1986 Disco Magic Sindy

1986 was a big doll year for me and a big year for Sindy. Jem was released in October 2006 and caused ripples in the doll market with its huge sales promotion.

I for one was fascinated with it's feature length film and casette tapes issued with each doll!

I loved Pop music so to have dolls that could sing songs was amazing for me.



"The Changing Face of a Legend"

After many years of looking the same, Sindy had had a facelift in 1986, presumably (and this is my own personal presumption) following a quiet year after a huge onslaught from camp Barbie in 1985/86.

Pedigree released the new look Sindy in 1986, some a re-hash of 1985 dolls (Starlight, Jazz-dance) Also in late 1986 was a set of Sindy dolls called Disco Magic. The Disco Magic dolls where released in 3 different hair colours, Blonde, Auburn and black. They all had pink bangs and where issued in funky fashions.




Images used with permission & Thanks: Jolanda Graaf from http://www.petradolls.co.uk/ site

A set of Disco Magic fashions where also released but I have heard these are quite cheap and flimsy.


These dolls have been really hard to find out much information about however as the images from that years catalogue only shows some regular dolls with the fashions on so they must have only been at the early development stage?





Since investigating these dolls I have come to some conclusions about the Disco Magic range.

Pedigree was bought by Hasbro sometime in 1986/87, the date I am not sure of. Hasbro had a highly popular pop star doll out in late 1986 called Jem. Jem had pink hair, her own band & boyfriend as well as a rival band. Hasbro's 'Jem' dolls also had a full set of reversible fashions to create different looks for its duel character Jem / Jerrica. Jem was a big doll for me in 1986 & 87, while I still collected Sindy I don't really remember a lot about the range due to the Jem line.

It does seem a little odd that Pedigree had a set of 'pop star' dolls with pink in their hair that year too, and even a set of reversible fashions.



I do wonder if Pedigree knew about a pending takeover from Hasbro so had been asked to rush out a set of dolls to get kids into the idea of a pop star doll? The dolls are not of the best quality so I find them a little rushed. Either that or they had found out about Jem prior to their late '86 release. Mattel had found out about Jem prior to the release and had rushed out a set of dolls by the name of Barbie & The Rockers (or Rock Stars as they are known in Europe) which where also similar to Jem.

1986: The Elusive Brunette Sindy

From the year Sindy was introduced, she had always had a blonde, brunette and often an auburn haired version.
The most elusive of these hair variants are from 1986, or are they?

During my time as a child I always loved blondes and the occasional auburn. My Sister loved the brunettes and that's how we played. When I started back on my Sindy quest in January 2009, I had no idea that a brunette 1986 Sindy ever existed, but after some research I found out she did.
When the 1986 range changed the face of a legend, I for one was captivated. After a year of being distracted by Barbie I returned once again to Sindy.
I got starlight, Ballerina, Funtime, Jazzdance and many more but never a brunette to be seen as I am sure my sister would have got one.

I was checking e- bay a few weeks ago and a I saw a brunette 'Smirky faced' Sindy so I bid and won, That's where my interest started.

For less than £6.00 I won this rather bedraggled lady, the first in my 1986 collection. It was then I started to look for other brunettes in the range. A few Sindy collectors didn't know she existed, however a few had her.

'Thanks To Jill'
The above picture is Jill's beautiful boxed 'Funtime' Sindy, dressed in a 1985 'Trends' outfit that was also used in 1986. She comes with white heels and a white ribbon.

'1985's Trend Version'


The 'Funtime' range was an easy dress range with a new style body, and non moving silky legs to help younger children dress the dolls.


Also that year the 'Disco Magic' Range was released including more hair colours . I had the 3rd girl from the left. I will investigate them for another posting but I think they where released to compete with or compliment that was also released that year.

You may wonder how my Sindy came out after a make over, well here she is...


I have ordered a couple of 86 fashions to dress her in so I will display her fully in the 3 fashions I have bought soon.

Since finding this stunning brunette, she seems to be popping up a lot now on e-bay, hopefully we will see more of this 86 range popping up on e-bay as it is fascinating.
Sindy Our Pedigree Girl Of The 60's has an amazing "Style Book" section from 1986 showing the full range that was issued to toy stores. Sadly no brunettes are shown.

Please contact me with any other information or photo's!

1986 Sindy : The times are changing

1986: A Sindy reflection.

For me personally, being a child at the time, 1985 was a poor Sindy year.I had loved the 1983 & 1984 range and had nearly everything on offer, so what happened in 1985?

BARBIE ATTACKS:

For me personally, Mattel's Barbie in the UK stepped up their game in 1984, yeah sure I had some older 1982 Barbies, but nothing was as great as the 1984-85 lines. With beautiful deluxe dolls such as Peaches & Cream Barbie, Crystal Barbie, Loving You Barbie, Day To Night Barbie and the amazing 'Twice as nice' reversible fashions how could Sindy keep up?

The whole 1985 range from Sindy was rather insipid with lots of pastels, Barbie was OTT and full of "Dallas" glamour. Even with the highly talented Emmanuel's on board with Sindy, nothing could detract you away from the Hollywood styled Barbie. Saying that there where a few amazing Sindy's released in 1985 such as Shaping Up & Premiere Sindy!

PEDIGREE BITES BACK:

Presumably Pedigree must have noticed something too as 1985 was the last year that we saw the traditional Sindy and it paved way for a new Sindy...

A new face mold was used, she still Had the eyes glancing to the side but her lashes where painted and she had a touch of blue eyeshadow.

I remember seeing Sindy in her new form with my Sister in Toy & Hobby sometime in 1986, Barbie was instantly dropped again. The plan had worked...for me anyway!

They had been very clever (whether intentional or not) and had used some of the old idea's on the new dolls such as Starlight Sindy and Jazz Dance Sindy (See picture to the left), who was an updated 1985 Shaping Up Sindy.

On that first day of mad panicstood in Toy N Hobby trying what to pick, I went for a totally new doll 'Marie', I think Pamela chose the Ballerina or Jazzdance I forget.

The ballerina now came with 2 outfits, which boosted interest and Marie was a new friend with a totally new face mold.

A new hair colour changing Sindy was also released in Magic Moments Sindy. Her hair and swimsuit would change colour with heat or warm water. Not the most attractive doll ever but I loved her outfit. Her hair also turned green after constantly chaning it from muddy brown to blue with the hairdryer for fun!

Marie or Sindy also got a boyfriend in the form of the rather dull Mark, Mark and Marie were sold both individually and as a couple in the Royal Wedding set made to commemorate Prince Andrew and Sarah Fergusson's Marriage.

Also released that year where the disco magic dolls, who look shockingly a bit like Hasbro's Jem who also arrived later that year. Mattel had already known of Jem's arrival so created Barbie & The Rockers (Or Rock Stars as they are know in the rest of the world) as a counter doll. Presumably Pedigree knew of these dolls as it was to be taken over by Hasbro the following year when Sindy would change again!

Dolls released in 1986:

Ballerina

Jazzdance

Silver Skater

Magic Moments

Snow Princess

First Romance

Marie (2 Versions)

Mark

Mark & Marie (Royal Wedding set)

My First Sindy

Starlight

Funtime (Different outfits also with a brunette version that is very limited and highly sought after)

Disco Magic (4 Different girls)

Sindy Goes To Dallas