Barbie or Bratz?
January 3, 2007 by Kerri Aldrich
Filed under Children's Toys, News and Links about Children's Things, Play Library Polls
Isaac Larian of MGA Entertainment, producers of the Bratz Dolls, was recently interviewed on ABC’s Nightline, with some rebuttal bits by Chuck Scothon, a senior VP at Mattel. He shares his thoughts on the Bratz vs. Barbie battle, and his plans to win it.
Follow this post to the end to see the YouTube posting of the ABC interview (and then please vote in our Barbie or Bratz? poll in the sidebar on the right!). Here are a few interesting bits that I gleaned from it all:
Larian admits that he first thought the dolls looked like aliens, but now thinks they’re beautiful. He states that, “it’s time for Barbie to retire,” and that Mattel (makers of Barbie) has engaged in, “really unfair competitions,” where the battle of the #1 and #2 dolls are concerned.
While the interivew/news segment talks about several of Barbie’s personas being career oriented, they point out that the Bratz girls are more about shopping. Larian characterizes the Bratz dolls as, “Girls with a passion for fashion.” Larian also seems to find it laughable that girls associate Bratz with teenagers and Barbies as mothers. Yeah, because who would ever want their kids to find it fun to be around mom and emulate her characteristics?
There is also a battle being fought in the courtroom over who had the original idea for the Bratz-style dolls. Mattel claims that the designer of Bratz concept devoped the idea while still working at Mattel.
I really can’t say that I’ve looked all that closely at the Bratz dolls, primarily because of their name. It really bugged me that they came out with a doll for little girls that, in name, relayed a sense of sass and entitlement. I don’t like it, anymore than the cute pink shirts that say things like, “spoiled brat.” Nope, not for my kid. Of course, you don’t actually see a “poor house” Barbie, either. So, maybe my opinions are colored by my memories of playing with Barbie. I’m okay with that for now.
Take a few minutes (actually, about eight) to listen to what both sides have to say and share your opinions on the interview.
I think the Bratz dolls have too much make up on for our little girls. They are okay for teen girls but now they are aiming at 6 year olds.
Eliza: I agree! They all grow up too quickly, as it is. I think we need to stick with Strawberry Shortcake and baby dolls for as long as we can!
yes, the bratz dolls have too much make-up but so what! barbie had a make-up head too and i would rather the make-up than the breasts and unrealistic figure that barbie has. i love barbie…but when i loved barbie, there were no dolls that looked like me (middle eastern) so i really had no choice and racism was still big and i went to school with girls who all wanted to be blonde hair and blue-eyed so i celebrate bratz. with or without the dolls, little girls will always be into make-up (that’s why there is such a big market for it).
Ande: Thanks for commenting. You’re right, little girls do love make-up, mine included!
Thanks for posting the video on your article! I was the one who captured this news segment and posted it on YouTube. However, there’s another Bratz vs. Barbie news segment I posted on YouTube that’s much better than this one, and it can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xxbJejTbuI
CNBC did an outstanding job piecing everything together to create this news segment for their television program “Business Report,” and I enjoyed it better than this ABC News Nightline report (which was just as good, too!). And once again, the same two individuals are featured in the report, with Chuck Scothon avoiding the questions about Bratz, as usual.
Again, thanks for featuring the video in your article! Well done!
Robyn: You’re welcome. Thanks for putting the videos out there.
I was excited to see one to go along with the post after I’d seen the piece on Nightline!
hi!yeah robyn thanks for putting hat video in that article..but unfortunately the fight was so awesome..but i like barbie better they have a barbie virtual world and they connect MP3 players and they can unlock all special items..you can here music too…before..i like BRATz before but now barbie… i realized that this dolls are awesome to play with..and you know BRATz have to many glitters and there legs cannot bend to sit but barbie can bend it to sit…and you know BRATz is to expensive they do not even have a virual world..like Barbie girls beta..oh i forgot!!! if someone likes to visit our virtual world go for it here is the website:
http://www.barbiegirls.com
i hope you like our virtual world at barbie.com..oh if you visit it you need to register then if you just registered try to find me there my screen name is:
charmcrystal or emeraldstone08 or salesattendant or koolkatjade
well Angelica the Bratz are coming out with a virtual world in august. plus babrbie sucks because shes to babyish and i don’t think all dolls should be bloned and blue eyed . plus barbie make seem being bloned and blue eyed is the most beautiful. mattel sucks
Without a doubt Bratz dolls are better than barbie. And to angelica, Bratz already have a virtual world http://www.amazon.com/Bratz-Triiiplets-Valentina-Oriana-Siernna/dp/B000BCEJ2C
I hope Bratz will soon take their rightful place as the number one fashion doll world wide. I also hope they get rid of those awful pink obsessed dolls.
Already Bratz are the number one fashion dolls in the UK, Spain, South Africa, USA, Australia, Italy and Japan.
