History Main / ActionFigureJustification

Dolls, be they dress-up fashion dolls or {{Creepy Doll}}s, are generally seen in fiction, and often [[TruthInTelevision in real life]], as being distinctly a toy for girls. There are multifold reasons for this, and it would require a lengthy treatise on the subject to explore it fully.

Suffice it to say, boys do not like to have their toys referred to as "dolls". They play with "action figures" (which, until the 2010s, were distinct by their usually smaller size and more points of articulation).

In the world of fiction, however, it's not young boys who will insist their coveted toys are referred to as "action figures", but grown men who are either nerds or {{Otaku}}s. They may also insist that they're not for playing with, but are, in fact, collectibles.

This may also be the reaction of a {{Tomboy}} who doesn't like to associate with girly things.

[[RealMenWearPink Men who aren't worried about how they're perceived by others]] may not make the same insistence.

* [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Biz,_Inc._v._United_States Toy Biz, Inc v. United States]] was initiated due to a difference in tariff rates for "dolls" vs. "toys". The law codified "dolls" as any toy that represented a human being. To keep prices low on their imports, Toy Biz, along with Marvel Comics, argued that characters like the ''ComicBook/XMen'' were not human, but humanoid. Indeed, they argued that [[{{Irony}} as mutants, the X-Men weren't human beings]], and other characters were aliens or robots. The courts agreed with this argument, thus nearly halving the tariff on imports of "action figures" that represented non-human characters. The distinction was short-lived, though, as the government merely rewrote the law to raise the tariff on "toys other than dolls" to be equal to the tariff on dolls.

* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': After an effort to order custom action figures of themselves delivers disappointing results, Raj and Howard buy a 3-D printer to custom make the toys themselves. Howard shows off the results to his wife, Bernadette, who is [[WomenAreWiser less than pleased that Howard dropped that kind of money without consulting her.]] She furiously asks him if he thinks $5000 for a couple of "dolls" was worth it. Howard wisely doesn't choose to correct her terminology, even though he'd been calling them "action figures" before, as Bernadette is quite frightening when enraged.

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'': She-Ra's toyline was a hybrid of action figures and more traditional dolls compared to the previous toyline ''[[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]''. Female characters such as She-Ra, Glimmer, and the like came with accessories such as weapons, but also famously had brushable hair. In comparison, female characters in the He-Man toyline were completely plastic molded (though the fact that the likes of [[ActionGirl Teela]] and [[DarkChick Evil-Lyn]] kept their hair up in sensible buns makes this a JustifiedTrope).

That's not to say there isn't overlap: Many retailers, like Amazon Japan, list Franchise/{{Transformers}} under both "figures" and "dolls". Some toys, like certain Franchise/GIJoe characters, are actually listed as "collector dolls" in addition to "figures" and "dolls" [[note]]For example, the exclusive G.I.Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes comes with additional accessories compared to the retail version[[/note]].

* ''Series/Supergirl2015'': In the episode "[[Recap/Supergirl2015S1E4HowDoesSheDoIt How Does She Do It?]]", Winn claims not to be very good with kids, but Kara points out that he has a lot of childish interests himself, like decorating his desk with toys. Winn protests that "They are not toys, they are ''adult collectibles''!" [[spoiler: Justified when it's later revealed his father was a villain called The Toyman, and Winn likely wanted to psychologically distance himself from any similarities to the man.]]

* In ''Film/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'', Greg Heffley's dad is a huge war buff, and he sets up elaborate Civil War dioramas with toy soldiers. So when he finds his figure of UsefulNotes/UlyssesSGrant on the thermostat, he ''flips out'' on Greg and Rodrick -- though not before reminding the boys that "these are ''not'' toys, they're figurines!"

* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': When Senor Senior, Senior shows Junior some mockups of potential doomsday devices so that he can select a birthday gift, Junior scoffs at him for playing with dolls. Then he sees that Senior planned on demonstrating them on one of his dolls, which he defends as different because it's an action figure (the "action" being hula dancing).

In the world of fiction, however, it's not young boys who will insist their coveted toys are referred to as "action figures", but grown men who are either {{Nerd}}s or {{Otaku}}s. They may also insist that they're not for playing with, but are, in fact, collectibles.

->'''Howard:''' It's a doll... It's just a stupid little plastic ''doll!''
->'''Myron:''' Nah-ah-ah, that's "action figure"!

The lines are further blurred with the collector's market for anime-based PVC figures, which were typically non-posable and molded entirely of poly-vinyl, and invert the number of female characters vs. male characters that is typical of action figures. These are neither traditional dolls nor action figures, but might be referred to as dolls by someone not familiar with the terminology used by collectors. In addition, there are several sub-categories that further muddy the waters. The term "figure" can be used to describe immobile PVC figures that have little to no articulation and would be closer to statues. However, it's also used to describe toys that are often highly articulated and come with accessories and/or effect parts that allow people to duplicate famous scenes, poses, or moves.[[note]]For example, the S.H.Figuarts line for ''[[Franchise/UltraSeries Ultraman]]'' often includes exchangeable Colour Timers and effect parts to represent the various beam attacks.[[/note]]

* A variant in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie'', when [[spoiler: the Man Upstairs]] tells his son not to touch his [[spoiler: model Lego city]], saying it's not a toy.

