At the Nuremberg Toy Fair (and yes, that does sound more than a bit odd) Mattel unveiled a new Barbie doll line, that of Power Princess Barbie.
Because she's a princess...but she's also a superhero. Somewhere, I hear my ten-year-old daughter "SQUEEEEEEEE"-ing with unbridled glee.
"The world of superheroes has historically been tailored to boys where 'the good guys beat the bad guys," said Lori Pantel, Vice President, Global Brand Marketing for Barbie via press release. "But we know that girls, too, enjoy empowered heroes but seek an outcome where the perceived bad characters transform to good and friendship is the lasting result. We thought it was time they were inspired by a new superhero that is playful, has extraordinary abilities and also uses her powers of forgiveness and friendship to defeat her foe...in a way that only Barbie can."
Evidently girls "don't want to defeat evil, they want to work as a team to convert that evil enemy to their friend." (Does no one else find this statement dripping with irony from, of all places, Nuremberg?)
Understanding that girls are looking for a different resolution than boys from "superhero play," Mattel has put Barbie in a role that inspires girls to be super themselves. Her name...is Super Sparkle. She also has pop theme song, of course. It's right here if you'd like to hear it.
There's a launch video below, and you can check out more on the new "Super" Barbie at www.besuper.com. Thanks to Idle Hands for the tip.
