Disclosure: This is not a paid or sponsored post. I received the dolls (free of charge) for review purposes. All opinions are my own. This post contains *no* affiliate links.
This post was submitted by guest blogger Nancy Trapuzzano
Masha and the Bear, the hit Russian cartoon that made it’s appearance in the United States via Netflix and recently Universal Kids (also around the globe in over 100 countries and 25 languages), has been a staple in our home since my husband and son discovered it over a year ago.
My family fell in love with sweet, though mischievous, little Masha and her close pal, Bear. With each episode (I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve watched and re-watched all 4 season’s combined 69 episodes ...) my son would ask for Masha and the Bear toys, so he could play “Masha and Bear”. This was not an easy request to fill, since the toys were no where to be found outside of eBay for not-so-realistic prices or in Eastern Europe.
Not that long ago, we were able to find a couple of figures and a stuffed Bear at Toys R Us, but it was coming no where near filling the Masha and the Bear toy void.
Recently, Spin Master launched a new line of Masha and the Bear toys – and they are not only extremely cute and completely in line with the show, they’re also really well made (a must for little Masha and the Bear fans – who seem to play as hard as their cartoon counterpart) 🙂
We were given two toys from the new line to review ~ the 12-inch Giggle and Play Masha Doll and the Snap ‘N Fashion Painter Masha Dress Up Doll.
12-inch Giggle and Play Masha Doll
Snap ‘N Fashion Painter Masha Dress Up Doll
Each doll is very sturdy, perfect for standing up to even the most Masha-like girl or boy. I especially appreciate that the Snap ‘N Fashion Masha Dress Up design makes it super easy for even the smallest hands to be able to dress and undress Masha without any help. As shown in the pictures below, there is an opening on both Masha’s chest and back, allowing for the clothing to easily snap in to place. Though the hold is snug, the pieces easily snap off when it’s time for a wardrobe change.
heart shape on Masha’s chest matches the heart shape on the front piece of the dress
heart shape on the inside of the front dress piece
the circle in Masha’s back matches the circle on the back portion of her dress
the back snap on portion of Masha’s dress has a circle that pairs with the one on the back of the doll
The dress and shoes are very durable, made of thick plastic and vibrant colors. Her shoes are also removable and very easy for even the tiniest of hands to manipulate. She dons an adorable babushka-beret hybrid that is easily put on and off, secured under her chin. The doll’s likeness to the cartoon character is spot-on, with it looking exactly as the television version of Masha.
The 12-inch Giggle and Play Masha Doll is adorable and very sturdy. Her dress, shoes, and babushka are all removable, and her hair is able to be combed. This Masha doll is somewhat interactive in that if you sway, dance, or twirl her, she will giggle, in the same manner as on the cartoon. Additionally, if you press the button on her lower stomach, she will say one of 12 phrases or play part of the musical score of the opening theme song.
The short video that I made below gives a brief snippet of the phrases that the Masha doll is programmed to say. It’s a simple matter of moving Masha to get her to giggle, and pressing her tummy to hear one of the 12 variations that she will speak:
The 12-inch Giggle and Play Masha Doll and the Snap ‘N Fashion Doll are both perfect for any Masha and the Bear fan – from the close likeness to the television version of Masha to the sturdiness and quality of the dolls, they’re ideal for imaginative play and re-enacting scenes from their favorite Masha and the Bear episodes.
My little Masha and the Bear fan was thrilled with the dolls,and I know they will both get a lot of play time (and with how well made they are, I am confident that they will hold up quite well even in the hands of my “Masha-esque” little ones)
Check out this cute video