Monster High Review: Robecca Steam
Feb. 11th, 2014 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leia131Please enjoy this rare (for this time of my life) non-Olympic post. :D
I will be the first to tell you that I'm not really into steampunk. I know what it is, I think it looks cool, but I don't go around collecting watch parts and wishing I had a top hat and one of those bikes with one huge wheel and one tiny wheel. A lot of people are into steampunk though, and Mattel was wise to capitalize on that with a doll.
Here's Robecca Steam, 116, daughter of a mad scientist.
Hello, I am a robot, and so is my penguin.
Robecca was released around the same time as two other brand new MH characters, Rochelle Goyle, who I've already reviewed, and Venus McFlytrap, who will be reviewed in the future. This was (as far as I remember) one of the first releases of new MH characters, not just new versions of the core characters, and it was pretty damn exciting. I was enchanted with both her colors and her name (Seriously, it sounds like a real name and yet you instantly know what her character is. The only name I like better than hers is Draculaura.) and made it my mission in life to track her down. Everyone else must have liked her too, because to this day I've only ever seen a handful of her signature doll on store shelves.
In addition to making a robot monster for steampunk fans to latch onto, it was neat how Mattel incorporated Robecca into the overall Monster High story. You may have noticed that she's 116 years old, which is because her backstory is that she's a robot that was built back in the day, and then abandoned/forgotten under the school for a while. This fits in really well with the past-meets-future nature of steampunk, and also works with the mythos of Monster HIgh having these vast, mostly unexplored catacombs underneath the school building. Mattel was careful not to throw a robot monster at us just because, or simply for the sake of wedging steampunk into their line.
In terms of the doll itself, since she's a robot Robecca has quite a few unique features in comparison to the other ghouls. For one thing, she has gear shaped irises, because Mattel is nothing if not detailed in their themes. Her skin is a beautiful coppery color, and covered in lines and rivets, both details that are meant to show how she was made from bits of copper metal. Her skin pattern also includes a vaguely heart shaped piece of 'metal' on her chest, which is downright adorable.
Robecca's most interesting feature (to me anyway) is the gears on the backs of her legs that really spin. This is extremely cool, let's not even lie. I mean, robots are cool in general, and it would have been neat of Mattel to add those gears on her calves, but to have them spin? They really go the extra mile. On the other hand, Robecca's toes don't seem to be quite as pronounced as the other ghouls, and I have no idea why.
See how defined Draculaura's toes are? See how Robecca's are not? Weird. You can also see Robecca's awesome details here.
I would like to accept my 'Best Hair' award now.
So, here's the roundup:
Favorite thing about the doll: Her hair. I love the colors, the style, the softness, and how it looks with and without her goggles.
Least favorite thing about the doll: I really struggled to come up with something here. The only thing that even slightly bothers me about this doll is the line across her forehead where her 'faceplate' is attached.
Favorite thing about the outfit/accessories: I kind of love her cage/skirt. It's cool, unique, incredibly detailed, and adds a whole other layer (literally and fashion-ally) to the outfit.
Least favorite thing about the outfit/accessories: I like that she has goggles, but I wish they looked better on her face and/or were actually see-through.
Bottom Line: I love this doll, and there's really very little about her to dislike. Her hair is soft and beautiful, she's a steampunk robot, her pet is a robot penguin with a jet pack, her outfit is kick-ass and unlike most of the other MH clothes, she has rocket boots, and her body mold is detailed and 100% unique. Her face is fabulous, she capitalizes on the steampunk trend without being ridiculous or pandering, and it even looks like her price on Amazon isn't totally unreasonable. There are several versions of Robecca available right now (Signature, Dance Class, Dead Tired, and Art Class), and I assume that they all have the same amazing body details. So if you like robots (and who doesn't?) pick the outfit that looks the best to you and get a Robecca!
Song quote for today: More than ever, hour after our work is never over
Answer to last Tuesday's song: Blood in the Water, from Legally Blonde. No one guessed this, but I had to pick it because it was about sharks (sort of) and last Tuesday was my Jaws review.
I will be the first to tell you that I'm not really into steampunk. I know what it is, I think it looks cool, but I don't go around collecting watch parts and wishing I had a top hat and one of those bikes with one huge wheel and one tiny wheel. A lot of people are into steampunk though, and Mattel was wise to capitalize on that with a doll.
Here's Robecca Steam, 116, daughter of a mad scientist.
Hello, I am a robot, and so is my penguin.
Robecca was released around the same time as two other brand new MH characters, Rochelle Goyle, who I've already reviewed, and Venus McFlytrap, who will be reviewed in the future. This was (as far as I remember) one of the first releases of new MH characters, not just new versions of the core characters, and it was pretty damn exciting. I was enchanted with both her colors and her name (Seriously, it sounds like a real name and yet you instantly know what her character is. The only name I like better than hers is Draculaura.) and made it my mission in life to track her down. Everyone else must have liked her too, because to this day I've only ever seen a handful of her signature doll on store shelves.
In addition to making a robot monster for steampunk fans to latch onto, it was neat how Mattel incorporated Robecca into the overall Monster High story. You may have noticed that she's 116 years old, which is because her backstory is that she's a robot that was built back in the day, and then abandoned/forgotten under the school for a while. This fits in really well with the past-meets-future nature of steampunk, and also works with the mythos of Monster HIgh having these vast, mostly unexplored catacombs underneath the school building. Mattel was careful not to throw a robot monster at us just because, or simply for the sake of wedging steampunk into their line.
In terms of the doll itself, since she's a robot Robecca has quite a few unique features in comparison to the other ghouls. For one thing, she has gear shaped irises, because Mattel is nothing if not detailed in their themes. Her skin is a beautiful coppery color, and covered in lines and rivets, both details that are meant to show how she was made from bits of copper metal. Her skin pattern also includes a vaguely heart shaped piece of 'metal' on her chest, which is downright adorable.
