The My Little Pony Dream Blue figure is an exclusive limited release in the line of My Little Pony toys. Dream Blue was released only recently exclusively to ToysRUs (after a stint last year of being released exclusively to KBToys) and is seemingly becoming harder to find as supplies dwindle just in time for the holidays. Dream Blue is no different to every other My Little Pony figure out on the market with the exception of her marking and coloring, which, let’s face it, is the only thing that sets any of the My Little Pony characters apart and also makes them great collectors items for kids.

The My Little Pony line of toys was developed back in 1982 and they took off so well, in fact, that they outsold Barbie Dolls at one point. The My Little Pony Line is not unlike many other toys from the 1980’s and has begun to make a resounding comeback in the toy market. This comeback is only emphasized with the release of collectors editions and limited releases like the Dream Blue figure. Along with the limited releases Hasbro also offers non-limited release toys which include plush My Little Pony’s, My Little Pony’s Easy Bake kits, Over 100 other My Little Pony dolls, Playdoh products, My Little Pony sets (wihch come with three or more pony’s), My Little Pony books, Bath time products, Party favors, Playsets, Video games and much more.

The My Little Pony Dream Blue toy came in a cardboard backed plastic packaging and included one hairbrush which for the price of $2.99 is pretty reasonable. The back of the packaging features a short story about Dream Blue which reads as following: “Dream Blue always writes down her dreams in a special journal. One time she dreamed that she was stuck inside a chocolate factory - that dream was so nice she didn’t want to wake up!”

The My Little Pony itself is constructed the exact same way My Little Pony’s were over twenty years ago, the same hard plastic with the same turning head and tangled, but brushable, hair and mane. Dream Blue has an identifying moon, cloud and star with a tail on her left hip, she also has a pink mane and blue eyes with streaks of purple and pink in them and a yellow star in the black portion of her eye. Both of her eyes are identical; however, only her left side has her “Dream Blue” symbol as is found on all My Little Pony’s. Dream Blue also has a yellow heart on her right front hoof, she is considered to be a generation three pony because of the year in which she was created (2005). On the base of Dream Blue’s hooves you can find the “Copyright 2005 Hasbro” (left rear), the “Made in China” (right rear) and the “My Little Pony” pink logo (right front.)

Included with Dream Blue was a blue plastic brush with a bow on the back with thick plastic “bristles” to be used on Dream Blue’s mane and tail. Also included in the packaging for Dream Blue was a booklet of other My Little Pony toys and movies available as well as an advertisement for “My Little Pony Live” and a 10% off coupon when you shop My Little Pony products at Hasbro.com and use the code “PONY10″ on checkout.

The packaging on My Little Pony’s Dream Blue was simple to open and as basic as it need be for a small toy such as this. I have no complaints what so ever about package opening or construction other than the unnecessary use of tape to bind the hair as it was next to impossible to remove. I thought the backside of the packaging was cute, it contained a story about the pony enclosed and, from what I saw at ToysRUs, most of the other pony’s available had their own stories too. The rest of the information on the back of the packaging is the basic copyright and contact information and the one thing that set me on edge about this toy, the warning label. “Pony’s foot contains magnet.” Aside from the fact that I am left wondering why this toy even has a magnet in the first place, I am also left wondering why this warning is not placed on the package as a stand alone warning that is easy to spot. The magnet warning, in fact, is nestled neatly in to the text which explains what is inside the package, not something which is easily spotted that’s for sure.

The My Little Pony figure is a simple toy which does not really differ much from traditional My Little Pony’s of the 1980’s. The construction, as noted above, is still the same…although I don’t quite remember magnets in my My Little Pony’s as a child…but perhaps I was too busy playing with them to notice? Regardless of this mystery magnet (I don’t even know which hoof it is in but I would venture to guess the front right), the toy is sturdy and visually appealing. The paint is not easily scratched off and although the hair is a mess of tangles this can be fixed with a quick brush from the included pony brush. Another plus to the doll, it can go in to the bath at bathtime without damage (your pony may get some water inside from her neck seal so keep this in mind when you use pony’s as bath toys!) and in to the car on long car trips without getting easily lost.

So it can’t all be good right? Well I do have one pet peeve with the My Little Pony Dream Blue figure and that is her hair…her mane and her tail if you prefer. The Dream Blue pony has a generous helping of pink hair; however, this pink hair is also infused with strands of glittering plastic “hair” (you can also find this glittering hair in the Shining Stars Dragon of a few weeks ago but this is much longer.) My problem with the plastic hair is that it sheds much more easily than the “regular” pony hair (which by the way also sheds minimally…or more so if your child encounters a knot whilst brushing and continues to tug,) the increased shedding results in glittering plastic strands all over the place which, while they are not exceedingly dangerous, are bothersome.

Overall the My Little Pony Dream Blue doll is a great toy that I highly recommend especially considering the price. For just under three dollars your child has a large toy which is durable enough to last and is just enough to kick start that imagination in to some imaginary play. The biggest con to keep in mind? That pesky magnet…anyone found out what it’s for yet?