The Ken Doll Gears up for Latest Reincarnation
Barbie’s Longtime Companion Reinvents his Look Once Again for 2010
Nov 12, 2009
It is not unfamiliar to see both Barbie and Ken reinvent their looks. Over the years, there have been a variety of changes. Ken has completed many jobs and has introduced the world to the appropriate attire to each of his employment opportunities. He has also tried different hairstyles to keep up with current trends.
Ken has also had more extreme changes with a complete overhaul of his body since his original inception. His design was changed to match a more health minded society that participated in more physical activities.
History of the Ken Doll
The story and history of Ken is intertwined with his female companion Barbie. She was introduced in 1959 and became popular with her clothes and accessories. Two years later in 1961, Ken was introduced to the world. From the start, Ken was known as Barbie’s boyfriend and lived in her shadow with only a few brief periods of greatness throughout the years.
One example of Ken rising to the top was in 1993 with the introduction of the new and cooler Ken. Earring Magic Ken was an attempt to increase the appeal of Ken to young girls. Sporting one earring and highlights in his hair, this proved to be a very popular doll but not as Mattel developers had intended.
The new design and clothing seemed to appeal to doll collectors in the homosexual community. No matter the reason behind the interest, the doll outsold the Barbie counterpart in the line and helped to secure Ken’s place next to Barbie.
Changes in the World Around the Ken Doll
Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie and Ken, has made some subtle and some not so subtle changes to keep Ken up to date. These go beyond simple changes in clothing and appearance. Ken has changed jobs several times to remain cool to young buyers.
Ken also has changed his associates. While his best friend is Allan, more male chumps have appeared throughout the years. In 1969, Ken’s first African American male friend, Brad, joined the circle around Barbie. Ken has also been created to represent different cultures around the world.
Latest Change for the Ken Doll
In 2010, Mattel has scheduled the release of Sugar’s Daddy Ken. This will be the Ken doll in the current Malibu Barbie line. With a simple play on words this “sugar daddy” is becoming very popular even before his release. Ken’s dog is named Sugar so the name refers to this association.
Ken will sport his Malibu style in the coming year. Only time will tell if this is another chance to outsell his female counterpart. If the excitement continues until his release date, this “sugar daddy” could make a nice profit.
Source:
Jef Beck (2009) “Keeping Ken”. The Man Behind the Doll Website (retrieved November 12, 2009).
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