Listen to the inspiring journey of Isaac Larian, who built a toy empire from humble beginnings. Discover how he took on Barbie with Bratz dolls, faced legal battles with Mattel, and continues to thrive at 70. Explore the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial spirit and the innovative success of L.O.L. Surprise toys.
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Quick takeaways
Isaac Larian's journey from Iran to LA inspired him to create MGA Entertainment and challenge Barbie with Bratz dolls.
Bratz dolls brought diversity and fashion uniqueness, leading to a legal battle with Mattel over intellectual property rights.
Despite legal disputes, MGA's success with Bratz paved the way for L.O.L. Surprise dolls, surpassing previous achievements.
Deep dives
Creation of Bratz Dolls
Isaac Larian, the owner of a toy company, was challenged to create a doll competition with Barbie. Upon being approached by Carter Bryant with sketches of unique dolls called Bratz, Larian decided to take a chance on the bold designs, which were different from traditional dolls. Despite initial doubts, his daughter's positive reaction influenced Larian to offer Bryant 3% royalties on the dolls to work with MGA. Bryant agreed to quit Mattel and join MGA to develop the Bratz dolls, marking a pivotal moment in the company's history.
Challenging Barbie's Market Dominance
Following intense competition in the toy market dominated by Barbie, Larian aimed to challenge Barbie's stronghold with the innovative Bratz dolls. Walmart's buyer, Ron Stover, initially hesitated due to Barbie's market dominance. Larian made a bold move by creating a product that offered a fresh alternative to Barbie. He pushed MGA's design team and eventually entrusted Carter Bryant's Bratz concept as a potential breakthrough against the Barbie empire.
Conflict and Legal Battle with Mattel
MGA's introduction of the Bratz dolls sparked a legal dispute with Mattel, as Bryant had previously worked for Mattel during the doll's conception. This led to allegations that Bratz was created while Bryant was still employed by Mattel, challenging MGA's ownership of the Bratz concept. The conflict escalated, resulting in a lawsuit from Mattel against MGA, highlighting the intense competition and legal complexities within the toy industry.
The Creation of Bratz Dolls
Bratz dolls were conceived as an alternative to Barbie, with a focus on diversity and unique fashion styles. The creator pushed for a pack of four dolls, each representing different ethnicities like African American and Persian, to appeal globally. Despite initial pushback from retailers like Walmart, the dolls were launched successfully, selling out instantly in Spain and gaining popularity.
Legal Battle with Mattel and Success with L.O.L. Surprise
Following Bratz's success, a legal dispute erupted with Mattel over intellectual property, leading to a prolonged legal battle. Despite setbacks, including a temporary injunction to stop selling Bratz dolls, MGA persevered. The launch of L.O.L. Surprise, a doll with a unique unboxing experience, became a massive hit, surpassing Bratz's success and solidifying MGA's position in the toy market.
Isaac Larian moved from Iran to Los Angeles at age 17 with just a few hundred dollars, and went on to build one of the biggest toy companies in the world. Along the way, he took on Barbie with a wildly successful line of punky dolls called Bratz — a success that touched off an epic legal battle with Mattel. Today, at age 70, Isaac is still the CEO of MGA Entertainment, and says he still has the fighter’s instinct that he learned in the slums of Tehran.
This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by Neva Grant with research assistance and fact-checking from Carla Esteves and Zazil Davis-Vazquez.
Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Robert Rodriguez.