Bratz Tweevils Special Edition Kirstee and Kaycee 2-Pack: A Lookin' Bratz Review!
Bratz Tweevils Special Edition Kirstee and Kaycee. Custom Your Thing magazine created by me with artwork from @TheVinylScene.
Hey Angelz!
The latest Bratz release has been nothing short of Bratztoric, giving long-time fans a pair of characters in doll-form almost eighteen years since their debut… the Tweevils! This annoying yet lovable duo debuted in the 2005 film Bratz Rock Angelz, becoming the villainous comic relief characters in the Bratz television series and several films alongside their boss Burdine. What made MGA Entertainment wait nearly two decades to produce Tweevils dolls, and do they live up to the hype? The Bratz team at MGA Entertainment was kind enough to send me a Tweevils set, and I have been so excited to share my thoughts on this release! Keep reading for a detailed review on the Tweevils dolls, including tons of pictures plus details on the dolls’ hair, faces, accessories, and more!
THE PACKAGING
Can we talk about a perfect package design? I did not know what to expect in terms of packaging ever since news of the Tweevils dolls broke back in August of last year. I was lowkey expecting something along the lines of the classic Twiins boxes, but was surprised to find out that the Tweevils come in a highly-detailed diorama that includes many references to the characters and Bratz brand. To start with, I expected the Tweevils logo to somewhat capture a Barbie-esque essence seeing that the Tweevils draw inspiration from Barbie’s sisters Skipper and Kelly (now Chelsea); as expected, the new typeface gives a Barbie-like quality. The “ee” in “Tweevils” have a crown and bow over them as a reference to the crown and bow that Kirstee and Kaycee wear in their hair, respectively. Because the Tweevils are, well… evil, the logo also features devil horns on each end with a devil tail along the bottom that calls back to the original Twiins logo.
The box shape does not follow traditional Bratz packaging, but almost mimics it by appearing as a trapezoid on top of an opposite trapezoid to form a bow shape… did I explain that correctly? The packaging also features quote bubbles with catchphrases for each Tweevil, with Kirstee saying “Whatever!” and Kaycee saying “My Nose!” in reference to her everlasting nose job recovery. The tagline of the box reads: “They’re twins… and they’re seriously evil!”
The Tweevils are backdropped by a diorama of their desks in the Your Thing magazine office, which is where they work in the animated Bratz films and television series. The box handle is a ribbon tied to look like a bow, which is a reference to Kaycee’s hairpiece. The back of the box features a description alongside new artwork featuring Kirstee and Kaycee in Bratz art form. Along the sides and on the back of the box, catchphrases from the Tweevils can be found—including: “Yeah!”, “Oww, my nose!'“, “Whatever!”, “Loser!”, and “Get a new one!”, among other iconic catchphrases and quotes from the pair. The packaging uses a lot of different fonts for the Tweevils’ catchphrases, including the Bratz The Movie and Genie Magic fonts—not sure if those were lil’ easter eggs or just a coincidence! Either way… NEAT-O! The box reminds me a lot of the marketing materials for the Mean Girls musical, especially the typeface used for the “My new ensemble!” quote.
This package design is one of my favorites not only from the Bratz comeback, but from the Bratz brand. All of the assets work together beautifully to create something unique yet aligned with the Bratz brand—the lack of Bratz branding (the logo only appears very small in two spots) also helps separate the Tweevils from the Bratz, which makes sense as they are considered the anti-Bratz.
the dolls, fashions, ‘n’ faces
At first glance, some people may misjudge the Tweevils as looking like knockoff Bratz dolls. To that, I say: isn’t that the point? As much as the Tweevils do look like “knockoffs” of our beloved Bratz, do not mistake them for low-quality products.
Kirstee and Kaycee are dressed in their iconic pink slip dresses with white buttons on their straps, taken straight from their animated appearances. The dresses also have white lining along the hems. Kirstee comes with a fabric crown hair accessory with beading around it to mimic pearls. The crown is attached to Kirstee’s head with plastic ties to make it stay in place. Kirstee wears a fabric bow in her hair, which is attached to a hair tie that wraps around her bun. Both Tweevils wear the iconic First Edition Jade/Yasmin shoe mold in hot pink, just like their animated character models! They also come with matching pink heart-shaped earrings.
The Tweevils only come with one fashion per doll, which has caused some mixed feelings from fans as their price point is on the higher side. While I would’ve loved to have seen an additional fashion come with these dolls, I’m not sure if it would make sense as these characters aren’t really known for having other outfits. Some fans expected a hyper-glamorous version of the Tweevils à la TheVinylScene’s fan artwork or Hextian’s custom dolls. While the fanmade interpretations of the Tweevils are gorgeous, I’m not sure it would’ve made sense for the dolls to look like anything other than their original character designs—at least for their introductory looks. We can get more into the criticism these dolls are facing later in the article, but I firmly believe the dolls and fashions are perfect considering they look almost exactly like their animated character models.
