Mattel is a American-based multinational toy manufacturing company founded in 1945 by Harold "Matt" Matson and Elliot Handler (hence the name) with headquarters in El Segundo, California. The company is most famous for the Barbie brand of fashion dolls and is the world's fourth largest toy maker in terms of revenue, after The Lego Group, Bandai-Namco, and Hasbro.
Mattel is the current owner and distributor of all American Girl products.
Mattel and American Girl[]
Mattel purchased the brand--then Pleasant Company--in 1998 from its creator Pleasant Rowland; they fully took over distribution, product design, and releases by 2000. More information on their relationship to American Girl can be found on the main American Girl article.
Barbie and American Girl[]
In 2023, Mattel released the Classic Barbie Collector Doll, designed to resemble the classic 1959 Barbie. In 2024, they released the Barbie Day-To-Night Fashion Pack, based on the 1985 Day-to-Night Barbie. In 2025, they released the Peaches 'n Cream Barbie Collector Doll, based on the 1985 Peaches 'n Cream Barbie.
Mattel-Only American Girl Dolls[]
The following dolls can never be found or purchased as Pre-Mattel as they all debuted after 2000:
Historical/BeForever Characters and Best Friend Characters[]
- Kit Kittredge[1]
- Kaya'aton'my[1]
- Nellie O'Malley
- Elizabeth Cole
- Emily Bennett
- Julie Albright
- Ivy Ling
- Ruthie Smithens
- Rebecca Rubin
- Cécile Rey
- Marie-Grace Gardner
- Caroline Abbott
- Maryellen Larkin
- Melody Ellison
- Nanea Mitchell
- Courtney Moore
- Claudie Wells
- Nicki Hoffman and Isabel Hoffman
Just Like You, My American Girl, and Truly Me[]
No doll numbered after Just Like You 21 (inclusive) can be Pre-Mattel.
Other Lines[]
These lines were not created prior to Mattel's purchase:
- Girls of the Year
- Bitty Twins
- American Girl Minis
- Girls of Many Lands
- Hopscotch Hill School
- WellieWishers
- Contemporary Characters
- Create Your Own
- MegaConstrux sets
- World by Us
- American Girl Collector Series Dolls
- AG Sisters
Website[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 While Kit and Kaya dolls are often found with the Pleasant Company logo on the backs of doll heads, this is due to when the head molds were designed (especially with Kit who has the Classic Mold); as both characters were released after 2000, they should not be considered as Pre-Mattel dolls.