Bratz Pretty 'N' Punk: A Lookin' Bratz Review!

Bratz Pretty ‘N’ Punk Jade, Cloe, Sasha, Yasmin, Eitan, and Meygan

Note: Meygan’s hair was restyled by me to resemble her original doll. Stay tuned for a hair tutorial video on my YouTube channel!

Hey Punkz!

Since August 2022, the Bratz Pretty ‘N’ Punk reproductions have been confirmed—but, it’s taken nearly a year for them to “officially” release. Originally slated to be split into two waves for January and March releases, the dolls were pushed to the Fall season as many toy companies delayed their Spring releases because sales were struggling. Despite this, the first wave—Yasmin, Cloe, and Jade—found their way to Myer stores in Australia earlier this year causing confusion amongst fans about when these dolls would be available elsewhere. On top of all this, there was an uncertainty about the inclusion of Sasha as she was not featured in the original 2005 collection.

After all the waiting and curiosity, is Pretty ‘N’ Punk worth the hype that’s been built up around it for so long? Following in the footsteps of Rock Angelz and Girls Nite Out, Pretty ‘N’ Punk is the third themed line to receive a reproduction since Bratz re-entered the doll market in 2021. While the Rock Angelz reproductions were not well-received by fans and the general public, the Girls Nite Out line proved that MGA was capable of producing well-made and authentic Bratz dolls. Can PNP prove to be as strong as GNO, or does it fall back to the Rock Angelz reproduction era?

The Bratz team at MGA Entertainment was kind enough to send me the full Pretty ‘N’ Punk line and I am so excited to finally share my thoughts and opinions about this release! Keep reading for a detailed review on the Bratz Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls, including tons of pictures plus details on the dolls’ hair, faces, accessories, and how they differ from the original releases!

THE PACKAGING

If you’ve read some of my previous reviews, then you already know that I am always in love with Bratz package designs! Considering Pretty ‘N’ Punk was released eighteen years ago, I can’t fully judge their packaging as it isn’t a new design—but, I will say that I’ve always loved this collection’s packaging! Each character comes in a trapezoid-shaped package with the Union Jack molded in the front. The middle stripe of the package’s molded Union Jack is where the doll is displayed, which is a detail I love! Each box’s handle mimics a leather belt, with two electroplated stars adorned on each side. There is also an electroplated chain attached to the sides of each box, which I am obsessed with. The packaging is essentially the same as its original counterpart, with the only missing accessories being the characters’ “Punk Pets”. This was a semi-controversial exclusion from this reproduction, but the most logical as the suitcase signifies this as a travel line and the accessory count is minimal otherwise; additionally, I wonder if Sasha would have received a completely new pet had they been included, or if her inclusion may have been part of the reason for the pets’ disappearance. The blisters and pop-outs (sans “Punk Pet” details) remain the same, but the sticker on the front that would originally read “Bratz World Destination 2” now reads “Bratz World!”—this change is due to PNP originally being the second and final collection included in the “Bratz World” line that began with Tokyo A Go-Go in 2004. A subtle change is the box’s backdrop as it matches the back of the box, whereas the original had a slightly different design of the Union Jack with deeper shades of red and blue. Yasmin, Cloe, and Jade—the first wave of this collection—feature an image of their original prototypes from 2004; all of the original PNP dolls used this image with Meygan’s prototype included. Sasha, Meygan, and Eitan—the second wave of this collection—feature an image of Sasha’s handpainted sample and what appears to be the final versions of the 2005 Meygan and Eitan or possibly late production samples of their reproduction dolls. Eitan’s original box featured a picture of him, Cameron, and Dylan’s prototypes; unfortunately, Cameron and Dylan will not be reproduced. As always, the package design was beautiful and I love all the small details that MGA includes to play along with the theme. Swipe through the gallery to check out the packaging, plus you can find barcodes at the end!

the dolls, fashions, ‘n’ faces

There have been some mixed feelings about how the dolls look overall compared to the originals, and I have some personal feelings about them as well. At first glance, the dolls seem almost completely faithful to their OG counterparts, but I do notice some differences. Sasha is thankfully exempt from any comparisons, but I do have some thoughts on her as well. Regardless of any differences from the originals, I think it is fair to state that—just like all of the brand’s releases in the past year—the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls have that authentic Bratz feel that the other dolls were sorely missing for quite some time before Fall 2022. From the clothing construction to face application, the PNP dolls are stellar! Let’s get into the details.

