Is There a Difference Between Action Figures and Dolls?

Are action figures dolls? Are dolls action figures? Is there really a difference between the two? Most people would probably tell you that there is a difference between; however, it’s unlikely they would be able to tell you what the difference is. The truth is that the line between action figure and doll is pretty blurry and sometimes is based more in stereotypes and marketing than in the physical characteristics of the toys in question.

A Brief History

To understand the perceived differences between dolls and action figures, it is important to first understand their individual origins.

Dolls

Action figures are relatively new when compared to dolls. Dolls have been around for a very long time, dating back to 2000 BC. There is evidence of dolls being used in ancient Egypt, Japan, Greece, and Rome among other countries.

Dolls are obviously one of the most ancient toys for children. Some ancient dolls were treated similarly to how Barbie dolls are treated today—being dressed up in a manner that mimicked the fashion of the time.

Dolls were used for much more than just to entertain children, though. Dolls were also used in rituals and for other religious purposes. Certain dolls were kept out of the hands of children due to their perceived connection to magic.

Ancient dolls were made from a variety of different materials such as wood, paper, bones, clay, leather, etc.

Today, when we hear the word “doll”, most of us probably think of Barbie dolls, which were introduced to the market in 1959. Barbie dolls are technically part of a subcategory of dolls called Fashion Dolls, which date back to the 1800s. “Fashion Dolls” have been a popular toy for girls for over one hundred years, with most fashion dolls being representations of teenage or young adult women.

Another doll subcategory that is popular and predominantly marketed to young girls is baby dolls. The first dolls resembling infants were made in the mid-1800s during The Great Exhibition in London.

It should be noted that although dolls have usually been classified as miniature figures made in the shape of a person, figures in the shape of animals are also sometimes classified as dolls. Anthropomorphic figures can also be considered dolls.

Action Figures

Where dolls have a rich history that dates back centuries, action figures are a much more recent phenomenon. The very first action figure was launched in 1946 and was called G.I. Joe. The product was referred to as an action figure in order to attract young boys who wouldn’t be interested in toys for girls (e.g., dolls).

Manufacturers defined action figures as posable figurine toys that represented fictional characters from action/adventure stories: G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Transformers, He-Man, etc. Young boys were the primary audience for these kinds of shows when action figures were introduced to the market.

The Importance of Articulation

One of the most important aspects of an action figure is its ability to be posed. This is what separates an action figure from a statue or figurine. Typically, for a figure to be considered an action figure, at least four to five points of articulation are needed. Like with any rule, there are exceptions; however, articulation is probably the most defining feature of an action figure—beyond what character the figure represents, how it is marketed, and what accessories it has. Articulation is crucial. It is what allows the action figure to “perform” actions. For this reason, things like Funko Pops and Anime figurines are not action figures.

Contrast this with regular dolls. A doll can have little to no articulation and that doesn’t change the fact that its still a doll. For action figures, articulation is so key to what makes them what they are that if a figure were to have no articulation, you probably could not call it an action figure no matter what character it represented or how it was marketed.

Gender Norms in Regards to Dolls and Action Figures?

With a topic like this, its important to talk about the fact that historically action figures have been marketed toward boys and most dolls have been marketed toward girls. For this reason, many people make the assumption that any posable figure marketed toward girls cannot be considered an action figure.

So, are dolls not considered to be action figures simply because action figures tend to be marketed toward boys and dolls tend to be marketed toward girls? In some instances, you could say that this is the case. If we’re talking about posable figures from an action-oriented franchise marketed toward girls (something like Frozen), then it would be wrong to say those toys aren’t action figures. That being the said, things like Barbie dolls and Bratz are not action figures. In the next section, we’ll dive into why they are not.

Are Action Figures Dolls? Are Dolls Action Figures?

Even hardcore action figures enthusiasts would likely not object to the statement: All action figures are dolls, but not all dolls are action figures.

When we talk about things like Funko Pops, Anime figurines, Beanie Babies, and most LEGO sets, its pretty easy to see why we wouldn’t call those action figures. They don’t have articulation/enough articulation to be considered action figures. With things like Barbie dolls, Bratz, and baby dolls, it’s a little different. Many of these toys do have articulation and can be used to simulate actions. The next logical question is: what actions are they intended to simulate?

The “Action” in Action Figure

When we think about action figures, many times we think of figures that represent characters that perform superhuman feats—characters like Ironman, Spiderman, Wolverine, Master Chief, Goku and so on. Even characters that don’t possess any superhuman abilities are often put in completely fantastical situations. Another key factor here is that the conflict in the stories these characters come from is often resolved through violence of some sort, or, at very least, the character’s ability to physically overcome obstacles. So, when we think about action figures in the traditional sense, we usually think of characters who deal with problems that must be overcome through some combination of physical capabilities and will-power.

Contrast this with Barbie dolls. The types of activities Barbie dolls are usually portrayed to be engaged in are much more mundane. Even if they are portrayed in more fantasy type settings, the types of actions they are doing probably aren’t warranting of the “action figure” label.

Here lies the greatest distinction between action figures and other dolls. Its not articulation or who the toy is marketed toward or even the character that the figure is made to represent. What separates action figures from other dolls is the manner in which the character the action figure represents solves problems and the situations they are confronted with. This may seem like reading into things a little too much; however, there are plenty of figures we can think of that don’t fit the “action figure” label—figures that have multiple points of articulation and can simulate action that no one would ever call action figures.

Does Terminology Really Matter?

To some degree, this is just a nerdy article that is giving this topic more thought than anyone else ever will. To most children and adults alike, it doesn’t matter what label is put on your favorite collectable or what the “intended usage” of the item is. Most action figure collectors don’t play with their toys, they display them. Some don’t even open them. When it comes to children, many young girls are probably sending their Barbie dolls on fantastical adventures where Barbie slays the dragon, and it doesn’t matter whether the thing is labeled a doll or an action figure.

Still, labels are important for categorization purposes, and categorization is critical for basic communication. We can generically just call all LEGOs, action figures, bobble heads, and figurines toys, but communication requires more specificity. So, even though the discussion about whether or not all dolls are action figures may seem purely academic, there is a degree of importance to making these distinctions.