It has been over a year since a collaboration with Hot Topic was established [79] [83], along with a special recreation of a certain birthday party to celebrate Polly Pocket’s 30th anniversary [34] [42]. Who would have thought there would be a Polly Pocket Funko Pop! figure available for pre-ordering in late 2020? Look how convincing its design is [27] [28] [53]! I am quite infatuated with it, despite how I grew with a later generation instead of the arguably most iconic one from 1989 to 1997 [50]. Being a 2000s kid who loved playing online games on her website when EverythingGirl.com was still around [45] [87] [94], I just could not resist expanding on our road trip throughout the different eras of her legacy in a pink limousine [54]. After reading the paperback edition of a charming and engaging story about two mice on a rather daring journey in Birmingham titled “The Incredible Journey and Adventures of William and Klara Churchmouse” [86], I have decided to expand on our previous journey for the pint-sized passions of Polly Kingston Pocket and her Polly pals while plenty of LEGO lovers and Nintendo nerds out there are thrilled about the second series of LEGO sets starring Mariobob Plumberpants being released at the beginning of 2021 [33] [37] [38] [91].
Here is the current Polly Pocket logo. So much has changed, huh? Once again, we shall strut through Polly’s history, but somewhat differently this time. [38]
Let us further elaborate on the creativity and ambitions of what seemed like the golden era of the pint-sized cutie pie that started back in 1989 [50] [94]. Having her or a friend of hers, such as Tiny Tina riding on a pen pal on the top of a pencil seemed like a quirky trend at primary school [66]. Tina sure was adorable with her blonde hair in pigtails [63]. How Polly even went to a small and detailed interpretation of Paris was magnifique [64] [65]! Even though the vintage dolls that were almost an inch tall were stuck to circular bases, one compact that was set in a stable for horses featured her with moveable legs for securely placing her onto a horse back in 1996 [44] [46]. The same features applied to an oval-shaped compact that was pale pink [20]. The first era of the Polly Pocket franchise had a much more masculine counterpart targeted at young boys named “Mighty Max” that lasted from 1992 to 1996 [89]. The concept of a tiny world inside of a small compact is simply charming, delightful and imaginative, despite not being recommended for young ones under the age of three years old [83].
Giddy up as soon as she is fitted onto your back, Polly pony! [20]
The classic Polly Pocket sets were amazing, oui? Let us continue s’il vous plaît. [64]
During the pint-sized playmate’s original run, there was a spin-off line known as “Lucy Locket”. Its playsets would be basically described as jumbo-sized versions of some of the compacts [18] [19] [23] [24] [77], which is not a bad idea, but I believe that it made her name quite misleading. Heck, Polly Pocket was even featured in lockets while Lucy never had a chance to fit in one in honour of her surname [67]. However, Lucy still had some credibility of her own, despite not being as iconic as Polly. She had actual doll hair, blue eyes, a tiny nose, much more detailed hands and a pretty smile [18] [19], as well as a British accent in that advert she appeared in back in 1995 [15]. She even had extra pairs of shoes sculpted with a circular platform for standing up [18] [19]. It can be theorised that how Lucy was a bigger doll with brushable hair during her sales in the ‘90s was the inspiration for the 3 ¾ inch dolls from Mattel in the 2000s [90] [94], especially the ones that had brushable hair instead of plastic hair. After all, a Polly would fit into Lucy’s pocket at the time of the jumbo-sized spin-off’s sales [18] [19].
It would be nice if Lucy Locket could make a grand return in the current generation of Polly Pocket at some point next year or two [19]. The only difference can be that she will be the same size as the purple-streaked Polly of today to fit in a locket that can a consumer can wear [46] [59], even though that would sacrifice her individuality from the ‘90s era [90]. [18]
Besides, Bluebird was a British toy company and it made sense for Lucy to have a British accent during the sales of the sister line [88]. [15]
As Lucy Locket faded into obscurity, Polly Pocket stepped up her game in the late 1990s and the early 2000s [94]. Some consumers might have out the slightly taller dolls that came with the later compact sets to be somewhat uncanny [51], but at least the details of the new faces looked quite nice [49] [94]. Some dolls were even taller with longer legs [80]. A few compacts were simply recreations of older compacts, including the hot pink compact that resembled a seashell and once again featured Polly as a bridesmaid [49]. As for the bigger dolls known as “Fashion Polly” [83], they were sure to stay fabulous in any rubber clothing [51], whether they had plastic hair or actual doll hair [11] [12] [13] [14] [40]. As I still stand by the highly likely theory of Fashion Polly being partially inspired by Lucy Locket, I honestly think some customers would have preferred her fabric clothes over Polly’s rubber clothes [16] [18] [19] [94]. I know Lucy was the bigger doll first [15] [23] [24], but there was a missed opportunity to reimagine her in Polly’s original size for a new line of lockets. The taller Polly’s original name was eventually retired [39], along with the compact playsets in about 2003 [52], leading to what seemed like another generation for the pint-sized playmate and her pals.
Anyone up for some wedding cake after this extra trip through Polly’s history? [48]
Polly has had so many different logos throughout the years [39]. For example, look at the two different Fashion Polly logos on these plastic backpacks. [31]
Let us also take a look at some more hip aspects of the generation I remember from my childhood [77]. You know, the times when I was playing Petz 5 on my family’s old computer [7] [16]. I will never forget how I dyed and styled Polly’s hair in one of her online games [30]. However, I still recall how slightly uncomfortable the progress of putting the rubber clothes on the dolls was when I tried it as a child [83] [94]. Nevertheless, there were some signs of creativity in these toy lines, such as the top floor of a purple jumbo jet consisting of a catwalk [69]. The Pop ‘N’ Swap line sure had a crazy but fun concept back in 2009 [22] [77]. A Burger King toy line for Polly was established with a Marvel toy line in about the same year, but the doll that made with a fluffy hair bobble did not have any articulation whatsoever [26]. On fanmade terms, some dolls within the main toy lines even sang their song all day along in Pollyville [9] [70]. As we are going through every generation of Polly Pocket once again, I have the song that was featured in the official trailer for The Sims 2 in my head [25].
All hail the happiest character of my childhood [94]! [67]
The fountain-like waterfall would have to be one of my favourite playsets in the 2000s generation [67]. Look how beautiful it is! [76]
Despite how the early and mid-2010s era seemed to be the least successful one with plastic clothes and mixed reception [90] [94], I admire specific aspects from its lines, quite similar to how I can see the redeeming qualities of the early 2010s era of Bratz [93], such as the Bratz True Hope line that was designed to honour young cancer patients [1] [5] [10]. The cutants looked so cool and cute [75]! Outside of some premises that were recycled from the 2000s era [35] [77] [82], the idea of a party that can be stuck into a wall sure was outside the box back in 2012 [81]. The 3D incarnation of Polly even had a pen pal from Brazil [56], along with the same positivity and cheerfulness her previous incarnation had [57] [58] [68] [94]. I really like the look of her temporality dyed hair in another 3D webisode titled “Frankenbubble” as it is a reference to the Race ‘N’ Splash playset [55] [76]. There could have been some ways to help the early 2010s era sell better, such as a grandly designed playset associated with a 25th-anniversary celebration. Nonetheless, you could say that the closure of the franchise in 2015 was a sign of the last era not selling as well as the previous ones did [90].