As for the faces, both of the Tweevils have brand new screenings and a new head mold to match. The new head mold was casted in 2022 and makes its debut through this two-pack. The head mold is meant to mimic the face shapes of the Tweevils’ animated character models, while still staying somewhat similar to the original Bratz head mold from 2001. Kirstee’s screening is unique in that she is giving an exaggerated expression, something that is rarely seen in the Bratz brand. Kirstee’s left eyebrow is raised while her right eyebrow is scrunched to give the expression of raising her brow, while her mouth is painted to show her grinning and showing a little bit of teeth; this makes sense as the Tweevils are often known to cause shenanigans in the movies and series. I was initially unsure of how I felt about Kirstee’s expression because it is something that I am not used to on Bratz dolls, but quickly understood that the expression adds to the camp factor of this set. It makes sense that Kirstee would have such an expression because the Tweevils aren’t ordinary Bratz characters, they’re the comic relief. Kaycee’s facial expression is more neutral, which is a good choice as her primary feature is her nose bandage. If people are confused about why Kaycee has a nose bandage, her character is known for having nose jobs and a nose that is often met with flying objects that impede her healing process. I adore Kaycee’s expression and think the “neutral” version of this screening—while not on the same level as other Bratz screenings—is gorgeous in its own right. The nose bandage is painted on and not molded, which is likely because it is more difficult for factories to paint the nose bandage when there is a mold; this is an issue seen with some Rainbow High dolls with molded-on nose bandages.
In regards to face application method, the Tweevils dolls use the spray method. 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 in 2021, which is UV printing. UV printing is a more cost-effective method to apply dolls’ faces as spraying seems to be less common and more expensive in the doll industry these days. All releases after the Rock Angelz reproductions until the JimmyPaul dolls used the UV method. The Girls Nite Out 21st Birthday Edition dolls reintroduced the spray method to the brand ever since the 2018 Collector dolls. The new head mold combined with two new screenings that are applied using the spray method means that a lot of money went into the production of the Tweevils.
Check the gallery for a comparison of the Tweevils head mold to the original 2001 head mold!
the hair
Are you wondering what hair fiber the Tweevils dolls use? The Tweevils dolls use premium nylon hair, which has become the new standard for Bratz. Both dolls have perfectly styled buns with two short tendrils in the front to mimic their animated character model hairstyles. I have attached pictures of how the buns are styled and tied in the gallery! I will not be taking the dolls’ hairstyles out or washing their hair, so do not expect to see that in this article.
Just like the face application 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)—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 has become more difficult to source (companies like Mattel have their own saran supply, which is how they get to use it), so nylon provides a way for consumers to have nice doll hair without resorting to using low-grade polypropylene. Nylon also tends to feel really nice and oftentimes better than saran, and is known to last decades without degrading.
Bratz Tweevils 2-Pack Hand Close-Up
TL;DR: Do not expect any upcoming Bratz or MGA releases to use saran hair. Nylon is the new standard.
the bodies
The Tweevils dolls use the Collector 2018 body with the Movie hand sculpt from 2007. The bodies are almost identical to the Movie bodies, except the torso is the same as the 2001 standard body rather than having the articulated torsos that the Movie dolls had. Something to note is that the hand pegs for the Cult Gaia and Mowalola dolls changed shape, and it seems that the Tweevils may use the body mold from these dolls as the Movie hand pegs seem too long for hand socket. It creates some space between the arm and hand.
other features and accessories
Bratz Tweevils 2-Pack Doll Stand
The Tweevils dolls do not come with many accessories outside of what they are wearing. The only other accessories are two doll stands, two star-shaped brushes, and an 11x17 inch poster (not pictured, watch my YouTube review for a closer look). The base of the doll stand originates from Winter Ball Beauty Cloe, but has foot pegs similar to the Rock Angelz stands. This re-imagined doll stand was introduced with the Cult Gaia dolls last year, and has been one of my favorite stands from the brand. I hope MGA continues to use this in future Bratz releases!
where to buy and edition size
If you’re wondering where to buy the Bratz Tweevils 2-Pack, they are currently available at several online retailers! This release is an online exclusive and has not been spotted in any physical retailers, nor do I expect that we’ll see them in any physical stores. The set is being sold on Amazon and LOLSurprise.com in most countries, as well as OzToyStore.com in Australia. The set retails for $50 USD. Amazon and LOLSurprise.com both ship worldwide, and fans internationally may be able to order directly from their country’s Amazon site by changing the “.com” domain of the Amazon link to their country’s domain—though, from what I hear, some international fans can order from the U.S. site. The dolls are not expected to be sold anywhere else aside from the retailers listed in this section. The dolls are being billed as a “limited edition” release, meaning they are made in smaller quantities. The batch size has not been listed publicly anywhere, so that information is unavailable. Get the dolls while you can!
overall thoughtz
They’re twins and they’re seriously evil! They’re… the TWEEVILS! Make sure to check out my YouTube unboxing video for more context and a closer look at the dolls!