When Yasmin, Cloe, and Jade were revealed earlier this year, I was quite impressed with how faithful they looked. Considering that sourcing fabrics and materials used back in 2005 is vastly different from how it is in 2023, I feel that this first wave is strong. There are some subtle differences in the fit of each character’s clothing, specifically each of their jackets and Cloe’s dress, but they overall feel very much like the originals. I have never experienced Yasmin’s clothing before, so I was shocked to learn that her second outfit has two separate tops. I have always wanted Cloe, especially because I love both of her outfits, so I was very pleased with this reproduction’s fits. I have also wanted Yasmin and Jade’s jackets for the longest time, so finally getting them was a huge treat. I always had Jade’s second outfit (sans jacket) because of the Head Gamez! giftset, but it feels so different to finally have a PNP Jade to dress it on. Sasha is a different ball game because she is a brand-new doll. I absolutely adore Sasha’s first outfit, especially the fabric they used on her Union Jack top; on a side note, her Union Jack tube top is separate from her long-sleeved mesh undershirt! Sasha also comes with a separate choker, which is a nice addition; I also love her new saddle bag and the fabric matches perfectly with the other dolls’ handbags. Unlike the other PNP girls who all share the same shoe mold in black, Sasha uses the shoe mold in a silver shade. Sasha stands out because of her different-colored shoes and accessories, the latter of which we’ll discuss in a moment. Sasha’s second outfit, admittedly, is not my favorite. When I first saw Sasha’s second fit, I was unsure of how to feel. It definitely feels a bit out of place, but I do love the individual pieces. The caution tape feels a bit outdated, but I love the construction of that top. I also love Sasha’s skirt separately and was shocked to see that there is a glittery silver skirt attached underneath; some folks have mentioned cutting the skirt to be a mini-skirt, which I will not be doing personally. The purple vest is cute, but I sort of wish we got a full jacket instead. Meygan is mostly faithful to her original doll except for her iconic yellow raincoat. On her reproduction doll, Meygan is missing some stitching details and buttons. Eitan is mostly the same as his original doll, but does not include his ripped-up jean jacket; I wish this had been left in.

On a random note, Yasmin’s skintone has been fixed in this reproduction; her original doll is paler, while her reproduction is more faithful to her actual skintone. Additionally, each doll comes with a suitcase, sticker sheet, and star brush/comb. All of the dolls have the same sticker sheet. Yasmin, Cloe, Jade, Meygan, and Eitan have black suitcases and brushes/combs. Sasha stands out with her blue suitcase and red brush.

Moving on to the dolls’ faces, they are all nearly flawless to me! I do have a few qualms, specifically with Cloe and Meygan. I am not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but one of Cloe’s eyes seems slightly smaller/larger than the other. Meygan’s eye placement could be better, but it is not awful; I also wish her lips were more full like her original doll. Everybody else’s face looks pretty good; please keep in mind that my dolls are technically samples, so their faces may vary from the final production dolls and I am not sure if these placements will end up on any of the final production batches. Sasha has a completely new face screening and I am in love with it! I would say her face is like a mix between First Edition Sasha and PNP Jade’s. Sasha’s face has a fierce and edgy look to it, especially with her cut-crease eyeshadow. I personally love Sasha’s makeup palette, though some have wished her makeup was a bit darker to match the other girls.

Are you wondering what head mold and face application is used on the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls? The Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls use the original 2001 head mold (with the exception of Eitan who uses the 2003 Boyz head) and spray method for their face application.

If you’ve already read my explanation on how Bratz faces are applied, feel free to skip to the next section! If not and you’re interested in learning more, keep on reading! Nearly every Bratz doll between 2001 and 2014, except for a select few, has a face screening that was painted using the “spray” method. The spray method ensures the eyes are elongated across the face for a classic, sultry Bratz look. Between 2015 and 2016 (except for the V Files x Bratz doll), and for the Bratz 20 Yearz Special Edition dolls released last year, the “sticker” method was used to apply the dolls’ faces. The sticker method is hit-or-miss as the 20 Yearz dolls looked beautiful (in most cases), while it played a huge role in the discontinuation of the brand in 2016. A new method was introduced to the Bratz brand with the Rock Angelz reproductions last year, which is UV printing. UV printing is a more cost-effective method to apply dolls’ faces as spraying seems to be less common in the doll industry these days. Holiday Felicia, the GCDS dolls, Sweet Heart Meygan, and the JimmyPaul dolls also use the UV printing method. However, the GNO 21st Birthday Edition dolls reintroduced the spray method to the brand ever since the 2018 Collector dolls. Hopefully, the spray method will be the continued standard for the Bratz brand.

