Werepuppy's A Doll A Day Challenge 2020

[werepuppy]

I'm one of those five weirdos who don't know Sailor Moon (I know about the series, but never read or watched it), so I don't know the context of black haired Usagi (other than her usually being blonde), but she's really cute!

Cute sailor style uniform! Good eye to score this "random find!"

I’m one of the other 5 weirdos who know nothing about Sailor Moon.

I can recognise them, but only if they’re in the school uniforms.

Congrats on the find!

Well, that's 3 of the 5 right here...  
She's cute though.

Four... I can't even remember the names of the Sailor Pullip and Dal I actually own (who both had makeovers)...

Looks like 100% of the weirdos are here, because I know almost nothing about Sailor Moon. It’s  a Japanese anime is about the sum total of my knowledge.

Thank you all! Since a lot of you don't seem to know what Sailor Moon is, I provide the following links: Wikipedia | TV Tropes | Manga Guide

- - - 

184. V is for Villain



Moanica D'Kay! She would quite happily consider herself a villain. Honestly, one of the few gen 2 dolls that really holds up in terms of design. I think they they'd all been a bit more like her, then we might still see the dolls on the shelves today

[neon_jellyfish]

Side glance has always worked well for MH dolls. I think Moanica had it rough, because she was the G2's only (named, I don't count her mob of bad boys) zombie after they axed Ghoulia, so majority of community didn't like her. I think she would be liked better if Ghoulia was still around. Same with Ari and Spectra (except Ari is kinda bland, unlike Moanica).

[davidd]

Thank you all! Since a lot of you don't seem to know what Sailor Moon is, I provide the following links: Wikipedia | TV Tropes | Manga Guide

Moanica is... kinda sexy, actually. I suspect that was intentional in a sly sort of way, to go along with her name.

Isi was another one that had a sultry subtext going on with the design which was hinted at in the text on the packaging. There was some subtlety happening with some of the later issue figs that went beyond "famous monster" references.

[Alliecat]

Moanica is cool. I like her kind-of-sassy ex.pression.
I recall passing by an episode or 2 of Sailor Moon ages ago on TV (was there a really old version??) but never got into it.

[Loona]

I'm coming to the rescue to save the Sailor Moon imbalance!   I've been a massive fan of the franchise for about 2 decades now. Even my nickname (which I got in my teens) has its connection to it   
That Usagi is so cute! Great find, she's such a unique doll in the Sailor Moon world I really loved the Live Action series - admittedly needed some time to get used to its cheesy feel, but it had such great character development, and some plot changes&twists that made it much more appealing to me as an adult. I think it wasn't made with the same audience age in mind as the animated series (that, or they weren't trying to make it appealing to the international market).

Moanica... well. I tried to like her, I really did. The thing is, she would have a lot to make it easy for me to like her. First of all, we share a name (minus the porn star grimey twist in hers ), how cool would that be to own a doll who is called like you (and it's not your customised mini-me)?! Secondly, she's grey-skinned, and back then I had this idea of desaturating every doll who doesn't need a full body repaint to become black&white, and making a bunch of b&w customs. As part of this idea I even ended up buying a number of dolls who previously didn't even interest me. Not one of these custom ideas have ever materialised, and by now I have realised that some of them will likely never will. I am still a massive monochrome lover, but no, I don't need and won't like every doll just because they are black&white. I still plan to make some of them happen though, maybe someday. Back to Moanica though... when I had a chance to buy her for a price I'd have been OK with, I was already in the phase of realising that I don't *need* to own every Monster High doll in b&w, and thus I was able to look at her a bit more objectively. And I unfortunately couldn't come to like her head mold. I do think her evil smile is cool and unique, but it isn't what I look for in a doll. I even tried to look at repaints to see if I could make her look more appealing to me, but then I came to the conclusion that what doesn't come, shouldn't be forced. I never really regretted not getting her. I can't say I wouldn't pick her up if I bumped into her in a thrift store (maybe seeing her IRL would make a difference), but I'm not considering seeking her out otherwise.

That said, I still think she's a cool and unique doll, which was pretty rare in the G2 era - I kind of believe she would have done pretty well if she was released a few years earlier. Her design is strong and she has qualities that make her stand out, I'm sure many fans who have left the boat by the time she appeared would have liked her. I love the way you posed her, the way her right hand is positioned and angled with the direction she's looking at makes the pose very dynamic - plus she looks totally badass!

[Elfy]

The only anime/manga I ever really got into was Princess Knight. Our doll Roni is her.

[werepuppy]

Side glance has always worked well for MH dolls. I think Moanica had it rough, because she was the G2's only (named, I don't count her mob of bad boys) zombie after they axed Ghoulia, so majority of community didn't like her. I think she would be liked better if Ghoulia was still around. Same with Ari and Spectra (except Ari is kinda bland, unlike Moanica).

Oh yeah, it would have done well on a few other dolls.

This is true - if they'd actually showed us Ghoulia was still around, Moanica would have been better received.

Moanica is... kinda sexy, actually. I suspect that was intentional in a sly sort of way, to go along with her name.

Isi was another one that had a sultry subtext going on with the design which was hinted at in the text on the packaging. There was some subtlety happening with some of the later issue figs that went beyond "famous monster" references.

Since it's all subtext, it would be hit and miss as whether it was actually intentional. Which is a good move, for a toy line...

Moanica is cool.  I like her kind-of-sassy ex.pression.
I recall passing by an episode or 2 of Sailor Moon ages ago on TV (was there a really old version??) but never got into it.

