With Manga cartoon-style tattoos running up her left arm and across her neck and chest, the new limited edition "tokidoki Barbie" with her strange cactus-covered companion named "Bastardino" will not be delivered by Santa this year according to my obviously biased poll of moms and dads. The new funky fashionista Barbie by Mattel has a bubblegum pink bob and a skull-heart sweater to match her tattoos. The only positive thing I can say about the new tramp stamp Barbie is she seems to have a more realistic cup size than the "wholesome" ballerina and princess Barbies that look like they had breast implants.
I think many parents are asking why did Mattel make this doll? Strange as it sounds, Mattel has been testing the tattooed doll market for over a decade. I thought it was weird back in 2009 when Mattel introduced the Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie. Now her benign removable tattoo stickers seem tame in comparison to the new tokidoki Barbie. A decade before that in 1997 – back in the dark ages before most people had even heard of Google – Mattel was feeling hip and launched the Butterfly Art Barbie with tattoos, but it was later withdrawn from sale in the U.S. because of outraged parents.
The inked Barbie was designed by the Italian designer Simone Legno of the Janpanese-influenced pop culture design company, tokidoki. According to Mattel the doll is not aimed at kids, but designed for doll collectors. You can buy the new funky Barbie on Mattel's Barbie Collector website for $50. The doll is currently sold out, but if you are desperate she's also on eBay.
Photos: Mattel