the hair

A burning question for many fans is: What type of hair do the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls use? All of the dolls featured in this collection (except for Sasha because she was not in the original line) originally used saran hair, which was the standard for Bratz dolls during their prime years. In short, the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls use premium nylon hair. Something to note about Sasha’s hair is that she has an undercut. I did not expect this until one of my friends lifted Sasha’s hair up and found it. The undercut is painted, but I wish it was flocked to feel more intentional. All of the dolls’ hairstyles, especially Yasmin and Jade’s intricate styles, are done flawlessly; I have seen some batches with somewhat messy hair, though. Meygan, on the other hand, does not have her twisted buns like her original doll. I don’t mind this change, but she feels slightly off. If you couldn’t tell by my pictures, I tried my best to replicate Meygan’s OG hairstyle—stay tuned for a video tutorial on my YouTube channel! Read below for an overview on hair types used on Bratz dolls!

Just like the face printing method section, feel free to skip this portion if you’ve already read my explanations on the differences between Bratz hair types! Nylon hair appears to be a new standard for the Bratz brand, as is the case for most MGA doll brands since 2019, which is something I fully support. For context on some of the different hair types used on Bratz, nylon has often been confused with polypropylene, which is a hair fiber that was used in a majority of lines between 2008-2013 and is known for being hard to manage and prone to degrading over time, because of a name mix-up over a decade ago. Saran—which has been used on most Bratz released between 2001-2007, 2015-2018, and on most of the Bratz 20 Yearz Special Edition dolls (except for some later variants which use nylon) released in 2021—is a great hair fiber that has always satisfied collectors, though it is prone to yellowing and degrading over time. Nylon is another premium hair type that can be easily restyled with heated hair tools and is less likely to degrade over time like saran and polypropylene can do. Saran hair is harder to come by in certain colors and is not as commonly used in modern doll productions due to rising prices, so nylon provides a way for consumers to have these hair colors without resorting to using low-grade polypropylene. Nylon also tends to feel really nice and oftentimes better than saran, so I hope this is something that stays for most—if not all—future Bratz doll releases.

I personally enjoy nylon hair and prefer it in some cases. Some fans may be hesitant to accept nylon as the new standard for Bratz dolls because it tends to “poof” up on their heads (for example, the Rock Angelz 20 Yearz Special Edition dolls are often referred to as having “helmet heads”), but it seems that the rooting technique for the latest Bratz dolls has significantly improved. If you are having trouble getting the factory product out of your dolls’ hair that makes it feel “crunchy”, I recommend washing it once (maybe twice depending on how much product is used) with dish soap then following up with a conditioner rinse; a boil wash is not necessary for nylon hair and can damage it, but a flat iron and other heated hairstyling tools may work better for styling their hair after it has been washed and dried.

Stay tuned for a special video on my YouTube channel where I wash and restyle the Pretty ‘N’ Punk and Series 3 dolls’ hair!

the bodies

Unsurprisingly, the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls use the original 2001 bodies with the exception of Eitan who uses the 2003 Boyz body. While I am not the biggest fan of the original bodies and would like an upgrade in the future, the body keeps in line with the reproductions being mostly faithful to the original dolls. Similar to the Fall 2022 dolls, the body’s plastic is closer to the plastic on the original bodies and is less “matte” like other reproductions released in the past year.

other features

All of the dolls come with a dual-sided poster featuring individual character art on one side and the promotional pictures from the back of the box on the other side. Yasmin, Cloe, and Jade’s promotional picture is obviously different from Sasha, Meygan, and Eitan’s. The poster can be found in between the cardboard backing of the box and measures at 11x17 inches.

