand. So amazing! Of course, I liked the darker purse, too. Ugh! If only I could have both!

Feet

Okay, I felt all of the Bratz girls’ feet game were weak this time around. Jade’s is probably the best. Her shoes really go with her look. I still feel like it is weak in comparison to the chunkier look in the art. The shoes in the art really felt like BRATZ. It also gave Jade her signature cutting edge flair. Jade isn’t just any stylish diva, ya know? She’s got to be different. She’s got to be the Queen of Hot Topic, ya know? But the shoes aren’t the least bit ugly. They just feel conforming, so it’s less impressive than the chunkier heel. It seems they dumped some shoes on her from their back closet.

Overall, I feel Jade still has the strongest look of the girls. I can’t wait to get her and see whatever else she comes with. What Collectors Want did an edit of hers as well and again it was AMAZING! However, I can say both versions are really good. I prefer Hayden’s tighteners hanging down.

But I think What Collectors Want nailed the hugging of the jeans. The lips have a slight darker tint, making it super sassy. The hat isn’t as wide, which makes it look even more stylish instead of like a pankcake. The choker definitely sets the look off. But I think the accessories will still be included.

Those smokey eyes though! I just really like that in the edit.

 

Cameron

I’m really bitter-sweet about Cameron. First off, when I saw his complete look, I wasn’t all over him. It’s not the design. That’s the sweet part. I think it’s amazing for a boy doll! But the bitter part is it doesn’t feel like Cameron.

The boys never really had fashion passions like the girls, but Cameron always struck me as a casual and masculine guy, not full of flounce or flash. The jacket is super flashy for Cameron. What he’s wearing is something I would expect of pimp-daddy slick “The Fox” Dylan, not casual cool and hot “The Blaze” Cameron.

That’s another thing that I’m salty about. There’s no Dylan, our boy of color. I can’t get too excited about Cameron returning if it’s not both core boys returning. Having Cameron without Dylan is like releasing Bratz with just Cloe and Yasmin (which creates a Closmin problem). I hate that white boy Cameron with the blonde hair and blue eyes gets all the attention.

But I like him well enough to think he’s worth a purchase. He kind of looks like a Kpop star, only he’s white. I think he looks okay if I wasn’t thinking of Cameron. The hair is also…a no. The jacket is meh. I will also say this: MGA betta not forget Dylan again. I’m forgiving to a certain extent, but that extent isn’t limitless.

Head

I’m surprised Cameron didn’t come with some sort of hat. Maybe he will with the actual collection.

I don’t hate his hair as much as I thought I would. I like the platinum look. But I was expecting more of a curl on the side. Really, just not a fan overall of his hair.

I’m loving his face more than I expected. The eyebrows look far more like it matches a blonde. The artwork’s eyebrows were really dark. But the eyes are spaced out for sure.

I’m glad they kept his earring detail. Finally, the boys are getting more jewelry.

Body

I have one question about Cameron’s necklace: Did they switch his chain for Cloe’s pearls? Move over Cloe! Cameron is the new “Angel”? That’s what it looks like. I think that’s BOLD and everything, but I really liked the chain necklace. I’m hoping Cameron still comes with the chain necklace. It felt more like Cameron.

Cameron has been seen in plaid tops before. That seems to be his staple. What I like about this top is that it brings out his eyes. I would like to see it without the jacket though.

The jacket is flashy for Cameron, but still very detailed and has great quality. I like the furs. I think the jacket can work for any character, so it’s a gender-neutral product. I can see myself having fun with it. The jacket itself is a lot lighter than I thought it was going to be, but it doesn’t take away from it for me.

I like the jeans and the little chain on the side. It’s ok.

Feet

I think the shoes do. The shoes do their job.

What Collectors Want did an edit of Cameron, and honestly I like it better.

The hair has that unique curly thing going on. He has a darker jacket, which makes it look edgier. He has more of a dimpled chin and stronger cheekbones in the What Collectors Want version, which is similar to the style of the art. His buttons aren’t as huge and clownish. It looks more natural.

Cameron is just getting tanked by the Bratz community overall. There are some people who like him and what he represents, but he just looks gaudy and like a different Bratz boy.

