Skipper Roberts

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This article is about the doll. For other uses, see Skipper.

Skipper Roberts was a doll created by Mattel Toys in 1964 to be Barbie's younger sister and to oppose controversies directed at Barbie. Since Skipper was introduced, she has changed immensely. She started out as a 9 1/4" tall doll (compared to Barbie's 11 1/2"), and the as newer versions were released she gradually became taller with an older appearance, eventually becoming almost as tall as Barbie. Skipper has also had many friends and a few boyfriends. She was discontinued in 2003. A fictional biography was developed for her in the Random House novels and Marvel Comics, as well as on the backs of the boxes which held the dolls that were sold. Several celebrity and fantasy dolls were produced at the Skipper size.

Contents 1 Versions 1.1 Vintage (1959-1972) 1.2 Modern (1973-Present) 2 Information about 3 See also 4 Notes and references

[edit] Versions

Skipper was created, along with Midge, to counteract criticism that claimed Barbie was a sex symbol. Skipper was a response to requests that wanted Barbie to have children; however, instead of having a married, pregnant Barbie, Barbie would babysit Skipper.^[1] Since her initiation, Skipper doll has changed drastically.^[2]

[edit] Vintage (1959-1972)

Skipper made her debut in 1964 as a little flat-chested doll, appearing to be about 8-11 years of age.^[2] The first dolls that were sold had straight legs that didn't bend, like the other early vintage Barbie dolls, and waist-length hair with straight bangs that came in blond, red, or brunette. Her eyes were blue, but for the Japanese market, some Skippers that were sold there had very dark brown-black eyes. The Japanese dolls came in the three hair colors as well. In 1965, like Barbie, Skipper came out with new bendable legs. Skipper dolls sold between 1964 and 1968 came in swimsuits with nautical stripes to match her name. Some of the time, Skipper's clothes matched her sister Barbie's clothes.^[3]

In 1968, the first Twist N' Turn Skipper doll came out with a mobile waist that swerved and with rooted eyelashes. The Twist N' Turn version of Skipper got a new hairstyle in 1969 with two sausage ringlets. In 1970, the original straight leg Skipper doll was duplicated with only a few minor changes, such as stronger makeup and a pinker skin color. Also in 1970, Living Skipper was introduced with a very flexible body via internal click-joints. The doll's elbows and knees could bend, as well as her wrists and ankles, which had swivel joints. Living Skipper dolls only came in blond hair.^[3]

Malibu Skipper was released in 1971, to go along with the Malibu Barbie line. A very similar line to the Living Skipper line was produced in 1972 called the Pose N' Play line, only this time Skipper had ash blond hair that was shorter. In that same year, a German Skipper doll for the German market was made; she was made with the original head mold, had a Twist N' Turn waist, straight legs, and was available in either blond or brunette. Quick Curl Skipper, with tiny wires in the hair that made the owner able to comb Skipper's hair to make it curl, was released in 1973. In 1975, Fun Time Skipper was made for the European market.^[3]

Skipper's friends at this stage were Skooter (1965), Ricky (1965), Living Fluff (1971), and Pose N' Play Tiff (1972).^[4] Skooter and Ricky had their own head molds, but both had freckles. Fluff and Tiff shared a head mold which many collectors think is adorable, with a contagious smile.^[5] Most of Skipper's first friends were never seen after the lines they were made for, but another Skooter doll was produced called Fun Time Skooter, who had auburn hair. However, she had the face of the oldest version of Skipper, not the older Skooter doll, resulting in this very mysterious for collectors.^[3]

[edit] Modern (1973-Present)

In 1975 Growing Up Skipper was released. The gimmick of the doll, which led to some controversy, was that if Skipper's arm was rotated, the doll would become an inch taller and small breasts would appear on her rubber torso.^[3] Her friend for this line was Ginger, made in 1976.^[4] In 1979 Skipper's entire appearance changed. She was advertised as "Super Teen Skipper." She had small breasts and a different head mold that made her look slightly older.^[2] Her first boyfriend, who was named Scott, created in 1980, was introduced the year after. Scott sported a puffy brown 1980s style hair.^[4] In 1985, Hot Stuff Skipper was released, who had a new head mold that included the addition of dimples and a longer face.^[2]

Skipper changed again in 1988 with the release of Teen Fun Skipper. Her new body mold was taller and more graceful. Her waist was more flexible and her breasts were slightly bigger. Her eyes were also enlarged, giving her a cartoon-like look. At this stage she appeared to be somewhere between 12 and 15 years old. Later, Skipper had a new head mold with smaller eyes in a Pizza Party line.^[2] Her friends at this stage included Courtney, made in 1989, and her second boyfriend Kevin, created in 1991.^[4]

Finally, in 1997, Teen Skipper was introduced. Skipper had a new body mold and was now almost as tall as her sister, Barbie. This was mostly because of her legs, which were now long and lanky. Most notable of all, however, was Skipper's new face mold. She no longer looked like an innocent child but more like a girl on the brink of becoming a woman, appearing to be about 16 years old.^[2] Teen Skipper had one new African-American friend named Nikki, made in 1997.^[4] The last year for Skipper dolls was in 2003, when she was discontinued.

Teen Skipper was originally going to have a third boyfriend named Zach who would have joined her in the "Totally Yo Yo line," but for reasons unknown, he was never to be produced. However, Zach's face was kept for Generation Girl Blaine.^[6]

Many collectors believe that the 'Pizza Party' head mold was the most popular, if not the prettiest, version of Skipper. The 'Pizza Party' Skipper head mold and the 1960s head mold are the most sought after Skipper dolls by collectors.

[edit] Information about

Skipper is the second child of the fictional George and Margaret Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin. In the Random House novels of the 1960s, she attended Baker Elementary, while the Marvel Comics of the early 1990s had her at Central Junior High School. The box of the first Kevin that was sold, "Cool Tops Kevin", described Skipper as "the most popular girl in school." Like her sister Barbie, she has had numerous "acquaintances," celebrity friends, fantasy friends and Disney friends. Some of these other dolls include Chocho, sold only in Japan in 1974, made with the Quick Curl Skipper body; Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, introduced in 2000, made with the Teen Fun Skipper body; the Peppermint Rose dolls from 1993, made with the Teen Fun body; and numerous versions of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, sold in either the Teen Fun or Teen versions. The Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses line sold two dolls named Isla and Hadley who were the size of Teen Fun Skipper dolls.

[edit] See also

• Barbie
• List of Barbie's friends and family

[edit] Notes and references