I like her ex.pression to. It's fun!

There was a version in the early 90s, which is what helped to make it so super popular. 

I'm coming to the rescue to save the Sailor Moon imbalance!   I've been a massive fan of the franchise for about 2 decades now. Even my nickname (which I got in my teens) has its connection to it   
That Usagi is so cute! Great find, she's such a unique doll in the Sailor Moon world  I really loved the Live Action series - admittedly needed some time to get used to its cheesy feel, but it had such great character development, and some plot changes&twists that made it much more appealing to me as an adult. I think it wasn't made with the same audience age in mind as the animated series (that, or they weren't trying to make it appealing to the international market).

Moanica... well. I tried to like her, I really did. The thing is, she would have a lot to make it easy for me to like her. First of all, we share a name (minus the porn star grimey twist in hers  ), how cool would that be to own a doll who is called like you (and it's not your customised mini-me)?! Secondly, she's grey-skinned, and back then I had this idea of desaturating every doll who doesn't need a full body repaint to become black&white, and making a bunch of b&w customs. As part of this idea I even ended up buying a number of dolls who previously didn't even interest me. Not one of these custom ideas have ever materialised, and by now I have realised that some of them will likely never will. I am still a massive monochrome lover, but no, I don't need and won't like every doll just because they are black&white. I still plan to make some of them happen though, maybe someday. Back to Moanica though... when I had a chance to buy her for a price I'd have been OK with, I was already in the phase of realising that I don't *need* to own every Monster High doll in b&w, and thus I was able to look at her a bit more objectively. And I unfortunately couldn't come to like her head mold. I do think her evil smile is cool and unique, but it isn't what I look for in a doll. I even tried to look at repaints to see if I could make her look more appealing to me, but then I came to the conclusion that what doesn't come, shouldn't be forced. I never really regretted not getting her. I can't say I wouldn't pick her up if I bumped into her in a thrift store (maybe seeing her IRL would make a difference), but I'm not considering seeking her out otherwise.

That said, I still think she's a cool and unique doll, which was pretty rare in the G2 era - I kind of believe she would have done pretty well if she was released a few years earlier. Her design is strong and she has qualities that make her stand out, I'm sure many fans who have left the boat by the time she appeared would have liked her. I love the way you posed her, the way her right hand is positioned and angled with the direction she's looking at makes the pose very dynamic - plus she looks totally badass!

Ah, yay, another fan! The live action series was playing into a lot of Japanese drama tropes of the time, I believe, plus that element of Toku shows. I still love the idea of Princess Sailor Moon and her destructive ability. That was a very cool idea. 

I think if you do find a Moanica, pick her up. You never know if she'll grow on you. 

The only anime/manga I ever really got into was Princess Knight. Our doll Roni is her.

Ahh, I need to try to see that anime. I've read the manga. 

- - - 

185. W is for Wolf



Ah, the Forbitten Love two-pack really was a fantastic  release. Clawd looks especially dapper, even if he's wearing a bunnet.

[neon_jellyfish]

I don't have a Clawd doll, but Forbitten Love pack is my favorite verion. I never found one in Czech Republic. All the dolls that were released around that time (when the Fright On! special aired) - School's Out, Campus Stroll, this 2pack - were gorgeous. Aaahh, good times.

[davidd]

I always thought the way they handled Clawd's cap was clever and looked good.

[Elfy]

The mangas of Princess Knight can be picked up easily, but I doubt you’d find the anime cartoons I saw as a kid. They were done in the 60’s. I liked a few of those: Prince Planet and Gigantor. Never liked Marine Boy.

[Lejays17]

Moanica... well. I tried to like her, I really did. The thing is, she would have a lot to make it easy for me to like her. First of all, we share a name (minus the porn star grimey twist in hers ), how cool would that be to own a doll who is called like you (and it's not your customised mini-me)?

And this is why I own Kjersti Trollson - even though I’m not a gamer or really collect MH very much. So rare to find a doll with nearly my name.


Clawd looks very cool in his hat.

[werepuppy]

I don't have a Clawd doll, but Forbitten Love pack is my favorite verion. I never found one in Czech Republic. All the dolls that were released around that time (when the Fright On! special aired) - School's Out, Campus Stroll, this 2pack - were gorgeous. Aaahh, good times.

I got lucky and found them both in a charity shop. I do agree that a lot of the two packs of this time were gorgeous. The nostalgia pings hard...

I always thought the way they handled Clawd's cap was clever and looked good.

Oh it very much is. The joke is that here a bunnet is more of a cap that an older man would wear, not really a teenager. I guess it doesn't come across as well. 

The mangas of Princess Knight can be picked up easily, but I doubt you’d find the anime cartoons I saw as a kid. They were done in the 60’s. I liked a few of those: Prince Planet and Gigantor. Never liked Marine Boy.

Actually, I've found getting physical copies of the manga to be fairly difficult - I have it on Kindle.

I googled and there was a complete collection DVD set released in Australia. Dunno if that is helpful. 

Clawd looks very cool in his hat.

It is a cool hat. 

- - - 

186. X is for Xenacious



Function: adjective. Definition: filled with yearning for change

Nora is xenacious when it comes to her Great-Grandmother...

[neon_jellyfish]

I hope Nora will find the courage to change and free herself from the grasp of her Great-Granny, because there ain't no changing her.

[Alliecat]

An interesting word… We might all be a bit of that these days.

[davidd]

An interesting word, indeed! The Alphabet Project is proving to be quite educational!