Doll Review: Great Scarrier Reef Draculaura

Hi everyone!  I hope the start of the new year has treated you all well.  

It feels like ages since I last posted a doll review, but I have one ready to share with you today.  

Today's review is on one of the new dolls from a Monster High release called The Great Scarrier Reef Glowsome Ghoulfish.  These dolls are the second wave of gals following in the footsteps of previous characters from this line (Great Scarier Reef Ghouls Down Under) Posea Reef, Peri and Pearl Serpintine, and Kala Mer'ri Doll as well as the first wave of Glowsome Ghoulfish, Frankie , Lagoona Blue and Toralei Doll.  

To be honest, I was shocked when I saw this Draculaura in Walmart this weekend as I didn't even realize she was available yet.  They also had Clawdeen (the wolf fish) as well so I grabbed them both!

Normally I wait until the line has been out for a little while and go on sale, but I couldn't resist.  I had a gift card.  You know how that goes. :)

For your viewing pleasure, I also created a YT video review ;) 

Draculaura and Clawdeen are simpler dolls and do not come with a brush or stand. 

The packaging on these ghouls is different from any other I've seen.  They are very colorful with large artwork on both the front and the back. 

The Great Scarrier Reef movie should be coming out some time this year and I'm really looking forward to it.  I wasn't totally impressed with Boo York, but I really enjoyed 13 Wishes as well as Haunted and this one centers underwater (with mermaid ghouls) and that is completely up my alley. :) 

As for the movie, apparently the ghouls somehow end of getting caught in a whirl pool and are transported to Lagoona's home in the Great Scarrier Reef.  They also undergo oceanic transformations and our friend Draculaura here is turned into this adorable little vampire squid. 

Real vampire squids look nothing like this. 

What I love right away is that she can stand up on her own, and she's streamlined and not too bulky or "loud" as I find some of the other characters in this line to be. 

She comes in one simple article of clothing which is this triangle cut sleeveless tube top, which is held up by two clear straps and a strip of Velcro along the back.  Her color scheme stays within pink, yellow and black.  Hello neon!
Actually this is really clever as it goes along with the bioluminescence idea.

She comes with removable glow-in-the dark bat wings, which can also pivot to extend or fold down along her back. They are attached to two ball prongs that stick out of her back.

Nice details! 

As for accessories, you know she wouldn't be Draculaura without some so she comes with a neon yellow tentacle-ish necklace and matching bracelet. 

Her upper body has the same articulation as a regular Monster High doll (neck, shoulders, elbows and wrists) and her lower body can pivot here at the waist and top of the tentacles. 

The top of the tentacles can rotate in a circular motion as well as back and forth. 

The daughter of Ursula? 

Each individual tentacle can pivot on it's own and each tentacle has a different shape. 

Oh bats, where did I put my lipstick? 

This is about how far she can bend. 

Her hair is very soft and wavy.  I didn't feel any gel product anywhere else but her bangs.
It feels very nice to comb through and is primarily a very hot, neon pink.  It's pulled up into a half ponytail with streaks of black and yellow.

Her face is very beautifully painted (might be loud for some though!) and she still has her usual violet eyes with pink highlights.  She has neon yellow shadow across the lids and bright, shimmery hot pink paint meant to resemble squid tentacles (with little yellow suction cups) along the top and bottom.

Her lips are beautifully painted in a rosy pink shade.  Her fangs are a little uneven, but easily fixed if desired.
They even managed to squeeze in the little signature heart on her left cheek.

I love her. 

Glowsome Ghoulfish with Signature Draculaura

Overall I am so happy with this doll!  I love Draculaura and all of the main 6 characters and I am really excited to see such a unique version of her.  I have tried to become more selective in my MH collecting and really pick ones that I truly love or ones that have very unique characteristics.
This one fits the bill perfectly and I'm excited to also share Clawdeen with you all when I can get that post ready.

What do you guys think of her?  Too loud and neon?  Love her?  Do you guys have any of the Scarrier Reef line or plan to get any?

Thank you, as always for stopping by and see you soon.  Happy doll collection to you all! :)
Farrah xoxo

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.  : ) 

Cleo and Draculaura-Monster High Frights, Camera, Action

This post has been sitting in my drafts for a little while, but I thought it was high time to get it posted! 

Snow photos and all. 

