American Girl Doll News

Now that the American Girl operations have been folded into Mattel as a whole, it's gotten harder to find out their financial information (like sales going up or down) than before. Mattel, for their second quarter, did mention that dolls sales declined 2%, but these declines were due to lower Barbie and Disney Princess/Frozen sales, not American Girl. So we have no clue what happened with AG this quarter!

Theorizing a bit yesterday about a potential future GOTY was fun, considering info about Summer came out so early I couldn't really come up with many theories. I was thinking about it a bit, and I have noted that there are several patterns when it comes to future Girls of the Year. Today, I decided to explain the patterns a bit more and what they mean when dolls are being created. Firstly, why are there even patterns in the first place? Why aren't there original ideas every single year? The answer is simple: because AG can get away with it. Back in the 2000s and early 2010s when the Girl of the Year line first started, American Girl had a unique audience who had experienced every theme that they put out for the Girl of the Year every year, so they were obligated to do unique things. But around the mid-2010s, things started changing. The girls who grew up with Marisol and Jess and Nicki and the original Girls of the Year were in high school and their twenties, not caring who the new Girl of the Year would be, while the target audience for these dolls were new ten year olds who weren't alive when some of the older Girl of the Years were released, or were too young to remember when they were. So this makes things a little bit easier for me when predicting new Girls of the Year. I've been able to analyze the timeline of what typically happens with the dolls based on four-year cycles (the average interest of a girl in American Girl is four years, either six through ten or eight through twelve), and today, I decided to share this with you so you all can understand what I think during the theory season! 2024/2028/2032/2036/2040: Basically, if it's a leap year, if it's a election year, if it's an Olympic year, whatever you want to call it, THE DOLL IS GOING TO BE HAVE SOME SORT OF OLYMPIC CONNECTION. It's a rule of thumb that has been exercised ever since 2008, the first Olympic year to have a Girl of the Year, had Mia the ice skater. Then in 2012, McKenna was a gymnast, 2016, Lea went to Brazil (the location of the 2016 Olympics), in 2020, Joss was into surfing (surfing was set to make it's Olympic debut in 2020 prior to the pandemic delaying the games to 2021), and in 2024, Lila was another gymnast coached by McKenna. Expect a sporty doll (or a traveler to whatever country) every time it's a leap year. MY 2028 THOUGHTS: Actually, the Olympics are going to take place in Los Angeles in 2028! Expect a sporty LA girl then! 2021/2025/2029/2033/2037: More recently, this has been the section of the calendar that is marked for an animal lover. Summer, Girl of the Year 2025, is a entrepreneur when it comes to treat baking and dog walking, and Kira, Girl of the Year 2021, loved animals in a different way. Saige was a horse girl in 2013, Chrissa had her llama in 2009... but sometimes, this is where the dancers and performers go to break the pattern. In 2017, Gabriela was a dancer (though she was a replacement for Tenney, who was supposed to be a singer), and in 2005, Marisol was also a dancer. So it usually goes, Dancer/Animal Lover/Animal Lover/Dancer/Animal Lover/Animal Lover. MY 2029 THOUGHTS: We're due for another dancer or performer in this spot in 2029! Time for American Girl to reuse items from Marisol, Isabelle and Gabriela's collections all over again! 2022/2026/2030/2034/2038: This used to be the animal lover section, with Jess and Lanie being outdoorsy and loving animals, but nowadays, it's usually the wildcard. Corinne loved skiing, Luciana loved space, Isabelle was a dancer... yeah. This is the section where American Girl usually picks a unique interest (or picks one from random from a past Girl of the Year from ten-fifteen years ago) and gives the doll a hair streak. That's literally the connecting thread in this section - Corinne had blue streaks, Luciana had purple streaks, Isabelle had pink streaks. Also, the diversity of this doll could go either way - most recently this is where AG has been putting dolls of color, but there have also been a few blondes. MY 2026 THOUGHTS: Summer is a blonde, so I'm predicting this to be the year where American Girl picks photography out of the "random Girl of the Year interest from 10 years ago" generator and gives us a doll of color who is also a photographer. 2023/2027/2031/2035/2039: This is another tricky one... Kavi, Blaire, Grace, Kanani and Nicki are the ones who have fallen into this side of the calendar, and aside from the cooking interest that Blaire and Grace had and Kavi and Kanani both having medium skin... I'm not seeing that many threads. Except maybe animals? Nicki, Kanani, Grace and Blaire all had a pet that was a vital part of their story, but Kavi got thrown into here as a wildcard. So I guess usually an animal, sometimes cooking, but it's anything goes here as well. MY 2027 THOUGHTS: A girl who has an interest that is not animals, but has a pet involved in their story heavily somehow. And the wildcard still makes yesterday's theory about a civically-minded girl if we get a female president work... OH! One more thing before I post this. Every 5 years, without fail, AG's Girl of the Year has traveled to a different country or lived in a unique part of the country. Jess went to Belize. Kanani lived in Hawaii. Lea went to Brazil. Kira went to Australia. 2026's Girl of the Year? Put an arrow on a map and pick a random country, because she's gonna be a world traveler somehow!