Although it was quite strangely refreshing how the dolls after the mid and late 2000s era had bigger heads and feet [6] [90], I still stand by my theory on how this Polly Pocket would have appealed more to Japanese audiences back in the early 2010s before her era was eventually discontinued in North America [90] [94]. [67]
Yes, the Polly Pockets from the early and mid-2010s were quite cute [6] [94], but the final result of its mixed reception was quite similar to how the lines of Bratz from 2013 to 2016 did not seem sell as well as the ones from the mid-2000s [93], leading to the four main Bratz and one of the Bratz Boyz being reduced to only one special collector’s edition line in 2018 [2] [3] [4]. [6]
Some of us have had a bone to pick with the current generation of Polly Pocket that began in 2018 [43] [46] [83]. The Hidden Hideout playsets did quite a better job at bringing back the formula from the ‘90s than the lockets did [21]. However, the Shopkins Lil Secrets Secret Lock playsets would be much more preferred by some toy collectors when it comes to regaining the same feeling of playing with a ‘90s compact due to the designs of the shoppies being taller versions of the vintage Polly Pocket dolls [47] [48]. Strangely enough, the current animation incarnation of Polly has two brothers [60] [61]. Aside from that, I find how Polly and her two loyal companions can shrink down in size after she exclaims, “Tiny Power!” as it is one aspect of the current aniamted series’ individuality and a legitimate reference to how she comes to two sizes like how she did in the late 1990s and early 2000s in the promotional web series [59] [90] [94]. As previously stated, I am delighted that young children are cherishing the current generation of the pint-sized sweetheart in this day and age [41] [94]. Could there be a new compact playset set in a video game shop as an expansion on the lockets that are shaped like Game Boys in 2021 [36] [85]?
Surely the Pocket Locket toy that was adapted from the animated series was a way to feel like part of its premise [94], but I think there can be more locket playsets that come with a long and thick string at some point in 2021, just like the vintage ones in the ‘90s [67] [94]. [62]
Here is a prime example in honour of female gamers. And speaking of 2021, that year will be when the forthcoming Funko Pop! Polly Pocket figure will be released in memory of the vintage era in the early and mid-1990s [27] [94]. [84]
I hope you have had a blast during another voyage through Polly Pocket’s history, no matter which generation of the franchise is your favourite one [94]. Speaking of Polly Pocket, some of us will be looking forward to the release of a special ‘90s Polly Pocket-inspired compact playset based on Sailor Moon and possibly some other ones featuring the other Sailor Guardians in March 2021 [8] [29] [71] [72], along with the possibility of a certain Hello Kitty suitcase giving a fellow kitty’s heart a smile when it comes to finally being able to travel aboard again [73] [74]. As for Shopkins Lil’ Secrets [47] [48], I would love to see another series of the secret locks that features a book shop, an art supply shop, a sports shop and a video game shop to appeal to girls who are passionate about literature, art, sports or gaming. This is indeed similar to how I would be thrilled to witness another Pixel Stars Digital Dreamhouse that introduces a musician, a writer and a sportswoman [31] [78] [92]. Lastly, as for Polly Pocket, I will be more than interested to see what will be next for her in her current era of compacts and fashionable dolls, possibly including the return of Lucy Locket in a video game-themed playset.
I bet plenty of Sailor Moon fans would love to have this adorable thing in their hands! [8] [29]
As for Polly Pocket, I suppose there ought to be another recreation of the Partytime Surprise Keepsake Compact for celebrating her 35th anniversary in 2024 or her 40th anniversary in 2029 [34] [42]. Who knows? Cheerio, Polly pals! [42]
Commercials & TV From The Past. (2019). Fashion Polly! Hip Stylin’ Stage Commercial With Ashley Benson (2001). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTyd1R1HQkI. Last accessed 19th Nov 2020.
Commercials & TV From The Past. (2018). Fashion Polly! Super Stylin’ Mall & Bedroom Sets Commercial (2001). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_f5470J9L0. Last accessed 19th Nov 2020.
Donegan, K. (2019). Lucy Locket Carry ‘N Play Dream Home | 90s Vintage Polly Pocket Showcase. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSL8mPVWYQc. Last accessed 13th Nov 2020.
Donegan, K. (2020). Lucy Locket Dream Cottage Unboxing! | 90s Vintage Polly Pocket Showcase. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKPxLuVVUfI. Last accessed 13th Nov 2020.
Donegan, K. (2020). Pony Parade: Unicorn Meadow, Palomino Pony, Shetland Pony Stables | Vintage Polly Pocket Showcase. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D13oEPHYfQ4. Last accessed 11th Nov 2020.
Jolly Kid Trolley. (2019). Polly Pocket 30th Anniversary Party Time Re-Release- New Vs Old Opening. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7XnMMslqM. Last accessed 15th Nov 2020.
Polly Pocket. (2016). Polly Pocket Full Episodes – Season 1 Compilation Part 2 | Polly World. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWaBRgSz6vQ. Last accessed 11th Nov 2020.
Steele, H. (2019). Polly Pocket 30th Anniversary Collection from Hot Topic | WORTH IT?. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEaI9woqUB4. Last accessed 15th Nov 2020.
It has been a year since we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Polly Pocket franchise with a beautiful edition of the Partytime Surprise Keepsake Compact playset [33] [67]. How I adored this femininely festive interior and its compact design that was encased in a lovely shade of purple with a dazzling coat of glitter, thus bringing out the sparkly vibes of the Shimmer ‘N’ Shine Pets from the early 2010s era of Littlest Pet Shop and the Sparkle Pets that were released in 2017 [31] [39] [40] [41] [67]. The concept of various compact dollhouses originated from one that was crafted by the creator for his daughter way before the rights of the toy line were fully given to Mattel [64]. Aside from that, I am pretty sure that some of my dear readers have firstly heard of the term “Polly Pocket” in a different era of modern time. I, as a 2000s kid, firstly heard of it at some point back in the mid-2000s before the rise and popularity of FarmVille [73] [74]. Put on your rubber clothes and dye some streaks of your hair with icy or warm water because we are here to party through the pint-sized passions of Polly throughout the years [56]!