Robecca's most interesting feature (to me anyway) is the gears on the backs of her legs that really spin. This is extremely cool, let's not even lie. I mean, robots are cool in general, and it would have been neat of Mattel to add those gears on her calves, but to have them spin? They really go the extra mile. On the other hand, Robecca's toes don't seem to be quite as pronounced as the other ghouls, and I have no idea why.
See how defined Draculaura's toes are? See how Robecca's are not? Weird. You can also see Robecca's awesome details here.
Toe issues aside, Robecca has, hands down, the softest hair of any of my MH dolls. I don't know what it's made out of, but it is beautiful and sometimes I find myself petting it because it's so fluffy and soft and shiny. It's mostly black with some blue, and (as far as I can tell, anyway) does not have any glue issues. I really love her hair. I'm also quite fond of her face paint, especially the lip color.
I would like to accept my 'Best Hair' award now.
In terms of outfit, Robecca is wearing a very cute little black, blue, and gold dress, with a separate black and gold jacket, and a blue plastic cage/skirt thing that's removable. Her purse looks like a clock, complete with pendulum, and really opens. Robecca's boots are epic, and beautifully detailed, as they are intended to be rocket boots. As usual, Mattel went all the way with this, giving them little fins on the sides, mechanical detailing, and a bottom that looks like fire could totally shoot out of it. She also comes with clock and gear earrings, and goggles, because clearly you need those if you're going to be flying. She can totally wear her goggles, but they're not transparent and I have to wonder how practical they would be.
The final awesome thing about this doll is her pet. Robecca comes with a robot penguin named Captain Penny. It's like you can see the gears turning (pun intended) at Mattel:
"What animal do girls like that we haven't made yet?"
"I don't know... Unicorns?"
"Eh, we're doing a unicorn Create-A-Monster."
"Erm... Penguins?"
"Yes, penguins! But we already made the snow themed girl, and her pet is a woolly mammoth."
"Well, the robot girl can fly with rocket boots, what if the penguin is her pet and he can fly with a jet pack? You know, because penguins can't usually fly."
"BRILLIANT!"
I mean really, it's a robot penguin with a jet pack; you can't get much cooler than that. The name isn't the best, but it is evocative of steampunk and the overall color scheme.
"What animal do girls like that we haven't made yet?"
"I don't know... Unicorns?"
"Eh, we're doing a unicorn Create-A-Monster."
"Erm... Penguins?"
"Yes, penguins! But we already made the snow themed girl, and her pet is a woolly mammoth."
"Well, the robot girl can fly with rocket boots, what if the penguin is her pet and he can fly with a jet pack? You know, because penguins can't usually fly."
"BRILLIANT!"
I mean really, it's a robot penguin with a jet pack; you can't get much cooler than that. The name isn't the best, but it is evocative of steampunk and the overall color scheme.
So, here's the roundup:
Theme: Gears and mechanical parts. Her signature color is dark blue.
Evidenced in: Her irises, earrings, dress pattern, purse, the cage/skirt thing, boots, and pet.
Evidenced in: Her irises, earrings, dress pattern, purse, the cage/skirt thing, boots, and pet.
Favorite thing about the doll: Her hair. I love the colors, the style, the softness, and how it looks with and without her goggles.
Least favorite thing about the doll: I really struggled to come up with something here. The only thing that even slightly bothers me about this doll is the line across her forehead where her 'faceplate' is attached.
Favorite thing about the outfit/accessories: I kind of love her cage/skirt. It's cool, unique, incredibly detailed, and adds a whole other layer (literally and fashion-ally) to the outfit.
Least favorite thing about the outfit/accessories: I like that she has goggles, but I wish they looked better on her face and/or were actually see-through.
Bottom Line: I love this doll, and there's really very little about her to dislike. Her hair is soft and beautiful, she's a steampunk robot, her pet is a robot penguin with a jet pack, her outfit is kick-ass and unlike most of the other MH clothes, she has rocket boots, and her body mold is detailed and 100% unique. Her face is fabulous, she capitalizes on the steampunk trend without being ridiculous or pandering, and it even looks like her price on Amazon isn't totally unreasonable. There are several versions of Robecca available right now (Signature, Dance Class, Dead Tired, and Art Class), and I assume that they all have the same amazing body details. So if you like robots (and who doesn't?) pick the outfit that looks the best to you and get a Robecca!
Song quote for today: More than ever, hour after our work is never over
Answer to last Tuesday's song: Blood in the Water, from Legally Blonde. No one guessed this, but I had to pick it because it was about sharks (sort of) and last Tuesday was my Jaws review.
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 04:54 pm (UTC)I *LOVE* your bit on why they gave her a pet penguin!
I'm going to have to go home tonight and do a comparison of Lala's & Robecca's toes (only have the pic above is loading for me for some reason).
Can you tell I fail & never change my dolls' clothes?!?!no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 05:35 pm (UTC)The irises are really subtle, that's the best part about them. (And don't feel bad; it took me a sadly long time to realize that Bloodgood came with a horse because she was the daughter of the headless HORSEMAN, not just because it was cool.)
I always like to imagine the conversations game/toy/TV/movie developers must have with each other. I mean, why else does she have a penguin? They're not usually associated with robots, unless I'm missing something.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 06:06 pm (UTC)Nope, I can't think of any other link between a robot & a penguin. (If I'd been in the Mattel Brain Trust, I'd have tried to give her an owl--except that Ghoulia has one--because of that cheesy old 1980s version of Clash of the Titans with the robot owl idek...)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 06:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-12 06:36 pm (UTC)