Luciana Vega, the Girl of the Year from 2018, had her first book take place at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama - and the doll is still on display at the museum in the Huntsville Rocket Center, six years after her year and three years after her retirement!

Here are all of Lanie's outfits! Her accessories and furniture will be highlighted next week!

American Girl is doing a collaboration with children's clothing company Gap, with the new AG X Gap Star Hoodie Outfit, which costs $55. You can order the new outfit now on American Girl's site.

You know the drill, AGDN readers. No leaked photos on the blog. I don’t want to get sued. Thank you for your cooperation! Welp… something unexpected happened tonight… and there is more rumors about Summer McKinny, Girl of the Year 2025: Summer is rumored to be a Nanea mold. If this is true, she will be the first Girl of the Year with the Nanea mold, the second character doll after Nanea, and the third light skinned Nanea mold and the sixth overall. Her meet outfit is rumored to be a rainbow tie-dye dress and tricolor sandals, and her meet accessories are rumored to be a pink headband, a bracelet, a dog-shaped purse, and a drink. Summer is rumored to adopt a dog named Crescent from an animal shelter. Summer is also interested in baking. Here are some rumored details from Summer’s stories: Summer wants to donate some of her dog walking profits to the animal shelter where she adopted Crescent. Summer’s Aunt Olivia moves in to help while her mom travels, and she adds ideas to her business. Olivia brings her cat, Fettecuine, which bothers Crescent, and Summer has to spend the events of her journal adjusting to Aunt Olivia’s arrival and helping Crescent and Fettecuine get along. Two more months exactly… who would have known my reminder for her release would have brought more details today, lol? You’re welcome ;)

Not much to say today. Just your friendly reminder that due to AG’s insanely early GOTY release schedule American Girl wanting to take advantage of the holiday sale period for future Girls of the Year… Summer McKinny, Girl of the Year 2025, releases in EXACTLY TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY.

Once again, after an attempt in 2005 and rumors of one in 2015, American Girl is looking to enter the makeup and hair business. I have heard rumors that American Girl will be partnering with Centric Brands, which makes branded bath and beauty products, to create hair and makeup products for girls. There is rumored to be a comb, lip balm, lip gloss, eye shadow, nail polish, and other cosmetics.

