What Happened to Once Upon A Zombie?
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- For this video I wanted to take a look back at the toy line, Once Upon A Zombie, and explained why I think it was not a success.
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I do not own any of the images shown in this video. They are copyright and trademarked by Nickelodeon, Paramount, Mattel, SpinMaster, Universal, MGA Entertainment, WowWee, MonsterFlipsUSA, Atamaii, rodtoymasters on CZcams
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Artwork
02:20 Dolls
04:41 Cartoon
05:54 Books
07:16 Conclusion - Zábava
I honestly think the line "failed" because the toy company bit more than it could chew. I remember back in the day people (At least in the dolls forums) were crazy about them and the new releases. It was then weird that these dolls had inset eyes, articulation, original bodies, a storyline, and then we went to look for the original version of the princesses... and they looked like cheap dollar store knock offs
Literally so disappointed that this isn’t a thing anymore :/ so much potential and I honestly don’t hate the designs although they could be more .. idk
Yes
Honestly I like how the dolls look with their eyes and articulation, especially Alice I like her. It's a shame the dolls never took off, they have some potential, at least to me anyways.
To me, the dolls did have potential, heck, they could've continued the book series and the web series
Once Upon A Zombie deserved so much better honestly. The concept was so interesting to me and I was lowkey intrigued by the episodes when they came out.
If they just got a better toy company to produce the dolls, and could afford a proper animation studio to make the show then I think it could have been more successful.
And honestly it’s good to know they’re still somewhat active on social media, it gives me some hope that one day they will return with a reboot or something
I really wished they continued the web series. I know that the animation was not up to scratch but i liked the storyline…..
It had a lot of potential
As a fan of ouaz and a faithful reader of the books, I can say that the dolls became secondary in the plans of the brand and the books became the main attraction, with a darker story and plot and things that make us feel that we are really in the story it makes us see that the image that Toon Studios made for the brand has nothing to do with the image that the books give it, 7:05 and no- the third book is still being written, Billy in goodreads has been saying that he will answer the question of "When is book 3 coming out?" this year besides saying that he is still writing it.
Oh im so glad!!! I hate it when things are canceled right before the end! And I was Sooooooo looking forward to these!!!
I was so sad (and lowkey still am) that Once upon a zombie never got bigger than it was. As a huge monster high fan, I remember falling in love with their creepy designs and being excited to follow the story. I couldn't wait for the animations to come out and see the story unfold. Even back then I knew the animation was terrible, but I really didn't care. I thought the designs and story were interesting.
I have such a clear memory of this specific part of the trailer 5:42. The way Rapunzel's hair stiffly floats in the wind 😂
I remember they also sold like school stationary of this at like 99 cent stores as a kid
I thought I was only one who say those all time in 99 cent stores
"the Cinderella design starts kind of original" t-that's just like Aurora-
I remember these back when people would unbox them but for some reason my brain mixed the "once upon a zombie" dolls with that one doll line, where each the doll had stories on the back of the box on how they passed away (I still can't remember what those dolls were called though)
wait i rmember those too
The Jakks Pacific Zombie doll line?
@@kingdomorange2 omg yes that's exactly what I was thinking, Thankyou😀
Nowadays their instagram account is hinting towards a "revival" of some sort... by posting AI art of their stuff... such a shame cause I do think this franchise could have had some potential back when they first released
I hated this doll line as a kid because it was so obvious how cheap it was compared to EAH and MH etc. But I think the backstory is really cool, that idea that the Queen of hearts somehow turned everyone into zombies sounds really interesting.