Overall Review

Overall, I got some things I wanted from this comeback. I wanted dolls wearing real materials with high-quality hair (It looks high quality, but we shall see). I wanted the dolls to be more individual than they’ve been since 2005. I especially felt the dolls lost their individuality with lines like Bratz Passion for Fashion Diamondz and Fashion Pixiez. I wanted the sassy Bratz look back and I wanted an edgier look. I got it.

Of course, I didn’t get everything I wanted. I really wanted 2001 screenings. I wanted more elaborate hairstyles, especially Sasha in African American hairstyles, and I was hoping the looks would be executed differently. But overall, I’m okay with them and will be buying the dolls to get a closer look.

To be honest, I’m simple to please and a sucker when it comes to buying things I’ve always loved (I even went out and supported some dolls from the 2015 era). Give me some personal vision, style, edge, and sass, and I’m sold. I don’t even care about screenings (as long as it looks sassier than 2015) or articulation. I like the outfits well enough and I think there’s more coming. Truly, I can’t give a complete review until I see everything. So far, I’m okay with them. But they didn’t blow me away like I thought they would. Though I feared whether Bratz could deliver from the jump…Read my article on that.

If I wasn’t a big fan of Bratz and hadn’t really seen better, these dolls would be some of the best dolls ever. But because I’ve been such a huge fan of the dolls and I’ve seen their entire collection and evolution, I am critical.

Are they worth the price? I don’t know. I have to see them up close. So far, I think they would work at 20.00 or 30.00 USD. 50 to 70 USD is asking for a lot. They look good, but not THAT remarkable.

Head Game: B

Body: B

Feet Game-D

OG Bratz Fans V.S. The General Doll Community On the 2018 Bratz

Now, let’s talk about the community situation. I received a request from someone to do my review on the 2018 Bratz dolls because it seems old-time fans and the general doll community disagree about the results of the new dolls. It seems veteran fans (O.G. fans like myself) have critiques and criticisms, while the general doll community feels these are the best dolls coming out in today’s struggling toy industry, considering fashion dolls are becoming covered up and watered down. The general doll community feels these new Bratz dolls look better than what’s out on toy shelves.

I’m kind of caught in the middle.

First off, on the one hand, as a veteran fan, I understand old-timers’ frustrations with the 2018 dolls.

I believe that the longer you’ve been with a franchise, the closer you feel to it, the pickier you’ll be, even when you’re being handed something the average person loves. When you’ve seen everything Bratz has offered, it’s harder to feel satisfied with these dolls, especially when you’ve seen better executions and don’t like change. Our expectations are much higher for sure.

It’s frustrating when you’ve been asking for the same things for almost 10 years and you’re not getting it. Bratz fans have been asking for older screenings since the Bratz dolls’ 2010 relaunch. We’ve been asking for them to pay attention to details, to stick to the artwork a little more, among other things. The fabric is of decent quality and it is rather stylish, but the execution wasn’t as expected, which takes away from it.

This is Bratz’s first comeback since 2015 and was said to be for the fans. Hayden Williams, who has been a fan since 2001, was expected to bring other fans everything they’ve been asking for, especially with those faces. Fans also wanted articulated bodies because so many dolls have them. It’s almost expected. I’ve personally always hated articulated bodies with Bratz, but I know that most of the other fans wanted them because it makes the dolls more photogenic. Basically, the OG fans were looking for a designer to balance fan expectations with their own visions. They were looking for a designer that took in fan feedback.

The other problem is the rumored price, which is a problem for a lot of people, but especially OG fans. The dolls are said to be so expensive and that makes people more critical. They not only expect to get their money’s worth but they have to weed out the dolls they really don’t want in favor of the one they do so they can at least have one doll. I personally understand why they gave it the price they did. Because of inflation and the fact that the materials used for these dolls cost more than they did 10 years ago, I get the price, even if I don’t think these dolls are worth it. But others don’t get it. They also don’t understand why it couldn’t have been executed closer to the artwork.

Veteran fans believe it was Hayden’s idea to not only market these dolls on Amazon but set the price so high. I believe one fan said Hayden asked fans where they feel the dolls should be sold.

The price may not be unusual for fans who usually spend hundreds of dollars on their collections, but for a first 2018 comeback line and for regular playline fans, the pricing is too high. This is especially the case with OG fans who really don’t like these dolls as much as older dolls, and want to spend this kind of money on rarer dolls they actually like.

