Monster High Insider

• Question: Do you have any idea why Catrine was in the Scaris special at all? Was she just there for the suspense? Like when they were chasing the scooter thinking it was Garrott only to find it was Catrine? I love her either way. I just would've liked for her to have more dialog. But thank goodness she was made into a doll! One word, stunning! One of the prettiest dolls ever. Hopefully she joined MH with Skelita and Jinafire. And Garrott! You should've came too! - Anonymous
• Answer:

  I don’t have any real info other than speculation. It could be anything from changes in the story that reduced her roll, or even something like the need of an exclusive doll demand from a retailer. 

  I think she’s a gorgeous doll though, I love her color palette!

• Question: Do you ever feel like a character's artwork looks 10% better then their actual doll? I feel like they can come off looking a little masculine. For instance Sweet 1600 Clawdeen's artwork is gorgeous but her doll (all Clawdeens actually) look way different. Or even Skelita. I admired how beautiful she was in the special but her doll just wasn't as cute to me. I still love the dolls, I just wish they would make them a tad more identical. Am I the only one that feels like this? - Anonymous
• Answer:

  I suppose it’s up to the individual opinion. The dolls are the product so they are being designed first. They aren’t going to commission illustrations until a design is locked, that’s just how most business works - most of the time. Obviously we have characters like Heath, Gil and Scarah whom were designed in the animation first, and so we’re accustomed to how they look in that one sense before seeing the doll.

  For me, the doll’s physical look and designs are what the characters should really look like (same goes for their diaries in regards to their personalities . It’s going to be next to impossible to capture that exact physical look - especially when all the various forms of animation and their illustrations are so stylized - so differently.

gorygazette:

Student Body Breathes New Life into Ancient Die-ner

If you’ve noticed an invasion of student bodies at Monster High’s classic die-ning establishment, do not adjust your eyes… the place really has had a resurgence of unlife over the past few weeks! According to the owner, the vamptastic mobs started forming the minute Draculaura began work at the die-ner. Rumor has it she’s working her fingers to the bone and saving up to take main squeeze Clawd to this summer’s PlagueCoach Festival in Roachella Valley.

We encourage all student bodies to stop by for a sweat treat; we hear the boo-berry pie is to die for!   

• Question: Hello! Love your page. Do you know when are going to star seen the new MH on stores can wait to get them I have so far all the collection from 2010 till the last one out but get get my hand on the Color me creepy, 13 wishes, music fest and so on. Thanks - Anonymous
• Answer:

  New lines have already started popping up in stores, so it just depends on where you are, and how soon your stores restock. The  Fall 2013 season only just started, so expect new releases to show up now through October.

  Speaking of, I’m sorry for the lack of updates to the timeline and doll pages. I’ll try to get up to date soon. I haven’t had much spare time lately!

• Question: I know that scalpers are a problem, but isn't paying a premium for exclusives like the SDCC dolls worth the mark-up considering there's no widespread release? - Anonymous
• Answer:

  You know it’s down to individual choice. Some people don’t have the luxury or option of going to SDCC. I did struggle to get Scarah and I only hope that Mattel finds a better way to handle selling Wydowna. They’ve had ample time to think about it and hopefully find a resolution.

• Question: How do you feel about factory flaws? Like uneven brows, paint missing (from eyes, lips, anywhere), black spots on the whites of the eyes, sloppy lines, etc. Also malfunctions. Wobbly knees and legs as well as heads that only look up. - Anonymous
• Answer:

  I personally prefer them to be as ‘perfect’ as possible with regards to their face paint. But I also keep in mind that MH is a mass-produced toy and I’m sure the factory workers have crazy schedules to turn out HUNDREDS of dolls daily - and who knows the exact procedure (how much is human, how much is mechanical) that can lead to such errors, so sometimes I can be forgiving.  I do prefer to buy in person as opposed to online though, because of these choices.

  I’m picky about fashion’s too. I’ve bought replacements if something seems sewn wrong and fits weird - and I’m certain that it’s only on my doll.

  As far as loose joints, those don’t actually bother me too much. I’m more concerned about the faces & hair then a loose joint. It seems completely random as to which lines experience it as well. I’ve also had 1 or 2 dolls that don’t have the full range-of-motion on their heads, but I just deal with it the best I can and find a pose.

  I personally have never contacted Mattel customer service and gotten a replacement. I just try to be careful when making my initial purchase, and if something goes wrong, I have young family members that I just donate the doll to.

