tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post6888813765424030727..comments2024-03-14T09:30:43.895-07:00Comments on Never Grow Up: A Mom's Guide to Dolls and More: Disney Store Classic Beast 2015 Doll ReviewHannah Prewett (beastsbelle)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15635091328769986946noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-15189558500887560662016-02-13T23:16:09.012-08:002016-02-13T23:16:09.012-08:00I personally think this beast is the best one Disn...I personally think this beast is the best one Disney has done .. but then I prefer him as the beast and not the prince so I'm not bothered about him changing. His face is the most movie accurate. This is the only one I have ever thought about Purchasing. I found all of the others unappealing.<br />I think they should just do separate dolls if people would like the prince even though I get the transformation thing.Soxyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985645231643198912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-8692765511660225692015-07-13T08:08:08.945-07:002015-07-13T08:08:08.945-07:00Call me weird, and maybe it's just because I&#...Call me weird, and maybe it's just because I'm a guy, but, if I were the Beast, I'd actually want to remain that way for the rest of my life, not return to being human. Being a big, hairy monster, with his immense physical strength, would be nonstop fun in my book (at least until some hunter tried to trap/shoot me or something). As such, a Beast toy that doesn't turn into a Prince is okay with me, although I can appreciate the play value that one who swaps back-and-forth provides. <br /><br />I agree with most of your criticisms of this newest doll incarnation of the character, especially the dark coloration on the head (maybe they were trying to paint him to look like he was standing in the shadows or something?), his too small/thin frame, and the neck gap (perhaps you could put some padding in that area, underneath the clothing, if it's not too tight, to fill in that space a bit?) It'd be cool if Disney put the money into giving him a new, larger, film-accurate build (he should really be around 14-15" tall, in Beast form, in relation to a 11-12" high Belle), but that would probably be cost-prohibitive without substantially increasing the price of the toy as well. I think your idea of having a two-doll boxed set of him in both forms is also a good one. <br /><br />I also appreciate the comparison photos, as I've never seen some of those other versions before now and it's interesting to look at the evolution of the toys of him that have been released over the years, especially since the changes are much more dramatic than what you see with the various Princesses.<br /><br />I don't have any 12" Beasts, but I bought a smaller 4.5" Mattel Disney Princess: Little Kingdom Beast, earlier this year, that originally came in a larger boxed set of Beauty and the Beast figures, to go with my Polly Pocket Belle, and I'm pretty happy with that one, as he scales well to her.<br /><br />@Tam: I don't suppose you have a photograph of that Beast birthday cake you made? It sound great!Mark Patrawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543430490598733014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-71347387233891433082015-07-06T15:15:40.768-07:002015-07-06T15:15:40.768-07:00Hey everyone! Sorry I'm so behind on respondin...Hey everyone! Sorry I'm so behind on responding to comments. <br /><br />Hi DisneyWorksGirl. :) I would have loved to see a revamped Prince doll. Like I said in the post, I don't mind a Beast doll that is strictly that, but I'd love to see an improvement in his design.<br /><br />I agree, Meritre. I would love to see their take on the Prince's face, especially if he had a design similar to Eugene's. :)<br /><br />Hi BlackKitty! First off, if you ever get the chance, you should watch this movie. ;) It might not have the same "wow" effect as it did for me as a ten-year-old girl, but it remains one of my all-time favorite Disney movies. :) <br /><br />I do think the 1991 Beast captures something of the Beast's sadness. Good point. <br /><br />Lol, I loved your description of 2015 Beast. It's spot on. ;) One of the first comments from Oldest Gal when she saw pictures on the website was, "He looks creepy!"<br /><br />Presto, I do like his head sculpt overall, especially compared to the previous little pin-headed Beasts we've had in the past few years from the Disney Store. It does capture his look, even more so with the more accurate coloring of the earlier 2008 version. With some adjustments to coloring and the rest of his body (especially bigger shoulders and chest), I think the head would look even better. <br /><br />Like you, I'm hoping to see the Disney Store continue to add changes to this line. :)<br /><br />Aileen, I think seeing him next to the movie stills was what confirmed my disappointment. I think the head sculpt itself works pretty well, but if they would have made a few more changes (coloring, detaching the cravat, and developing a body that worked better with it) he could have been an incredible doll. <br /><br />Hopefully they'll continue to work on his design! :)<br /><br />Hi Tam! Yes, I'm