Evolution of Poseable/Articulated Body

[blackiegracie]

While looking over some of my dolls for rebodying, I wanted to document and share the different poseable Barbie bodies used since the 1990's. These are from playline dolls, but some were also used for collector-edition dolls.

1. "Gymnast" style from 1990's. Used on horse-riding, gymnast dolls, ballerinas, cheerleaders, and other athletic style dolls. Rotating waist. Knees are hinged style, elbows are pin-hinged style, and hands are ungraceful "paddle" style. Also found with flat-feet.

2. "Belly Button" body, with smooth, non-poseable waist. Used on similar dolls as described in #1
Knees, elbows, and hands are the same.

3. First used on 2008 Fashion Fever dolls. Notice the new "pivotal" rotating joint elbows, articulated wrists and new, more graceful hand-sculpt. Knees are "click" style.

4. First used on 2009 Fashionista dolls. Notice the new "pivotal" rotating joint elbows, articulated wrists and new, more graceful hand-sculpt. Knees are "hinged" style.

5. Latest edition of the Fashionista dolls. Same improvements in elbows, wrists and hands, but now knees have improved "pivotal" rotating joint, giving them maximum poseability!

(click on photo to enlarge, use "back" button to return to post)


Note: some other poseable dolls are not included, such as the all-over bendable "gumby" style bodies, or the "Jewel Girl" flexible waist. The "Flavas" also had articulation, but were much shorter - so I did not include them. I also did not include the "Pivotal" body used on some of the collector dolls (such as Jazz Baby) because I wanted to limit it to playline dolls.

Smiles Zoila

[Paulo_Te_Quiero_Bebe]

Mine would be the middle one, I love the fashionistas one, but it's sooo short, so my collector dolls are back on modelmuse and I'm really hoping they'll release tan pivotal bodies for those

[wherespjbeen]

I think you have description #3 and #4 knees switched but a wonderful and informative observation
I still cant find Artsy with the the newest knees is the new Sporty girl Artsy's skintone I've yet to see the new set in stores?

[blackiegracie]

Mine would be the middle one...

I like the way the knees look better in short skirts with that one, but I like more flexible poses with the newest style knees.

I think you have description #3 and #4 knees switched

Oh - Thanks for pointing that out! I fixed it now.

I still cant find Artsy with the the newest knees is the new Sporty girl Artsy's skintone I've yet to see the new set in stores?

I can't find Artsy with the new knees either, nor any of the newest wave for that matter.

Smiles Zoila

[Barbie-Boy]

The first well articulated doll i drooled over and wanted(from just a booklet i got at the Flea Market) was LIVING BARBIE of 1970.
The first well articulated doll that I HAD was Starr and friends for girls, and Sport-N-Shave Ken, both around 1980.

I can't find Artsy with the new knees either, nor any of the newest wave for that matter.

that's because i have bought them all!

if you like the #3 body best, i'll soooo trade you for #5. I went wild for the #3 (click legs), but i have always never cared for the click legs...the new legs are PERFECT imo!

I'm happy, but if Mattel wants to make any more tweeks, double joints and removeable hands are welcome for me.

[Desiree79]

Hi,

sorry , but Sporty has a different skin tone. She is much more pale than Artsy. And I don't consider Sporty to be AA.
She might be italian heritage, or maybe a native american-mix.

I'm also in search of the Artsy version with the new legs. Haven't found her so far.
This really getting a problem. It seems like in the latest Fashionisats doll assortment only Artsy's with the old legs is iclueded. That is really unfair, cause all the other Girls(Sweetie,2ndSassy,Sporty,Glam and 2ndCutie) have the new legs. This is discrimination in my eyes. First of all we get the same designed Artsy doll in the 2nd Wave, and than she is not even the improved version with the new legs, like the did with Glam. I so not understand mattel doing this. They surely have an issue with AA dolls. How sad.

[blackiegracie]

I understand your frustration Desiree79. I've been looking for Artsy with the newer knee style too, but I don't think it's discrimination.

I really don't think Mattel has an issue with AA dolls. Have you seen the S.I.S. dolls? They are some of the best designed and quality playline dolls right now! Even more with the new Roca Wear dolls coming out this year!

It's not fair to say Mattel has an issue with AA dolls because they have made so many wonderful AA dolls over the years, in addition to dolls from ethnicities all over the world. If anything Mattel should be praised for the diversity they have represented with dolls over the decades.

They make fewer AA dolls because they are purchased by consumers in fewer numbers. If they were to represent the percent of African Americans in the US population (12%) only 1.2 of every 10 dolls would be AA. Hispanics by population (15%) would be 1.5 dolls out of every 10. Asians are 4% of US population.

So... anyway, please let's stay on topic and discuss the differences in the various body types. Thanks!

Smiles Zoila

[Barbie-Boy]

i'm holding out on SIS until they get the Fashionistas body, as speculated from pictures from the Toy Fair...but weakening every time i see them at Target.
The $20 i want most has the worst(FOR ME) clothing, the darkest girl with the ballet outfit. HATE ballet. want the body for Kiyoni Brown, but can wait to get an even better body if it is going to happen.
Mattel, don't make me wait in vein!

[wherespjbeen]

I've seen the up graded Artsy body in your pictures thats how I knew it existed

that's because i have bought them all!

so apparantly they aren't getting shipped very far from El Segundo hehe

[Leela]

Thank you for this post, Zoila! Great comparison.
#5 is definitely my favorite body, but I like using #1 for my older dolls too.
All I want now is the removal of molded panties

[thedollcafe]

What a great post. I'm going to sticky it!

[thedollcafe]

Duh, it was already sticky-ed.

[deedee]

thanks for the info Zoila! It is really helpful in indentifying all those flea markets finds.
So it looks to me like the Fashionista doll body is slightly taller then the a standard size doll.

There was also articulated Gymnast Barbie and also the NBA dolls in the 90s. They had the flat feet .

I don't know if this is just about articulated Barbies, but the little Stacy gymnast dolls had articulated bodies too. My daughter demolished them during her playtime, but I remember their were 2 or 3 dollls in that series.
And I think there were several of the old style small Kelly dolls with articulated bodies too. Don't remember if Skipper had one or not

DeeDee

[Plastic_Beauty]

Don't remember if Skipper had one or not

I think Skipper only had articulation in her elbows, from the "Cool Sitter" set. Other than that, I dont think she ever got a fully articulated body in her history; unless you count Living Skipper from the Mod Era? That version had quite the articulation for a doll of the time.

[blackiegracie]

Thanks DeeDee! Glad it helps.

So it looks to me like the Fashionista doll body is slightly taller then the a standard size doll.

It looks that way from the photo, but not really - it's just the curvature of the camera lens that make the objects in the center of the frame appear larger than those on the sides of the frame.

Yes those other dolls you mentioned also have poseable bodies. I have dolls representing all of those body types too.
This Kelly collector website shows different Kelly body types including poseable:
http://www.lilfriends.net/bodymold.html

My effort was not to make an all-inclusive list, but rather to compare the improvements and evolution of the high-heeled playline body.

Smiles Zoila

[Chrome Cat]

I see they keep changing the knee joints on the Fashionistas. Which do you guys like better?
I have the original, before they changed the legs to plastic jointed.
Then I have the, I guess, second generation leg type.
Now there is yet a newer type, which I don't yet own but plan to.

Here is a photo of the two I have, check out the legs & knees.

[blackiegracie]

Thanks for the comparison photo Chrome cat!

We had this topic going about the evolution of the poseable Fashionista bodies, and so your post fits perfectly here!

Smiles Zoila