Does this logo ring a bell? Or does it open a compact? Either way, prepare for a trip through Polly’s history, Polly pals! [25]
Starting from 1989 and throughout the ‘90s, the compact playsets were a huge hit because of how varied and unique they were [34]. The variety of different settings and compact designs grew and grew with premise after premise, maintaining the freshness of the franchise’s appeal [1] [20] [72]. There were even lockets to wear before a little playtime with a little friend, including the pretty fantasy-themed ones with gems [20]. Polly looked absolutely adorable with her old blonde bob, especially in the first advert that featured her as a colourful and fluid sample of nostalgic animation [22]! Of course, not every parent would approve of one efficiently as there was always a risk of the dolls being swallowed or getting lost due to how small they were. Nevertheless, it was quite assuming how her original theme song was a parody of Rockin’ Robin by Bobby Day from 1957 [2]. I should know because I love to write my own spoofs of songs. Who would have thought the pint-sized playmate would be in a crossover with Barbie at some point in 1994 [35]? The Bluebird era of Polly Pocket was arguably the most iconic one due to such an adorable concept [20] [22].
Let us not forget the playsets that were compacts that resembled the faces of a blue kitty, a purple puppy and a pink koala [20] [34]. It was truly remarkable how there was a lot of room for dolls that were almost an inch tall to do in small playsets [1] [22] [34]. [20]
Some of Polly’s animations for some of the later adverts in the ‘90s even featured her with a ponytail [1], which would later be her main hairstyle in a later era. [72]
1998 and 1999 were the next big step for the Polly Pocket franchise after its golden era [64]. In 1998, tiny dolls were given new designs, including a ponytail for Polly [57]. They were slightly taller with more realistic bodies and more colourful facial features [38] [57] [62]. A year later, there was a spin-off toy line named “Fashion Polly” that introduced Polly as a bigger doll that can be dressed in various stretchy clothing items made out of rubber whilst the lines of newly designed smaller dollars in newer compact playsets continued for a while [7]. There was also the debut of a much more original jingle for advertising [56] [57]. Great, and it is stuck back in my head. Aside from these changes, there was a little something to honourably celebrate Polly’s 10th anniversary in 1999 [17]. Another example of the compact playsets that consisted of the taller dolls was the previous recreation of the Partytime Surprise Keepsake playsets that was orange with the new logo and a mostly green interior [38]. Eventually, the compact playsets were retired in favour of the bigger and fashionable Polly in 2002 [64], which led to a newer era of the miniature doll’s lifestyle later on.
Mattel fully obtained the rights to the Polly Pocket franchise in the late 1990s [64]. [38]
And things have changed quite a lot ever since… [7]
Here comes the era I endorsed as a child, which is no other than the 2000s era of Polly Pocket. This era continued the league of taller dolls that can be dressed in rubber clothes [56]. I remember how the clothing items of the bigger dolls were a pain in the tushie to fit onto them at times back when I was playing with some of the ones owned by an old childhood friend, which is why some of our fellow 2000s kids might have preferred playing with Lil’ Bratz dolls at the time as they came in fabric clothes [3] [4] [5]. Nonetheless, the Polly Pocket dolls would at least be easier to find if they ever got lost since they were almost four inches tall compared to their tiny 1990s counterparts [64]. One time during this era, there were smaller and stretchy dolls that had sticky soles to stick onto the Hangin’ Out House and were very slightly taller than the dolls from the discontinued line of compacts [55]. I loved playing various games on the Polly Pocket website and even received two toys within the Happy Meal line from McDonald’s back in about 2004 after Bella Goth’s disappearance [16] [18] [19] [21] [30] [51]. Simpler times, huh?
Behold, the happiest character of my childhood [21] [51]! She sure had it all as she lived an ambitious girl’s dream [56]! [48]
I remember this McDonald’s toy line too well [16]. [30]
What other new features have occurred during the 2000s era of the pint-sized playmate to help maintain its appeal and creativity? Some later dolls consisted of actual doll hair instead of plastic hair to show off how a streak can change colour when reacting to water at a specific temperature or simply just to increase appeal to a degree [56]. Even though the magnetic clothing seemed much easier to put into the dolls in the Quik-Clik playsets [63], it was absolutely unnerving how their tiny magnets turned out to be choking hazards, thus causing plenty of playsets to be recalled [10]. On a lighter note, there was a trilogy of animated movies that consisted of:
Polly Pocket: Lunar Eclipse, released in 2003 [65]
Polly Pocket 2: Cool at Pocket World, released in 2005 [49]
PollyWorld, released in late 2006 [50] [56]
And let us not forget the time Polly was given one of Mario’s mega mushrooms [6] [36] [37]]. Aside from I am happy that we are more aware of how magnets within toys could suddenly be choking hazards these days and that there were newer aspects of the 2000s Polly Pocket toys that enriched the franchise with a large variety of different settings for many 2000s kids [10] [56].
Even though Ultimate Styling Polly was shown to contradict her stage name [6], I still thank the overly cheerful rich lass for being a spark of my childhood [21] [51], even as a mermaid. [56]
And who needs to drive to a shopping centre when you can just snap our fingers to get there? [56]
Polly’s life was re-established in 2010 to bring on a whole new generation in a new decade [54] [64]. A new animated series of webisodes that were uploaded on the official website were a sign of things being…rather different during the early 2010s [42] [53]. To go alongside with the toy lines later on was the 3D animated web series that consisted of animation that was completely different from the films and was often featured in some adverts [43], such as one for the Hangout House [44]. At some point, I believed that this generation of Polly Pocket could have been sold more successfully in Japan due to how the faces of the dolls looked somewhat more anime-like [54] [58] [61]. Well, at least to me. The same statement also applies to the promotional artwork of Polly as its artistic features somewhat remind me of a run-of-the-mill deception of a female anime character [48]. Nonetheless, this generation of Polly Pocket was not well received by some fans of the 2000s era [11] [26], despite how she and her Polly pals often had the best days ever [43]. Furthermore, the early and mid-2010s Polly Pocket lines did not seem to have been sold well, leading to a closure of the entire franchise…for almost three years [64].
Edna Mode from The Incredibles would state otherwise [60] [61]. [58]
Surely the water park premise is an example of how some premises have been recycled a few times throughout the years [1] [56], but at least there is something fun for every generation. [54]
In 2018, another huge revamp of the Polly Pocket franchise occurred. At first, there was some negative feedback on the new locket playsets from fans of the ‘90s compact playsets [34] [67], despite how the redesigns of the tiny dolls were at least refreshing with more detailed faces and sticky soles that were similar to the soles of the dolls for the Hangin’ Out House from 2003 [55]. Nonetheless, the bigger compacts seemed to do a better job at ensuring the familiar feeling of playing with a ‘90s compact playset, such as the Llama Music Party compact and the Unicorn Party playset that were released in 2020 [27] [28]. More uniquely, the Sand Secrets line that was released in late 2019 seems like a fairly interesting concept [47]. Aside from that, another part of the reboot is a revamp of the bigger dolls a consumer can dress up in clothing items, just like the dolls from the 2000s [46]. Despite a few quality-related issues within the locket playsets [34], I am glad that young children today are endorsing the current generation of the small starlet as much as some of our fellow ‘90s kids and 2000s kids validated the previous generations [27] [28] [29]. Furthermore, I guess tiny is pretty mighty [45].