It wasn't my initial intention to review so many Monster High dolls in a row, but I've collected quite a few since the summer, they have been really fun to collect, and I enjoy photographing them quite a bit.  They have been easier to stuff inside my coat during my winter walks. ;) 

These two dolls are from the Monster High Frights, Camera, Action movie.  

They are both "budget dolls" and I purchased them each for about $11.99 on Amazon. 

Black Carpet Draculaura

The cheaper "Black Carpet" line features Clawdeen, Cleo, Lagoona and Draculaura.
I ended up getting all 4 of these ghouls and they were actually my first versions of each character!

Draculaura's outfit is a simple black and pink dress with a pink belt and pink (fabulous!) shoes.
The dress is really cute, and is designed with pink long-eared bats whose wings resemble spider-webs.

Her jewelry includes long black earrings and a simple black necklace (sorry I didn't get a better photo of that.)
Her hair is mostly black w/ a few pink highlights and is pulled up into a high side ponytail with side-swept fringe.
Her make-up is surprisingly pretty natural looking for a "black carpet" event.  I don't mind how they paint her fangs, but it sort of looks like she has a mouthful of milk and it's dribbling out the sides.

Here's a closer look at her shoes.  I love the little lips!  Monster High shoes really have amazing details on such a small scale.

Her belt has so many little details as well.  It's decorated with little beads, jewels, chains and charms.  There's a tiny skullette charm, lip charm and bow charm.  The bows are made to look like bat wings. :)

Her purse is very Rocky Horror.  :)   I am just now noticing the tiny bow on the top! :) 

Here's one more look at the back of her dress so you can see a bit more of the details.  The hem is cut like the shape of a bat wing which is very clever.
She is totes adorbs!  ;) 

And now onto Cleo. 

Black Carpet Cleo De Nile (you are beguile, even though you act so vile) :)

Such a beauty! 

Cleo has sort of a 1920s vibe going on with her outfit and style.   She is dressed in gold, green and black and I absolutely love her dress.  I think she is my favorite Cleo so far, but I am really looking forward to getting the Boo York 2-pack with her and Deuce.

Her make-up, like Draculaura's is kept simple and clean.  Her red lips are the perfect balance to her strong, but not over-done eye paint.  It's hard to tell by the photos, but her lids are a fusia/pink color and her upper and lower lids are yellow.
Her brows are defined and sharp, but I like that they colored them a medium brown instead of black, which gives her a softer look.  Of course, she has her signature jewel placed over her right cheekbone.

Her head piece is really nice as well.  I kept it "stapled" to her head for now just so it would stay nicely on her head, but I've since removed it so I can brush her hair better.  I think that squigglely thing is supposed to be a coiled snake on the side slithering up the head piece.

Her hair is really thick and soft.  This is one of the few Cleos that doesn't have any tinsel, which in my opinion is good because I feel like the tinsel can be difficult to keep looking neat. Initially there was a bit of gel in her bangs, but it was pretty easy to comb out.

It may be a little hard to tell, but one of the features I find really enduring on Cleo's face mold is the tiny dimple she has on her left cheek.  Since this is my first and only Cleo, I am curious to know if this is the same on all of the releases.

Sweet kicks. 

Golden accessories. 

Cleo is like the "Angelina Jolie" of Monster High dolls. (Not personality, just looks!)   Her features remind me a lot of her -the cat eyes, great cheekbones and full pouty lips.  I think Cleo dolls have a tendency to be a bit wonky-eyed as you can see above, so I would recommend always trying to buy your Cleo dolls in person to get the best one on the shelf.

Glittery Golden Girls. :) 

Not loving the snow so much. 

Eekkkk!  

"Oh, it's not that bad, Draculaura...the snow makes me look so beautiful, doesn't it?"

"Get me out of here."

Overall, I am happy about the quality and price of these dolls and am really happy they made their way into my Monster High collection.  They still retain the awesome detail as the regular full price dolls that come with the stand.  I like both of their styles.  I think their faces are cute.  I love their dresses!  I will probably add more Cleos and Draculaura's to my stash soon enough, but I will always think of these two as my first versions of both and they will always have that significance in my collection. :)

I took these photos in February.  

It was 70 degrees today. :)  

For anyone missing the snow (ha!) I hope you've enjoyed these photos.  

See you soon! 

xo