Honestly it looks like such a cool concept and the dolls on video actually looked kind of nice (though closer inspection of the clothes, they kind of did look cheap). It would have been amazing to see them taken by a studio who had the budget to make them better quality. I actually vaguely remember a period of time where a booth at a local festival that sold all kinds graphic tees and blankets and stuff and they had a blanket with the main 4 Zombie Princesses. Anyway, would have loved to see this idea succeed. The aesthetic is right up my ally
Honestly I think it would've been cool to expand on the decaying kingdom
I have never heard of this doll line. But just from looking at the designs of the characters, I think I would have been pretty into them. Unfortunately, I likely wouldn’t have been allowed to get any just as I was never allowed to get a monster high doll. No, not even if I tried to pay for it with my own money. My mom wasn’t comfortable with the idea of me playing with monster dolls instead of Barbies. She also just hates everything to do with zombies. She lightened up now and even offered to buy me a monster high one time since she remembered how interested I was in them. Unfortunately, this was after the doll line was altered to have less articulation and less detail so I still didn’t get a monster high doll. I didn’t get the chance to get into ever after high because, in my area at least, there was next to no advertisement from them and they always seemed to be out of stock. I just seem to have the worst luck when comes to dolls and shows and things. By the time I hear about them and interested, they have either been discontinued or have gone extremely down hill in quality.
I LOVE ONCE UPON A ZOMBIE, it's one of my favorite franchise, my dream is that it backs with a movie or a animated tv series
1:10 This is straight up Disney’s Sleeping Beauty lol
Not all the way
I was really shocked that Wowee wasn’t sued by Disney because their dolls looked very similar to the Disney princesses. I don’t own any of the Once Upon a Zombie dolls because they just didn’t interest me at all. I’m a doll collector and the dolls looked like they were made with cheap materials. Even their clothes looked cheap. If Wowee had produced the dolls using higher quality materials, I’m sure the line would have been more successful.
I absolutely loved this, I still have the books I was literally obsessed
I love once Upon a zombie and I remember when it was just starting to get revealed, I loved the books especially and interestingly, there instagram started posting stuff again and they have said the third book is still being written. Though one thing I also find rather intriguing is that they might have endorsed some fan content (I think they promoted a webtoon based on the original books on there insta I believe), and a return via a short film or web series more accurate to the books would be sick, though I would love to see the dolls back in some form (PLEASE RE RELEASE THEM OR MAKE A GLINDA DOLL I’M BEGGING YOU!)
I remember being obsessed with these dolls as a kid... I would've liked an Alice doll, I really like her design :(
This honestly had such potential and it’s so sad it got cancelled. I still fantasize about this. Thinking about buying the books. Imo this is better then monster high (design wise).
It looked so cheap. But damn the 1:45 artwork is fire.
It needs a reboot! 🧟♀️
That shade towards My Scene at the end! 😂 my nostalgic heart still love it tho!
I remember these! I never had any of them but the concept made me curious. But a lot of the dolls look pretty and remind me of Living Dead Dolls kinda. I don't remember how I stumbled upon them though, maybe watching MH reviews or webisodes or through watching stuff relating to the mentioned before Living Dead Dolls
Now I understand why the artworks of OUAZ have always seemed so similar to Fairy Tale High to me... The Toon Studio of Beverly Hills is also behind this doll line!!!
I wasn't a fan of Once Upon A Zombie concept in the 2010's but I knew the concept would be interesting as a book series. If there's a way to read the first book online, I would like to take a try! I'm surprised the second book came out so many years after the first one... when the license was dead! I heard they also released stickers packs in recent years.
The animation of the webisodes is... very horrible. And outdated. Even for the time it came out!
And for the dolls, I can only relay what a doll collector said on that they were nice but the quality wasn't extraordinary. I saw those photos of the prototypes, I always thought they were fake! XD
The reason they look so similar to Disney is most likely due to the fact that many of the fairy tale characters have a set design or I said look rather. Such as Snow White skin white as snow, hair is black as Ebony, and lips red is a rose or red is blood in some tales, or Rapunzel whose hair is always been blonde, while others don't have a fully set design
The premise is interesting, but in execution, they failed on so many levels. My main gripe towards it are the princesses' designs being heavily based after Disney's take on the characters instead of just making their own designs. This is evident with Pocahontas being there despite not being a fairy tale, but an actual real life person because she's part of the Disney Princess lineup, without even knowing that Pocahontas is a bit of a controversial character in regards to portrayals of Native Americans and Colonialism.
