The Quest for More Asian Dolls!

Let us follow the lead set by those who have petitioned for more Black dolls and who have received them in the form of the Shani dolls and friends (early 1990’s) and now the So in Style dolls (late 2000’s). It would be nice to have similar doll lines with Asian* friends! Our little Caucasian and African American (we still need more Black dolls as well) dolls are missing their little Asian buddies.

We are not interested in over-priced exotic premium dolls in “exotic dress”, we want regular affordable dolls wearing jeans and t-shirts and whatever the style is currently out on the streets. We want dolls that we can give to our little children of color to show them that they are being represented (even if they choose to throw the dolls around or tear them apart). And to other children so that they can learn that everyone is normal rather than thinking some are “exotic” or “foreign”.

Please add your name (any name is fine, real or online pseudonym – what matters are the individual inputs) and geographical location as a comment below (first time commenters will need to be moderated, this only happens once) and let’s get our voices heard!

*by Asian, I am including East Asian, Eurasians from the North-West of Asia, South Asian, South East Asians, the Middle East since they are also part of the Asian continent and by extension, Native Americans and Hispanics/South Americans, whose ancestors migrated from Asia and have in the modern day intermarried with European and African arrivals in the Americas making them mostly Eurasian and Afroasian in a way… and perhaps even Polynesian people too! Basically… there’s a lot of Asians around but they seem to be all invisible and hidden away? Please come out and say hi!

38 Responses to “The Quest for More Asian Dolls!”

  1. Paulo says:

    I would love to see more Asian dolls! They’re all kid and adult collectors favorites! Plus if you go to second market Barbie sellers, these dolls are very sought after! :)

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  2. Renee Turner says:

    Yes, I would like to see more Asian dolls. We need more variety in the doll lines.

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  3. Lubo Holik( Cali) says:

    I also would love to see more Asian dolls. I think Mattel has great variety of faces they do not use nowdays. I would love to see Mari headmold and more dolls with Lea/Kayla headmold. Even, beautiful Asian dolls could be made with Steffie or Lara/Ana faces.

    And I am from Slovakia (Central Europe).

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  4. Chris says:

    I would love to see some Asian dolls, hopefully even a Male.

    Take a hint Mattel!

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  5. D7ana says:

    I’m all for more Asian dolls and action figures. Male as well as female.

    ETA – 14/08/2009 at 1:08 am
    If you don’t mind action figures, try M & C Toys for Asian male figures. Look under Power Team and World Peacekeepers. They are 12.”

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  6. CYANO says:

    YES, we need MORE! I’m Asian and I love my asian dolls. I’m tired of fighting for them on ebay, paying ridiculous prices! I keep buying duplicates to customize into new asian friends

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  7. Tiffany says:

    As an asian american;I believe more asian dolls should be include in barbie lines. When I was growing up in my childhood I would choose the asian doll over the blond ones there were very few leas and kiras in stores, now there aren’t any.

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  8. Sandra says:

    I would love to see more diversity in the dolls Mattel offers. Asian friends for Barbie are sorely missing in the playline dolls. If Asian dolls are offered in the collectible line, they are often cost prohibitive. Make Asian silkstones and affordable collector and playline dolls Mattel!

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  9. Niel says:

    Count me in! And these dolls should be made available in Asian countries like the Philippines as well.

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  10. Panya from Thailand says:

    Yes, I am still looking up for Asian dolls. Asian boy is what I need too. Mattel should pay attention to us Asian.

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  11. yoofsan says:

    More asian dolls: Male and female please! And i’m talking about the whole lot: Asian looks are so diversified it’s amazing the big doll companies still seem to overlook this fact… (just my two cents thrown in. ^_^ )

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  12. Ana de Lucca says:

    Yes, we want more asian dolls! Female and male!!

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  13. Maji says:

    Oh! Yes, please. More Asian male and female dolls. I love to have variety in the faces of my dolls. And articulation. How about some Harajuku Street style among those fashionistas. That would be great.