-->'''Sid:''' Figurines. ''Detailed'' figurines.
-->'''Galavant:''' Right, so, fancy dolls.
* ''Series/KungFu2021'': In "Reunion", Althea catches her husband indulging in his hobby of painting [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons]] mini figures, something he usually only does if he's prepping for a game [[CopeByCreating or if he's down about something]].
-->'''Althea:''' Ooh. Your orcs are looking good.
-->'''Dennis:''' Those are goblins.
-->'''Althea:''' Is there a difference?
-->'''Dennis:''' [[Creator/JRRTolkien Tolkien]] didn't really draw a huge distinction, but later fantasy--
-->'''Althea:''' Polite question. Real question: Why are you working on your dolls?
-->'''Dennis:''' Minis.
-->'''Althea:''' ''(indulging him)'' Minis. Minis.
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': Eliot refers to the fact that Hardison has a ''"[[Series/TheGreenHornet Green Hornet]]"'' doll.
-->'''Hardison:''' First of all, it's an action figure. And second of all, it's ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''. Educate yourself.

* Actually invoked by Creator/{{Mattel}} when they made the toys for the ''WesternAnimation/DCSuperheroGirls''. In the hopes of having a crossover audience, there were two toylines released simultaneously. There were a set of 11.5" Fashion Dolls, with combable hair and cloth outfits, and then a set of 6" Action Figures of molded plastic. The series was retooled in 2019, and the smaller action figures were dropped in favor of heavily stylized and redesigned fashion dolls.

* ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'': One strip had the heroes discover a group of dwarves who were making ''Film/DungeonsAndDragons'' tie-in merchandise. Nodwick made the mistake of [[BerserkButton calling them dolls]]. The dwarves promptly shouted that they were ACTION FIGURES so hard that he was knocked off his feet.

* ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperheroes'' has a moment were Kell-El has to bond with a young boy and taunts the kid over his 'dolls', he comes around at the end of the episode, correcting Phantom Girl when she refers to them in a similar manner.

* In the docuseries ''Series/MenudoForeverYoung'', former Menudo member Johnny Lozada pulls out the two dolls issued in his likeness. Or, as he clarifies (complete with GratuitousEnglish for emphasis), despite the copy on the boxes:
-->"No son ''dolls'', son ''action figures''!"

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': After Jake has a mild heart attack, his mother comes to visit, and discuss his abusive late father. Jake talks about a toy he wanted (an {{Expy}} of the original G.I. Joe) but his father wouldn't have his son play with dolls. His mother says she wanted him to have that doll, to which Jake angrily replies, "It was an action figure, Damnit!"

->'''Myron:''' Nah-ah-ah, that's 'action figure'!

->'''Howard:''' "It's a doll... It's just a stupid little plastic ''doll!''"
->'''Myron:''' "Nah-ah-ah, that's 'action figure'!"

* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': Eliot refers to the fact that Hardison has a ''"[[Series/TheGreenHornet Green Hornet]]"'' doll.
-->'''Hardison:''' First of all, it's an action figure. And second of all, it's ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''. Educate yourself.

The lines are further blurred with the collector's market for anime-based PVC figures, which were typically non-posable and molded entirely of poly-vinyl, and invert the number of female characters vs. male characters that is typical of action figures. These are neither traditional dolls nor action figures, but might be referred to as dolls by someone not familiar with the terminology used by collectors. In addition, there are several sub-categories that further muddy the waters. The term "figure" can be used to describe immobile PVC figures that have little to no articulation and would be closer to statues. However, it's also used to describe toys that are often highly articulated and come with accessories and/or effect parts that allow people to duplicate famous scenes, poses, or moves.[[note]]For example, the S.H.Figuarts line for ''Franchise/{{Ultraman}}'' often includes exchangeable Colour Timers and effect parts to represent the various beam attacks.[[/note]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/barbie_and_gi_joe.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Barbie and G.I.Joe. She got the beach house and Corvette. He's got Kung Fu Grip.]]

->'''Howard:''' "It's a doll... It's just a stupid ''doll!''"

The term "doll" (or sometimes "fashion doll") is used for toys that include things like exchangeable clothes, brushable hair, and various accessories. Examples of this would include ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'', ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'', and ''Licca-chan'', as well as more high-end offerings like the custom-built VOLKS dolls.

The lines are further blurred with the collector's market for anime-based PVC figures, which were typically non-posable and molded entirely of poly-vinyl, and invert the number of female characters vs. male characters that is typical of action figures. These are neither traditional dolls nor action figures, but might be referred to as dolls by someone not familiar with the terminology used by collectors. In addition, there are several sub-categories that further muddy the waters. The term "figure" can be used to describe immobile PVC figures that have little to no articulation and would be closer to statues. However, it's also used to describe toys that are often highly articulated and come with accessories and/or effect parts that allow people to duplicate famous scenes, poses or moves.[[note]]For example, the S.H.Figuarts line for ''Franchise/{{Ultraman}}'' often includes exchangeable Colour Timers and effect parts to represent the various beam attacks.[[/note]]

The term "doll" (or sometimes "fashion doll") is used for toys that include things like exchangeable clothes, brushable hair and various accessories. Example of this would include ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'', ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'', and ''Licca-chan'', as well as more high-end offerings like the custom-built VOLKS dolls.

That's not to say there isn't overlap: Many retailers, like Amazon Japan, list Franchise/{{Transformers}} under both "figures" and "dolls". Some toys, like certain Franchise/GIJoe characters, are actually listed as "collector dolls" in addition to "figures" and "dolls" [[note]]For example, the exclusive G.I.Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes that comes with additional accessories compared to the retail version[[/note]].

'''Father:''' We did, but they way I'm using it makes it an adult thing.\\

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': In "Soul Train" Carlton is trying to practice to audition to be on the show, but Will wants him to stay away, because he's hoping to land the hosting job, and is afraid Carlton will embarrass him.

--> '''Dennis:''' Those are goblins.

--> '''Dennis:''' [[Creator/JRRTolkien Tolkien]] didn't really draw a huge distinction, but later fantasy--
--> '''Althea:''' Polite question. Real question: Why are you working on your dolls?
--> '''Dennis:''' Minis.
--> '''Althea:''' ''(indulging him)'' Minis. Minis.