Erika - Barbie's Pauper Friend
Written: Dec 27 '04
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Pros: Singing Barbie doll.
Cons: Hair tangles easily.
The Bottom Line: Tired of blond Barbie dolls? Try brunette Erika for a change.
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| Staceys1's Full Review: Barbie as The Princess and The Pauper: Erika Doll ... |
My daughter is a typical six year old, so of course when she first saw commercials for Mattel's latest line of Barbie items which relate to the "Princess and the Pauper" animated video she wanted the entire line of associated products. For her birthday, in November, she received the two main characters from this movie:Princess Anneliese and this Erika doll.
Erika is an 11.5 inch doll with long brown hair, painted on flesh-colored panties and full makeup. Her head turns and her waist and knees can bend, but her elbows do not.
The doll is dressed in a light blue, pink and white dress, with blue shoes, a wreath of pink and light blue flowers in her hair and silver heart necklace on a light blue material choker. The shoes, as with most Barbie dolls, come off very easily. She came out of the box with rubber bands holding the shoes on her feet, and once they were removed, the shoes fell off almost immediately.
The flowers in the doll's hair are attached to a brown (to match her hair) head band, which has become stretched out somewhat and no longer sits nicely on her head. The flowers, however, are still securely mounted on the band.
Mattel apparently decided that girls are girls and the accessories that came with Erika are exactly the same ones that came with our Princess Anneliese doll. They both have the same golden plastic pretend comb, brush, mirror and perfume bottle. Erika also comes with a small plastic version of her pet, Wolfie, which is a scruffy looking white and brown cat.
There is a small button on her back that makes her sing when it is pressed. She will sing one of two things:
"I love you the way you are, and that will never change."
- and -
"I'm just like you, You're just like me
Its something anyone can see!
A heart that sees, a voice that speaks the truth
Yes, I am a girl like you!"
If you have both the "princess" and the "pauper" dolls, you can make them sing "I'm just like you..." as a duet. You just have to press their buttons so that they are each ready to sing that song next and press their buttons at the same time. It is a cute feature that my daughter enjoys and was able to do herself once I showed her what to do.
The singing is a bit loud, and the sound comes out of speaker holes in the doll's chest. Batteries are included in the doll, but if they should wear out, a small screwdriver to open the battery compartment in her back is necessary to replace the three LR44 batteries.
The only bad thing about this doll is that her hair gets tangled very easily. The hair is a bit fuller and curlier than a standard blond Barbie's and it tends to get caught in things and get knots in it.
Overall, we have been pleased with Erika, especially since she is the counterpart to Anneliese. My daughter actually prefers this doll over the Princess because she has a prettier singing voice and has flowers in her hair.
This doll looks like a basic brunette Barbie doll, but the added feature that she can sing bits of songs from the "Princess and the Pauper" movie, while still being reasonably priced, makes her special.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 16.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: 6 to 8 Years
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