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  14. Byron says:

    We live in a multi-cultural, multi-faith world and it makes sense for Mattel to cater to every possible ethnicity. There’s still miles to go, so keep at it, Mattel!

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  15. Jeff Brinagh says:

    I really would like to see a more diverse line of dolls with more ethnic choices available as a collector I love all dolls equally. But the doll market has been producing fewer and fewer ethnic doll choices for us as well as children. I believe dolls are the first teachers to let children of all races know that they are beautiful so please make all races available for children and for collectors as well.

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  16. Anika M says:

    I would love to see more Asian dolls added to Mattel’s lineup. I love my Miko & Kira dolls. I would also love to see them add an Asian male as well. Diversity has been lacking for the Asian fashion doll lovers like myself. I would love to see more diversity and articulation as well for all the dolls :O)

    Ken needs some friends. I’d love to see Hispanic & Asian friends for Ken.

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  17. Sharon says:

    While I don’t have many Asian dolls in my collection, it would be nice to see more Asian dolls on the market. Both male and female. Not too “anime” or “manga” style, but reasonably realistic, and wearing fashions that you would see on the street or in people’s everyday lives.

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  18. Deb says:

    I would love to see more asian dolls, particularly asian male dolls – any dolls of ethnicity would be great – I am a redhead and there aren’t many of us around either!!!

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  19. Val says:

    I would really like – not just playline asian dolls but more asian silkstone dolls. I really want my dolls to be a representation of the world and I want some more asian girl and boy dolls..

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  20. Timmy says:

    more more more….

    what happened to Lea, Kayla, Kira….

    no wonder bratz Dolls were selling better there are more characters to buy and ethnic looks too,

    and dont limit ethnic dolls to just america like most countries these days there is a mix of ethnicity every where, and Australia is by far no exception.

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  21. Brenda says:

    I would love to see more Asian and Hispanic dolls. I love the dark hair and eyes. Red Moon Barbie silkstone is my muse.

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  22. Barbara McEwan says:

    I would love to see more dolls of all ethnicities. I think Barbie shoud represent all races of the world..

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  23. Beamsy says:

    There can’t be enough Barbies of all creeds and colours as far as I am concerned.

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  24. Rae says:

    Yes, please; Asian, Hispanic,black, brunette, redhead, collectible, playline, the more of a mixture there is, the better – not just in the US, but here, in Australia, on the shelves of Australian toyshops.

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  25. sam says:

    more variety means more dolls in my home!!

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  26. jane poffles says:

    I vote for more Asian dolls. Bring Lea and Kayla back to the Barbie lines. The lines look so boring without them.

    By the way, some more AA dolls wouldn’t hurt either.

    Jane

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  27. Zhaoshameng says:

    I want more asian dolls!!!

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  28. Adam says:

    I want more ethnic dolls. I want Asian dolls, cause I am Asian. Time for Barbie to really listen and make the dolls. I also want to see the Dolls able to buy everywhere. You think they would supply and demand.. But I think they are just playing deaf hears…

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  29. Shannon says:

    Not only for those of us who collect dolls and love these type of dolls but for many other reasons.

    We want more than sterotypical dolls in traditional dress – we want modern cultural versions and playlines versions of these dolls.

    There is nothing more beautiful than seeing children being able to play with dolls who are the same colour as themself.

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  30. Ethel says:

    I not only prefer non-blonde dolls, but mostly buy them andcurrently I am limited to what I buy through lack of choice. The POW dolls featured some really beautiful face’s – Japan, China and Korea, not to mention the South African girl. Why not make more of these? Isn’t it obvious that most of the world’s population isn’t made up of blonde, blue eyed girls and we are wanting our collections to reflect this in a small way?! As adult collectors with money to spend, surely good business says there is a market not being met by demand?!

