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Belgium, Brussels
1 Level
753 Review
33 Karma

Review on Optimized Black Superhero Ventriloquist Puppet and Puppet Theater Set by Michael Maes

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Well made and just a fun doll!

Growing up, I loved dolls. We had several hand puppets that my brothers and sisters and I used to perform puppet shows. When I saw the Revain listing for this brown skinned superhero doll by Silly Puppets, I fell in love with her. I took a chance and bought the girls and boys version so I can have one for my two kids. In my experience, many inexpensive hand puppets tend to have poorly articulated mouths. Either the mouths are poorly hinged and difficult to manipulate, or the handbags are poorly positioned to allow for convenient hand placement. These aren't exactly cheap dolls so I was expecting them to be of good quality but it was still a question. how good they will be in the end. I did a little research on the manufacturer of this puppet, Silly Puppets. This is an American company that makes their dolls in China, although their website states that they have high standards of quality control. They make puppets in a variety of styles including gloved puppets, full length (ventriloquist style) puppets and half body stage puppets with detachable legs. They also have a custom doll making service. The dummy shown here is a full-length ventriloquist dummy. When you order from Revain, the doll comes in a simple plastic bag with a silver-colored metal wand to control one of the hands. The pole has a fixed hook that wraps around the doll's arm, allowing you to perform hand movements by moving the pole. The doll also has detachable handcuffs, a cape and an eye mask. The clothes on the doll are not removable (including the skirt), but presumably you could change her clothes if you could find doll clothes of the right size. At first glance it was obvious that this is a well-made doll, with the intention that the doll can be used as a real doll and not an ordinary children's toy. The quality claims of the Silly Puppet website are supported by what I received. Not only is the puppet clearly well-made from durable fabrics, but there is a great deal of attention to detail in the design and manufacture, taking it far beyond the toy level of a puppet. . The seams in the fabric are positioned to minimize their appearance during execution, the mouth has an attractive design with classic tonsils and tongue, and the face is aesthetically positioned despite all the features. There is nothing uneven or poorly sewn on the doll. I like yarn hair with this superheroine. It's really nice to add those 5 pieces of colored yarn to add an accent to the hair and the stars on the eye mask for an extra touch. Plus she just has that friendly, fun look that you would expect from a doll of this style. She makes you want to hang out with her! In use, the arm slot on the back is wide enough to fit even large hands like mine, but narrow enough for kids to use without slipping off their hands. Pockets and mouth are absolutely present. The hand pockets are nice and snug without being uncomfortable, and the mouth articulates easily, making even the finer movements of speaking a breeze. Using the bar to move the arm is pretty good. The arms are padded but overall quite flexible. If I could make a suggestion it would be to paint the stem black so it would be less noticeable when used on stage. Conclusion: I really like this doll. She is well done, fun to work with and has a lot of character. My kids will both be getting one for Christmas and given my reaction to how cool they are I'm sure the reaction was worth it. I see puppet shows for children in my future!

Pros
  • One-year trial
Cons
  • Update availability