User blog comment:Nyxity/You Could Have Done Better Mattel/@comment-53539-20160720143400/@comment-13028814-20160801104421

Yeah, that is kind of what I was saying, though. MH was doing fine when they just had a selection of main ghouls and mansters. It got out of hand and left fans frustrated when a certain character they loved lost attention or the newer introductions got no development.

So, yeah, I can understand the reboot if Mattel is trying to go back to how the first two years worked before they began introducing new characters right and left just to sell as many dolls as they possibly could. In fact, if they do go back to focusing on just a handful of main characters rather than try to crank out characters right and left that get no depth, I'm all for it.

The use of MLP as a reference was mainly in regards to the changes being done to the characters designs - specifically the dolls. As it goes, with each MLP generation, the faces changes subtly in the animations and the dolls. I think Mattel could have saved fans a lot of anxiety and anger if they it hadn't been announced that they were giving the dolls a "fresh new look" and instead implemented the changes quietly and a little at a time.

Big time collectors likely would have noticed the subtle changes and make comments, but it wouldn't have become a huge up in-arms thing where you have warring sides of "I hate the new MH, bring back the original!" and "I like the new MH." And because the fans are well aware of the change, they are now scruntinizing the dolls like made to make assessments on what they like or don't like, which of course brings another war of, "These dolls are gross/ugly!" and "I like the new changes. They are pretty."

The rest just went into other things they could have done to appease the concerned parents and then the concerns I had about the histories created the last 5 years going to waste. 'Cause the new take they are going with in the "Welcome to Monster High" movie is REALLY unfamiliar and thus very startling and can bring unease for the older fans. At least all the other seperate universes kept a familiarity about them... this, though...

Draculaura and Frankie come up with the idea of Monster High and with only two parents, three teens and a pack of little werewolf brothers they are able to build an amazing high school with various stories in height and is up to regulation standards? Draculaura and Frankie are co-presidents of the school? What in the world?!

Then of course this new route has also caused old fans more worry because unlike the other universe beginnings there are some main players not showing up and instead there are two characters old fans are completely unfamiliar with, but are similar to two characters to the point of fans of Ghoulia and Spectra fearing for their beloved characters.

So, yeah. I still really think Mattel could have done better in how they approached this reboot. What they mainly caused is an uproar full of worry, anger and stress. They don't even give replies that could have brought relief to some of the fans. When the leaked images came out, they freaked out so many fans, but what the fans didn't know was that Mattel was making three types of dolls for age groups.

"Don't worry, these dolls with the simpler faces, molded on tops and very little articulation is for the 3 to 5 age range!"

"These ones that have no articulation in the wrists and no earrings are for the 6 to 9 age range."

"Now, these dolls are for our tween and teen fans. They have more detail to their clothes, jewelry, more detailed molding for Cleo's wraps, et cetera."

Then when it came to the lack of seeing Ghoulia in the line-up and the new movie showing new characters that is a zombie and a ghost, people were/are freaking out about losing beloved characters. Mattel's reply is direct enough but still to dang vague. "None of our characters are going anywhere. None of them are being replaced."

Well, that is nice, but what of ther roles? All their response assured is that the characters will still be around and seen. The fear is their standing in the franchise being lost and they merely will become backgrounders like many characters have already. Mattel could have been more specific there, too.

Yeah, yeah... they don't want to reveal their "freaky fabulous surprises" before their debute, but would telling the fans whether they will still be making dolls of the characters they care most about so much of a spoiler? Or that the characters will still have roles in movies and other media?

So, when I say they could have done better, I mean they could have done better in how they handled "introducing" the reboot to the fans. As I've said in other places that have talked about the reboot: I can understand the need for change. Change is inevitable. Change can be good. No matter what, though, with most scenarios sudden change that seems to come out of no where is shocking and can sincerely scare people. I just wish Mattel had considered that more and maybe there wouldn't be so much "war" and negative emotions going on in the fanbase.