Some OG fans don’t necessarily have an issue with the style but the execution. With that, I have to agree to an extent, particularly with the Bratz shoes this time around. It could’ve been done in a more polished fashion. In fact, many aspects of the dolls could’ve been executed differently.

Fans don’t like that the clothes deviate from the artwork. I’m frustrated about that, too.

But that’s been frustrating me since 2002’s Funk N’ Glow. As I mentioned before, I was hoping Sasha would have yellow print on her jeans in that line because that’s how it looked in the artwork. It always reminded me of some Pepe jeans I had back in the day. I don’t know if any of you all remember Pepe. I was a little disappointed the doll wasn’t like the artwork. So again, every detail hasn’t been executed flawlessly in the past either. Yet, some fans act like the dolls coming out of the old eras were superior. They were beautiful, but not flawless.

Then again, I would say that was one thing we were hoping would be fixed in 2018.

Here’s where I agree with the general public though. These dolls are some of the best to come out in a long time. You can’t find dolls of even this quality anymore. You can’t find dolls sporting designer styles, even if the designs aren’t to everyone’s liking. You can’t find the same individuality anymore. These dolls are still good dolls and I see tremendous play value in them. Unfortunately, it should’ve been a playline, but there’s still some play value no matter what label is there.

These dolls aren’t childish. They have style, vision, and substance. They’re like Project Runway dolls-they have the designers’ stamp on them. They’re fan-made dolls. I haven’t liked many of the Project Runway dolls and outfits that have come out with American Girl, Myscene, or Barbie and never felt they were worth the price. But that’s designer dolls for you.

Just to have that is exciting for me. I think the dolls have character, so I’m excited to see whatever else they come with.

Now, can I spill some tea for you? I have a feeling where the source of all of this Hayden hate is coming from. This is just my theory. I feel like Wendy Williams or LovelyTi right now. I feel like saying, “Honey!”

Apparently, a while back, Hayden Williams had been sharing either his designs or screenings with some fans in an online Bratz fan community. I believe he was apart of the community. A lot of old-time fans as well as MGA’s “worker” fans frequent this community.

Now, this community allows people to be a little shady, okay? So, while Hayden was showing his latest creations, one fan told him something along the lines of this, “You should just scrap the whole thing, to be honest”. Hayden clapped back with a “Jessica Price” statement. If you don’t know about her, she worked on the Guild Wars video game series. When a fan commented their disagreeance towards her (though the fan wasn’t as disrespectful as the Bratz fan), she tweeted “Allow me-a person who doesn’t work with you-to explain to you how to do your job”. Hayden didn’t say that exact thing, but he was saying something similar.

The fan and Hayden had an exchange back and forth afterwards. By the end of it all, the fan community was basically divided. There were many fans that supported this “rude” fans’ comments. A lot of fans agreed that Hayden’s dolls were not meeting their standards and they felt that Hayden was too arrogant to listen now that he was working for MGA. Some fans felt his response wasn’t professional. They felt he didn’t listen enough to fan criticism either.

But there were also some fans in the community who supported Hayden, felt the fan brought their concerns to Hayden in a rude way, and they felt this fan jumped to conclusions before even seeing the dolls.

I wasn’t there personally. As I’ve said on many occasions, I haven’t been an active part of a Bratz community since they had that Yahoo Group. I found out the tea from Askfms. I just recently joined the Bratz Collectors! community on facebook, and they seem more polite and friendly. Some of these other groups…All I can say is be careful out there. They can drain the fun.

Because I hadn’t been really paying attention to the Bratz fan community that Hayden was in, I jumped in many conversations, trying to be neutral and see the good in the Hayden dolls. But it seemed the nicer I tried to be towards Hayden and his dolls, the more aggressive people became. They weren’t having it. In my last article, I talked about how shady some of the people were in the fan community.

Now, I understand why they were being shady towards me. I was being too neutral or giving Hayden too much credit in their eyes. I was giving too many “excuses” or not allowing fans to express their criticism, which they felt had been the situation since the Hayden dolls were announced.

This is the point I want you guys to understand. A lot of the people criticizing Bratz aren’t necessarily against the dolls themselves but the designer. I know two people who said they wouldn’t buy this line because Hayden left a sour taste in their mouths. I was very shocked.

