American Girl Doll News

I just came home from college for the weekend, and my Disney Princess dolls were waiting for me when I arrived! Here are my photos of the new dolls:

There have been signs that the Historical characters are going to get a refresh this year - from listing of new books for Julie, the shrinking of current Historical collections, among other things. But I also realized something that makes a 2024 Historical Character refresh likely... In 2014, the Historical Characters were rebranded to BeForever. In 2019, the Historical branding was restored, new book formatting was introduced, and the collections of the core Historicals at the time (Kaya, Rebecca, Nanea, Maryellen, Melody and Julie) were refreshed and given new items. Since so many new historicals have been released since 2019, as well as there being less items for the older ones, I believe a refresh is imminent if AG wants to release more Historicals in the future. American Girl's current core historicals, if we are to guess from the American Girl Live in Concert musical (which 2018-19's AG Live mostly predicted), are Claudie, Melody, Julie, Courtney and Nicki/Isabel. This leaves one to be kept in the core line of products, and if I am going to take a wild guess, it's either going to be Kaya or Nanea. American Girl usually doesn't like to take dolls of color or different religions out of the core lineup until they introduce a new historical character of a similar background. For example, Addy was cubed around the same time Melody released, and Rebecca's collection started dwindling around the time Isabel and Nicki released. However, this rule can also work with Girls of the Year, as Josefina was cubed during Luciana's availability. However, so far I haven't heard of any new Native American historicals or Asian/Pacific Islander historicals being in the works, so my guess is that Nanea will be kept, as she is newer, and AG might release a new Native American character in the future. What do you think?

American Girl's store in Dallas is moving locations, and there is currently a closing sale going on at the old store, which is closing on February 20. The sale is 10% off $75+, 15% off $150+, and 20% off $250. Additionally, AG rewards members get double points.

Cecile Rey is the Doll of the Month for February 2024! Cecile Rey is from New Orleans, Louisiana during the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1853. Cecile is a well-to-do free Black girl who loves music, who's life changes when she meets an unlikely friend, Marie-Grace Gardner. The two bond, but as the Yellow Fever epidemic ravages New Orleans, the two are able to use their unique talents to make a difference. Cecile was released in 2011 and retired in 2014.

Today is Courtney's birthday. She was born this day in 1976, which makes her 48 today!

We have a few American Girl book updates regarding books for historical characters! Claudie's first book, which was only available separately in hardcover since her debut, will release in paperback on September 3, 2024. Julie's original graphic novel, Julie and the Blue Guitar, releasing on September 10, 2024, now has a cover:

Here are store photos of the new American Girl Disney Princess dolls!

American Girl's fourth-quarter and full year 2023 financial report has released: In the fourth quarter of 2023, Net Sales in the American Girl® segment decreased 6% as reported and in constant currency. In 2023 overall, Net Sales in the American Girl segment decreased 9% as reported and in constant currency. As of this year, Mattel is integrating American Girl's sales with Mattel's sales overall, so they will not be separately reported. However, we will still be able to tell if it is declining or growing.

Footage from the press day American Girl had from the Corinne movie is coming out, including this interview that was uploaded to YouTube yesterday! In this interview, Miya and Kai Cech actually reveal that they had auditioned for another American Girl doll movie in the past... watch the interview to find out who they auditioned for!

While American Girl has released several Disney Princess dolls, including some that released today, dolls inspired by the Frozen movies in particular have been floated around in the AG fandom as theories - after all, both Frozen movies are Disney's most popular movies of all time, with Frozen 2 being the highest-grossing animated movie of all time by any studio. With more Frozen movies on the way, it's only fitting that Anna and Elsa join the American Girl lineup - and in the press release for today's Princess launch, AG and Disney announced that Frozen dolls are coming later this year!

Building on the success of last year’s Disney | American Girl Disney Princess Collector Doll series, the first wave of a new core collection revealed today, features beloved characters Disney’s Ariel, Tiana, and Cinderella. Each princess character is represented with a beautifully crafted 18-inch doll and an authentically designed signature dress, with plenty of fashion extras. The collection also includes additional highly detailed outfits and several special accessories to further expand the storytelling and play. “Fandom for American Girl and Disney runs deep, and a collaboration has long been asked for by our mutual fans,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “Now, we’re making dreams come true with a magical collection of timeless characters that will captivate our fans and send their imaginations soaring.” “The launch of the initial three collector dolls last summer was very popular and demonstrated the desire from our fans for more of this iconic collaboration between Disney and American Girl,” said Rob Michaelis, VP, North America Brand Commercialization, Hardlines & Consumables for Disney. “The talented teams at American Girl and Disney are so proud of the incredible details in this new expanded line of Disney Princess inspired dolls which provide an authentic representation of Disney’s beloved characters.” The new Disney and American Girl collection features beloved characters, with the following fan favorites first to join the magical lineup: American Girl® Disney Princess Ariel Doll  has aqua-colored eyes and red wavy hair with sideswept bangs and comes dressed in a classic mermaid-style dress. American Girl® Disney Princess Tiana Doll has brown eyes and curly black hair styled in a high bun with face-framing tendrils and arrives in her signature green-and-yellow dress. American Girl® Disney Princess Cinderella Doll has blue eyes and blonde hair styled in a high bun with blue headband and curled, sideswept bangs and arrives wearing her iconic blue ballgown and glittery “glass slippers.” The Disney and American Girl collection is available now at americangirl.com  and American Girl retail stores  nationwide.

This is the final part of my three-part blog series talking about the new Disney Princess American Girl dolls in-depth, focusing on the Tiana doll. Tiana is from the 2009 Disney movie The Princess and the Frog, which is loosely based on the 2002 novel The Frog Princess and the German folk tale The Frog Prince. In the movie, Tiana is a hardworking waitress with dreams to open a restaurant of her own, who's life takes a turn after she kisses a frog prince and becomes a frog herself, racing to become human again - and falling in love along the way. The Princess and the Frog story has spawned the creation of several theme park attractions, including the retheming of the beloved Splash Mountain ride at Disney World, and a series that will premiere on Disney Plus soon. American Girl describes Tiana as "focused and driven" and as someone who is "determined to make her dream of opening her own restaurant come true through a mix of magic and hard work.". The Tiana doll has the Claudie mold, dark skin, brown eyes that open and close, and curly black hair styled in a high bun with face-framing tendrils and a glittery green headband with yellow organza and satin petals. She has a soft cotton body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl. She arrives in a green-and-yellow dress featuring a yellow organza illusion neckline, satin petal-shaped bodice, layered green satin overskirt, yellow organza skirt with petal hem, and yellow satin underskirt. A yellow flower at the waist with a rhinestone center and embroidered vine details complete the look. She also arrives in a golden-metal chain necklace with green gemstones, a pair of yellow elbow-length gloves, a pair of green open-toe kitten heels with golden binding, and underwear. In addition to her regular outfit, 2 other outfits are available - her Work Dress and Evening Star Dress.