I quite like how the reboot introduced a new incarnation of Polly with purple streaks in her hair as it is a notable part of giving her a fresh new look for today’s youth. [46]
I also quite like how the premise of the animated series is more action-adventure-themed and Polly and her friends can shrink as a reference to the current era combining the compacts from the ‘90s and the Fashion Polly dolls from 1998 to 2015 [34] [46]. [45]
Whether you are a ‘90s kid who adored a vintage Polly Pocket compact or a 2000s kid who loved dressing a Fashion Polly in different clothing items [22] [56], I sincerely hope you enjoyed this journey through the history of the franchise. Whichever era would be considered my favourite one, I will be more than interested to see more expansions of toy lines in 2021, such as possibly some more Shopkins Lil’ Secrets lockets, bag tags and other playsets [13] [14] [15] [32] [71], perhaps another adorable league of Kitten Catfe characters and hopefully a Princess Peach kart for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit to allow my homegirl to be raced with both inside AND outside of a game [8] [9] [23] [24] [52] [68] [69]. As for Polly Pocket, who knows when the current generation of the small starlet will suddenly retire in favour of a brand new one? Could a new generation occur at some point in the rest of the 2020s, quite like how a new generation of Littlest Pet Shop could be established at that time [70]? Whatever the future holds for Polly Kingston Pocket and her Polly pals [48], feel free to let me know which generation of the pint-sized playmate is your favourite one [12] [25] [62].
I believe that there ought to a unicorn-themed line of pets in either near the end of the sixth generation of Littlest Pet Shop or in a brand new seventh one that can lead to LPSTube still maintaining relevancy, despite YouTube’s current downfalls [66] [70]. [58]
As for Polly Pocket, the franchise has gone from a country cottage in a pale heart-shaped compact to an amusement park in a pink heart-shaped backpack [22] [29]. Who knows what will be next for the pint-sized playmate after about five generations [7] [12] [34] [54] [56] [62]? [29]
Donegan, K. (2020). Shopkins Lil’ Secrets Bag Tags Complete Set | Toy Collection Showcase. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukaNtEv2i8. Last accessed 8th Nov 2020.
NexJen. (2019). I Can’t Believe They’re Still Better – Shopkins Lil’ Secrets Party Pop Ups. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAdMvov4qIo. Last accessed 8th Nov 2020.
NexJen. (2020). Opening And Restoring Vintage 1994 Barbie Polly Pocket Dolls – We Hit 200k Subscribers!. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saiUMYwpPu0. Last accessed 9th Nov 2020.
Nintendo. (2006). New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo DS. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2009). New Super Mario Bros Wii. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
Polly Pocket. (2018). Polly Pocket | Let’s Go Polly | Brand New Series 2018 | Videos for Kids. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mT87f1hipk. Last accessed 9th Nov 2020.
Polly Pocket. (2019). Polly’s Perfect Present 🎁Polly Pocket Toy Stop Motion | Polly Pocket. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzTJ3idcvI8. Last accessed 8th Nov 2020.
ProsafiaGaming. (2020). Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit – All Outfits & Costumes (Mario/Luigi). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5fDR9eOCsU. Last accessed 7th Nov 2020.
RandomVideosForChu. (2011). Polly Pocket Webisodes-A Good Hair Day;Sweet Insomnia;The Cutants’ First Movie. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWWhrsgQt3M. Last accessed 8th Nov 2020.
Santana da Silva, M. (2016). Commercial – Polly Pocket: Ice Cream Water Park – 30s (2010). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiMzhALlEOU. Last accessed 10th Nov 2020.
In all honesty, 2019 has sadly not been the best year for yours truly. I felt alone in today’s society at times. Brexit kept being shoved in my ears almost every day and I felt like the society within my country did not sincerely care about people like me anymore [35] [215] [216]. Despite how scared, anxious and hopeless I have felt for months, I at least received a few great opportunities to voice some characters for a talented aspiring artist on YouTube and I will always be grateful for them [62] [63] [64] [65]. Additionally, I considered Frozen II to be a masterpiece after watching it at the cinema [55]. There is also one thing I will praise 2019 for. And that is no other than the fact that so many great anniversary celebrations occurred. I love celebrating anniversaries, thus I am more than thrilled to make a nice list of anniversaries that have been worth celebrating in 2019. To those who have enjoyed reading my articles this year, I hope this one will be the icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, feel free to send your birthday cake emojis as we party through a bunch of anniversaries I believe were truly worth celebrating [43].
Come on! Who doesn’t love a birthday cake emoji? [43]Let us start with the 30th anniversary of the tale of everyone’s favourite red-haired mermaid from Disney. Thank Mickey Mouse the writers decided to not end the movie unhappily, compared to how the little mermaid passed away by turning into sea foam in the original tale [151]. Other than that, let us not forget some special editions of excellently made dolls of the iconic mermaid who gave up her voice for a chance to win Prince Eric’s heart [86] [88] [89]. Even some new Funko Pop! figures have been released in association with the celebration under the sea [6]. I honestly have nothing against Halle Bailey as Ariel in a live-action remake of the film as she seems to have plenty of talent in singing to suit the role [44] [100]. Other than my thoughts on that, I think that the live television adaption of the iconic tale simply titled “The Little Mermaid Live!” was a pretty interesting adaption for modern audiences, especially the young ones who have never watched the original animated film [1] [2]. Who would have thought the voice of Moana would be the next Ariel [1] [90]? Keep swimming on, whether you are part of that world or not, you poor unfortunate souls [2].
I have no mouth, fully black eyes. Striking a pose, I’m really pint-sized. Toys for the win! Looks like I’m in…Funko Pop! world. [1] [6]This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty, another Walt Disney classic [87]. The movie is much older than The Little Mermaid, but still as iconic nonetheless [37]. Besides, there has also been special Aurora dolls in association with her movie’s 60th anniversary [87]. I bet there were plenty of cosplayers cosplaying as Princess Aurora or Briar Rose to celebrate the anniversary. Some could say that Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil would be a decent modern association with the 60th anniversary [208], despite its predecessor’s rather mixed reception [61]. Too bad the lovely Aurora has been considered to be the least empowered princess of Disney history, but at least she can still be well-loved by many Disney nerds and very young girls [37] [179]. I could sure use a spindle to try and sleep better at night, as long as I have a sleepover with my boyfriend so that he can kiss me to wake me up. Oh, and I would also need to have a small plaster for my bleeding fingertip. What if Aurora wore a green dress instead of a pink one or a blue one? That would have been a really interesting twist.
Kiss me, you fool. [179]I would also like to mention the 10th anniversary of The Princess and the Frog. I remember watching the movie on the Grand Princess cruise when I was a teenager. I like how it adds a twist to the original trope of a frog being turned into a prince from the lips of a princess [181]. Tiana, the movie’s protagonist is still an awesome character to this day as she seems to be one of the more feminist and the most realistically developed princess, having the goal of working hard enough to own the restaurant of her father’s dreams rather than getting into a relationship with handsome prince efficiently [180] [181]. My favourite song from the film would have to be “Almost There” because it would be the feeling of being close to getting into college, university, a new job or a new home [181]. Could the movie from late 2009 about Disney’s first black princess receive an official sequel after the success and appeal of Frozen II [55]? I honestly would like that to happen as it truly deserved the positive reception it earned for a realistic female protagonist, delightful musical numbers and a unique take on the classic tale.
