Alien Barbies Of The 80s ✨Spectra VS. Aurora

[@Aros4]

Its SO COOL seeing how history repeats itself and how much of doll history really is throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what sticks. As I was watching this I was reminded of Novi Stars which is such a similar concept to this but modern! The reason it didn’t sell well was also the gimmicky aspect of it if I remember correctly. I think Aurora/Spectra were ahead of its time but so ahead that even the most current version of it didn’t stick lol. But I honestly think the retro future metal bodied gals with sparkly jewel eyes would do so much better these days especially with the rise of adult collectors!

[@perrilewis180]

No, Barbie and the Rockers were born of corporate espionage. Mattel found out about Jem, and they made Barbie and the Rockers and they beat Jem to market.

[@timfox8688]

It just seems like that. I love Jem. But Jem came from the Darci doll line from Kenner. And Darci copied Dramatic, Living Barbie. Look it up. Hasbro bought the body sculpt from Kenner. But Mattel made the articulation first. Those are the facts. It just looks suspicious because they went to market so fast and they admitted to trying to copy Jem. But when you actually boil it down Barbie did it first. I loved Jem, and I loved Darci and I loved photo fashion Barbie and P.J. But the Dramatic, Living Barbie came out in 1969 and Darcy came out in 1977 or 78.

[@aaronhudson3376]

It sure was. Hasbro needs to secretly bring them back

[@user-ey9uj6vp9s]

@@Rainbows-k1wI am a huge Jem fan and I appreciate the diversity off the dolls but they are very unfortunate looking.

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

25 years later, we get Monster High. There's a niche for everything.

[@melirosario3875]

I’m so happy I was able to hang Onto my AURORA AND SPECTRA doll from my childhood ❤

[@juicebox4vamps]

That’s awesome!!

[@ApprenticeWriter]

I think it'd be nice if something similar to this was done in this day and age, at least as a collector doll. I really like my shiny/glittery stuff, but I don't have the energy to track down any of the Spectra/Aurora dolls myself ^^;

[@MaryLoveMew]

Right? The Novi Stars doll line was sort of similar but didn't sell very well either :( space girls never getting the love they deserve

[@PerfectRodo]

I wonder if Spectra was influenced by Hajime Sorayama’s art. His book “Sexy Robot” came out in 1983 and his illustrations were published in Playboy before that. As a kid of the 80’s, I remember seeing his chrome pinups at my local comic book store.

[@RGSuperfan]

I remember very well the spectra dolls. They were available in my home country, france. When i was little I LOVED anything shinny or with neon colors, because you know, that was the 80's. Unfortunately i have never had any of these dolls, i'm not sure why. It was very nice to hear the story of spectra. I've never heard of the Aurora dolls. btw i love your look in this video ! exactly like a 80's doll ^^

[@MaryLoveMew]

Aw thank you so much! It's so cool to hear they had a release outside of the US! Makes me wonder where all they were available!

[@JordanS-ww4eu]

@@MaryLoveMewI’m actually a 90s baby boy myself

[@ruzi.the.spider]

6:37 I had a snail carriage but the seat was a salad leaf... it was from spanish doll line Barriguitas (Little Bellies) that basically where babies often dressed as fantasy folks. This carriage was from the fairy and gnomes line if I remember right. Also loved that concept though the spanish one pulling the carriage had no shell. ^_^

[@cthulhucult3230]

Strawberry shortcake had a caterpillar carriage with a really silly name back in the 80s.

[@timfox8688]

As a child of the 80s and a consumer of fantasy space toys. I will personally say that the Challenger disaster had no effect on me purchasing toys. It was sad but we were like first graders so we didn’t focus on the tragedy like you think we did. So it had no effect on us purchasing space toys. Spectra came and went so fast with little promotion. And if you weren’t a spoiled, you only got what you could get with your allowance. So you were not buying every single doll line out there. Only the ones that you were into. Some of us liked Barbies, MLPs,Cabbage Patches, Rainbow 🌈 Brights, Jem and the Holograms, Strawberry Shortcakes, She-ra’s, Lady Lovely Locks, Cherry Merry Muffins , or Care Bears. Nothing else really stands out, at least not majorly for me anyways. But I will say I loved the video and had no idea of Aurora dolls even existed. I loved your hair and makeup too btw!