where to buy

If you’re wondering where you can buy the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls, they seem to have a very sporadic release schedule. Yasmin, Cloe, and Jade have been sold at Myer stores in Australia since February. The first wave also made its way to EB Games/GameStop in Canada, but neither Australia or Canada seem to have gotten second wave in yet—they likely will soon! MGA’s direct-to-buy website, LOLSurprise.com, which ships to the U.S. and several other countries, has been selling the first wave since June and will likely start selling the second wave (Sasha, Meygan, and Eitan) soon. There is currently no info on an exact date of when the LOLSurprise site will start selling them. The dolls will not be coming to physical Target and Walmart stores, but will be sold on their websites. The dolls will likely show up at Toys”R”Us in Macy’s locations. I wish retailers, specifically Target and Walmart, would reconsider selling these in physical stores; they will sell well and look amazing next to the Series 3 and Kylie x Bratz lineups. It’s time for Bratz to take back more shelf spaces at retailers—they’ve earned it! I recommend staying tuned to the official Bratz social media channels for more release info as it comes out! Please note that all information is subject to change.

Other than Australia and Canada, I am not sure where the Series 3 dolls will be sold outside of the United States nor will I be able to post about it. My best advice is to contact local retailers to see if they’ll be selling them, especially if those retailers sold the 20 Yearz dolls last year! Another option for Australian fans is OzToyStore.com. Fans in other countries are often advised by other international fans to order directly from Amazon US. International fans also have the option of checking the retailers listed on MGA Entertainment’s Where To Buy webpage or contacting their international offices for more info. The dolls retail for $34.99 USD; please ignore prices that are higher than this on websites like Amazon and Walmart—these websites allow third-party sellers to sell on their platforms and any prices higher than the retail price are from these sellers, not from the retailers directly.

I want to mention this because I know a lot of fans may worry about the dolls being sold out at some retailers. I need to reiterate this: do not worry! The dolls will likely be restocked. As to when restocks will happen, you will have to keep up with that on your own as there are never set dates for restocks. More than enough dolls have been produced for people to purchase, so be patient and make sure to not give in to reseller prices!

The side of the PNP doll boxes… they look so satisfying lined up like this! Did you check out my unboxing video yet? Check it out here!

Below is a list of some links for the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls! Please note that Eitan’s official release date is listed as August 1, so you will need to purchase him through Amazon’s Bratz page till then.

overall thoughtz

Overall, despite some of the negative attention the collection has received, I am majorly impressed by the Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls! Between PNP and Series 3, combined with the Fall 2022 dolls, I am even more optimistic about the future of Bratz. We have come such a long way since Rock Angelz, and the love and care going into the brand since is apparent. It feels like some people like to hold on to the tragedy that was the Rock Angelz reproductions, but it’s time to let that go and accept that Bratz is truly back. PNP is just another example of Bratz outperforming a lot of dolls currently on the market. Even if stores aren’t giving them enough shelf space and many underestimate the brand’s potential, let’s be clear that Bratz keeps growing stronger and is overdue for new playline designs. Keep it up, MGA, but don’t keep relying on those reproductions! But… I would have loved reproductions of Boyz Punkz Cameron and Dylan! And could we get those Roxxi and Nevra designs from the Bratz x Krash PNP collab in doll form, please?

I want to give a huge conBratzulations to Stephen Sumner for taking on the task of designing a brand-new Sasha for this line! In my opinion, he is a legend in the doll world and has designed for some of my favorite doll lines from the past twenty years—including the Hottiez line, which he co-created! I’ve always wanted to see Stephen work on the Bratz brand since he started working at MGA, so I’m happy to see him stepping into that territory. I also think it is a HUGE deal that MGA and the Bratz team decided to include Sasha in this line, especially because they started from scratch with her and used no source material. Some people can disagree, but I can happily say that Sasha’s design is a perfect addition to this collection and she fits in perfectly while standing out in the way only Sasha can.

Thank you again to MGA Entertainment for gifting me this set of Pretty ‘N’ Punk dolls, and thank YOU—the reader—for reading this article about the collection!

Shoutout to my friends Emil and Frank for taking pictures of the 2005 PNP dolls for this article—thank you so much!

I hope you keep checkin’ out Lookin’ Bratz for more news and reviews in the future! Make sure to check out my YouTube unboxing video for another look at the dolls and subscribe for more Bratz videos.

Stay tuned to LookinBratz.com for more news on the Girls with a Passion for Fashion, and make sure to check out Lookin’ Bratz on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok for more scorchin’ Bratz content and news!

Also, make sure to keep up-to-date with all the latest and upcoming Bratz releases with the Bratz 2023 Masterpost—including the upcoming Kylie Jenner x Bratz collab! Till then…

xoxo

 
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