Tiana is such an awesome character! [180]Do you remember Polly Pocket? Even though I played with some examples of the bigger dolls with rubber clothes with an old friend as a child in the 2000s [148], I say the compact playsets from the 1990s were more memorable [119]. Furthermore, Polly Pocket, the cheerful pint-sized sweetheart returned to her vintage form in a special recreation of the Partytime Surprise Keepsafe Compact from 1989 to celebrate her 30th anniversary [83] [101] [198]. I just love its dazzling purple coat that consists of glitter and festiveness within its groovy interior. The appeal and success of the toy must have made up for how disappointing the 2018 reboot of the toy line from Mattel has been so far for plenty of old-school Polly Pocket fans, even though I can see it tried to fuse the 1990s and 2000s eras of Polly Pocket all together into one [102] [187]. And yes, Hot Topic also help celebrated Polly’s 30th anniversary by releasing a special Polly-themed collection [159]. Despite my fondness of the bigger dolls that could be dressed up, I honestly would like the next reboot of Polly Pocket can provide compact playsets that are very like the one from the 1990s.
Isn’t this a beautiful recreation of a classic toy from 1989 [83]?Speaking of Mattel, Barbie’s 60th anniversary must have been a blast, especially for huge Barbie doll collectors. My younger sister and I had a big bunch of Barbie dolls when we were children. Furthermore, you can say that I was a huge fan of Barbie as a child. I say the gorgeous layered dress she wore to celebrate her 60th year was quite stunning and her Proudly Pink doll was vintage yet vibrant [10] [98] [207]. I still remember seeing the recreation of her debut outfit from 2009 in association with her 50th anniversary [178]. As the Barbie Vlogs series progressed on the official YouTube channel, I saw the iconic beauty queen herself with light pink hair during her elevator challenge with Ken and thought it looked stunningly lovely [11]. It was probably a reference to the 60th-anniversary doll of her that consisted of pink hair [207]. Regardless of how any controversial Barbie dolls there were throughout the years, including the pregnant Midge doll from 2003 and the Slumber Party Barbie from 1965 [95] [186], I would say she still holds that feminist message today of inspiring young girls to become anything they want. How the heck does Barbie not age a day?!
Ooh la la! [10]The popular British talk show, Loose Women also threw a 20th-anniversary celebration for their loyal viewers to watch [78]. To those who may be unaware of what the show is about, its premise is a group of women answering questions related to difficult topics that would occur at some point during adult life [76]. I remember how all of us wished the lovely and talented Stacey Soloman a happy 30th birthday this year [81], which was a nice bonus to the show’s 20th-anniversary celebration, even though her fame debut was on The X Factor back in 2009 [165] [188]. Speaking of celebration, I bet plenty of viewers in the current generation still remember Loose Women’s 18th birthday back in 2017 [82]. Remember that old introduction of the show with a pink filter for the presenters [136]? Remember the one with an orange filter [99]? I think plenty of us still miss any of the previous sets and title sequences to a degree, depending on each previous series we remember the most [76] [79], but the current set and title sequence looks great as well [77] [80]. After so many logos, title sequences, set designs, and mature topics to discuss from 1999 to 2019 [70] [79], Loose Women deserved a great 20th-anniversary celebration.
The current pack of loose women in the current set of the television show that has reached its 20th Anniversary mark. [78]Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary was celebrated with more than just a special logo [142] [145] [146]. When I was a very young child in the early 2000s, I played Sesame Street: Numbers and Sesame Street: Letters on my family’s old computer at my first home [30] [31]. As an adult, I admire how plenty of episodes were not afraid to discuss serious real-life topics in a way that dies not corrupt its child-friendly appeal, such as Big Bird knowing about Mr. Hooper’s death back in 1983 [96] [126]. Another sign of Sesame Street maintaining its strength of bringing realistic issues into a child-friendly light would be the time when its South African version introduced Kami, a young muppet with HIV in 2002 [53] [97] [199]. What I especially love about Sesame Street in this decade is the rather accurate portrayal of Julia, the adorable orange-haired muppet who has autism and the way the other characters treat her with outstanding respect [143] [144]. Additionally, they also introduced a new muppet named Karli for teaching children about being in foster care and a parent’s addiction this year [38]. Looking through its history of character introductions, character alternations and such [52] [53], you can tell the show truly has evolved from its first airing back in 1969.
A reversed rainbow of our beloved muppets from Sesame Street. [142] [145] [146]I do no doubt that many Nintendo nerds acknowledged the 30th anniversary of the Game Boy, especially the old school Nintendo nerds [58] [169]. Surely you could only see black LCD on a green screen and it does not look very easing at times, but that consisted was the old school charm that was the part of many 90s kids’ childhoods. And yes, it began the legend of playing Pokémon on a handheld with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue [120]. Ah, good old Generation One. As the years of the Game Boy went by, there were various accessories to either enhance the experience or make it…interesting [133] [169]. I swear that I did not write this article on a Game Boy with the Work Boy add-on [133]! As someone who will always be humbled by classic portable gaming, I wonder if at least several Game Boys are still being played on by our dear old schoolers, whether they are light grey, black or any other colour [169]. As for me, I would take a selfie with a Game Boy camera and decorate it like how I did with my black Nintendo DSi when I was a teenager [133].
Fancy an official 2020s edition of this nostalgic handheld system called “Game Girl”? I do. [169]And speaking of Nintendo, 2019 marks its 130th anniversary. Would you believe that they started with handmade Hanafuda cards in Japan from 1889 to 1928 [112] [113] [170]? In the late 70s and early 80s, Nintendo’s legacy as a successful video game company spawned [112] [113] [170]. When I was a child in the 2000s, I had a blue and yellow Pikachu themed Nintendo 64 in my bedroom [114]. The two games I played on that system were Pokémon Snap and Super Mario 64 [106] [107]. Additionally, my first ever Nintendo DS game was Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends, even though it was on my original pink DS that sadly had poor collaboration [105]. I later got into Wii gaming with Wii Sports, Wii Play, Mario Kart Wii and so on as a preteen [104] [109] [110]. This year as an adult, I sincerely hope the workers and fans of Nintendo enjoyed celebrating the one hundred and thirtieth year of a big business that has won the hearts of many gamers. Despite how positively I reviewed Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo’s newest third-party mobile application [217] [218], many have criticized its greedy tactics when it came to microtransactions [212]. Nevertheless, that should not overshadow the huge celebration. Here is to another year of the Switch’s legacy [112] [113] [170].
