Many toys shaped Gen Z childhoods, but I bet few kids related to any doll as much as Monster High Dolls. Each toy paralleled a famous horror figure; werewolves, vampires, zombies, lake monsters, and more. With an accompanying cartoon and movie series, Monster High Dolls sparked a new generation of horror lovers and mystery fans.

    Monster High dolls were intended to teach acceptance of those who were “different.” Every monster was unique and a little stranger than the last; but they showed kids how to kind to people that may be considered “weird.” The interesting dolls improved tolerance towards others and compassion in kids by teaching them that different means interesting.

    The dolls were met with some criticism from parents though. Many more conservative adults were worried about the themes of death and fear, even though the delicate themes were handled lightly and never pressed. The dolls were never actually meant to be scary and only had cartoonish aspects of horror characters, so very little came of these protests. But it is ironic to see that the same kids raised on these toys became the generation to popularize true crime and unsolved mystery podcasts and shows.   

     Most Monster High dolls remain at the same value they did when they were originally sold, between $30 and $50. However a few rarer items have increased in value over time. Mint condition dolls from the original release go for upwards of $700, special edition dolls anywhere from $100 to $1000. Unlike many older toys, Monster High dolls have not acquired any kind of collectors market or interest groups; so if you’re looking to buy one, it won’t be very competitive.

    The “scary cool” dolls first released in 2010 grew a sort of legacy; the cartoon had been released earlier in the year, the first movie in 2011, and briefly trended on Tik Tok in 2020. Monster High dolls taught kids compassion and understanding, but also played a role in the popularization of relaxed or comedic horror. Monster High dolls may not have sold as much as Barbie or been as popular, but they were fun; and that’s all a toy has to be.