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  31. Lisa in The Lowcountry says:

    I would love to see more Asian Barbies. My three children are adopted from Asia–China, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Besides, I prefer non-blonde dolls in my collection as I am a brunette.

    Listen up, Mattel!

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  32. Ashley says:

    I would love to see more Asian barbies. Most of the population in the world is Asian, 60%. And you can see everywhere white barbies and some black ones, but you can’t find Asian ones, and if you do is on the web.
    I would like Asian barbies to be more common and to more Asian, with another skin hue, bigger lips, smaller eyes, different nose. You get it.

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  33. Dawn says:

    Asian is such a vast range of characteristics – I am so very, very tired of the porcelain white Chinese Asian. How about Indian, Southeast Asian (Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Malay, Indonesian), or minority cultures of Asia dolls? I have family willing to purchase a custom made doll in skin, eye & hair colors to match my girls, but NONE offer Asian features! Doggone.

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  34. Zoeybird says:

    I would love to see more Asian dolls as well. I’ve been scouring all the thrift stores and Flee markets trying to snag what little Asian molds that are out there and I can’t even find any of them any more. It’s so discouraging.

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  35. I am strictly white America, (not my fault!) but PULL-ease-more beautiful ethnic dolls! The only affordable Asian I could find was the Korean Princess. Even she did not have a “true” Asian look. I love my South African Princess too, as she has lovely, full lips, a delighful blue/black skin tone, etc. but these are too few! The AA Disco Diva has wonderful curls, but hair is light. Of course I adore the Mbili doll, as the entire line-but cannot afford!!! This is too sad! As a 54 year old woman enjoying the heck out of my 2nd childhood, I delight in diorama display. I am currently building my own Village-consisting of blacksmith shop, design/boutiqe studio, apartments, homes, playground, school, etc. Some are cops, some undercover, some housewives, a few pregnant, with children, single, thugs, “nice” girls, “bad” girls, younger, older, customised (by me) GI Joe, etc. But I REALLY want a full range of dolls-just like it really is! I don’t want an “older” barbie without wrinkles, an Asian doll with round eyes, an African American doll with caucasian features, etc. I also don’t want clothes that are poorly made, accessories that are junk and just plain ugly, awful stuff. Recently into the Only Hearts Club dolls as teens for my town but they are difficult to find and limited. I hope, someday, to be able to find a few of the Mbili line that are non-mint, even naked, that I can afford, for my town. Hey-and a few REALLY ethnic Kens, that REALLY look like MEN would be great! I plan to get the HOT TOYS Blade ASAP-he is beautiful-looks exactly like Wesley Snipes, and have a nice Asian male on the way-but they are few and far between. Goemon males are attractive but less ethnic. I am VERY disapointed with Mattel and I hate the new big eyed blondes I see all over the place. I especially dislike the femininization of Ken. The Flava Liam is not bad but Flavas Tre is more womanly than the girls. I am SO glad to have found this site!!!! Maybe by watching here I can get a few leads! I will send pics of my gang if I ever stop working on them long enough to take photos! dogsRbetter.

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  36. zoe says:

    Yes, we need Asian dolls. We also need Latina and even multi-racial looking dolls! There is a market for this and Mattel needs to tap into it!
    And a Caucasian Barbie with brown skin and dark hair is not enough!
    I know Barbie has the Korean doll but not really……the clothes and hair are nice but Korean Barbie is just Caucasian Barbie with black hair.

    so happy to see the SIS Barbies. My daughter has Trichelle and Janessa and LOVES them. We like Barbie and would be nice if my daughter could have a Barbie that looked a bit more like her.

    And also work on the male barbies – they are so odd looking and stiff. Guess that is an international trend as male ‘barbies’ in Japan are the same way (Licca and Jenny brand).

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  37. nimpa says:

    YES for Asian dolls!!!

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  38. Alejandro says:

    I fully support more Asian dolls!!!

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