This is about the sassiest video cam ever. The Barbie Video Girl doll is all decked out in a hot pink hoodie with zebra lining, cropped tight jeans and hot pink shoes. But what is that in the middle of her necklace? Well, it’s the lens to an actual video camera, would you believe?
If you know a little girl, say 5-10 or so years old, who loves her Barbie dolls and has a lively imagination, this may just be the perfect thing to introduce her to the joy of cinematography. You may be incubating the next Christine Choy, Ellen Kuras, Nancy Schreiber, or Claudia Raschke. Or maybe she will use her new video cam to record the plays she has created. Or maybe she will want to record a day in the life of her Barbie with friends or at the beach or… Whichever way she leans, this Barbie Video Girl doll is an extremely easy and fun way to get into the video game.
The Basics:
This is a real Barbie doll, all of 12 inches tall, dressed casually but stylishly with a working video camera embedded. The lens “sees” from her necklace in front and the LED screen for framing the videos and viewing the ones taken, along with the simple controls, are in her back. Just lift up her hood and there it is. She also comes with a hot pink USB plug-in cord so the videos can be loaded into a computer for better viewing and editing. Free editing software is available on the website for cropping, special effects, and sounds. It’s PC only but Apple folks have their own editing software.
You will need at least 2 AAA batteries to start.
What’s to Like?
The whole idea: This is a cute doll that has a beginner-level super easy-to-use video cam built in so young girls can get a real taste of making videos from Barbie’s point of view.
Ease of use: Look into the video screen in Barbie’s back, push the little button with a picture of a camera on it to start recording. Push it again to stop. Push the arrow button to play back the recording. Push the button with a trash can on it to trash the video if it’s not up to snuff. Attach Barbie to a computer with the USB cord and grab the video you made to watch again or edit it. It’s that simple.
Free editing software: You can express your inner Barbie through your movies when you use the variety of special effects, music, and transitions that are provided. Or you can just hit a button and the video will be generated by inserting the various effects randomly. Mom and/or Dad will need to install the software and may want to offer a little guidance, but the use of it is well-explained.
Choice of dolls: Barbie Video Girl comes in three varieties. The standard version has long blond hair. But there are also brunette and African-American versions that your little girl may like better. The doll is bendable so you can have her arms and hands in or out of the shot. She bends at the knees so she can kneel while filming so you don’t have to hold her up and, also, you can get a different perspective.
What’s Not to Like?
The camera: This is a very simple camera. There is no flash so indoor shots will need to be very brightly lit for best results. Outdoor sunlit shots are fine. The video is recorded in 320 x 240 resolution at 15 fps. This will not do for tracking fast-moving things.
The memory card: Memory is 256 Mb, which will hold 25-30 minutes of video. There is no expansion slot so you will need to download videos to your computer often if you use your Barbie Cam a lot.
Bottom Line:
This is a wonderful way to introduce young people to the fun of making their own little movies. The price, somewhere between $46 and $51 list, includes a real Barbie and a working video cam. Yes, you could buy a very nice Flip or Kodak video cam for around $200, but is that really a beginner’s toy? This is for exploration – for trying something new, something that your talented youngster may or may not want to take to a higher (and more expensive) level.
Lights! Barbie on! Action!!
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