Twiddle Fidget Toy and Shape Maker is so much fun! Made up of 70 pcs of disconnectable links that can easily popped apart and put back together. Twiddle is amazing and just the thing for your fingers to play with! Combine colors, build little structures or patterns, or just listen to the noise of the links clicking as you move them around. Each piece can lock into place enabling you to build your perfect masterpiece. Enjoy stress relieve and creative fun in five bright colors.

You either love it or you hate it. The song is either endearing or annoying. If you are in the category of loving the Disney ride “It’s a Small World” and you find the tune delightful and upbeat, then this new product is for you. From the wonderful folks at Disney comes the Animator’s Collection It’s a Small World Dolls. Can you say ‘precious’?

These dolls are inspired by the original popular attraction in Fantasyland. Legendary Disney artist Mary Blair’s illustrations were the inspiration for the designers at the Disney Store team when they set out to create these new dolls. They look just like you plucked them out of the ride.

The dolls sing a verse from the song “It’s a Small World,” in English and then in their native language. If you cannot take the song one more minute, don’t fret. There is a switch to turn off the music. That way everyone can enjoy the delightful little doll who represents a culture all her own and if someone simply cannot take one more verse of that song, they don’t have to. Yes, I know there are those who simply detest this song. Perhaps it is because it’s been around a long time. In any case, it is part of this adorable new series of dolls and the song can be played whenever you want.

After extensive research, the creative team settled on these seven dolls: Japan, Africa, India, France, UK, Holland, and Hawaii. There are plans to add more countries in the future. Besides these sweet little singing dolls, there are four plus animals to round out the Small World assortment of toys: a Panda, a Jaguar, a Hippo, and a Poodle. The plush animals help compliment the international feeling of the dolls.

The dolls themselves are created for ages 3 and above. They stand about 16 inches high and are made from a hard vinyl. The arms, legs, and necks are articulated so they can be posed in many positions. They can stand on their own or you can purchase doll stands if you feel more secure about that.

The Dolls

The Japanese doll is dressed in a beautiful kimono with an obi and wears a pair of wooden sandals. The African doll wears a tribal outfit with beads. The Indian doll wears a pink sari with a beautiful head veil and beads. The lovely French doll wears feathers on her head and is dressed in a cute little dancing dress ala a French nightclub.  The British doll is dressed like a miniature palace guard, or Beefeater. The Dutch doll wears wooden shoes and a traditional Dutch outfit and hat. And the Hawaiian doll has a grass skirt, a yellow top, and a large Aloha lei around her neck. And they all have sweet and irresistible smiles. I dare you to look at them and not have a smile or a grin. They bring out the happy child in all of us.

Push their tummies and they sing, “It’s a small world after all…” Push again and the song is in their native language.

 

They are all so adorable, it might be difficult to select only one. While at D23, I heard many people ordering the entire set. It’s up to you. If you have a special country you want to highlight, or just like a particular costume, then that is the doll for you. Whichever you select, you will be happy with the craftsmanship and the story of love each doll brings with it.

The Story of It’s a Small World

The ride was originally created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The Sherman brothers wrote the iconic song.
This exhibition/ride was “A salute to the children of the world.” The attraction was extremely popular. It soon became a destination for visitors at Disneyland, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

In 2008 the attraction was closed for refurbishment. When it reopened, all the magic and love it originally brought to millions of guests was enhanced by additional characters…Disney characters. Look closely and you’ll see one or your favorite Disney character alongside some of the other children of the world.

While the dolls in the ride are animatronic, the dolls in this new Animators Collection are not as sophisticated. They do sing, when their button is pushed (and you can turn the switch so they don’t sing), but these dolls are meant to be held, loved, and admired in your own home.

It’s a Small World Animator’s Collection

It’s a Small World Animator’s Collection Dolls list for $29.95 each and are available in Disney Stores and DisneyStore.com.

