Jenny (doll)

nihongo|Jenny|ジェニー|Jenī is a 10½ inch fashion doll produced by Japanese toy company Takara since 1982. The doll was originally known as the "Takara Barbie", but became "Jenny" in 1986 after Takara ended their licensing agreement with Mattel. [ [http://www.ncentral.com/~JLawrence/janspage/janjenny.htm jenny ] ] The differences between the "Takara Barbie" and the Western Barbie are that Takara Barbie was altered to suit Japanese preferences. Takara Barbie is shorter, her eyes are less round, the mouth is closed, and the doll's figure is less mature than the Western Barbie's. Takara Barbie did not sell very well, and sold better after she was renamed to Jenny.cite journal
last = Allison
first = Anne
authorlink= Anne Allison
title = A Challenge to Hollywood? Japanese Character Goods Hit the US
journal = Japanese Studies
volume=20
issue = 1
pages = 67–88
publisher = Routledge
date = 2000
doi = 10.1080/10371390050009075 ] Like her Western counterpart, Jenny wears a large variety of outfits, which often include street fashion, school uniforms, kimonos, [http://www.revolutionarygirl.com/jennystyle/] and other uniquely Japanese costumes, such as "Bullet-Train Stewardess Jenny". [ [http://www.dollsjapan.com/tjd.htm Takara Jenny Dolls ] ] Today the Jenny doll is a sentimental favorite doll in Japan, but she is much less popular than Licca-chan, Mattel's Barbie or MGA Entertainment's Bratz dolls. [ [http://www.atamaii.com/takaradolls.html Takara Jenny Dolls direct from Japan! ] ]

Name

Prior to 1986, the doll was known as "Takara Barbie". In 1986 Takara ended their licensing agreement with Mattel, and, as they owned the rights over the Takara Barbie's design, came up with a new name for the doll.http://www.fashiondollquarterly.com/files/jenny.pdf] The explanation given for the name change was that "Jenny" was the name of a character "Barbie" portrayed in a play, also titled "Jenny". The play was a success and Barbie had become so associated with her character's name that she decided to change it to Jenny. ["Introducing Takara's Jenny" by David Hammon, Barbie Bazaar, January/February 1995 Issue] . Jenny's boyfriend was renamed from "Takara Ken" to "Jeff".

ee also

*Asian fashion doll
*Licca-chan

References