I remember only watching the first two episodes, because Pinocchio scared me so much.
7:40 the shade 🤣
Honestly as much as i hate saying tbis ive been wanting to get a once opan a zombie doll more and more as i keep seeing them-even tho i hate disney as a company and tired of companies basing off their tales off disney films(looks at how americans depict hades) but idk these dolls’ designs hold up pretty well to this day, they have what i miss about monster high and bratzillas
Tho i am still glad they stopped before they made a pochantas doll from what i heard-thats crossing a line and is messed up for many reasons
Edit: the quality does sound pretty bad but idk they are an older line and as much as i like both bratzillas and g1 monster high both also had pretty bad quality so its understandable
if you could get your hands on one and know some rerooting and sewing you could prolly improve any of the dolls you can get your hands on, I never had one but do remember finding the trailer (I think?) on accident. I should read the books if their better then the webisodes
@@LocalTorchwoodIntern i do know how to reroot from doing mh costimuzation tho only have yarn, its why i avoided rerooting my basic g3 clawdeen(also has poly hair) and dawn of the dance clawdeen(glue head)
I heard about the books, i have yet to read them myself too but i think the animations showing the princesses turning into zombies are really cool
@@Man-wolf- Yeah I just heard of the books from the video and I do wonder if their worth picking up even second hand? I should look on GoodReads LMAO
I loved this line 😢
We Need Once Upon A Zombie To Come Back
I actually like them but they just look like Disney. I wish Thier have more original touch
The dolls definitely had some potential and esp the books. I think it all came down to them branching themselves too far into the unknown without any guarantee of payout and wanting to stick to something that sells (cheap Disney knockoffs). Idk if you know this but they also started a series on Webtoon (the art in my personal opinion is not very good though). It only got up to ep 3 (last updated on nov 7, 2021). Personally if they had taken this concept to an animation studio or webtoon publisher to help find the talents necessary, then it wouldn’t have become a failed project. Although I think they are trying to get back into the doll game by putting crocheted dolls up on Etsy every once in a while.
I remember once going to the 99 cents store and finding a one upon a zombie diary. The diary was broken and didn’t have a lock, but it was the only diary there an intrigued me. I think I still own it and never wrote in it because “I was saving it for something special”. Lowkey thought the brand was just notebooks growing up. Probably would have bought a doll if I could growing up.
I remember begging my mom for the Ariel doll and loving her
As someone who MISSED this so much and was amazed by "Once Upon A Zombie" Its refreshing to see the video! See, heres the thing, I never read the books, all I knew about Once Upon A Zombie was watching the small 3 min videos they published and playing dress up games and watching the trailer! That was it, I was 9 and I remember trying to find the videos! Perhaps I should read the books because thats where it started from!
I know why it didn't work out as a series or as a doll line
it's terrifying. I'm 20 years old and even I'm scared of this, so kids from ages 5-11? definitely.
I had the rapunzel, little mermaid, Cinderella and Aurora but I ended up giving them away a few years ago, my biggest regret ever! I wish I could get them back…
🙂 to be quite honest if the dolls were done better and if they actually have like a really good solid story it could really work and actually be amazing but I'm happy we got a little something it's still a cute idea
In full honesty, I both love and hate how close to Disney they are. For one- the perspective of the Disney princesses is fun and interesting. But it'd be fun to see original looks for the princesses.
So I'm very 50/50, I've only owned the Rapunzel doll. And the urge to make my own even if it's just a concept has been so strong, as i feel like they could've done better- it's not bad, just not...the best
Bro the franchise had a lot of potential. I remember watching the web series in 2015 and actually enjoying it. I was disappointed when I stopped hearing things about the franchise, I actually thought it grew popularity but it didn’t.
With the proper funds and money, they could’ve made it better actually.
I hope they actually continue it, or maybe sell their trade mark to a bigger company. I was really amazed with the concept when I was younger, and I loved it.