Which one will you chose? They each bring a loving spirit to any home and will be a special treat this holiday season. “It’s a small world after all!” Do you think we should send these dolls to the World Leaders? Perhaps they never got the message.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

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Disney’s Animators’ Collection Dolls are popular for ages 3+, and adults are even grabbing them up for their own enjoyment and collections. They are toddler versions of some of Disney’s iconic characters, imagined by the wonderful animators at Disney. Unless you have been living in a cave, you know that Disney’s Frozen won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film, and Kristoff is a big part of the story.
The Kristoff Animators’ Doll is hard to find. Take it from me, I’ve been trying to locate one for months. But why is this particular doll in such high demand? There are several reasons for little Kristoff to be as popular as he is.

 

Number one – He’s adorable. With freckles sprayed over his face and his wide brown eyes and sweet grin, Kristoff brings home all the delight of his on-screen personality. The little fellow that appears in the beginning of the film is a fun little guy, as is this vinyl version.

 

Number two – The movie is an instant classic and the five main characters (Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf) have become beloved by all ages.

 

Number three – Kristoff is a doll both girls and boys can enjoy. Boys will like having a male toddler doll, and Kristoff is the perfect male doll for this collection. His hair is vinyl (unlike the girl dolls who have wigs that can get messed up over time) and he’s sturdy enough for boys to carry around, hug, and even sleep with.

 

Number four – the Animators’ Collection is a fun line of dolls.

 

Kristoff stands 16 inches high. He sports removable boots, mittens, blue flannel pants and a coat with faux fur. He looks like he’s ready for anything, and any kind of play.

 

Under the supervision of animators Tony Smeed, Bill Schwab, and Jin Kim, the Animators’ Collection Dolls were designed with all the fun and fantasy of their screen characters. Kristoff is the first male character to join the Animators’ Collection. He stole the hearts of audiences of all ages, as a youngster and an adult. And this doll incorporates the adorableness of the character along with his whimsy.

 

Now there is a cute male doll that will delight boys, girls, and adults. Disney’s Kristoff Animators’ Collection doll lists for $24.95.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

Tinker Bell is the first Disney Animators’ Collection doll that is not a princess. Besides Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell is probably the most iconic character to the Walt Disney Company. She’s a tiny fairy with a big fan base, and has endured and flourished through the years, inspiring her own movie series. Although she began her career as Peter Pan’s sidekick, Tinker Bell is an adored character in her own right.

The Disney Animators’ Collection dolls are a popular series that until now included only Disney princesses. With the addition of Tinker Bell, and others on the way, this series is branching out to include the characters fans love. What makes this collection fun is that the characters are depicted as toddlers, and designed by the talented animators at Disney.

Tink’s designer, animator Steve Thompson, has worked for the company for 20 years. Steve has a history at Disney creating for their consumer products and working in the animation department of the Disney studios. His current position is designing for the Disney Store. His depiction of the fun loving and adventurist little fairy is nothing short of adorable.

Tink is made of plastic and stands 16 inches high. She wears a green fairy dress with the skirt overlay resembling petals. Her green shoes have her trademark pompoms on the toes. These white pompoms have soft iridescent spines so when they catch the light they look like they glow. And she sports her characteristic high bun on the top of her head. She also has wings, of course. The wings are made of translucent plastic with glitter highlights. Tinker Bell’s eyes are the most beautiful shade of aqua and her smile is a combination of an impish grin and a sly smirk. Her legs bend at the hips and her arms are poseable, as is her head. When her head is slightly cocked she looks like she is thinking, “I’ve got some pixie dust and you don’t!” All of that along with a cute little turned up nose and her little pointed ears combine to make Tink a loveable little gal.

One note: If you are getting Tinker Bell for display, I highly recommend getting a stand for this doll so she won’t fall over and possibly bend her wings.

Disney Animators’ Collection Tinker Bell lists for $24.95 and is for children 3+ and for adults of all ages!

 

Sven is a loveable reindeer who steals every scene in which he appears. While Olaf the snowman is the comic relief in the movie, Sven adds the heart. Yes, heart. This guy is definitely loveable and the stuffed version doesn’t need carrots to eat. He will be a mainstay in many little beds, that’s for sure. He’s cuddly and kids will enjoy “conversing” with him just like Kristoff does in the movie.

 

Sven stands 10” high, and over 16” high with his soft antlers. He lists for $19.95. Loveable little Sven is a cute addition to any stuffed animal collection for young and old. Just look into his eyes and you have to say, “aww.”