Barbie
Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls in the 1950s. She noticed that Barbara often gave them adult roles instead of infant ones. Most children's toys at the time were representations of babies. Handler realized there was a gap in the market for an adult-bodied doll. She suggested this idea to her husband Elliot, who co-founded Mattel. He and other directors were unenthusiastic about the concept. During a trip to Switzerland in 1956, Handler found a German toy called Bild Lilli. The adult-figured doll matched what she had envisioned. She purchased three copies and brought one back to her daughter. The Lilli doll originated from a satirical comic strip by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Bild. It first sold in West Germany in 1955 to adults before becoming popular with children. Upon returning to the United States, Handler redesigned the doll with help from inventor Jack Ryan. They named it Barbie after her daughter Barbara, born the 21st of May 1941. Barbara later stated she hated being known as the inspiration. The doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair on the 9th of March 1959. This date is now used as Barbie's official birthday.
Mattel expanded the brand into video games starting in 1984. Two eponymous video games released that year followed by another in 1991. Syndicated television specials appeared in 1987 including Barbie and the Rockers: Out of This World. A series of direct-to-video animated feature films began with Barbie in the Nutcracker in 2001. These films broadcast on Nickelodeon until 2017. Streaming services like Netflix took over distribution from 2017 onward. Television and web series emerged including Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse and Barbie: Dreamtopia. Margot Robbie portrayed Barbie in a live-action film released the 21st of July 2023. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed this adaptation globally. Sales figures for the film series reached over 110 million units by the 26th of February 2013. The franchise also included appearances in Toy Story sequels and the My Scene media line. YouTube vlogs called Barbie Vlogger launched in 2015 discussing fictional life topics. Mattel broke ground on a theme park near Phoenix, Arizona in 2023 set to open in 2025.
A section of Times Square in New York City was renamed Barbie Boulevard for one week in 1974. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs held a Barbie exhibit at the Louvre in 2016 featuring 700 dolls across two floors. Artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie that sold for $1.1 million at Christie's London auction. The Andy Warhol Foundation partnered with Mattel to create an Andy Warhol Barbie in 2015. Outsider artist Al Carbee took thousands of photographs creating collages featured in the 2016 Paris exhibit. A Barbie-themed restaurant opened in Taiwan under the Sinlaku group in 2013. The Economist emphasized Barbie's importance to children's imagination. Barbie joined forces with music producer Ester Dean on the 7th of September 2021 to inspire girls in music production. A runway show marked the franchise's 50th anniversary during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2009. Fifty haute couturiers contributed fashions including Diane von Fürstenberg and Vera Wang. Mattel estimates over 100,000 avid collectors exist worldwide. Ninety percent are women averaging age 40 purchasing more than twenty dolls annually.
Mattel released Teen Talk Barbie in July 1992 programmed to say phrases like Math class is tough. About 1.5% of all dolls sold said this phrase leading to criticism from the American Association of University Women. Mattel announced in October 1992 that these dolls would no longer speak those words. They offered a swap for any owned doll containing the phrase. In 2002, Mattel introduced pregnant Midge dolls which were quickly pulled due to complaints about promoting teen pregnancy. Saudi Arabia outlawed Barbie sales in September 2003 stating they did not conform to Islamic ideals. The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue warned against Jewish Barbie dolls as symbols of decadence. Critics felt a book titled I Can Be a Computer Engineer depicted Barbie as inept at computers requiring male assistance. Mattel removed the book from Amazon following backlash. Mattel sued artist Tom Forsythe over Food Chain Barbie photographs where Barbie appeared in a blender. Mattel lost the lawsuit and paid legal costs. Aqua's song Barbie Girl topped charts globally but Mattel lost their 2002 lawsuit claiming trademark infringement. Judge Alex Kozinski ruled the song was parody and social commentary.
Colored Francie debuted in 1967 using existing head molds for white Francie with dark skin only. Christie made her debut in 1968 as the first African-American doll in the range. Black Barbie designed by Kitty Black Perkins launched in 1980 still featuring Caucasian facial features. A focus group with Darlene Powell Hudson helped create new molds in 1990 altering facial features and hair texture. So In Style range introduced realistic depictions of African-American people in September 2009. Mattel expanded So In Style to include seven skin tones and twenty-two eye colors in 2016. The brand now offers over 22 skin tones, 94 hair colors, and five body types. Share a Smile Becky arrived in May 1997 as a doll in a pink wheelchair. Mattel redesigned the Dream House elevator to accommodate this doll later. April 2023 saw the release of the first Barbie with down syndrome via National Down Syndrome Society collaboration. July 2024 brought the first blind Barbie created with the American Foundation for the Blind. January 2026 introduced an autistic Barbie with noise-cancelling headphones developed alongside Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
MGA Entertainment launched Bratz series dolls in May 2001 giving Barbie serious competition. Sales figures showed Bratz outselling Barbie in the United Kingdom by 2004. Barbie sales fell 30% in the US and 18% worldwide by 2005 attributed largely to Bratz popularity. Mattel sued MGA Entertainment for $1 billion on the 6th of December 2006 alleging Carter Bryant stole ideas while working there. A federal jury agreed on the 17th of July 2008 that Bratz was created by Bryant during his employment at Mattel. The jury ordered MGA to pay $100 million damages on the 26th of August 2008. Judge Stephen Larson banned MGA from selling Bratz on the 3rd of December 2008 until winter holidays ended. An appeal overturned the ruling ordering MGA to forfeit the entire brand. Courts returned to battle over ownership on the 18th of January 2011 including accusations of stolen trade secrets. A federal jury supported MGA on the 21st of April 2011. Mattel was ordered to pay MGA $310 million for attorney fees and false claims on the 5th of August 2011.
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Common questions
When was Barbie officially born and who created the doll?
Barbie debuted at the American International Toy Fair on the 9th of March 1959. Ruth Handler named the doll after her daughter Barbara, who was born the 21st of May 1941.
What happened to Mattel in the legal battle against MGA Entertainment over Bratz dolls?
A federal jury supported MGA Entertainment on the 21st of April 2011 regarding stolen trade secrets accusations. The court ordered Mattel to pay MGA $310 million for attorney fees and false claims on the 5th of August 2011.
Which specific dates mark major inclusivity milestones for Barbie dolls?
April 2023 saw the release of the first Barbie with down syndrome via National Down Syndrome Society collaboration. July 2024 brought the first blind Barbie created with the American Foundation for the Blind. January 2026 introduced an autistic Barbie with noise-cancelling headphones developed alongside Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
How did Barbie sales change when Bratz dolls entered the market in 2004?
Sales figures showed Bratz outselling Barbie in the United Kingdom by 2004. Barbie sales fell 30% in the US and 18% worldwide by 2005 attributed largely to Bratz popularity.
When was the live-action Barbie film released and who starred in it?
Margot Robbie portrayed Barbie in a live-action film released the 21st of July 2023. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed this adaptation globally.