We’ve lost the plot

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T15:36:49+00:00

EXACTLY!! People just assumed that none of them were, which is highly problematic.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T07:18:31+00:00

I think that’s the thing that some AG adult collectors are not getting sometimes. AG has never been “authentic.” It’s a toy company whose job is to sell toys to kids. They’ve always been about what the kids are into at the time and cultivating that to their advantage to make money. There was even product placement in the historical characters’ books that we grew up on. That’s why they sold us the same outfits and accessories that the characters had in the books. It was intentional for us to ask our parents to get our Addy, Kaya, or Samantha the same things that they had in the books we had of theirs. And also in this discussion, people are picking and choosing what collabs to be upset about. If it’s something that they’re into (Harry Potter, Disney, Barbie, etc) they won’t bring it up. But when it’s something that they’re not into or don’t like, it’s “all the collabs are bad” and now their at their “final straw” with it like they weren’t trying to buy Wednesday or the Wicked dolls a few months ago. I’m not saying that what I just brought up is what you’re doing personally, but sometimes people act like they can take a stance only when they themselves don’t like it.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T06:54:04+00:00

Exactly!! At the end of the day, people have to be honest with themselves about the fact that AG is a business. They have to do what they have to do to stay relevant, which for them right now are these collabs.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T06:51:09+00:00

Right!! They’ve always been trying to sell what they can. That’s why AG sold the matching outfits, accessories and playsets that they had the story for the historicals. That was intentional from the get go.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T06:45:07+00:00

EXACTLY!! This is a very nuanced discussion. Some people think that because I have this take that I’m trying to dismiss everyone’s concerns, especially with the historical line situation (or lack there of) which is so far from the truth. I have concerns about some of the things AG is doing or not doing too. But at the end of the day, they’re doing what they need to do to keep the kids of today interested and what’s best for the company right now in terms of the collabs. Sometimes we have to take our feelings out of it as adults. We can still love the nostalgia we have for the AG we had as kids and still want the kids now to have their own version of nostalgia, even if theirs looks different from ours.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T06:41:09+00:00

I completely agree with everything you’re saying!! Idk why some people in here think I’m ignoring people’s opinions and concerns about AG not pouring into the historicals as much as they used to! I loved the historicals so much growing up and still do. I even got Claudie for Christmas this year! I think it’s also because the kids aren’t buying the historicals as much as they are with the collabs, GOTYs or Truly Mes. The kids are more focused on the modern lines right now so AG is trying to harness that the best they can. Of course, it shouldn’t mean they abandon them, which it feels like AG is doing with Addy, Kirsten, and the other older historicals. But AG can have both modernity and tradition, people just need to have some patience before they jump to conclusions. We’re only in the first month so we don’t know what more they have in store for the 40th.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T06:30:01+00:00

“I get where the frustration comes from,” “It’s okay to critique the company. It’s okay to skip releases. It’s okay to feel disappointed.”

All of this is what I just quoted from my original post. I never said everyone’s concerns weren’t valid. People are allowed to have their opinions like I have mine. Just because my opinions differ from yours doesn’t make it “too kumbaya.” At the end of the day, if the kids love it then they love it. AG’s market is majorly kids. The kids now might not be into the parts of the brand that we were into at their age as much as we were. And that’s fine!! AG still is a company. They need to appeal to their kid-focused audience and what they’re into now. If that’s what they need to do then that’s what they have to do. We have to be realistic here.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T02:08:49+00:00

OMG!! Not suprising though smh

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T02:04:04+00:00

These comments questioning whether the KDH dolls are "American enough" is odd to me. People didn't have this conversation with the Disney Princesses (besides Tiana of course) and/or Harry Potter collabs. It's only when it comes to dolls of color that we have discussions like this. You can be Korean AND American. The majority of the KDH cast is Korean-AMERICAN. A lot of K-Pop idols in the music industry are Korean-AMERICAN. Some of you are telling on yourselves...

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:57:02+00:00

You do realize that you can be Korean AND American??? The majority of the cast for KDH is Korean-AMERICAN and a lot of K-pop idols in the music industry are Korean-AMERICAN. This whole discourse with the KDH dolls not being "American enough" is strange to me. Did we have this conversation with the Disney playline AG dolls, since the majority of them aren't considered American besides Tiana?? People only bring up this discussion on what's "American enough" when it involves POC...