Basically, they let their interaction paint their bias against the dolls. Even if they did like the dolls, they wouldn’t want to admit it. Even if they did like the dolls, they don’t want to support someone they feel doesn’t listen to them. Some of them are out to try and flop these dolls. Some of them are going on social media websites and picking everything apart just so Hayden will realize that fans impact the success of the doll brand. I’m sure that one fan Hayden got into it with doesn’t want to buy these dolls.

Me? I don’t have beef with Hayden. Hayden responded to one article of mine to correct something and thanked me for complimenting his artwork because I’ve always loved his illustrations. I even like his recent Rugrats design. I appreciate Hayden’s efforts to try and get these dolls back to their glory. It’s not easy trying to please so many different people.

However, I think all workers at MGA have to understand when people are asked to spend so much money, they will expect to get their money’s worth. When you say something is for the fans, fans expect you to listen to them. This goes with anyone who works with the brand or any brand really.

On the other hand, I can say I understand why Hayden snapped the way he did, if he did at all. I’ve felt that some people in this particular fan community react in very shady ways. They have made subtle rude statements. It’s not so much what they say, but the way they say things, you know?

If they had said some things in more of a respectful tone, maybe Hayden would be reconsidering his ideas or trying to curb the designs to fit fans’ expectations. But with so much hostility, he probably got stubborn and went through with his vision.

At the same time, everything public figures do impact the business. Public figures are always going to encounter rude people, but you sometimes have to redirect the rudeness or take it and turn it into a positive.

I’m learning that, too. I have to be very careful how I treat or react to people, even rude people, because it can hurt my business. I’m still learning this. There’s an art to it that can be hard to figure out.

Hopefully Hayden can eventually make peace with fans and hopefully fans can be more understanding of Hayden. I hope the beef is squashed so people can go back to having fun within the community.

The dolls aren’t bad. They actually look like a lot of fun to me, but if we let petty squabbles blind us to the fun of doll collecting, if we get so caught up in the individual trees we miss the forest, we will miss the joys of doll collecting.

Some people might feel that these fans take a bunch of dolls way too seriously. I agree with that to a certain extent. However, I believe for a lot of “fans”, they have built a career in the doll industry and many fans are working with the Bratz dolls specifically. Once something becomes your profession or your passion, you start to take it seriously. I think the issue is when someone’s professionalism is challenged, so is their pride and livelihood. That makes a world of a difference. When you have such a passion for dolls it becomes your career, these dolls become more than just playthings. I think that’s what’s been going on in theBratz doll community.

The general doll community just collects dolls as a hobby and wouldn’t want to take dolls seriously.

Then, on the other hand, we have to consider there are fans of Hayden who will like anything he throws out there and may be against any little criticism thrown his way. I personally love his illustrations, but I felt the execution of these dolls could’ve been better. Fans of Hayden might feel these dolls are their taste or they might even think Hayden had no hand in the execution and don’t want people blaming him. Hayden said on Twitter that MGA gave him full control, so…

Many Hayden fans are/were not originally Bratz fans, especially not serious collectors. Again, in the average person’s mind, these dolls are very stylish and different. That’s actually a good thing when considering the success of this doll franchise. We might get some new fans. However, the OG fans of Bratz might feel left out of this comeback.

I think the overall consensus is that most fans feel these dolls are for Hayden fans not long-time Bratz fans. Hayden himself is a fan, but did he know about all of the complaints the inside Bratz community have been having over the years? Did he understand fans’ desires for 2018? Did he realize what fans expected? These are key things to know before jumping into designing or marketing Bratz to fans.

I do think Hayden got the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m happy a male of color received this opportunity. I just hope the details are polished by the time of release and I hope they come with other interesting pieces.

Well, that’s my spin on the 2018 Bratz Collector dolls SO FAR! Second outfits still haven’t been revealed. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about the 2018 Bratz comeback! Who’s your favorite? What do you think about the community drama? Let me know!

 

Tags: Bratz, Bratz 2018, Bratz Amazon exclusive, Bratz Collector, Bratz collectors exclusive, Bratz exclusive, Bratz Hayden Williams, dolls, Hayden Williams, MGA, MGA entertainment, toys