I hope you all enjoyed celebrating Nintendo’s 130th birthday, fellow Nintendo nerds! [170]Ah, the SEGA Dreamcast. It was thinking of its 20th anniversary outside of Japan [153]. It is shame that its financial failure caused SEGA to lose a lot of funds, but it will still be remembered for many great titles, including Sonic Adventure, the game that changed Sonic the Hedgehog forever and Sonic Adventure 2, its sequel that marked Sonic’s 10th anniversary and introduced Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat [130] [152] [153] [155] [156]. Let us not forget the Dreamcast port of Crazy Taxi that could make you question each passenger’s trust in the driver’s reckless driving [211]. And let us not forget about Seaman on the Dreamcast, which had a weirdly creative premise of taking care of a bizarre creature and at least a decent use of the microphone accessory [134]. Will SEGA have the courage and steady finances to finally develop a successor to the Dreamcast for the next gaming generation? Probably not, but at least we can all actually look forward to the upcoming live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie after its interpretation of blue blur was redesigned to rapidly increase its potential [117]. As for the original Dreamcast, we can always still think of it for the rest of our gaming days.
The SEGA Dreamcast and its logos. They’re thinking. [153]
Oh. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog as a DJ? He will need to stay focused and not get distracted at the thoughts of an upcoming game next time. [130] [152]Besides another Sonic monopoly game [157], 2019 also marked the 30th anniversary of the SEGA Mega Drive, otherwise known as “SEGA Genesis” in North America [154]. Yes, I know it was firstly released in Japan back in October 1988, but the 30th anniversary can still be celebrated outside of Japan because of how it was released outside of Japan about three months later [154]. Besides, we humans celebrate our 21st birthdays especially. As usual, we will always remember the Mega Drive for how it introduced us to the speedy blue rodent back in 1991 and later presented his adorable two-tailed sidekick in 1992 [140] [141]. The SEGA Mega Drive Mini, the old school console’s miniature counterpart is highly likely to help continue the trend of miniature versions of classic consoles for old school gamers [129] [137]. Who knows if that trend will continue from how it started with the NES: Classic Edition back in late 2016 [18] [49] [50]? A miniature version of Nintendo 64 called “Nintendo 64: Classic Edition” released at the time I get grey hair would really rock my socks. As for the 30th anniversary of the Mega Drive, does anyone fancy playing the first Sonic the Hedgehog game on an oversized Mega Drive controller [69]?
Shout-out to the ’90s kids who loved the Mega Drive! [137]Hey simmers, have you noticed that 2019 is also the 10th anniversary of The Sims 3 [183] [185]? From 2009 to 2013, there were eleven expansion packs for enhancing the base game, along with ten stuff packs for enriching a sim’s life. There were also eleven downloadable worlds that were available from The Sims 3 store [185]. I still remember trying the game out on my laptop when I was just sweet sixteen and creating a Betty Boop sim [192], as well as two male sims based on Mordecai and Rigby from Regular Show [19] [195] [196]. Even though it was interesting to see the childhood’s Mortimer and Bella Goth, I even created them as adults with their daughter Cassandra as a teenager and her son Alexander as a toddler [197]. Ah, the good old days. Due to its critical acclaim and appeal for introducing new aspects, including personality traits and much more customization for a sim’s appearance [185] [195] [196], I can say it is indeed one of the best-selling PC games of all time and has aged rather well. If there ought to be The Sims 5, I think I would prefer it being just an HD version of The Sims for old time’s sake [184].
A special collector’s edition of The Sims 3. [185]The Simpsons has officially been running for 30 years [115]! Wow! Lisa Simpson will always be my favourite character in the show. Yeah, many of us do believe that the animated sitcom has overstayed its welcome and went downhill after its first nine seasons [219]. I personally believe that the series should have ended after the releases of The Simpsons Movie and The Simpsons Game in 2007 as I believed that they both would have been part of a truly memorable finale to an iconic cartoon [40] [182]. Nevertheless, I enjoyed playing The Simpsons: Tapped Out on my iPod Touch during my first year at college [39]. Rumour has it that the show will finally end in 2020 [115], which I suppose is for the best as television shows that run for a long time tend to show signs of a plot being recycled. Johnny Test was one of those shows that pulled the stunt [66] [67] [68]. But even if The Simpsons will not run for a few more seasons, I would be thrilled if they let an HD re-release of The Simpsons: Hit & Run happen [204]. Unfortunately, I do not have my fingers crossed, even if they would be yellow if I went to Springfield.
No sky? D’oh! [75]If only Stephen Hillenberg was here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants [45] [162] [163] [164]. As he rests in peace, we still reflect on how timeless and memorable the episodes of the first few seasons of SpongeBob were, including Chocolate With Nuts and Band Geeks [7] [160]. Yes, I can say this includes the variety of internet memes involving the yellow fry cook [17]. The way the voice actors for each main character re-enacted the most memorable scenes from the earlier seasons while briefly cosplaying as their roles at The Trusty Slab is brilliant [163]. And let us not forget about the special, Spongebob’s Big Birthday Blowout [45] [162] [164]. A spin-off that could suddenly be disrespectful towards Hillenberg’s wishes [202]? We will pass, thank you very much. On a lighter note, the SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run trailer provides refreshing new animation that is exclusive for the film and a promising premise [116]. Furthermore, only showing SpongeBob as a child temporarily in the film shall be hopefully not disrespectful to Hillenburg. As for the main series that is still running on Nickelodeon, the Halloween-themed introduction for its latest Halloween special was pretty zany [161]. Fancy living! Here we come! La la la la la [160]!
Our cheerful fry cook with his Krusty Krew for his 20th anniversary. [45]After so many movies and TV shows throughout the years, I guess good old Scooby-Doo deserves a pretty good 50th anniversary [210], despite those high risks of the premise becoming rather stale and too predictable [167] [168]. He was my favourite cartoon character when I was a very young child. It was brilliant that the Loose Women even cosplayed as Scooby-Doo and his human pack this year [77] [80], which feels like two anniversaries for the price of one. And who would except that the gang would resort to competing against the Teen Titans in Teen Titans GO [21]? The upcoming animated film titled “Scoob” seems to be ready to start a whole new era of the mystery-solvers’ legacies with a refreshingly new 3D animation style in 2020 [57] [209]. It looks like Scoob will be a reboot of the franchise as it the teaser trailer portrays Shaggy and Scooby when they first met in their younger days, along with how they first met Fred, Daphne, and Velma [57] [209]. Even though plenty of us still believe that Scooby and his friends have overstayed their welcome, I suppose some of us can at least raise our glasses and say “To another fifty years!” without having to unmask anyone…for now.
