What Do You Think About Elizabeth?

[vew-tori]

She is a hit at our house. Compared to many of you we are new to 18" dolls (Bitty has been part of the family for over 5 years but last summer Molly was our first Historical.) DD will turn 8 this summer. She knows who Felicity is and we have read her Meet book. She (and I for that matter) don't know much about Felicity and/or Elizabeth. I'm not really planning on getting either ( I tried to convince her to get Felicity but she chose Marisol) but based on her reaction we might. I think that is exactly what Mattel was hoping.

I understand why so many are upset (I don't handle change very well - LOL) and I hope you at least get some new or re-released things for Felicity.

[kitti515]

I agree that the doll we've seen pictured is beautiful, as I think all AG dolls are (though now I think "Rapunzel Barbie" whenever I look at her because someone made that comparison!). However, she is not Elizabeth to me. I think this comes from growing up with the Felicity books from a young age and feeling like they are betraying a generation of AG fans with this change. Though obviously there are people of all ages on this board who fall into both camps, it seems to me that some of the most passionately anti-change are in my age group. Personally, I would have been equally offended if Elizabeth had originally been blonde and they made her a brunette. The point, for me, isn't that they are making another blonde doll; it's that they changed a character who has been loved by girls for over a decade into something completely different. I know Elizabeth is a fictional character and it's the company's prerogative to portray her as they will, but quite frankly it creeps me out that they can just go back and alter all the paintings to make her into a different person. It's not like in the story Elizabeth somehow becomes a blonde (starts wearing a wig or something); it's that they're trying to give the impression that she always was. That sort of manipulation just seems wrong to me.

*stepping off my soapbox*

- Becca

[rebecca191]

Yeah, from another Becca who grew up reading and loving those books and characters... I am glad I didn't choose Felicity as one of my dolls when I was younger, now I'd feel even worse. [img]frown.gif[/img] Maybe I'd have been better off not lurking here anymore but I would have seen the doll eventually anyway...

[annkirstin]

Like many of the rest of you, I think the doll is a lovely doll...but just as a doll, NOT as Elizabeth. To me, she is not and never will be, no matter how many illustrations they change. I think their explanation on why they changed her is beyond lame, and I think this is one of THE worst decisions they have ever made regarding the historical line, design-wise. I'm not buying her because I don't have Felicity and I am just collecting for the dolls I already have, but even if I did have Felicity, I would never buy this doll. I'd probably try to find some appropriate substitute.

Although I know it would be bad news for Felicity and the historical line in general if sales for Elizabeth are slow, I frankly hope they are just slow enough to show AG that even though they technically own these characters, they mean something to AG customers, fans, and readers as well, and they'd better think things over real hard before they change the next friend doll so much.

[Felicityexpert]

I'll join the hate her camp.

I'm not going to say a lot, Shortie421 and Rebecca basically covered it all, but the dress hurts my eyes and the hair looks like a dye-job gone wrong. More importantly, I am furious with the direction AG is taking with her and the change in her appearance.

Though obviously there are people of all ages on this board who fall into both camps, it seems to me that some of the most passionately anti-change are in my age group.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm 14 and I'm passionately anti-change. I don't know if that would be considered part of the younger camp as I'm not in the target age of AG, but it's not all older members that are anti-change but most of my peers are not however.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ June 05, 2005 08:53 PM: Message edited by: Felicity+Addyfan ]</font>

[FelinaDoon]

I know alot of you are very upset about the hair color and changes to Elizabeth. But wanted those of you who think the color can't be anything but a color out of a bottle - My Mother is Italian and had that coloring from Day one. Natural Platinum Blond Hair

[annkirstin]

I'm furious with the direction too, F+A Fan. Now I'm thinking, who are they going to change next, in what way, and how drastic?? I've tried to be optimistic about AG in recent times, hoping they still cared about the characters and stories and all, and that when it came down to it, they would preserve the integrity of the characters and books rather than sacrifice them for money, but I just feel now like they really don't care anymore, and they're doing whatever they think will rake in the most cash. It IS a business of course, and they have to make money, which is not bad in and of itself, but when you choose to do that by sacrificing what the company first was and what made it great instead of nourishing it...ugh. I guess what they don't realize is that what made the company so successful was that it appeared that this was NOT a company who would just put out any product they thought would generate the most revenue; that they cared. I am very sad. I think my last shred of optimism might be blowing away.