thinking a cloth cravat/ascot thingee would have really helped. <br /><br />The cake you made for your daughter sounds amazing!! I understand how that goes, though. Once you do something cool, it only builds from there. ;) <br /><br />I agree that his darker coloring takes away a lot of his expression. <br /><br />I've considered trying to contact the Disney Store about the description on their website, not in a rude or snarky way, but just to let them know and hopefully save them from irritated customers. People can be really snippy when a toy doesn't do something it's supposed to do. And, in their defense, it is frustrating when you purchase something and it doesn't work the way it's supposed to. :( <br /><br />The price is pretty great, though I'd be willing to pay extra for a few improvements. :)<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone! :)<br /><br />Hannah Prewett (beastsbelle)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15635091328769986946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-63382628793937011252015-07-05T11:30:49.330-07:002015-07-05T11:30:49.330-07:00I have a soft spot for Beauty and the Beast too, b...I have a soft spot for Beauty and the Beast too, because it was my daughter Emma's favourite movie when she was little. Now,hmm...I don't see why they had to make the ascot part of his head. if it had been cloth it might have helped fill that gap better, (and not looked so stupid when his head turns).I like the sculpt, but you're right about the colouring. I made a Beast head cake for Emma's second birthday. (Worked out just right because I used 2 big utility candles that I heated over the stove and curved for his horns.)And I probably got the colouring more accurate in icing than Disney did on this doll.Of course, after that my kids thought every birthday cake had to be something's head,and these weren't sheet cakes either. they were three dimensional.But I digress...The colouring on the doll head causes him to have less expression.Its just all dark and his features don't stand out as much.And I wonder how many of these will be returned when people open them and find out the Beast doesn't transform. He's pretty amazing for the price though. Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947247063997873288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-91349710806331965612015-07-04T23:56:08.583-07:002015-07-04T23:56:08.583-07:00It's so disappointing to see this doll next to...It's so disappointing to see this doll next to the stills from the movie. He looks like the Beast's evil brother or something. I think it's really lazy of Disney to reuse that old head mold without tweaking it to make it more complete and better looking all the way around and I agree with your daughter that it would be better if his tie thing wasn't molded onto his head. I think a forever Beast doll would be fun if it was properly done and with the correct proportions.Aileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17118807604282642787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-61875340491027892092015-07-04T15:57:59.249-07:002015-07-04T15:57:59.249-07:00He may not be the most accurate (and he is goofy l...He may not be the most accurate (and he is goofy looking undressed), but I like him. The head sculpt just blows me away. Hopefully DS will continue to improve their prince (and Beast!) dolls and eventually get the balancing act right between price point and accuracy. Prestohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18284383106320549255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-77273275175698797932015-07-04T13:53:21.407-07:002015-07-04T13:53:21.407-07:00I haven't even seen the movie but he doesn'...I haven't even seen the movie but he doesn't capture the Beast character. The Mattel 1991 version is closest with the human eyes and appropriately sad expression. This guy looks like the kind of sneaky creature that goes out at night stealing chickens or eating Little Red Riding Hoods. I could let it slide if the design shortcuts allowed him to transform into a prince. I think you have legitimate reasons to be disappointed. He could be a fun toy though if you forget he's supposed to portray the Beast.BlackKittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014093330317682849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-7430114194475001922015-07-04T12:01:39.944-07:002015-07-04T12:01:39.944-07:00Hmmm. I expected that it would be a "forever ...Hmmm. I expected that it would be a "forever Beast" (this just sounds so sad...)<br />I would have been less disappointed if Disney made only the prince, without any heads and stuff to dress up as a Beast. Just a nice new face, like the other princes have it.Meritrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646962372158228871.post-69191653727508505472015-07-04T11:52:36.073-07:002015-07-04T11:52:36.073-07:00Such a bummer he does not turn into a prince. I wa...Such a bummer he does not turn into a prince. I was hoping for more movie accurate face and i hoped that the feet were vinyl. But Nooooo! He does look like the beast, if only a a bit lighter then yay!DisneyWorksGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09903458223455089383noreply@blogger.com