Today and tomorrow, these deals are available on American Girl's website: Ready To Be Royal Book - $5 Star Bright Tee - $7 Courtney's Fitness Outfit - $17 Frosty Fun Snowboard for WellieWishers - $17 Ready To Be Royal Accessory Set - $18 Pegeen The Pig - $18 Corinne's Accessories - $18 Molly's Dog - $19 Crisella The Dragon - $19 Shipoo Sweetie Plush - $20 Daffodil Doodle - $20 Kavi's Accessories - $21 Courtney's Halloween Costume - $21` Molly's Accessories - $21 Courtney's Accessories - $21 Maryellen's Ready To Launch Set - $21 Isabel and Nicki's New Year's Party Accessories - $22 Referee Outfit - $24 Molly's Birthday Outfit - $25 Seriously Stylish Accessories - $26 Molly's Birthday Accessories - $27 Glitzy Sequin Gown and Caplet - $28 Molly's Camp Gowonagin Accessories - $29 Nicki's Red Vinyl Jumper Outfit - $34 Birthday Cupcake Kitchen - $34 Waffle Cone Set - $36 Seashell Salon Set - $42 Full of Flavor Table - $44 Bryant - $46 Truly Me 91 - $47 Truly Me 90 - $51 Kendall's Perfect Party Set - $55 Willa's Perfect Party Set - $55 Emerson's Perfect Party Set - $55 Kavi's Backstage Set - $59 American Girl Juice Bar - $68 Kavi's Songwriting Accessories - $68 Truly Me 89 - $70 Courtney's TV & Fitness Accessories - $70 Claudie's Bed - $75 Truly Me 115 - $70 Kavi Doll and Book - $80 Truly Me 119 - $80 Corinne Doll and Book - $80 Isabel and Nicki's Computer and Desk Set - $98 Day at AG Cafe Set - $108 Corinne's Ski and Snack Shop - $120 Kavi's Backstage Shop - $149 Full of Flavor Ice Cream Truck - $179 Angelo's Bakery - $222 Corinne and Gwynn's Bedroom Set - $280

On Amazon, American Girl has select deals on their page for Prime Day: Corinne's Camping Outfit - $16.99 Corinne's Accessories - $16.99 Corinne's Dog and Backpack - $18.99 Corinne's Camping Accessories - $17.99 Truly Me 82 School Day to Soccer Play - $89.99 Truly Me 27 School Day to Soccer Play - $89.99 Truly Me 67 School Day to Soccer Play - $89.99 Truly Me 64 - $79.99 Truly Me 79 - $79.99 Truly Me 90 - $51 Truly Me 89 - $70 Truly Me 91 - $46.99 Truly Me 100 - $79.99 Truly Me 101 - $79.99 Truly Me 103 - $79.99 Truly Me 104 - $79.99 Truly Me 107 - $79.99 Truly Me 108 - $79.99 Truly Me 110 - $79.99 Truly Me 115 - $79.99 Truly Me 119 - $79.99 Truly Me 120 - $79.99 Truly Me 121 - $79.99 Truly Me 122 - $79.99 Truly Me 123 - $79.99 Truly Me 124 - $79.99 Willa WellieWisher - $45.49 Camille WellieWisher - $45.49 Ashlyn WellieWisher - $45.49 Bryant WellieWisher - $45.49 Emerson WellieWisher - $45.49 Kendall WellieWisher - $40.49 2 in 1 Sparkly Mermaid WellieWisher Outfit - $17.99 Ready To Be Royal WellieWisher Outfit - $17.99 Princess In Bloom WellieWisher Outfit - $17.99 Show Your Artsy Side Outfit - $17.99 Show Your Wild Side Accessories - $21.49 Show Your Sweet Side Accessories - $18.99 Show Your Artsy Side Accessories - $23.99 Write On Desk Playset - $47.99 WellieWisher Birthday Cupcake Kit - $33.99 WellieWisher Butterfly Skirt - $18.49 WellieWisher Birthday Treat Playset - $13.49

Here's Lanie's bio, since she is the Doll of the Month for July 2024! Where she lives: Cambridge, Massachusetts Her hobbies: Nature, taking care of her pet bunny, gardening Pet: Bunny named Lulu What changes her life: Her Aunt Hannah visiting and showing her the wonders of the outdoors What she discovers: There is excitement everywhere in nature - even in your own backyard

Today is Evette's birthday! She was born in 2008, making her 16 today.