Over the years Mattel has made many different collectible dolls other than traditional Barbie dolls. Many trendy people have been made into Barbie dolls over the years such as:
- Star Trek
- Gone with the Wind
- Wonder Women
- Mary Poppins
- Hunger Games
- And many more
The Wizard of Oz characters have been made into Barbie dolls in the following years.
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
Since the film debuted in 1939 it has been one of the top children’s movies still to this day. With Wicked and the remake in 2013, it has became popular once again. Wizard of Oz Barbie dolls have been one of the most collected Wizard of Oz memorabilia items.
Contents
History of Wizard of Oz Barbie Dolls
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz started as a children’s book written by L. Frank Baum and first published in 1900. In 1939, the film The Wizard of Oz had become more familiar than the book on which it was based on.
The first edition of these dolls was released in 1995. The first of the Oz characters was no surprise, Dorothy. Soon after Dorothy was released, other Barbie dolls were released for the other characters of the movie. These dolls began flying off of the shelves as gifts for many kids, or just regular playing toys. Mattel discontinued the original line of the Wizard of Oz dolls in 1997 when sales declined. These dolls continued to be a favorite among collectors. Many editions of these dolls have been released as I mentioned above. All of the favorite characters from the movie have been made into Barbie dolls which includes:
- Glinda the Good Witch 1996, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013
- Wicked Witch of the West 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013
- Tin Man 1996, 2007, 2009, 2014
- Dorothy with Toto 1995, 2007, 2009, 2010
- Miss Dorothy Gale 2010
- Cowardly Lion 1997, 2007, 2009, 2014
- Scarecrow 1997, 2007, 2009, 2014
- Munchkins 2007
- Winkie the Guard with Flying Monkey 2007
- Fantasy Glamour Wicked Witch of the West 2014
- Fantasy Glamour Dorothy 2013
- Fantasy Glamour Glinda 2015
For the 70th anniversary of the classic film, Mattel released a limited series of the most popular characters. Each doll was sculpted using vinyl in the character’s movie likeness. These dolls flew off the shelves just as fast as the original ones. A very limited range of the most popular dolls was created. This included:
- Dorothy
- Glinda the Good Witch
- The Wicked Witch of the West
- Tin Man
- Cowardly Lion
- Scarecrow
The Dolls
Dorothy with Toto
Dorothy is the main character in the Wizard of Oz and one of the most recognized people from the film. She is a girl who lives in a one-room house in Kansas with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. The joy of her life is her dog, Toto who is also featured in the film. The Dorothy Barbie doll is timeless in that familiar blue and white gingham dress, ruby-red slippers, and ribbons in her pig-tailed hair.
Glinda the Good Witch
Glinda the good witch of the north is well known for giving Dorothy her ruby slippers and sending her to see the Great Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City. Helping Dorothy Gale elude the Wicked Witch of the West and follow the Yellow Brick Road in the classic movie. She has her iconic outfit from the film of a whisper-pink gown with sparkly, starry accents and puffy sleeves.
The Wicked Witch of the West
This collection would not be complete without the conflict-bearing Wicked Witch of the West the villainess everyone loves to hate. She is clad in black from head to toe, with a long broom and a pointy hat completing her witch look. Her skin tone was also made to be green so it matched the character from the movie.
The Tin Man
The Tin Man was recreated in his iconic metallic-looking, silvery ensemble that even has rivets accenting all his joints. This doll has a pose-able body and comes with an oil can, ax, and even a red heart-shaped clock. The Tin Man may be in search of a heart, but he’s sure to win yours when you add him to your collection.
The Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is wearing a fleecy lion suit and his body is fully pose-able. He can even hold his tail when he’s afraid, just like he does in the film. He has his iconic crown and a badge of courage and a curly mane. The Cowardly Lion Ken doll will surely bring back wonderful memories when you add him to your collection.
The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow is the first to meet Dorothy on her journey through Oz. This doll is complete with the soft shoes, rope-like belt and “straw” details of the original movie costume. He will make a great addition to any collection.
Munchkins
The Munchkins capture hearts and imaginations with their colorful outfits and signature voices that direct Dorothy to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” to get the Emerald City. These adorable Wizard of Oz Munchkins Kelly dolls and Tommy doll make a wonderful addition to any collection.
Winkie the Guard and Flying Monkey
The Winkie Guards were the green-faced foot soldiers of the Wicked Witch of the West, and her menacing, blue air force, known as the Winged Monkeys. These dolls are detailed with periwinkle uniforms, bold red accents, and cord detail. The Winged Monkey comes with a similarly colored cap and jacket and feathered wings. These are two icons from the movie that you must have in your collection.
These collectible Barbie dolls have been in demand from the first day they hit the shelves in 1995 to present. They are highly sought after by both Barbie collectors and Wizard of Oz collectors. Collect your favorite characters from the movie or the full set. Whichever you choose there is no questions that this collaboration has created an iconic collectible for both Barbie and Wizard of Oz collectors.
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