ldcraig2006

Who's That Doll?

1980's to present

TAKARA COMPACT JENNY

Takara is a Japanese company, originally licensed by Mattel to produced Barbie dolls over in Japan for little girls there. However, when their licensing contract ended, Takara decided they would rather make their own Barbie-type doll which would appeal more to Japanese girls growing up in the heart of anime. Thus, the Jenny doll was born, standing slightly shorter than Barbie at about 10-1/2" tall. In addition, Takara made smaller versions of Jenny, known as "Compact" dolls. While the taller Jennys all have individual names and characteristics, I have it on good authority that the smaller dolls do not.

The Compact Jennys stand about 6 inches tall, so they are slightly smaller than Topper Dawn dolls. Some of them are referred to by "CD" numbers, but not all. The male doll shown below is the only one I've seen in the Compact size, though I understand there are at least a few larger male Takara dolls.

Compact dolls are no longer being produced. While they show up occasionally on auction websites, they generally go for higher prices than one would pay for similar sized dolls made here in the States.

The bodies of the Compact Jenny dolls are very similar in construction to the vintage Mattel RockFlowers dolls. Heads turn on the neck posts, but the rest of the bodies are a one-piece fabrication of a rubbery material with internal wires which bend, to allow the doll to be posed. Compact dolls are very articulated.

They are marked on their feet, surprisingly. One foot reads "Takara 2000" and the other "Made in China".

Note: if you can avoid it, do NOT remove the shoes from the male doll. It took me almost a full 30 minutes to get them back on again!

Another Note: while these dolls are very posable, do not let them remain in a pose for a long time. The rubbery body material will begin to crack and separate under the stress. I know.