Scooby-Doo and his team competing in a game show hosted by Control Freak. [21]Let us not forget about the 50th anniversary of the iconic moon landing [3]. No matter how many times conspiracy theorists have tried to convince us that the moon landing was a staged hoax all along [135] [189], its special anniversary still hit news headlines this year. And yes, there was a joke regarding the conspiracy theory in Minions, the movie about a certain pack of short yellow species from 2015 [92]. Nevertheless, I shall not hop onto that bandwagon as you will not see me with a tinfoil hat on my head [48]. No offence to Alex Jones. I even managed to spot a poster of the second human being to set foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin at the Apple Museum in Prague. In addition to such a huge impact it left on humanity, many of us are excited for letting a woman set foot on the moon, thus bringing back a nostalgic memory of something truly unforgettable and adding a small but notable twist to it [213]. Furthermore, many of us will always be humbled when looking back at various reports of the landing on the moon. Rest in peace, Mr. Armstrong [214].
A photograph of a poster featuring Buzz Aldrin at the Apple Museum in Prague. [Williams, 2019]Primark’s 50th anniversary was also celebrated with its biggest shop yet opening [122] [124] [177]. My mother and I admire Primark, otherwise known as “Penneys” in Ireland for a wide range of such stunning clothes and accessories their shops would offer [122], even though staying around there for too long can be rather exhausting for me. Yes, that is just me, but at least I could still purchase a new cosplay outfit and accessory from Primark after the Christmas season. I know I can also rely on Primark for how its community strongly condemns modern slavery and human trafficking [121]. Who knows? Another paid job or voluntary work experience I get could be in a Primark shop. But for now, why not check out their latest Winter sales and see which clothes and accessories for the season suit you best [60]? Speaking of Winter sales, I could briefly cosplay as Lara Croft in her Winter outfit from Rise of the Tomb Raider in the future [191]. I now wonder what stunning clothes my grandmothers bought from Primark and wore with style back in 1969. As for me in the present, I would be delighted to dine at Primark’s Disney café soon [42] [123] [125].
The 50th anniversary bag my mother got from a Primark shop this year. [Williams, 2019]And let us not forget about Tesco and its 100th anniversary, my fellow Brits [93]. After almost eight decades of business that started back in 1919, Tesco spawned Tesco Express for petrol stations in 1994 [73]. In 1998, the company in Thailand merged with Lotus [74]. And let us not forget Tesco Direct, Tesco’s website that was launched in 2006 [72]. Tesco may have been unsuccessful in America [24], but at least it is still trusted by many folks in England, Poland, Czech Republic, China, Thailand, and Ireland today [71] [74] [176]. In the current generation of the United Kingdom, several of us probably boogied out to a few versions of the groovy advert and many of us were amazed at the nostalgic references, including Morph and a shopper in a funky 70s outfit [91] [173] [174]. Of course, the moment of an astronaut floating around in the shop to gather some grub is a possible reference to the moon landing that was reported around the world back in 1969 [174]. Again, two anniversary celebrations for the price of one! As we maintain proactivity for future generations, Tesco may keep delivering Christmas for another hundred years [175]. Whether you shop at Tesco Metro, Tesco Extra or Tesco Express, every little helps [176].
A whole century of a business is a heck of a long time. [173] [174]Another 100th anniversary celebrated this year is the one of Felix the Cat [33]. Such a wonderful, wonderful cat, isn’t he [28]? Too bad he did not have the best story way under a different name back in 1919. It was sad to see him attempt to end his own life by putting a gas hose in his mouth, which is definitely something you would not expect to see in cartoons today [51] [149]. Luckily, we saw him as a much more cheerful character years later and we still do today, especially when he reaches into his bag of tricks. A notable example would be the time when an escalator spawned from his bag and reached an apple tree back in 1959 [201]. Some other examples of the bag’s magic were from Felix’s own movie from 1989, despite its negative reception [41] [166]. In the mid-1990s, Felix starred in another television series titled “The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat” [33]. An example of his legacy in the 2010s would be that Felix the Cat application I have played on my iPod Touch back in Summer 2012 [193] [194]. Just like Barbie, how does the cat not age a day?!
Felix the Cat! The wonderful, wonderful cat! Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks! [28]And last, but not least, 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of Batman [4] [34]. I bet there were plenty of Batman cosplayers out there who celebrated, along with some Robin cosplayers. Back in 1939, Batman debuted in an issue of Detective Comics [22]. Strangely enough, he and his sidekick Robin did make occasional appearances in the first season of Sesame Street back in 1970 [52]. Looking back at that could also be celebrating two anniversaries for the price of one. But wait! Another two for the one of price sensation came from how Batman even did yet another crossover with Scooby-Doo and his pack of human allies in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who [59] [213]? Batman’s collaboration with Fortnite this year sure was zany [54] [190]. And speaking of gaming, at least we do not have to worry about the poorly made video games based on his legacy anymore. Good times, right Angry Video Game Nerd [131] [132]? Nevertheless, the 2010s video games he starred in were exceptional to plenty of gamers, including Batman: Arkham City [209]. As long as DC does not back down on publishing new comics, here is to another decade with the dark knight [34], whether his iconic suit is blue and grey or fully black.
EIGHTY YEARS OF BATMAAAAAAAN!!! [34]Before we conclude this compilation, here are some honourable mentions:
The 125th anniversary of Barbour [14]
The 25th anniversary of PlayStation [118]
The 30th anniversary of Wallace and Gromit [15] [150]
The 20th anniversary of Disney’s animation adaption of Tarzan [172] [206]
The 10th anniversary of Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time [158]
The 10th anniversary of Megurine Luka, the glamourous pink-haired VOCALOID with an angelic voice [205]
The 2nd anniversary of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp [103] [111]
The 20th anniversary of Rayman 2: The Great Escape [127]
The 20th anniversary of Donkey Kong 64, the Nintendo 64 game that had a memorable yellow cartridge in Australia and North America [128]
The 10th anniversary of Up, Pixar’s masterpiece about an old man who made his house fly with lots of balloons [200]
The 10th anniversary of Coraline, the stop-motion film based on the novel with the same name [29] [85]
The 10th anniversary of Avatar, the thrilling live-action movie about a mysterious blue alien race [9]
The 15th anniversary of Mean Girls, a fetch chick flick [46] [84]
The 10th of a YouTube channel I recommend, MrMarioFan12 [94]
The 10th anniversary of Sonny With A Chance [36]
The 20th anniversary of Sonic Underground [47]
The 10th anniversary of The Annoying Orange [8]
The 50th anniversary of the 50 pence coin within British currency [15]
The 30th anniversary of the internet [56]
Feel free to make your own list of honourable mentions of other special anniversaries that I have not been mentioned, yet you have noticed in 2019.
All hail Queen Luka! [205]
“Isn’t it honourable to be on a 50p, lad?” [15] [150]Of course, awesome anniversaries do not just get celebrated in 2019. Remember Mario’s 30th anniversary back in 2015 [108], Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20th anniversary back in 2011 and the 20th anniversary of The Powerpuff Girls last year [20] [139]? I bet many of us also had a blast celebrating the previous special anniversaries of the things I listed back in 2009, including Barbie’s 50th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty [12] [13] [37] [178]. More anniversaries of the things we appreciate and admire will await us in the 2020s and so on. I would love to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sonic Colours with my boyfriend as I had a blast with that game on my Nintendo Wii when I was a teenager [138]. I can also celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tangled, Disney’s beautifully animated adaption of Rapunzel from 2010 [171]. Again, I would love The Sims to be officially remastered in 2020 as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the successful life-simulation series [184]. Such a huge method worked out brilliantly for Spyro the Dragon in association with his 20th anniversary last year, right [5]? I will see you all in the next year of the rat, fellow writers and creators [27]. Squeak!