If the company had proper budget and successfully sold dolls, oh man, I would’ve been a big once upon a zombie doll collector. If you don’t know, I love collecting things that I’m into. I collected vintage Tamagotchis, vintage dolls, I collected books, figures toys, games, comics and so many stuff.
I always come back every year and see how the franchise is doing. Still nothing though, but I’m glad to know they’re active on Facebook!
I remember i was so obsessed with Once upon a zombie because in my opinion if they actually put time and effort the story could have been good (i have made and re written my versions of the story which in my opinion it was decent good*
I think the brand could have succeeded if the doll line itself focused on an older audience instead of just the books.
Like princesses being undead and scary looking will NOT sell well to kids because their scary looking. Like what parent is gonna buy that for their kids. In Monster High Frankie and Ghoulia are undead but they look mostly normal with just a bit of detailing and different skin colors. But the cheap manufacturing wont go well with an older demographic
The brands constant redesigns also harmed its marketability because parents and kids would be confused if its a knockoff of itself or disney. Kids would also have trouble figuring out which character is which. Like in Monster High each character has multiple varients but key things about their base looks don't change ex. Draculaura having a heart theme.
I think if they wanted to stay cheap they needed to change the girls designs to be more friendly looking and go for the original child target audience. Also they needed to establish a specific look to the characters. If they wanted it to be quick and easy just color code them and there you go.
I remember when this company (wowee how ever you say it) got sued by roblox from their avastars toy bc they we're similar to roblox's avatar (woman bundle)
No, but I loved the book as a kid. Had no idea it had a sequel or a doll lines though. I still own the book, I think. I remember thinking it was such a unique idea for a book series on fairytales
I recently saw one of the mermaid dolls in a store for about 40 dollars
In America?
6:10 Hey there I am! 😂🙌
i swear the animation for the cartoon looked better when i was a kid😭😭
Some of the pictures and the book artwork look like they came from flash games. I think the reasons why the books, the webisodes and the IP failed due to it couldn't compete or reach the ranks of popularity of Once Upon a Time, Ever After High, Monster High, Descendents, and The School for Good & Evil.
The likelihood as to why they're able to get away with making them so close to Disney is because Disney doesn't own the copyright to the old fairy tales and they could argue this is just how the general public sees these characters
I had a stickerbook filled with stickers with this brand holy shit the memories
you unlocked a hidden memory i didn't know i had of me thinking i was alucinating that once upon a zombie existed
FINALLY SOMEONE FUCKING KNOWS IT
2013?!
I remember saw that like in 2016
I remember When i see the Episodes of once upon a zombie i really like it in my opinion it looks more prettier than the Disney princesses
(Sorry if my english is not so good i am from another country so i tried to write well this comment)
I wish they continued this and made the queen of hearts doll 🥲
The last few sentences are so true. Making something new and original will always work out better.
I loved them as a small kid, me and my sister always wondered what happened with them
I was so scared of this when I wa younger😭
Oh I remember the Books !
I went doll haunting just today and, found six in box dolls of this line. I found the princesses and, grabbed them for a great price. I think they are cute ,but understand why they aren't really around anymore.
I think that's why I wanted them, not Alot of people will have them 😆
Yay thank you for talking about this i requested this
BRO THOSE DOLLS GAVE ME NIGHTMARES OMG I JUST REMMEBERD THETBEXCITEDS WAT
I wish once upon a zombie can come back
I LOVED ONCE UPON A ZOMBIE
After Watching the episodes it wasn’t too bad I actually liked it but it probably failed because they characters did look like the real princess and they were cheap plus the animation wasn’t really good
I loved it so much 😭
I love once upon a zombie but their designs were pretty good but they’re a fairytale the zombie designs were good they were awesome I think they change their designs because they were you know trying to be their characters more appetizing for me like you’re better than Disney
I was so scared when I saw them I couldn't sleep months!! 😭 now I literally love them I wish I had them
I had no clue this existed. I think it's actually a pretty cool idea, but their execution of it was poor.
