Defining an "action figure"

[UnderdogDJLSW]

The ToyBox article in the museum's ad archive says "dolls" for WOZ, but the actual Mego packaging I believe says "figure."

On a tangent: I've often joked with my wife at Xmas that her Nativity is a "Jesus Action Playset." So, I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. I think that things are labled action figure now, not necessarily to attract a gender than to shout out a verb. (i.e action, motion, adventure, you'll have fun, it won't just sit there on your shelf and get dusty...unless you collect them, then buy five)

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

What about WOZ? ... for example.

I like what you wrote too Scott :D

[Brown Bear]

GI Joe is an action figure because he'd do it with Barbie and make Ken watch.

But really, it boils down to whether the figure is sold to target a boy or a girl. Doesn't matter whether a girl owns a Mego, because the initial target market was boys.

[Wee67]

It's all attitude and physics.

Action figures are meant to be thrown across the yard and off of roofs.

Dolls are for dress up and dainty play.

Applying sufficient velocity and force to a Barbie will make her an action figure. Making little beds for Batman to sleep in out of kleenex boxes (yes, that was me) makes him a doll.

Case closed!

[Brown Bear]

It's all attitude and physics.

Action figures are meant to be thrown across the yard and off of roofs.

Dolls are for dress up and dainty play.

Applying sufficient velocity and force to a Barbie will make her an action figure. Making little beds for Batman to sleep in out of kleenex boxes (yes, that was me) makes him a doll.

That's thee best explanation I've ever heard in my life.....LOL

[Brown Bear]

I alsways said female figures are dolls and male figures are action figs.....so I guess that means Zira is a doll and Ken is....(gulp)....an action figure

[megoscott]

It's all attitude and physics.

Action figures are meant to be thrown across the yard and off of roofs.

Dolls are for dress up and dainty play.

Applying sufficient velocity and force to a Barbie will make her an action figure. Making little beds for Batman to sleep in out of kleenex boxes (yes, that was me) makes him a doll.

[Adam West]

Main Entry: action figure
Part of Speech: n
Definition: a toy doll representing a person or fictional character known for heroic or superheroic feats

[JPkempo]

My RC Batman dated my sisters Barbie. So he was a bit shorter.

[z3zep]

Basically they all are Dolls, with Action Figure being a sub-category of dolls.

Because of the "norms" of the day, they had to come up with a new term so boys could play with dolls and not be labelled a "sissy". Again this is based on the timeframe of 60/70s.

btw -- my RC batman dated my Dawn doll.

[SUP-Ronin]

Action heros = action figures because the character is based around their actions, villianous or heroic..
Dolls just sit around having teaparties, and talking about their favorite action figures.

My megos would date dolls. That goes for the girl action figures too. WW, B-girl, Cat-Woman, etc.

[JPkempo]

So, if a Mego belongs to a girl, it's a doll, but if it belongs to a boy it's an action figure? Or were Megos just made for boys?

Boys where the target group. Thats why the female figures didn't sell as well.

[monkey tennis]

A Doll is a girls child like action figure...and Sindy...er...and Barbie and Bratz
Very confusing.

Ok so I guess I like Dolls then

[4NDR01D]

I think it depends on what you do with it, dolls are made for children to mimic parenting skills or everyday adult responsibilities (put the baby to bed, send Barbie to the mall in her corvette), where as action figures are made to re-enact action/adventure senario's (Green Goblin's kidnapped Mary-Jane, GI Joe is in battle) etc. Slapping an adventuer outfit on Barbie doesn't make her an action figure just as putting Joes in a doll house doesn't make them dolls. It's the original intent of the manufactures that determn it for me, Itsy Bitsy Baby= doll. Voltron=figure. and if it falls too deep into the void that seperates the two, such as Stretch Armstrong, then it's just a toy.

[thunderbolt]

Mrs. TBolt calls them dolls, Mego and my customs. Since the wife is always right, I guess that's what they are.