We’ve all seen the big black boxes, with pops of bright colors. Tucked inside clear plastic are fashion forward dolls dressed in Gothic inspired outfits adorning chains and bats, each one coming with a skull-shaped hairbrush.

We’ve all heard of the classic monsters, but now here comes Draculaura (my favorite), Frankie Stein, Cleo De Nile and Ghoulia among others and now those ghouls are sinking their fangs into Mattel’s Barbie profits giving girls the idea that being unique is freaky fabulous! Oh my ghoul!

 

 

“One by one, drops fell from her eyes like they were on an assembly line – gather, fall, slide…gather, fall, slide…each one commemorating something she had lost. Hope. Faith. Confidence. Pride. Security. Trust. Independence. Joy. Beauty. Freedom. Innocence.” ― Lisi Harrison

These frighteningly fashionable dolls first hit the market in July of 2010, taking a chunk out of Barbie sales in just a few weeks. By October of 2010, their first book was already on the shelves. Cartoons, movies, and video games would soon follow, rocketing these ghostly ghouls and their besties into the homes of millions around the world, much to the chagrin of some adults.

While no one can argue the message behind the Monster High Fab Friends is uniqueness and being true to yourself, some say that Mattel and Monster High Creator Garrett Sander have gone just a scare too far to get the message across. But isn’t that the point? Freaky faux paws and all, the characters of Monster High are High School teenagers with real world problems!

 

Frankie Stein and her too Ghoul for School BFFs have come across everything the modern day teenager has to deal with: social media, drama, bullies and even the normies. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful I do not have to shave like Clawdeen, werewolf, does, so maybe a little different than an everyday problem.

When it comes to boys, Monster High have their own line including the jock of Monster High, Clawd Wolf and of course, Medusa’s son and skateboarder, Deuce Gorgon and even an extraordinary science nerd, Jackson Jerkyl.

Unofficially referred to as the first generation (2010-2016), the dolls of the series have gone through some mechanical adjustments. Original dolls involuntary came apart at all the joints: wrists, elbows, knees, etc. Digging through the toy box to find Frankie’s hand wasn’t all that uncommon (but hey, Frankie lost her hand in several storyline).

Due to their exponential popularity, Monster High dolls quickly became highly collectible. People can easily find web pages that speaks of the rarest and most beloved dolls worth hundreds of dollars and that is only adding to the popularity of the MH universe.

While the second generation (also an unofficial title) have been revamped for more aggressive play and a slightly younger generation the popularity of the realm only expanded and not the other around, those dolls are here to stay.

Children as young as seven and eight are craving more from the Monster High universe and so Mattel adjusted the toys with the interchangeable limbs, giving the dolls less flexibility, but more durability.

Even though MH is considered young in the world of toys, these lovable heroes and villains are making an impact on not only the young, but also adults that are enjoying the originality of the product itself and more importantly, their message is having a lasting impact: It’s okay to be different and it’s great to be unique.

 

 

“This is our big chance to see what people think of us. The real us. We have to show ’em there’s nothing to be afraid of. If we don’t get over our fears, they never will.” ― Lisi Harrison, Monster High

The dolls, books and cartoons definitely can capture the imagination. A reader doesn’t have to be between the ages of thirteen to nineteen to fall in love with these stories and I would encourage anyone to pick up a Monster High book and give it a read only to lose themselves in their spooky, but friendly world.

Oh, my Ghoul!
Artemis