Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Exclusive Jessica Rabbit Artist Interview - Lisa Temming



So far, there have only been two official Jessica Rabbit dolls ever created. The most recent is by Tonner - but the first was by Mattel back in 1999. If anyone can recall, when a photo was released of the Jessica Rabbit Doll by Mattel - she looked amazing! Then, not too long after, an updated photo replaced the first one and showed that the doll had been changed significantly. This is something that happens for many reasons to products - but as for why it happened to the Jessica doll remained a mystery... Until Now! This exclusive interview with Jessica Rabbit Mattel Doll designer, Lisa Temming, uncovers the real reason the doll was changed, what other plans were supposed to be in store for the doll, the strong opinions Disney and Amblin had about Jessica, and the line of Jessica dolls that never happened. Lisa also shares with us never before seen photos of the original prototype and a special version she created.



ImNotBad.com:
First I'd like to let people know a little more about you. Do you remember what inspired you to become an artist?

Lisa Temming:
My family is a very creative bunch - so, from the moment I could hold a crayon, my Mom and Grandma were teaching me how to draw and design. At age 8, I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer (instead of an astronaut) and my family did everything they could to help me along that path.



INB:
As a child, which Disney film inspired you the most, and why?

Lisa:
I believe "Snow White" was one of the first Disney films I saw - I thought she was so beautiful and I desperately wanted to live in that cottage! But, my love for all things Disney started so early - it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what started it.



INB:
What were some toys/figures/statues that you liked the most as a child - and now?

Lisa:
As a kid, I loved my Star Wars action figures and dolls. Even my Barbies dated Luke Skywalker instead of Ken. And my Legos - LOVED my Legos (they were a little more girl-friendly back then). I also made lots of outfits for my Barbies and Darci dolls - but, it was only as an adult (working at Mattel) that I saw the real art in them.

So, now I have more dolls than ever! My favorite is a beautifully detailed, 16" Corpse Bride doll by Jun Planning.





INB:
What was some of your very first professionally created works?

Lisa:
I started at Mattel in 1994, in the "Large & Small Doll" department. My first designs were outfits for a line called "Dream Babies". Then a whole bunch of stuff for Cabbage Patch dolls. Yikes! I really thought those dolls were scary! But, because of that, I begged to switch to the Disney team (of 2 people) within Mattel.



INB:
What was your reaction to the film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and its characters?

Lisa:
Loved it! The integration of live-action and animation was so magical at the time. I loved the 40's crime film / private eye world - and how they celebrated the heyday of animated characters. Jessica, of course, steals the show! A Hollywood screen goddess as an animated character - voiced by Kathleen Turner - pure genius!





INB:
How did the idea to create the Jessica Rabbit doll come about?

Lisa:
I had started in the Disney collector doll business in 1996 and the idea to do her came up not long after, as I had hoped to have her released for the 10 year anniversary of the film in 1998. I kept tons of lists of potential characters we (the Disney team) could do dolls of - with notes of any upcoming anniversaries. Jessica and Roger were always on those lists because they were wonderful, memorable characters and would make great dolls. But, there was some hesitation from the team -in part, because we weren't sure if our license covered those characters. And there was some concern she would be too sexy and be received negatively by any press.



INB:
What was your role at Mattel and on creation of the Jessica doll?

Lisa:
In 1997 I was a Senior Project Designer in the (by now fully formed and very large) Disney group at Mattel. I came up with the idea to do a doll of her and was the lead designer on her. I proposed the idea to my upper management with a to scale 2D cutout, art directed the sculpting, painting, dressing, and styling of the prototype, then pitched her to Disney. I oversaw the entire process of approvals and production development, turning the prototype into the production doll. In Jessica's case, this took about a year and a half from concept to on shelf. The funny thing about toys - dolls in particular - that most people don't realize, is that it takes a huge team of people to make them! A designer, multiple sculptors, sample makers, hair rooters, face painters, packaging designers - not including the non-creative aspects like marketing, and production!



INB:
A big question about the Mattel doll is in regards to the prototype that was originally shown in an early promotion photo. The doll that was actually released had been changed and looks very different. What is the story behind that?