I remember seeing these in the argos catalogue
Villian ranking next! Including nefra , toralie and raven queen
I did not know the dolls had books or even web episodes nor lore or storyline in general… I remember my sister got the Snow White one (just don’t remember HOW we got the doll, unless it was a gift thus it shall remain a mystery)
Ironically theres a channel that sometimes posts animations and such on their channel Once Upon A Zombie french even though the company has lost relevance it's still a lovely concept that I adore
It had potential. Wish the series would be picked back up. Sucks I never seen these as a kid. They should change some designs to be less bootleg Disney tho. The songs were great imo.
They are able to get away with looking similar because tradedress trademarks laws is very hard to prove. Since princess outfits are historically based and change so often, there wouldn't even be a point in trying to fight about it.
You can't trademark an ethnicity for obvious reasons. They also can't trademark general features like eye color or hair color or species but they can trademark SPECIFIC things, for example "red haired mermaid". Combinations of features that make that character recognizable.
Technically, since the characters are copyrighted, it is illegal to copy their aesthetic for profit. But when it come to clothes someone can just argue they happened to be inspired by the same time period.
Lexus can't sue Toyota for making a car in the shape of a minivan with 4 round tires and a battery. But they can sue them for making a car with a copyrighted grill. Because that signature L shaped grill is what makes this car recognizable as a Lexus car.
Hope I explained that well enough.
I didn't know about this existing
concept make a lot’s sense. Especially the little mermaid and Snow White.
I have always wondered what happened to this line I actually bought their Belle doll at a con and still have it
😅 do I still think mermaid high is so much better than mermaids mermaids or whatever it's called to be quite honest I wish those two companies could have combined that way we could have gotten better quality dolls but also mermaid tie could have been a lot better especially with their story their dolls were amazing being able to have a mermaid but that can also turn into a human it's a genius idea it could have been so much better and so much bigger mermaids mermaids is a little depressing if I'm going to be honest
From what I've been taught with designs(and art in general) its actually pretty easy to get away with having characters look like someone else's designs. You just need to have at least/roughly 20% of your design be different from Disney's in this case. And then bam. You're good. It's kinda messed up imo
OOOOH I HAVE THE RAPUNZEL ONE WITH NO CLOTHES BECAUSE I GIT IT WHEN I WAS 4
I remember having nightmares about thEM I STILL THINK THEYRE COOL THOUGH
Once upon a zombie was a thing? I never heard of that.
I love your channel and I wish they could stay I loved them
Thank u!
@@kingdomorange2 do top 200000 horror villains and power rangers and super senti villains and monsters and enchantimals characters and Godzilla gacha characters and NASCAR and ARCA crashes of the 1980s and 1990s and 2000 for October 31
@@thierrychunfnaf what
@@Taylors_version_from_the_vault yes
@@thierrychunfnaf that’s helpful
I remember these dolls when I was probably around 6 or 8 from a CZcams video of the animation and it made me really uncomfortable. And even now these dolls still look a little freaky
I've never heard of this nor did I know it was even a thing😳🤯
I am gonna be completely honest, as a kid I always thought these were random cheap knockoffs whenever I saw them on shelves, now I think they had a lot of potential to be a great brand but they all shared such similar colour pallets I found them boring
I think it was bc everyone was making fake versions of them like they would make fake version of the originals
found some of these today and stumbled upon your video while looking them up! don't worry not a seller, just a doll collector 🤣
I have 3 notebooks from Once Upon A Zombie got them at Doller Tree
I had these as a kid
i have never heard of this brand before, i'm interested in this.
Creepy cool
Hey! maybe can you make a video of the doll line "Fairy Tale High"? it is another of toon studio work
Please do one on totally spies
Возможно компания и была провальной, но удивительно, что эти куклы сумели дойти до русского рынка. До 2023 года я ничего о них не слышала, ни разу по телевизору не показывали их рекламу кукол, но за то коробки кукол были переведены на русский язык.
Для маленькой компании, что еле тягалась силами с Mattell это, как по мне, большое достижение
I got a video suggest, how about a video about Totally Spies?
I SAW THESE IN A TJMAXX ONCE.
no deadass