Princess Power

[Skanky Vamp]

Barbie has unleashed a line of superhero Barbie dolls.

“The world of superheroes has historically been tailored to boys, where the good guys beat the bad guys,” said Lori Pantel, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing for Barbie. “We know that girls, too, enjoy empowered heroes, but seek an outcome where the perceived bad characters transform to good, and friendship is the lasting result. We thought it was time they were inspired by a new superhero that is playful, has extraordinary abilities, and also uses her powers of forgiveness and friendship to defeat her foe, in a way that only Barbie can.”

via the mary sue

 

[Taake]

Only Barbie could come up with the lamest of Superheroes.
I'm sorry, I liked Barbie when I was a kid, but seriously... she looks like a weird butterfly from the 80s. Are the wings the empowering part? Color me underwhelmed.

Also, from the video; "the difference is they don't want to defeat evil they want to work as a team and turn that evil enemy into a friend"... *gag* Yes, all girls are flowery little honeys with pink glitter on their mind, they wouldn't enjoy an actual superhero - like say Buffy who does defeat evil - no they want to hold hands and sing kumbaya until everyone loves each other. *sigh* Way to think outside but press right up against the box, Mattel.

 

[EVIL UU]

We know that girls, too, enjoy empowered heroes, but seek an outcome where the perceived bad characters transform to good, and friendship is the lasting result.

So basically Buffy? I mean, Angel, Spike, Faith, Andrew, Willow and Xander all seem to fit the bill.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Maybe they just believe that violence is not the answer and they are trying to impart that radical viewpoint on kids.

Some people say little girls should be seen and not heard.

 

[thetopher]

Urgh- the 'power of friendship'? Lamest superpower ever. Can't see many team-ups with actual superheroes in her future.

I can just imagine the scene:

Spider-man: Well, I've got the web-shooters, agility, proportional strength of a spider and this ability to sense danger before it happens. It's pretty awesome.

Storm: The very elements are mind to command; frost, lightning, the mighty winds themselves. I, too, am 'awesome'.

(Spider-man turns to Barbie) Spider-man: 'So, what's you're super power?

Barbie: the super-power of friendship! Plus I've got these butterfly wings so I can kind of... hover. *giggle*

Spider-man: *trying not to barf into mask* That's...great. Really empowering. Well, I'll be going then. *swings off*

Storm: Right, so we're gonna go and fight some bad guys, you can stay by the f***ing phones. *flies off*

Barbie: Bye!

🙄

I mean, Angel, Spike, Faith, Andrew, Willow and Xander all seem to fit the bill.

Kinda, I guess. Not really in Faith's case-that was mostly Angel. And Spike...Buffy just kept on hitting him in the face until he fell in love with her. I'm not sure if that's the power of friendship as much as a concussion. 🙂

 

[Skanky Vamp]

She also comes with a superpowered dog and cat. None of the other so-called superheroes have that!

 

[Blaze]

Buffy just kept on hitting him in the face until he fell in love with her

lol maybe that's how Barbie does it too?

 

[Fuffy Baith]

Haha, wow you guys are pretty hard on Barbie there. It's clear that you are not the demographic audience. I will say that my nieces love those Barbie home video movies, as lame as they are. So yea little girls are going to love this "superhero" Barbie. Kids don't know that it's lame like adults. lol

 

[Taake]

Haha, wow you guys are pretty hard on Barbie there. It's clear that you are not the demographic audience. I will say that my nieces love those Barbie home video movies, as lame as they are. So yea little girls are going to love this "superhero" Barbie. Kids don't know that it's lame like adults. lol

When I was a kid I loved Barbie. So much I had like 60 of them. But I always wanted a 'cooler' Barbie as well. My mom got me pregnancy Barbie (ugh) but my dad, who got the drift, and bless him he tried, got me a GI Joe but it just wasn't the same because I wanted a cool girl doll.

So yes, I think it's good to acknowledge that girls might actually want a superhero doll. But I'm hard on Mattel because they're pretending to be fullfilling this goal, as if they are not being sexist, but really their superhero Barbie is just any other Barbie. She's not a superhero. She's a fashion victim if anything. She's the perfect fit for the girly-soft-hearted "girls aren't tough" stereotype, reinforcing the idea that for a hero to be for girls it has to be pink, sweet and have friendship as a superpower (and probably pets wearing pink little capes)... telling yet another generation of girls that they are not as cool or tough as the boys are. That's my problem with this.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

When I was a kid I loved Barbie. So much I had like 60 of them. But I always wanted a 'cooler' Barbie as well.

Then that sounds exactly like what they have done...

You tell me when you were a kid and wanted a 'cooler' Barbie, you would not have went for that?

 

[Taake]

Then that sounds exactly like what they have done...

You tell me when you were a kid and wanted a 'cooler' Barbie, you would not have went for that?

Super Sparkle bitten by a magical butterfly? No. I wanted a Barbie who could kick ass.... and date my GI Joe 😉

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I wanted a Barbie who could kick ass.... and date my GI Joe 😉

So this..

 

[Taake]

Maybe if they changed outfits, yeah.

 

[thetopher]

Well. they did have female G.I Joe's didn't they? Jinx and Lady Jayne and so on?

I was more into 'Action Man' when I was younger anyway, with his macho scar, fuzzy facial hair and different interchagable uniforms. Way better. 🙂

lol maybe that's how Barbie does it too?

Now I'm picturing another scene:

Super-Barbie: Now, are we friends?

Badly beaten Mugger: Whaa?

*Barbie cracks knuckles and then punches him again*

Super-Barbie: Are. We Friends?

Mugger: Dear God yes! Just please stop hitting me...*sob*

Super-Barbie: Yay! Friends forever! Nobody can stand against the power of my friendship.

Mugger: Jesus...please get me to a hospital.

😀

 

[Fuffy Baith]

When I was a kid I loved Barbie. So much I had like 60 of them. But I'm hard on Mattel because they're pretending to be fullfilling this goal, as if they are not being sexist, but really their superhero Barbie is just any other Barbie. She's not a superhero. She's a fashion victim if anything.

60?! Wow, that's a lot. I had like 3 or 4 plus some Ken dolls. lol. You do have a point, it does look like they are doing this to not be sexist. Fashion victim. lol. You don't love the butterfly wings? haha. Do butterflies even bite? It definitely all sounds very silly, but little girls are going to love that Princess Power movie.

@thetopher You should write some Barbie Princess Power fanfic. Cause that all sounds hilarious and much more entertaining. lol.

 

[Buffonia96]

Well. they did have female G.I Joe's didn't they? Jinx and Lady Jayne and so on?

I was more into 'Action Man' when I was younger anyway, with his macho scar, fuzzy facial hair and different interchagable uniforms. Way better. 🙂



Now I'm picturing another scene:

Super-Barbie: Now, are we friends?

Badly beaten Mugger: Whaa?

*Barbie cracks knuckles and then punches him again*

Super-Barbie: Are. We Friends?

Mugger: Dear God yes! Just please stop hitting me...*sob*

Super-Barbie: Yay! Friends forever! Nobody can stand against the power of my friendship.

Mugger: Jesus...please get me to a hospital.

😀

I agree haha I would definitely read it as well, you could do some Barbie comics. Much more interesting!

 

[VisionBoy]

Wow that cape is all kinds of hideous.
I think if I want cool girl superheroes I'll be watching Powerpuff Girls.