[@alliekingsley7919]

As a 40 year old who LOVED Hills, they actually sold a lot of newer stock items, but I think they did buy overstock from other companies too, and would lose stuff in their back rooms all the time. I distinctly remember being about seven and seeing an ENTIRE end cap of first wave She-Ra dolls from 1985. When we asked why, they'd found an entire pallet full of original She-Ra dolls somewhere and were selling them for $5.97 each. Circa 1990 these dolls were already selling for $15-20 on the second hand market. My brother was SO mad mom wouldn't buy a couple to put back. She did buy us one each. My brother kept his in box, I played with mine. He sold his for like 100$!

[@alliekingsley7919]

Also I just remembered why *we* couldn't have Spectra dolls. Her clothes were see-thru to show off the metallic body, and a lot of more conservative parents were deeply upset by this.

[@missdenisebee]

I remember these! I had two Spectras, though I don’t know which ones at this point. I found them at a weird little no-name toy store in this indoor flea market-esque place my parents & I went to every weekend. They had a lot of oddball, less popular toys, including these. Which were already a few years old when I found them, probably late 80s/early 90s. I forgot they even existed until very recently! I remember loving that they were jointed, & easy to pose.

[@katieross5222]

I recognize the aurora doll heads as from the Rose Petal Place line.

[@grrcat616]

Spectra. I had some of them and loved playing with them. The dog was my fav. I still have them somewhere in storage. This explains so much, I wish they had caught on. I would have had more. I had some Barbie and The Rockers also, but loved the alien "Barbie" more. I remember when I was on my 20's I thought I had dreamed them up, thankfully when I went through my toys to put in storage there they were. I had a lot of fun with them we went space adventure which I didn't do with my regular Barbies. I would go on fantasy adventures sometimes with those.

[@TheresaAbreu-o4c]

you have changed my life. i need all of these dolls now. SO unique and beautiful OMG

[@GhostHelwig]

Omg I’d forgotten all about Spectra until I saw this! Lol. We had that doll. I remember her clothes and her shiny pink metal skin. I loved how shiny she was. I don’t remember any of the other dolls from her line or the Aurora one, though. But I was very young back then. This was an interesting walk down memory lane. Also, I will die on the hill that Jem was amazing. Both the cartoon and the dolls. Whoever did the vocals in Jem’s songs was impressive. I only vaguely remember Barbie and the Rockers, though. 😅

[@superhellcitizen]

So thrilled to see someone talking about Spectra :3 I own AstraGold and the travel wear outfit! Bought them from someone who worked on a bunch of Mattel package designs, so they had all the dolls they worked on which was so sick to see 🙏🙏 Another similar themed doll line I love from the same time was Hasbro's Moondreamers!! Adore all the retro space stuff omg🙏

[@YouTubeChris23]

I want my bed to buff my body!! 😂 The history of these dolls is so fascinating! Thanks for the awesome video!

[@miguelstarboy5572]

omg your look is everything I want a doll of you!

[@bredagner4632]

Hill's was like Target with a food court and mini pet section. They had the best Toy selection outside of the toy stores that used to exist. This video was amazing....I never knew Aurora existed!

[@cthulhucult3230]

Oh no! I (someone who's mother was eleven years old at the time) really wanted those flower fairies dolls! They're actually merchandise for series of poetry books written and illustrated by Cicely Mary Barker. They were sold as really cheap dolls at certain British stores, the series is a lot bigger in Britain. And now they're hard to find second hand, like the majority of flower fairies merchandise. At one point I scoured the internet for a series of figurines, that I know have to be a complete set of collectables; and I had a significantly easier time finding original 100 year old copies of the books, than finding ceramic figurines that were readily available less than a decade ago.

[@peachy_lili]

omg I had a Spectra and I loved her. she's got to be why I'm obsessed with metallic surfaces, no joke. my ADHD ass was STIMMING

[@Ghostywiththemosty]

Been obsessed with your channel lately

[@melirosario3875]

Same❤

[@snughly]

I love when you make these videos!! I definitely see what you mean about them maybe being a bit too gimmicky, they were ahead of their time! Which two do you have? I can't quite tell! I think the one with the clear glitter body is the coolest 🤩

[@MaryLoveMew]

I have Aurora and Mirra! I should have tried and show more footage of them, but thank you so much!!!

[@Aros4]

I honestly think something like this would do well now a days. Gimmicky dolls seem to be doing super well these days with the likes of Pixlings, those fidget dolls that are all over the place, color reveal barbies, Mermaid Mermaze and even the new Rainbow Highs with their slime gimmick (as much as i hate it lol).

