Barbie movie_ Jian Yang, from Singapore, on why he owns over 12,000 of the traditional dolls

ZeroToHero | Posted on July 22, 2023 |

A toy fanatic who owns 1000’s of Barbies has revealed the place his obsession began and why he nonetheless likes to play along with his dolls even in his early forties.

Jian Yang, from Singapore, stopped counting what number of Barbie dolls he owned at 12,000 in 2019 and has a formidable assortment of 500 Transformers and an array of toys from the 80s and 90s.

Nonetheless, regardless of the ever-growing variety of Barbies and dolls that line dozens of cabinets in his dwelling, Jian, a toy photographer, does not wish to check with himself as a collector.

‘I do not assume I’ve ever turn into a ‘collector’. I feel I used to be simply at all times a boy who performed with toys. This boy is now simply 43,’ he instructed FEMAIL.

‘Collector implies that you just place a financial worth in your stuff. However when you get pleasure from taking part in with Barbie, you’ll lose footwear. You’ll break fingers, minimize hair, repaint faces, minimize attire. And that might damage their ‘worth’. I do all these issues and extra.’

Jian Yang owns greater than 12,000 Barbies and tons of of different toys which he performs with usually together with 500 Transformers and an array of toys from the 80s and 90s

Nonetheless, regardless of the ever-growing variety of Barbies and dolls that line dozens of cabinets in his dwelling, Jian, a toy photographer, does not wish to check with himself as a collector

Jian doesn’t have a favorite doll and isn’t treasured about their situation as he likes to ‘play’ his Barbies ‘like a toddler’ reasonably than have them acquire mud whereas on show.

‘After I take pictures of dolls; after I solid which doll comes with me to my fabulous pretentious (generally faux) life – like going to balls, going rollerblading, occurring holidays – that is play to me,’ he stated.

‘I carry them out and take Instagram pictures with them. I chuck them into waterfalls, and so they go into the pool with me.’

‘That is how I derive worth as a result of to me when you do not play with a toy, it is nugatory.’

Jian does have some invaluable Barbies in his repertoire together with his Karl Lagerfeld, MET Gala Moschino dolls and classic fashions in addition to movie star figures of stars like Beyonce, Marilyn Munroe and Elvis Presley.

Lots of the doll outfits, Barbie film lead star Margo Robbie modelled her seems to be off on the latest press tour, Jian has in his possession.

Jian doesn’t have a favorite doll and isn’t treasured about their situation as he likes to ‘play’ his Barbies ‘like a toddler’ reasonably than have them acquire mud whereas on show

Jian held onto lots of his outdated toys and grew his assortment through the years however has no drawback giving some to good friend’s children who might take a shining to a specific toy or donating to charity

He stated he doesn’t intend to promote any of his dolls so is not involved about their financial worth and could not guess how a lot his assortment is price.

The enterprise proprietor additionally makes his personal doll yearly since 2000 by portray his options onto a Ken doll which has its personal Instagram account Simply Like Jian.

‘Now I am simply grateful they put Ken on a ‘broad’ physique to match my period…ballooning forties physique,’ he joked.

Jian’s love for toys and all issues Barbie began at an early age when he was only a pre-schooler within the early 80s.

‘I had a ton of boy’s toys, He-Man, Transformers, Star Wars, GI Joe, Motion Man, and in the future, my sister’s Barbie made it into my playpen’ he recalled.

‘No four-year-old boy would discern between a ‘boy’s toy’ and a ‘woman’s toy’, so I simply performed with the doll like I performed with the remainder of my toys.’

Jian does have some invaluable Barbies in his repertoire together with his Karl Lagerfeld and classic fashions in addition to movie star figures of stars like Beyonce, Marilyn Munroe and Elvis Presley

Lots of the dolls, Barbie film lead star Margo Robbie modelled her outfits off on the latest press tour, Jian has in his possession

Jian made his first Barbie experience in tanks, fly to area and personal a set of Lego furnishings.

As he obtained older he ‘outgrew’ lots of his different toys, however his love for Barbie remained.

‘I feel I’ve at all times been drawn to a world of perfection. Unrealistic, pointless perfection. I like that about Barbie. It is not a social assertion – it is only a private desire,’ he stated.

‘I like that generally my briefcase over-matches with my footwear. It is a Barbie aesthetic which I discover hilarious, and critical suddenly.’

Jian held onto lots of his childhood toys and grew his assortment through the years by purchasing at toy shops in addition to Amazon.

‘However I wouldn’t have an eBay account. I name that self-discipline,’ he joked.

Whereas he’s nonetheless bringing extra dolls in, he has no drawback giving some to good friend’s children who might take a shining to a specific toy in addition to donating items to charity.

Forward of the Barbie film premiere, he splashed SGD$1,800 or nearly AUD$2,000 on the movie’s merchandise.

‘We had a man assist us trolley it to the automotive,’ he stated.

‘This might sound prefer it’s exhibiting off, however it’s not. Singapore is a really costly nation, and our film dolls have been ridiculously priced.’

Jian doesn’t know what number of toys he owns having stopped counting at round 12,000 Barbies alone 4 years in the past.

‘In some unspecified time in the future, it did not matter anymore,’ he stated.

He additionally owns rubber duckies, his outdated eighties toys, a ‘bunch’ of footwear and round 500 Transformer collectible figurines however maintains they aren’t a part of a set.

‘I’ve by no means stated ‘assortment’ as a result of it implies that you just put worth onto it,’ he stated.

The enterprise proprietor additionally makes his personal doll yearly since 2000 by portray his options onto a Ken doll which has its personal Instagram account Simply Like Jian

‘After I can actually let you know that they are all simply stuff I purchased whereas purchasing in the future. By no means with a objective to show it into a set.’

Toys aren’t only a pastime for Jian, he runs his personal communication company, Distilleri, with 52 workers and works with main firms together with McDonald’s, the Singapore Tourism Advisory Board in addition to Toys R’ Us.

Jian is happy for the discharge of the brand new film as not solely has he loved watching the ‘epic’ advertising and marketing marketing campaign as an ‘promoting man’ however as a result of it has flung his beloved Barbie again into the highlight.

‘Watching these folks experience on popular culture to create new popular culture. Watching how they’d market a doll as an icon. I really like that everybody now loves Barbie,’ he stated.

‘Possibly and doubtless as a result of it now means my bizarre pastime is now… regular.’