Soon, the Bratz dolls will conquer the doll world and will hopefully leave barbie fans in tears. I just hate barbies, they are so disgusting and pink. Not to mention trashy. Bratz are the best dolls so far.
I posted the wrong link, here it is http://www.be-bratz.com/
I think Barbie because a Bratz is cheap because the bratz have big head but i love bratz and barbie.
how could the bratz dolls be cheaper than barbies when they are both made of plastic, yet, bratz dolls cost twice the amount you would pay for a barbie. All the bratz dolls are more expensive than barbie. I think barbies are cheap old trash, i don’t even know why people are still buying them. Anyway, i love bratz and would pick a bratz over a barbie any day.
i blive the bratz our cooler then barbies. me and my firnds love bratz girls.
i tink becucuse barbies are just like each otcher. but not the bratz. they are diffrent . and beside the bratz are super fashion.
the bratz have too much makover so what ? the barbies have makover too .but the bratz are relly coolr than barbis enyway. bratz are my fave !!!
i hate barbis,ther so ugly.
We are doing a project for 7th period, in which we have to prove why Barbies are better than BRATZ, so all of you Barbie fans PLEASE send us any facts, arguments, or anything that can sabbotage BRATZ’s reputation! Send it to: musicmatt@bellsouth.net
well girls I GO FOR BOTH BUT I REALY LIKE MOST Bratz!!!!!!!!!
I love both Bratz & Barbie. Many people like Cristina, Imana may hate Barbie. But remember before Bratz many girls only loved BARBIE, when Bratz came it all went away. Anyway I’m not saying I hate Bratz. They are cute,fancy but expensive as well. For me BARBIE=BRATZ[both are special in their own ways
For me they are both wicked awesome, but the world all knows that bratz are far the best.
OMG! the bratz just keep getting better every moment. Be-Bratz.com rocks!
Barbie? So and so. Bratz? Off the hook! the world just can’t live without Bratz, but it’s hard to choose for others. Oh! and by the way you should totally check tygirlz.com!
Maybe some of you would prefer barbie but to me it looks like if the bratz already won the challenge!
Martha’s right about going to tygirlz.com. You’ll love it, but it’s a member’s sight only, it’s simple, all you have to do is the following: First purchace your tygirlz doll and don’t forget to access the secret code that comes with the doll. Trust me, tygirlz.com rocks!
Tygirlz? Never heard of it where can you buy it?
they look beautiful
Cityworld Ltd. is glad to announce that it has won the high
court action instituted by MGA over copyright infringements in
their design of Funky Tweenz in respect of Bratz fashion dolls.
an order was made by Deputy High Court Judge Gill at the
hearing of the trial on march 3rd, 2008 (six years after MGA
started their wrongfull action), that:
- MGA’s action against all the defendants be discontinued with
full cost of the action awarded in favor of Cityworld Ltd.
- the injuction order be fully discharded.
- Cityworld Ltd is at liberty to apply for the Court’s directions
for an inquiry as regards the damages recoverable by
Cityworld Ltd from MGA .
Cityworld Ltd now have full liberty to produce and sell its
Funky Tweenz dolls and MGA is prevented by law from raising
further claims against Cityworld Ltd on the wrongfull allegation
that Funky Tweenz were infringing copies of bratz.
HELLO! why girlz like barbie?I used to like them when i was 6yrs. old but when i saw bratz i totally get in love with them the first bratz they give me was Yasmin Strut It in chrismas they give me just 1 coz in Mexico they sell them triple but now i have like 50 bratz dollz and my last doll my parents buy me is Cloe design your own it has 2 heads and fashionable clothes to mix ‘n’ match fashion….anyway im going t do a video of all the bratz i have go to ” my bratz dolls” (in youtube) so you can vote and to convence you that BRATZ ”R” BETTER THAN BARBIE….;MUUUUUCH BETTER . Barbie + bratz = myscene which i also used to like but i gave all the unfashionable dolls to mi cousins which i give all the dolls except for *BRATZ* from #1 bratz fan ……… THANKS!!!!!!!!!! (dont forget to watch the video) i’ll try my best on it byyyyye!!!!! fashion girlz IF you like bratz if you like barbie bye *%#$!(^?> if you know what i mean with that ! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Ok girls, some of us like bratz the rest likes barbie. My opinion, bratz!!!!! Well….we’re all not supposed to like the same thing, besides theres lots of other dolls to choose from.I not saying that bratz aren’t my favorite type of doll because it is my favorite.For some more info, I have 34 bratz so far but I’m growing up anyways. Remember, pick the one you like not the ones that you are forced to like.
Hi, it’s Rachel again but I still don’t know what secret means by ” they’re beautiful.” Anyways just to tell you about some things, I’ve been thinking about bratz. I know that they’re stunning and sassy which I kind of like about them, but my parents don’t really seem to like them.
