BRATZ COLLECTOR 2018 PREVIEW 

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Monster High, Sindy, Project Mc2, My Scene, Liv, Ever After, Descendants, Moxie, La Dee Da, Star Darlings, Bratzillaz, Pinkie Cooper, 4Eva Best Friends, Once Upon A Zombie, Catwalk Kitties, Twilight Teenz, Wee 3 Friends-all fashion doll brands discontinued within the last 15 years, whilst Barbie/ Disney Princess/Equestria Girls/DC Superhero Girls all become simplified/cheapified and static/ unarticulated'jointed and Enchantimals/Shimmer And Shine/Lottie are limited to unjointed minature/child dolls. Couple this with the reports of tens of retailers of all kinds going into administration, and shops stocking nothing but cheap/flimsy clone dolls and static dress/one-piece oufit Barbies, and the future of fashion dolls looks bad; especially with tablets/smartphones and blind bags/expensive static 'pocket money' toys supplied everywhere and no rumors/new brands/ comebacks on the horizon... 

And now this- Bratz returns(!) after it's 2016 hiatus, but as a online designer Hayden Williams/ collector pricetag only-5-dolls-total product. Perhaps we can at least get a new mould/type of doll here-nope, these are both facially and bodily closest to the simplified-version-of-the-first-era 2010-2012 dolls, with reused/almost-identical-to-many-prior-dolls faces and arm-joints-only; aside from Cameron who at least is unique/new. Ok, maybe a new character or story or theme? Nope, just the common 4 girls and most common boy with their name/nickname on the box. How about some unusual or themed  outfits/artwork/accessories/stands/hobbies? Big nope-just 2 standard/everyday 'fashion' outfits and a brush(not even dif color per doll), and style-wise people's WORST idea of Bratz; the shallow, slutty, impractically long-haired and tight-clothed and high-heeled, posing and pouting/scowling worryingly young/skinny girls, with no mention of interests/hobbies or personalities/histories or boys that aren't also vain/flirty, or childhoods/child dolls or adulthood/ careers/older-sized dolls, or articles/books/cartoons/playsets, or basically anything resembling actual 2 or 3 dimensional characters or lives.  

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So, what exactly do you get for your $49.99(FORTY British Pounds) online order each, TWO HUNDRED British Pounds total PLUS postage/shipping? By doll; 

Cloe-common 10'' doll'character with 2010-2012esque simplified faceup and arm joints, long unstyled standard-shade hair, too-short denim dress/top, black sheer/leather catsuit(unique at least), plain black small/flimsy fur stole, plain black cap(no star etc like artwork), black'silver handbag, plain black high heels, monochrome print boots(unique), plain silver brush(exact same as many 2001-onwards!), small/flimsy compact/sunglasses and tiny/plain earrings/choker(same as many 2001-onwards), box(all with nothing but plain/identical colour scheme and EVEN skinnier/taller/ scantily'revealing/edgy pout'scowl artwork). 

Sasha-common 10'' doll etc(see above), long unstyled standard-shade hair(see above), plain black cap(see above), blue/yellow stripe long padded coat(VERY unique)black sheer/leather top(see above), denim garter-jeans(unique), monochrome print high heels(less unique than above), black'silver handbag(see above), too-short black leather dress/top with orange upper(unique), white boots with black trim(unique), plain silver brush(see above), compact/sunglasses/earrings/choker(see above), box(see above). 

Yasmin-common 10'' doll(see above), long unstyled standard-shade hair(see above), detailed scarlet cap, long grey patterned coat with white lace(unique), white lace midriff-baring top, too-short detailed brown skirt, pink velvet legwarmers with white lace(unique), pink velvet high heels(unique), dark pinstripe jacket(unique), too-short dark pinstripe skirt(unique), cream high heels with black trim (unique), dark brown'gold handbag(unique), plain gold brush(dif to others), compact/sunglasses/ earrings/choker(see above), box(see above). 

Jade-common 10'' doll(see above), long(bunches?) standard-shade hair(see above), plain red beret, black sheer/leather top w'trip hazard red strands(see above), denim jeans w'flame pattern(like many 2001-onwards jeans w'pattern such as flames), plain black boots(see above), grey small/flimsy fur stole, plain white midriff-baring top w'red bra on top(...), too-short denim patterned skirt, black fishnet legwarmers(even 2001-onwards Bratz weren't guilty of fur+choker+bra+fishnets+high heels!), black fishnet high heels(unique), plain silver brush(see above), red spotty/furry handbag(...), compact/ sunglasses/earrings/choker(see above), box(see above).  

Cameron-10'' doll w'unique faceup and earring, longish part-flocked/painted silver hair(VERY unique hair/eyes, nothing like Cameron though), grey coat w'black fur trim, blue/white patterned shirt w'buttons(unique), plain denim jeans(exact same as many 2001-onwards, yawn), plain black boots (exact same as many 2001-onwards, yawn), plain black satchel(same yawn), detailed white leather jacket w'belt(unique),  dark print top, plain denim ripped jeans(see above,same yawn), plain beige boots, plain silver comb(exact same as many 2001-onwards, less common though), plain sunglasses (less stuff, same price), box(see above). 

And that's the entire Bratz 2018 return. Cameron's doll is interesting and the coats and Yasmin's ensemble excellent; but not 40 quid/$50 each plus online ordering and postage nice, and the otherwise utter lack of originality/reused and controversially shallow and bland characters/outfits/ boxart disappointing both as an official money/time consuming product and to any fans who know the 17-year 5-editions series well or have their own ideas/designs/wishes, more what you'd expect from a random person's vague cliched idea of Bratz.

We've had the original long-running and much more varied and storied 2000's Bratz/Boyz/m'f Kidz/ m'f Lils; the shallower but new dolls/moulds/artwork/4 new boys(!) 2010-12 Bratz; the all-grown-up better-proportioned 2013-14 Bratz; the cartoony and flimsy-bodied but VERY unique moulds/outfits/ artwork/more child-appealing 2015-2016 Bratz; and these 5 DOLLS TOTAL, most common characters /faceups, most ridiculously-clothed, most simply boxed/art/accesoried, double or triple the price of any other single boxed retail Bratz doll products. Bratz has made a unique and lasting impact on the entire fashion doll world(would Mattel have sued them to death and invested so much in giving us similarly cartoony/fashionable My Scene/Ever After High/Monster High otherwise?), and will hopefully return again someday; but for me it's just not worth the wait and investment in Bratz Collector 2018.

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Update Dec 2018/Jan 2019- reviews are in and overall positive but not brilliant, with general interest/publicity low unfortunately. Also, hundreds of user reviews/comments/social media chats etc are reporting some issues with quality, with photos of iffy makeup, hair and clothing materials. No news of any future dolls etc yet either, so fingers crossed...