How To Spot Fake Disney's Frozen Merchandise

[mimitchi33]

NOTE: This article was written for desperate parents and collectors who want the merchandise, as well as for groups like Unfrozen Trading Friends. I do not own any of the merchandise, I am using pictures of it for reference to help readers get an idea of bootleg merchandise.
Remember the Cabbage Patch Kids craze of 1983, the Tickle Me Elmo craze of 1996 or the Zhu Zhu Pets craze of 2009? That's what's going on with the merchandise of Disney's Frozen. And as with any popular item, there are bound to be bootlegs. Unfortunately, not only are these items unofficial, but they might have horrible chemicals in them, have lead paint painted onto them, or if it's a plush toy, may be stuffed with dangerous materials. This guide will show you some examples of bootlegs of merchandise from this movie, and will give you tips on how to avoid bootlegs.

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  Here is a cute set featuring dolls of of Anna and Elsa, but one close look and you can see that something's wrong with the box-there's no sign of the Disney, Mattel or Jakks Pacific logos on the box, or the 3+ label on the packaging. It does have a choking hazard label though, but that doesn't mean these dolls are safe.
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  This pencil case would be great to take with you to school, but the colors on the box seem washed out. Plus, it's the type of pencil case used in Asia, not America.
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  Here's a set of miniature figurines based on the movie. The Sven figurine doesn't look anything like him-he looks more like Bullwinkle. Also, Elsa has brown hair.
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  Another variant of the two-doll pack. Not only are the Frozen, Mattel, Jakks Pacific and Disney logos missing, but the eyes aren't painted that well, and Anna's hair is the wrong shade of brown.
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  Rubber keyrings depicting characters from cartoons are very popular, and Frozen is no exception. Although they may be adorable, they are not authentic. And it's very obvious for the second keychain set-Anna and Elsa are drawn like anime characters.
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  Here's a variation of the figurine pack featuring different figurines. The eyes on the humans don't look the way they do in the film, and the colors are darker than the authentic figurines.
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  Olaf plush toys are common bootlegs. Here are two examples-the last one looks more fit with The Muppets than with the authentic Frozen toys.
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  This last bootleg is of another set of Anna and Elsa dolls. Anna does not have her cape, plus her hair is the wrong shade of brown. Also, these don't have any packaging.

Here are a few tips to avoid Frozen bootlegs:

1. Genuine manufacturers of Frozen merchandise include Mattel, Jakks Pacific, Just Play, CDi and Takara Tomy. The packaging of an item should also contain the Disney logo and the recommended age on the front. (except Japanese items, as they have those on the back). If the toy doesn't have any of these logos on it, chances are it's a bootleg.
2. If any nonsense English is on the packaging such as "The best welcome gifts for the children" or "Funny toy", it's a bootleg.
3. Figurines should have accurate colors and painting. If the colors and painting are off, it may be a fake.
4. If a toy plays music, it should play a song from Frozen. If it plays a different, non-Frozen song, it's a fake.
5. Avoid anything from China-as mentioned above, these are often dangerous items, containing lead paint and/or chemicals, or being stuffed with unknown and potentially dangerous things if it's a plush toy.
6. Custom items with an image on it from China also are fake, and usually aren't of the best quality.
7. Always buy your toys from a reputable retailer-Target, Toys R Us, WalMart, Amazon, Meijer, Costco, Disney Store, JCPenney etc. Do not buy anything from one that isn't, like a mall's toy stand or Chinese sellers.
8. If you're looking for a costume, choose one made by a non-Chinese seller.

I hope this guide helps Frozen fans and parents looking for the merchandise.