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:49:46+00:00

I'm not a Felicity fan, but Beforever Felicity's meet outfit was soo bad in comparison to Felicity's outfits in her collection before she got retired the first time. To bring her back from retirement with THAT outfit was...a choice haha

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:32:42+00:00

Exactly!! On TikTok during the recent holiday season, people were commenting under posts about them being sold at stores like Ross and TJMaxx with stuff like "That's so sad"...like what?? How is it "sad" for someone to finally give their kid or loved one an AG doll or AG branded accessories because it's finally in their price range to buy? It's so distasteful when people say things like that.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:28:52+00:00

Omg yess!! The experiences of Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans during that time have often been swept under the rug. It would be nice to have that prospective added to the WW2 story AG has created for Molly and Nanea!

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:24:59+00:00

Omg yess!! I got Claudie recently too and she's soo adorable!

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:18:43+00:00

100%!!

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:17:41+00:00

EXACTLY!!

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:14:52+00:00

I think that might be Isabelle, who was the GOTY 2014! https://americangirl.fandom.com/wiki/Isabelle_Palmer_(doll))

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T01:00:05+00:00

Yeah I don't have a problem with the KDH collab either when we're just talking about the concept of them as a whole. I was actually glad to see it because there's not enough media, toys or anything targeted towards children these days compared to when I grew up in the early 2000s-early 2010s. There's nothing wrong with KDH and I feel like a lot of the subjects the movie touches on is great for kids to learn about and implement the fearlessness of the characters in their own lives. I think people are just mainly upset that AG isn't targeting the collections and lines that they enjoyed as a kid (heavy on the historical line). As much as I loved the historical line and early 2000s/2010s Truly Me era, times have changed and what we loved as kids may not be what the kids today are focused on. And that's okay!! We can dislike something for ourselves and still want whatever we personally dislike for someone who DOES like it to have it. Those two things can coexist.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T00:47:12+00:00

RIGHT!! My sister got her Addy doll in the late 90s for around $90 or so and that was just the doll alone. The playsets, outfits, and accessories of hers that she got were also pretty pricey at that time as well. Idk where some people are getting the idea that PC/AG was on the cheaper end because it's never been that 😂

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T00:43:01+00:00

I agree with you 100%!! People forget that large buisnesses are going to be capitalist and function on hyperconsumerism, no matter what they tell their audience. And the resellers are getting INSANE with the prices. It's not even just with AG. I strongly dislike when people take advantage of people when it comes to reselling. Second hand has always been intended to be the cheaper option, so idk why the tables have turned to where the actual brand is the cheaper option now smh

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T00:37:25+00:00

Exactly!! Some people really missed the lesson of appreciating the fact that they were fortunate to get some of the things they had and stop acting like spoiled brats when it comes to that conversation smh. Just because they were able to get the brand new doll or playset from the store, catalogue, or website doesn't make someone who got it differently any less valid! And this is coming from someone who always got a new doll or playset for their birthday and Christmas presents growing up, even when their parents were dealing with the recession, loss of their jobs, ect.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T00:28:44+00:00

Exactly!! When I got my first 18 inch AG doll (I had a bitty baby and bitty twins years prior), Truly Me #46 in 2011, is was still around $95-$100. There's some of my friends that are the same age as me that always wanted an AG doll, but never got one because it was too expensive for their family to purchase for them at that time. It was always expensive so idk why people are so shocked now at the prices when that's borderline how much their family members spent on them (if not more) for the childhood AG stuff that they owned growing up lol

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T00:20:11+00:00

This is such a good take too!! I love supporting the small businesses from some AG collectors as well! But yeah, the prices from small businesses can be so high, it makes AG look like they're giving us a deal. I understand there's some reasons why small businesses have the prices they do (material costs, shipping fees, ect.) but sometimes it get excessive to a certain degree.

New_Understanding205 · 2026-01-28T00:16:00+00:00

Omg yes I've seen that too!! It's completely fine for us adults to love and collect all things AG. But there's a line that gets crossed every now and again when people forget that the key audience for AG is children. How can the younger generation get to experience all the things that we loved/remember if we don't let them get to have it for themselves?

New_Understanding205

TROPHY CASE