[@wyrmghost]

Hearing Tonka immediately reminded me of the time my brother three his metal dump truck at me, I’m convinced this is a universal experience of siblings with a dump truck in the house

[@thatguysstuff15]

The only reason spectra failed was there was no dollhouse for them !! Its doll suicide to have a doll line with no dollhouse for them ! Especially in the 80s !!!!

[@penti8345]

my aunt is in her mid 40s and still to this day is absolutely obsessed with jem and the holograms. she still has her jem dolls from when she was a kid and she still watches the TV show from time to time. she made me watch the show with her as a kid too

[@lglanzer23]

I’m so happy I found this video, I love the Spectra line! I ordered a lot of very used spectra dolls not too long ago and there was an Aurora doll in there. I didn’t know what it was, I thought it was the previous owners weird hybrid creation. Glad to know otherwise 😅

[@wizzwamf]

i love both sets of dolls but aurora has a lovely face and sparkle eyes i have a few spectras and aurora which is now with my palitoy talking r2d2 in the recent barbie space station i also have another 80s playset which has a computer console and tube to pop them into , love this channel

[@f33rcetv34]

one thing i hate about trying to find these dolls is when you search "Spectra Doll" or "Aurora Doll" you get Spectra from MH and Aurora from Disney

[@dogerogue6621]

New fave KZbinr, this is exactly the content I crave! Came over from TikTok!

[@nekoboygames7786]

Would be cool if Mattel did a reboot of the Spectra doll.

[@cassandralyris4918]

I wanted a Spectra doll so much as a kid. Sadly, it never happened.

[@Scotty-Z70]

Spectra was Mattel's attempt to compete with Jem. i never thought about it much. I wanted Spectra back in the 80s but it was costly. i have them all now

[@Lulaa_the_human]

They're looks like Synergy!

[@Donteatacowman]

It's funny to watch this while seeing other channel/s bemoan the descent of Rainbow High into gimmicks like clear plastic limbs with sparkles in. Truth be told, I love the idea but the face molds and hair feel SO "dollar store doll" to me that I don't think I could give them the love they deserve - although I hadn't realized they had gem eyes til you mentioned it. I think that should be a fad again! It's such a weird and neat idea. And for some reason, when I see the metallic coating, I think it would feel cheap. Maybe because I know or assume there's plastic in there, and the "metal" may rub off quickly - which is odd if they had more articulation than standard, which would guarantee the metal would rub off unless it's sturdier than I'm picturing.

[@teresadixon2899]

I wanted one when I was little but didn't see them in stores in my area.

[@sailorpluto9914]

I remember the Mattel Spectra dolls.

[@ltpvs]

Oh my gawd! I thought I was the only person who remembers Spectra!!!

[@blacksheep1924]

God i want all of each line ngl

[@RubyofTrinity]

I had a Spectra as a kid. I always thought she was cool.

[@manuebendermarcachien581]

OMG ,i'm french and when i was young m'y mother worked for américan student and i remember ,a us girl came with this gorgeous silver Barbie,WE diden't had this doll's in Europe and i whant her sooo mutch,thé blue sparkely hairs thé blueish silver body,she was amaysing !( WE had totaly hair barbie obviously😊 and i had one thé brunette one ,i remember the smell of thé gel a childwood smell!)

[@tempestates13]

I have one Sprectre doll my cousin gave me. Unfortunately i can find shoes for her feet

[@nekoboygames7786]

I think she has the same body as the 90's articulated Barbie. I think the old Mulan dolls from Mattel has the same body. So sneakers and flats from the 90's Barbie should probably fit.

[@hikaru0]

you had to hold the spectra doll on the bed while it 'buffed' her, because otherwise it would just shoot her off of the end lol. It was just a tread with a piece of furry fabric stretched over it. Also it was extremely noisy.

[@miguelcruz2941]

These were like Novi Stars predecessors in a way

[@timfox8688]

I love Jem. But Jem came from the Darci doll line from Kenner. And Darci copied Dramatic, Living Barbie. Look it up. Hasbro bought the body sculpt from Kenner. But Mattel made the articulation first. Those are the facts. It just looks suspicious because they went to market so fast and they admitted to trying to copy Jem. But when you actually boil it down Barbie did it first. I loved Jem, and I loved Darci and I loved photo fashion Barbie and P.J. But the Dramatic, Living Barbie came out in 1969 and Darcy came out in 1977 or 78.

[@gregponder8332]

Hey, beautiful.