For Doll Collectors, Chrissa-mas is Coming New Year's Day

There's an Innovative Rollout for American Girl's '09 Doll of the Year

For doll collectors, New Year's Day 2009 is also Chrissa-mas Day. That's the day that Chrissa, American Girl's 2009 Doll of the Year, makes her official debut. More on this was reported in USA Today Thursday:

Christmas comes late for Chrissa, American Girl's 2009 Doll of the Year, to be unveiled in stores on New Year's Day. In a first for the Mattel-owned collectible doll company, Chrissa's release coincides with a three-book series, HBO movie An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (Jan. 5, 7:15 p.m. ET/PT), and a DVD release Jan. 6.

It also marks the first Girl film based on a contemporary doll instead of a historical figure. Her story? The moppet is a swimmer who has a twin brother. But she's also suffering "relational aggression," says Girl president Ellen Brothers. "She moves to a new state, enters a new school, and as soon as she joins the fourth-grade class, she's a victim of bullying," she says. "One-fourth of girls today in school deal with it. It's a good way to get the message out there." Martha Coolidge directed the film, which stars Sammi Hanratty (Pushing Daisies).

The timing of dolls, books and movies is aimed at moving more traffic to American Girl's website and seven stores, even after the holidays. "We think it's the fastest way to use as many platforms as possible to get Chrissa introduced," says HBO Home Entertainment chief Henry McGee.

(Photo from American Girl)