Lisa:
The prototype was made internally at Mattel - with only me directing her design. She was sculpted by an intern (I wish I could remember who did the work, unfortunately it's just been too long). She was a beautiful prototype. Her overall proportions and "attitude" were wonderful. It was important to me that she have her own body and that she should be a larger scale to showcase that uniquely "Jessica" shape. When the prototype was finished, everyone was in love with her. People from other groups (especially the Hot Wheels guys!) would come by just to see her. Then It was time to take her to Disney for approvals - this is where things got a little complicated.



INB:
How so?

Lisa:
Because Jessica was a "new" character in a film made by BOTH Touchstone/Disney and Amblin - they both had rights to her. Including rights to approve - or disapprove - of products for her. At every step in the development process, I had to show the doll to a Disney artist and a DreamWorks representative (Amblin having been folded into DreamWorks in late 1994). The Disney artist was a man, so naturally he was enthusiastic about Jessica. He was also a character artist, so he was completely focused on making the doll as "on character" as possible. The DreamWorks rep. was a woman. She was not very fond of Jessica. I think she saw Jessica as perpetuating negative body issues to real women. This lead to conflicts at every step of the approval process.





INB:
Can you recall how many things changed from the original doll you proposed?

Lisa:
Two major factors changed Jessica from being what I had hoped for her to be, dead-on character and funny. First, the DreamWorks rep. had us change her body CONSIDERABLY (i.e. major breast reduction surgery). Unfortunately, because of this, the doll lost some of her attitude and her proportions became a little off. The second factor was cost. The budget for Jessica was tight and a lot of it went to her new body and unique packaging.





INB:
Were there any other ideas or concepts that were changed?

Lisa:
I had wanted her purse be functional with a tiny hand gun or frying pan inside, to put a bear trap (even just a printed art) inside the front of her dress, and to give her removable shoes and a garter belt with stockings. (Oh well, at least I got to give her some pretty undies!) Also, because of cost, her body had to be roto-cast instead of injection molded.





INB:
Do you know if there were any other plans for more Jessica dolls by Mattel or by another company?

Lisa:
While working on Jessica, we talked about doing more dolls of her in a variety of other outfits like a Swimsuit edition (based on the photo in Roger's wallet) or her Nurse costume. If the doll sold well, re-releasing her in new looks would have helped amortize the cost of sculpting her new body. There were also plans to make Roger to go with her.





INB:
What was the reason for calling it the Jessica Rabbit WOW! Special Edition doll?

Lisa:
Honestly, I don't know why she was named that - I can only guess the "Wow!" had something to do with being able to trademark the name. "Special Edition" was possibly because she was a unique body - not a Barbie-body - or because she wasn't part of any current series.



INB:
Although it's by Mattel, it is a Jessica doll - not Barbie AS Jessica Rabbit - was there ever any ideas for an actual Barbie as Jessica?

Lisa:
As far as I know, there weren't any plans to do a "Barbie as" doll. But, now that Tonner has done a version, Barbie may want to get in on the fun!



INB:
What is your opinion of the Jessica Rabbit doll by Tonner?

Lisa:
Stunning! She's really beautiful - and exquisitely detailed. I'm a big fan of all of his dolls - especially some the new Disney Princesses.



INB:
What are some of your favorite dolls that you have created?

Lisa:
My favorites have always been in the Villains Series I did while at Mattel. Both Cruella De Vils, Ursula, The Evil Queen, Maleficent, and Jessica Rabbit - even though she wasn't part of that series, she had the same quality that made me love making the others - DRAMA!



INB:
What was Disney's REAL opinion of the Jessica Rabbit character?

Lisa:
Everyone at Disney that was involved with the doll (and even a few who weren't) was crazy for her! They were completely committed to making her as "on character" as possible - no hesitation. They all loved that we were making a doll of her.



INB:
Do you think Jessica started the movement/popularity for more sexy female collectible related merchandise - action figures, statues, etc?

Lisa:
I never really thought about it, but that could be true. Maybe she opened the door - or in her own way, pulled back the curtain...



Jessica Rabbit Mattel Doll Credits:

Sculptor - Jim Licaretz
Seamstress - Denise Paulino-Phelan
Face Paint - Penny Otera
Hair Rooting - Audrey Church
Lead Package Designer - Karen Taylor



Lisa also created a special version of the doll with a long, hand-painted dress and finally topped off with Swarovski crystals.









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