Hopefully 2019 has been great for you if your Chinese Zodiac sign is the pig [26]. We just need to wait for the next year of the rat, including me. [27]References
BarbieCollectors. (2008). Barbie Through The Years – The Best Doll Ever – 50th Anniversary.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYFsRDBGRgU. Last accessed 3rd Dec 2019.
Barbour. (2019). Barbour Christmas Advert 2019: 125 Years of Blooming Barbour Christmases.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZaK4eWqBgA. Last accessed 11th Nov 2019.
CBS This Morning. (2019). NASA hopes to have first woman land on moon with Artemis program.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTsqzNGnJdQ. Last accessed 9th Dec 2019.
Dave Lee Down Under. (2019). Evolution of FELIX THE CAT, The First Ever Cartoon Character, Over 100 Years (1919-2019) Explained.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V27wIZ_vyc. Last accessed 9th Dec 2019.
Empressive. (2019). People are MAD that Halle Bailey is playing Ariel in the Little Mermaid (live action).Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGB7HV0mxXE. Last accessed 8th Dec 2019.
Entertainment Tonight. (2019). Mean Girls Turns 15: Behind-the-Scenes Secrets With the Cast.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLexnZD6uZs. Last accessed 11th Nov 2019.
IGN. (2019). Scoob! – Official Trailer (2020) Zac Efron, Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otcw8Wi_ggI. Last accessed 11th Nov 2019.
Interesting Bits of Primark. (2019). What’s new in Primark December 2019 | Primark Winter Stuff.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6xKc7hvoAU. Last accessed 5th Dec 2019.
Loose Women. (2019). Jane McDonald Mentions Kaye Adams in New Autobiography ‘Riding the Waves’ | Loose Women.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ1n9f9eaog. Last accessed 6th Nov 2019.
Loose Women. (2019). Paddy McGuinness Reveals the Weirdest Place He’s Heard His Famous Catchphrase | Loose Women.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s110M_B-aVs. Last accessed 6th Nov 2019.
Loose Women. (2019). Loose Women Surprise Stacey as She Celebrates Turning 30 | Loose Women.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5_DrFeZ5Ek. Last accessed 10th Dec 2019.
MmDisney200. (2019). ARIEL Limited Edition Doll “The Little Mermaid” 30th Anniversary (Review & Unboxing).Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoIIMs8CsVk. Last accessed 19th Nov 2019.
MmDisney200. (2019). Aurora as Briar Rose Sleeping Beauty LE 60th Anniversary doll Review/ Unboxing.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVFt_wGJY9Y. Last accessed 3rd Dec 2019.
MmDisney200. (2019). Little Mermaid 30th: Ariel Disney Parks Diamond Castle LE 16” Doll (Review & Unboxing).Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxxqgFH3IA. Last accessed 19th Nov 2019.
MmDisney200. (2019). D23 Exclusive: Ariel – Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Doll REVIEW & Unboxing.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_4tDzVXN1c. Last accessed 19th Nov 2019.
Moana, dir. by Ron Clements and John Musker. (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2016).
Newsround. (2019). The Little Mermaid: Halle Bailey cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake.Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48864999. Last accessed 8th Dec 2019.
Nintendo. (2017). Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. iOS. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2008). Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2005). Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends. Nintendo DS. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2000). Pokémon Snap. Nintendo 64. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (1997). Super Mario 64. Nintendo 64. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2015). Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Special Interview ft. Shigeru Miyamoto & Takashi Tezuka.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLoRd6_a1CI. Last accessed 9th Dec 2019.
Nintendo. (2006). Wii Play. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2006). Wii Sports. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
Paramount Pictures. (2019). The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020) – Official Trailer – Paramount Pictures.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfiH_526qhY. Last accessed 3rd Dec 2019.
Paramount Pictures UK. (2019). Sonic The Hedgehog | Official Trailer | Paramount Pictures UK.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HndtTDvr-iE. Last accessed 3rd Dec 2019.
Primark. (2019). Penneys Celebrated 50 Years Of “Amazing Fashion At Amazing Prices”.Available: https://www.primark.com/en/primark-50. Last accessed 9th Dec 2019.
Sesame Street. (2019). Sesame Street: This is my Street Song featuring Thomas Rhett | Season 50 Anthem.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=565z2Rbp2MU. Last accessed 12th Nov 2019.
Snapped Crime TV. (2019). Royal Mint releases new coin to mark 30 years of Wallace and Gromit.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6NP3ZFTzMY. Last accessed 9th Dec 2019.
Solo, J. (2017). The Messed Up Origins of The Little Mermaid | Disney Explained – Jon Solo.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPRwZYitgRE. Last accessed 11th Nov 2019.
Sony Computer Entertainment. (2009). Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time. PlayStation 3. California, United States.
Sparkles, H. (2019). Polly Pocket 30th Anniversary Collection from Hot Topic | WORTH IT?.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEaI9woqUB4. Last accessed 11th Nov 2019.
SpongeBob SquarePants Official. (2019). Sneak Peek 👀 SPONGEBOB’S BIG BIRTHDAY BLOW OUT | SpongeBob.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzkJz8Urjcw. Last accessed 5th Dec 2019.
SpongeBob SquarePants Official. (2019). SpongeBob Cast Remake BEST Scenes EVER In REAL Life 🤪 Happy Birthday, SpongeBob | #TBT.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlrxbnwogkI. Last accessed 5th Dec 2019.
SpongeBob SquarePants Official. (2019). SpongeBob’s Surprise Party 🎂 SPONGEBOB’S BIG BIRTHDAY BLOW OUT.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OKuuOd3c2I. Last accessed 5th Dec 2019.
The X Factor UK. (2009). The X Factor 2009 – Stacey Solomon – Judges’ houses 1 (itv.com/xfactor).Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNKg8eHa4jM. Last accessed 19th Nov 2019.
TimTheTatman. (2019). *NEW* BATMAN/GOTHAM CITY IS IN FORTNITE!?! – Fortnite Battle Royale.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsWMrGcPuvw. Last accessed 17th Oct 2019.
Toy Caboodle. (2019). Polly Pocket 30th Anniversary Party Time Surprise OLD vs NEW Compact Toy Opening 1989 | Toy Caboodle.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O59LRTKolkU&t=148s. Last accessed 12th Nov 2019.
Walt Disney Studios. (2019). Official Trailer: Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – In Theaters October 18!.Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OFH4xpPr4. Last accessed 10th Dec 2019.
Laura's Ambitious Writing 