Overall, I am really impressed by the Tweevils 2-Pack! When the Tweevils listing was found last August, I was nervous about the direction MGA would go in for a release like this. I was surprised to see how much care and effort went into this release, especially with the creation of new head molds and face screenings. Once again, MGA has managed to create another high-quality product to add to the Bratz lineup. While some may disagree, I believe this release is a major win for the Bratz brand! Fall 2022 proved to be a strong season for Bratz and they still have a lot to prove after some faulty releases in 2021, but I do feel that Bratz is on an upward trajectory and each new release is proving that.
Some fans are upset that the Tweevils do not come with much or may have set high personal expectations in terms of what MGA was going to create in terms of fashion. Again, I do not think the Tweevils need to be hyper-glamorous—at least not in their first-ever release. Keeping the Tweevils as recognizable as possible is a smart move; this not only appeals to die-hard Bratz fans, but also casual fans who grew up with the animated movies and television series. Fans can re-create iconic moments from the animated Bratz media using show-accurate dolls of the Tweevils. It wouldn’t make sense to have highly-stylized Tweevils in designer fashion pieces for their introductory release, especially when creating these dolls is likely a huge risk for the company.
With that in mind, I do think that this release has received unnecessary negativity from some who are not satisfied with the dolls. Some have argued that this release was unnecessary, either because they find the Tweevils characters irrelevant or think they should have been given new designs. Some believe this is a “cheap” way of keeping the Bratz brand relevant, or that it shows just how irrelevant the brand is. So many contradictory arguments with little proof to back up statements, honestly.
To be quite clear, I think this release is a testament to how popular the Bratz brand truly is and the impact that it has had in people’s lives so many years later. Very rarely do companies take a chance on releasing a product that caters to a niche audience with a high chance of not selling. This is likely why MGA did not risk producing the Tweevils or many other villainous characters back in the brand’s prime era. Additionally, the Tweevils were an even higher-risk product back then because they are a parody of Barbie’s sisters—although, Burdine and the Tweevils also draw inspiration from an executive director Mucci Fassett worked with on the animated Bratz films and series. You can learn more about that in an episode of Bratzline Podcast! Furthermore, the characters were designed by an animation team and not by the doll designers; this may have made it even more difficult to produce Tweevils dolls back in the day, if it was ever considered. For these reasons, the Tweevils dolls were likely never something MGA truly considered releasing until now. It makes a lot of sense to release them now because they hold a sense of nostalgia for many people, plus we probably would’ve never received a box design filled with catchphrases back in the day; these catchphrases and quotes hold more relevance today because we’ve held onto them for this long.
But to release a brand-new set of dolls for characters introduced eighteen years ago? To me, that shows that there is a demand for these types of products and that the brand continues to remain relevant. And to further argue, the Tweevils set was the #1 best-selling product in the “Dolls” category on launch day and continues to rank high in that and the “Toys & Games” category of the online retailer’s site. Additionally, the set is one of the top-selling products on LOLSurprise.com at the moment. So, regardless of what people have to complain about, this release has proven to be a huge success and I cannot wait to see what the Bratz brand is going to deliver in the future! Also, they have a brand-new head mold and face screenings. I don’t think people understand how much money it costs to create new stencils for spray screenings and cast new head molds, so you can’t deny that these dolls are a labor of love. These are things that fans should be wanting, not rallying against!
The Tweevils are a core part of the Bratz brand’s success in regards to media, so it only makes sense that they get the doll treatment! Not to mention, they paved the way for other mischievous twins in MGA properties from Bratzillaz to Rainbow High! They are the epitome of the evil twin trope in children’s media.
Thank you so much to MGA Entertainment for sending the Tweevils set and for making the first Bratz release of the year (unless you count Pretty ‘N’ Punk, which probably won’t have a wider release till August) iconic!
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!
Curious about what else the Bratz brand has in store? There are more doll releases to come in 2023! A lot of Bratz products (including Pretty ‘N’ Punk) have been pushed to Fall because companies have been struggling with Spring sales, but keep your eyes peeled to LookinBratz.com for more news! You can check out some of what’s expected later this year on the Bratz 2023 Masterpost!
xoxo