Hi Rachel, it’s me Kayla your BFF!! I’ve been slightly trying to get to this website. I know I never said this to you before, but I love the bratz!!!! Oh yeah, remember that science report we had to do don’t forget!!!!! BFF’s 4ever!!!!!
Let’s see, barbie or bratz? BRATZ!!! You heard me. Barbie just doesn’t fit my personality. It’s like if the b on barbie stands for blonde because she always had blonde hair since the beginning. I’ve got to admit I’m blonde myself, but I wouldn’t choose barbie as my favorite doll.
You guys are all stupid!!!! Especially the barbie lovers!!!!! Well guess what? I just found a way to sabatage barbie and her evil plans of envy. Just go to ” I hate barbie.com.”
Girls!!! Shut up! You fool! You must pick Barbie! Barbie has the perfect one!!! Hello? Aren’t you forgetting something? Barbie must win! Because she has too many fashionable outfits! Stylish!!! And has many partners like Polly Pocket, MyScene, Pixel Chix, Disney High School Musical 2, BarbieGirls, EverythingGirl, Diva Starz, Beauty Cuties and much more! Unlike Bratz (lame, unpleasing, ugly, stupid!)! It just came out since 2001! And it’s so horrible! It’s eyes are so big, and lips, too! And their feet are bigger than their heads! Silly Bratz! It has to be Barbie! Don’t believe in them! They just say “I like Bratz!”! But in truth, they’re Barbie! Go Barbie!!!!! You must pick one! No saying “I like them both”! Like that! Trust me! Barbie must win!
Go Barbie Go! Barbie, must win! Bratz-Sasha, Cloe, Jade and Yasmin, get out! You lost! Hello? We are talking about what doll is the coolest!-You bullshit! If you are Bratz, get out at your house and go to the rooftop and suicide! Bratz, Bratz, Bratz!!!!!!! Lame! Eeewww… Its eyes are so big, and lips, and they’re body is smaller then their heads and feet, and their feet are bigger than their heads? What a crazy thing! Looks like a human disease! You know, it’s look like an abnormal girl!!!!! You bitches, swith now to Barbie!!!
I’m notifying to all parents that America’s top selling doll ( Barbie ) has been seen to have contamination of lead which can cause a hazard for children.
I myself has been slightly notified that the more property we buy from China, the less the American dollar will be worth. Thank you for listening.
Diana, you know it’s not right of you to force other people to like something, and don’t even think about going crazy over dolls and this whole adicting thing.
One more thing, don’t start dealing with things that aren’t apropriate for you.
Three things about Barbie
To: Diana
#1: Large body small head ( musn’t be that clever)
#2: Unrealistic figure
#3: Full of envy
Anyways, I bet Diana would probably look the same.
P.S.: Diana’s brain is the size of a small sized peanut.
Cloe eshte ma e mira dhe Yesmin jan shum me te bukura se te tjerat po harroj me fal se edhe Sasha me pelqen shum edhe Jade te gjitha te mira po keto qka i permenda Cloe,Yesmin,Sasha,Jade
I just have to say bratz ROCK!! Barbie is for little kids. Barbie just sucks!!
Would Mattel have paid Bryant $30 million and rising for his work? Mattel seeks to recruit the talented and pay them a meagre salary for their ideas, which can make fortunes. Managers are merely the custodians of their established products and brands, it’s the creators who make the real difference. Look what happened to Disney in the hands of Eisner. The moment Katzenberg left in frustration, the animation studios, the hallmark of the Disney empire, went into freefall and closed. Is Mattel going the same way? Certainly without innovation the only way is down and the figures show that is the way Mattel is relentlessly heading. Innovation and imagination is what counts as JK Rowling proves in spades and she is reaping her just rewards. Pay the piper what he’s worth and you get to keep your children. Colin O’Donoghue Ex-designer of Barbie and Disney clocks and watches and the author of The Dragon Code, a fairy story based on stolen invention and inspired by events at Disney but it could just have easily been by these events at Mattel. http://www.dragoncode.co.uk/
I think Barbies are better bratz have big cheaks and everything and are a show of!
BARBIES ROCK!!!!!!!
I like Bratz and I think hey are pretty cool, but Barbies are more than that. Bratz are just some pretty dolls…Just look at totally hair braid Barbies, Day2nite Barbies, Hollyday Barbies, Top Model Barbies…And hwo sais that Barbies are rasist, better look at Nikki dolls. Or compare :”Bratitude” whit Two voices, one song”.
to me both barbie and bratz wear make up and they both have boobs so there for they should be treated =y(eaqly) so why do we fight because every body hase a favorite so stop fighting and explane why you like them(barbi,bratz).now that is my opinion
THE BEST BARBIE I BEST IS BRAZT