• Question: Hello! love your page Do you know if Wydowna Spider will be exclusive like the other Power Ghouls, I have Clawdeen and Spectra can wait to get Torlie and Frankie as well as Wydowna. I just got picture day just missing one I also got Bloodgood. - Anonymous
• Answer:

  Wydowna is only being sold at San Diego Comic Con, so yes, she is exclusive. Hopefully a signature or other release of her will be made available down the road to big stores. I think it’s likely considering Scarah is showing up this summer in a TRU I Heart Fashion exclusive.

• Question: Hey, loving your blog! I was just wondering what your thoughts on the pre-orders are. Do you think it would be best to wait until a doll comes to a store or do you think its not worth the risk? I ask because I keep debating if I should pre-order Abbey and Heath or not... - Anonymous
• Answer:

  It depends on the person. I like to inspect my dolls before purchasing to make sure face paint, hair and outfit is to my satisfaction. With a pre-order you never know. I have ordered new dolls on Amazon before and only gotten a handful of derpy/wonky dolls, and mostly had luck with them. 

  I live in a major city so there’s plenty of stores around to go shopping at to try and find new releases as well, I know not everyone has that convenience.

  I used to be a lot more impatient, but as I’ve filtered what I actually purchase now, I tend to wait to find items in stores.  

• Question: When do you think we'll see Twyla and 13 Wishes Howleen in stores? And at what cost (based on past dolls)? Catty's likely the Friday the 13th release I've heard about, but how do you think her price and availability will compare with other dolls? - Anonymous
• Answer:

  The 13 Wishes line falls under the standard price, which I think has an MSRP of $17.99 - meaning they usually sell in stores for $20.  The Haunt the Casbah line (Frankie, Clawdeen, Draculaura) are the deluxe dolls, and will sell for $22-24. Both of these are the usual LOWEST prices in Walmart or Target. TRU of course marks their dolls up in price.

  Catty, I would assume, will be in the deluxe price range.

• Question: 13 Wishes Abbey has been leaked. Monster High Dolls Italia FB - Anonymous
• Answer:

  I saw that, however, I will not reblog that picture since it clearly has a Mattel watermark & not for distribution type tag.

MattyCollector’s page reveal has another image of Wydowna, with her pet (a fly?) and a second outfit. No word yet on her price. $20 or $25, I assume.

gorygazette:

If we’ve learned anything from the halls of Monster High, it’s that secrets can’t stay locked in the coffin for long, ghouls.

Without further spin… Wydowna Spider as Power Ghoul (and epic arachne), Webarella!

• Question: TheMonsterHighDolls just revealed the SDCC 2013 exclusive on their Facebook page, do you know if the doll will be on Mattycollector after the convention? - Anonymous
• Answer:

  I’m waiting for the official release from Mattel - to post the picture, since I don’t think it was supposed to be put out.

  According to the mattycollector site, all the listings specifically mention where they’ll be available: pre-order for pickup at SDCC, available at the booth at SDCC, and available after SDCC on mattycollector. Wydowna only mentions the first two, so i do not think there are plans to have her online afterwards. I’m guessing after last year, they’re planning to sell out.

• Question: So many new ones can wait to get them all. Do you know when are they going to be in stores? - Anonymous
• Answer:

  13 Wishes & Haunt the Casbah have started showing up in Australia & Canada. I believe Ghoul’s Night Out have only shown up at retailers in Australia, and independent retailers in the States (since their orders come direct from Mattel). Everything else due out should be showing up in the next 2 months at any time. There are no hard release dates with toys.

• Question: Hi, is Skull Shores Frankie still showing up at stores? I was just wondering, because I have never seen one ever since she was released! Thanks. - Anonymous
• Answer:

  The B&W one technically limited edition, to be sold 4/13/12 - Friday the 13th, for $4.13. Stores that carried her only honored that price momentarily. I believe Walmart put her out early and sold her for the right price, Target put her out around the date and sold her for the right price, I think for the week, and TRU only honored the price for that Friday & Saturday AND you needed a coupon to get it. Otherwise I think she sold for $10 at Target, and up to $16 at TRU. 

  The color version is exclusive to the Target 5-Pack, which is still available in stores, but will be replace with the Dance Class 5-pack (however stores often carried both the Skull Shores & Gloom Beach up until last holiday).