[cami713]

I think I'm in agreement with most people here.

I think the doll is absolutely gorgeous, and I will be getting her. However, I'm pretty sure she will never be Elizabeth, but just a today doll, who wears modern clothes.

She is NOT Elizabeth of the books, and I will not be buying new books as my old ones portray the REAL Elizabeth.

I can see how a lot of people love her, I really think she is the most gorgeous doll of quite a number of years. But I also can see the point of the people who aren't going to buy her to make a point.

I think they gave us a bull reason about changing her looks, and I find that unfair. If they would just come out and say "well, we wanted to make her prettier, and everyone know's blondes are prettier," I would be happier than I am with them now, simply for saying the TRUE reason.

I understand their worry, the real reason for making Elizabeth more "princessy:" That sells. They're probably worried that Felicity wont sell very well, following how she didn't in the past. She will be very new, but that doesn't mean people will be able to connect with her, Elizabeth might be more connect-able for young girls.

I think that if enough people (even those who buy this Elizabeth) write in saying that it would be nice if they made an AGoT who looks as though Elizabeth is SUPPOSED to, they very well might.

I have a lot of respect for those of you who strongly dislike her and aren't going to buy her on principles. She is NOT Elizabeth, and I commend you all for being able to stand behind your beliefs.

Editing to say that I really hope this isnt the direction the company is going to go in, like everyone else. I hate to think of how they could change the other friends if they have NO respect for their current/past customers, but care only about the best way of making a buck of new customers. Hopefully, this wont be a trend and is only being done because they think there might be enough people who don't know what Elizabeth looks like, as Felicity has been locked up on the website for years.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ June 05, 2005 09:05 PM: Message edited by: cami713 ]</font>

[rachie421]

From cami713: I have a lot of respect for those of you who strongly dislike her and aren't going to buy her on principles. She is NOT Elizabeth, and I commend you all for being able to stand behind your beliefs.

Thank you. Its not easy because I have been looking forward to Elizabeth for months and I do find this new doll to be very pretty, I just cant bond with her because of the change.

Edited to add: Someone said something about age playing into who likes her and who doesnt. Im 21 and got into AG at the of 9 back in 1993 and Felicity has been my favorite since the beginning. (so that certainly plays into my frustration) Just wanted to add myself to that slighly older, grew up with AG generation.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ June 05, 2005 10:06 PM: Message edited by: shortie421 ]</font>

[Pat B]

Part of the problem is that Felicity has been in exile for so long that many do not know of her.
Girls in the target age will want both dolls once they see the movie. Parents who know nothing about AG could look at Felicity and a dark haired Elizabeth and think that they are the same- and only buy one. Samantha's hair color is not that different from the newer "red" of the AGOTs for the uninformed to tell the difference .
AG should have identified the doll in the survey
to get a valid response. If they wanted to make a change it should have been done in the books and web site long ago.
I have no objections to making Elizabeth " princessy" . She is supposed to have more money
than a shopkeepers daughter. ( It is not as though they were giving Kirsten velvet gowns and curls). Yet Elizabeth and Annabelle have simpler clothes in the books.
AG should compromise and make an AGOT that resembles Elizabeth,
AG is taking a risk . I wonder if a lot of customers will buy Elizabeths items and use another doll for her.
It is not essential in the story for Elizabeth to have dark hair. For example she is not repeatedly made fun of because of it. There are plebty of instances where characters in clildrens books are portrayed differenty .
If a dark haired Elizabeth had sold poorly there could have been cut backs on other planned historical items .