Disney/Pixar’s Brave is scheduled to be released on June 22 in theaters, but Mattel has already released a new toy line in preparation of the film.
This line is aimed primarily at girls, focusing on dolls of Merida and her horse Angus. I’ve listed the items below with brief descriptions and suggested retail prices, as well as my own observations based on the dolls I received for this review.
Fashion & Doll Play
Brave Merida Fashion Doll – Perfect for girls to re-create their favorite movie moments. $14.99
Brave Merida & Angus the Horse Gift Set – Sit Merida atop Angus and play out the pair’s adventures. $26.99
This is an incredible set. Merida’s dress is a beautiful turquoise color, and she has adorable freckles on her cheeks and a cascade of red hair. She is designed to sit atop her horse, which is something I always found lacking in my dolls of old.
Brave Gem Styling Merida Doll – Lets girls style Merida’s signature gown and red hair with decorative “gems.” $20.99
My only complaint about this is how long it took me to get the doll out of the packaging. I had to use a pair of scissors and probably cut twenty different little strings and plastic ties. The good thing is her hair didn’t move a curl while she was in the box, so welded to the packaging was she. Her dress is gorgeous, with little yellow ruffles at the bodice, a reversible cloak, and gems sewn to the front. Her bow and arrow are tied to her hands, which move easily with articulated elbows. There are extra gems you can add to decorate her hair, but they have Velcro on the back which will more than likely pull strands loose, so use at your own risk. I opted to use the little comb as a hair ornament, and it looks like a little tiara.
And you can’t see it in any of the pictures, but she has the neatest shoes. They have plastic “laces” that go practically to her knees, and the closest comparison I can think of is to call them gladiator sandals. Very stylish, though.
So yes, I play with dolls. At least for the purpose of this article. I take my role as writer very seriously, so I must endure these hardships to bring information to you, our loyal readers.
I think little girls (and even boys!) will love these toys. And if the dolls and transforming sets aren’t up your alley, then I have no doubt there will be tons more to choose from as the film release approaches.