Toy Story 3 Made For Each Other Ken 2009

It’s a truth universally known that when you don’t look for a particular thing, it finds you on its own accord. So as soon as I stopped searching for Dummy, he just … appeared! Dummy is one of my favorite Ken dolls – the Toy Story 3 Ken and I call him like that because Mattel gave him that permanently perplexed expression that makes him look utterly silly and adorable at the same time.

Toy Story 3 happens to be my favorite movie in the entire series (save for the last one that I’m yet to watch) and it’s all thanks to Ken who's such a dynamic character there, first depicted as a villain only to change through love for Barbie. But first and foremost, he’s his own man and not somebody’s accessory, so it's Ken who owns the Dreamhouse and a room full of clothes. He’s obviously inspired by the 1988 Animal Lovin’ Ken doll with an orange suntan and a blue safari outfit. You will recognize Barbie as the amazing 1983 Great Shape, slightly changed but still wearing her iconic blue lurex leotard and striped leg warmers. Mattel used the movie premiere as a great opportunity to blow dust off the two dolls and released a slightly more modern version of the pair in a set called Made For Each Other (2009 box date). I don’t care two straws for Barbie, she’s not to my taste with her Generation Girl headmold, weird face paint and the Lame leotard. Ken, on the other hand, caught my eye, he’s unique and there’s something disarming about him. But then for some inexplicable reason Mattel released another version of him and used a different headmold that I don’t think I’d ever seen before, or since for that matter. The unknown headmold looks artificial, hollow and expressionless. I don’t like that Ken at all! To tell the two versions apart, collectors would call them the first and the second edition. Interestingly enough, Barbie was also available in a single pack but slightly more accessorized. 

 

Made For Each Other first edition

the source: https://www.amazon.es/Mattel-R4242-0-Barbie-amantes-mu%C3%B1ecas/dp/B002VR4VIM

Made For Each Other second edition

the source: https://www.ebay.com/p/Disney-barbie-Toy-Story-3-Barbie-and-Ken-Doll-Made-for-Each-Other-Gift-Set/1701465562

 

A single Toy Story 3 set looked just like a missed opportunity and somehow desolate too, so Mattel decided to shower us with Toy Story Ken and Barbie dolls. There was Barbie & Ken in Hawaiian Vacation for one thing. Ken looks just like the first edition Made For Each Other except for the outfit, Barbie’s face paint got even worse. Soon after that, the entire Barbie Loves series followed and so there was Barbie Loves Woody, Barbie Loves Ken, Barbie Loves Aliens, Barbie Loves Jessie, Barbie Loves Buzz, Skipper Loves Buzz and Ken Loves Barbie. It seems that everybody loves just everybody and they’re all dressed in Toy Story 3 themed outfits. The dolls also came with miniature figures of the move characters – perfect size for Barbie’s hands and I would be so thrilled to have the tiny version of Animal Lovin’ Ken. And since I’ve already devoted two whole paragraphs to just “mention” the entire Toy Story 3 Ken/Barbie line, I might as well close the subject with the Toy Story 2 Tour Guide Barbie 1999 and the very new and fresh Toy Story 4 Barbie 2019. Both girls got the adorable Superstar headmold and the new release is also set on an articulated body and she’s wearing what seems to be a lurex leotard and the familiar leg warmers. I’d love to own her and the entire line of Toy Story 4 fashion packs!

Barbie & Ken in Hawaiian Vacation

the source: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/423408802439337768/

 

Barbie Loves Ken 2010

the source: http://www.barbiedb.com/showbarbie.aspx?barbieid=6311

Toy Story 2 Barbie Tour Guide 1999

 the source:https://www.amazon.fr/MATTEL-BARBIE-poup%C3%A9e-blonde-STORY/dp/B00004Y756

Toy Story 4 Barbie

 the source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toy-Story-Disney-Pixar-4-Barbie-Doll-/352637076696

 

Ok, I think I’ve exhausted the topic  of the numerous Toy Story x Barbie collaboration releases so I can finally move on to my Dummy! I found him just by chance amongst a bundle of 10 or so dolls and though the picture was far from perfect, I instantly recognized that silly face and the safari outfit as the first edition Made For Each Other. Ken’s headmold is unique and it’s dated 2009. It looks like a slightly modified Crystal Ken mold. Unfortunately, I don’t have that one but I do own the Super Star 1988 with the New Superstar Ken face which looks very much like Crystal. The hair is brushed more to the back than to the side, but the other features seem to be quite similar. Anyway, Dummy’s got a chiselled chin, a half smile, and a silly look on his face. His most distinctive feature that tells him apart from all the other Ken dolls in the world is that raised eyebrow.

Dummy is articulated just like an old school Ken should be. He’s got the 1968 body with the TnT waist and click-bend knees. He’s got vinyl legs and he can do an open stance. His arms are slightly bent and he’s sometimes criticized for that, but I honestly like him like that. The newer Fashionista type Ken dolls seem so stiff with their arms straight. Unfortunately, his neck doesn’t have that special joint that allows him to tilt his head to the side, he can only turn it left and right.

Ken’s outfit is inspired by the original 1998 Animal Lovin’ release but it’s not very accurate. The shirt looks quite similar, but it’s got Velcro at the back and the collar is different. The golden glitter adds some cute tackiness of the 80s to the general look. Ken’s shorts are quite modern, they’re knee long and fitting, folded at the bottom and much darker blue than the original thing. Both Ken dolls got their golden Lame belts with a buckle. My favorite part of the entire outfit are the light blue shoes. I like their color and their mold. Since the original release is quite old and often barefoot I'm not sure what color or mold the Animal Lovin' Ken's shoes are. I sometimes see him with white shoes on, but I cannot determine whether these actually belong to him or not. The ascot is missing, but the used Made For Each Other don’t have it most of the times either.

Several months ago I had the chance to buy the original Animal Lovin’ and the price was so good it would’ve been a steal. Unfortunately, someone else got him first. Still I’m very fond of Dummy, he’s just one of a kind. Now I need to get him some outfits so he can do a fashion show like he did in the movie. My collection is utterly female-dominated and I only have 4 Ken dolls but I have some plans to expand. So here’s my wolf pack.