Unlike those silly two-wheeled “hoverboards” that technically don’t hover, Barbie’s new whip can actually fly. During the 2016 International Toy Fair in New York, Mattel showed off the Barbie Starlight Adventure RC Hoverboard RC, which comes with a lightweight foam version of the doll. The doll, dressed in an 80’s-inspired silver vest, skirt, and leggings, comes on top of the drone and can be controlled using a matching pink and blue controller. Mattel designed Barbie’s lightweight drone to accommodate the additional weight on top and made it easy to use for children ages 8 and up.
The latest accessory comes shortly after the brand’s attempt in modernizing the iconic doll. Last month, Mattel, the company that birthed Barbie, unveiled a new line of dolls that better depict the woman of today. Barbie’s new generation of dolls will come in three different body types, seven skin tones, and 24 different hair styles. Mattel’s Barbie makeover was reportedly created to appeal to “millennial moms,” as the company likes to call them. “We were seeing that Millennials are driven by social justice and attracted to brands with purpose and values, and they didn’t see Barbie in this category,” says Mattel’s Director of Global Brand Insights Tania Missad.
“Right now when you say ‘Barbie’ to someone, a very clear image of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, slim doll comes to mind,” Kim Clumone, Barbie’s VP of Design, told the Telegraph. “In a few years, this will no longer be the case. We’re exploding a system of that’s been in place for 56 years and a heritage that’s been passed down from generation to generation.”
Barbie’s flying hover board will go on sale during the fall for $60.
