Okay, moms. Sit down for this one.
If you spent the late 90s or early 2000s with a soft, yarn-haired doll tucked under your arm — dressing her, renaming her, packing her a tiny suitcase for a sleepover at your cousin's — you already know where this is going.
Groovy Girls® are back. After a six-year break, Manhattan Toy has brought the iconic soft dolls back for a whole new generation, and they've officially landed in Canada. Your kid is about to meet the friends you grew up with.
Where It All Began
In 1998, Manhattan Toy introduced four soft dolls named Liza, Lucy, Lexi, and Lupé. They looked nothing like the fashion dolls lining shelves at the time — no hard plastic, no impossible proportions, no runway outfits. Just squishy fabric bodies, wild yarn hair, bold mismatched prints, and a whole lot of attitude.
The idea behind them was simple and quietly radical: dolls that celebrated individuality instead of a single narrow look. From the very first series, the range included different skin tones, hair types, and facial features, so children could find a doll that looked like them or like the friends in their class.
Kids responded immediately. Groovy Girls® started out in specialty toy shops, reached Target shelves by 2005, and grew into a full world of over a thousand dolls, outfits, pets, and furniture pieces. More than eight million dolls found homes. For a certain generation, they were simply the doll.
The Hiatus (And the Comeback)
In 2019, after 21 years, Manhattan Toy retired the line. And that was that — until a whole generation of those kids grew up, became parents, and started asking the internet whether Groovy Girls® were ever coming back.
They are. Manhattan Toy announced the relaunch at the New York Toy Fair in February 2026, the new collection arrived in May, and it reached Canada in June. Same soft-bodied charm, same celebration of being unapologetically yourself, brought thoughtfully up to date.
Meet the New Crew
The relaunch introduces five dolls, each with her own personality, style, and story:
- Rose — the star athlete with a competitive streak and a bigger cheering-others-on streak. She dresses for movement and is always trying to grow.
- Daisy — the gardener, happiest in floral overalls and rain boots, picking wildflowers for her friends and introducing them to her animals.
- Poppy — the scholar of the group.
- Iris — the dancer.
- Saige — the sweetheart with endless energy, always on the go and treating every new day as the next great adventure. She's happiest in comfy-cute leisure gear, makes friends wherever she goes, and comes with her own built-in bestie: her mom.
Each one is a keepsake doll with her own distinct style, so your child can pick the friend who feels most like hers.
What's New (And What's Delightfully the Same)
Here's what's changed for 2026:
Magnetic hands. This is the standout. Small magnets are sewn inside the dolls' plush hands, so they can hold hands with each other or attach to magnetic accessories. It's a small design change that opens up a lot of play.
Styleable hair with colour streaks. The signature hair is still there, now with fun streaks and more to play with.
Removable, collectible outfits. The fashions come off and on, and they're designed to be collected and swapped.
Posable soft bodies. Still squishy, now easier to pose and play with.
A more diverse crew than ever, with a range of skin tones and hairstyles, in keeping with what the brand has stood for since 1998.
And what hasn't changed? The soft-body construction. No hard plastic, nothing breakable, nothing fussy. These are still dolls made for hugging, sleeping with, and hauling around by one arm — which is exactly why they earned such a devoted following the first time.
The accessory range brings back fan favourites too, including pets, camping gear, and furniture, many with magnetic elements that work with the dolls' hands.
Why We Brought Them In
We look for toys that last, that get genuinely loved, and that let kids lead the play. Groovy Girls® tick every box — and there's a lovely bonus here that we don't often get to offer: this is a toy you can hand your child and say "I had one of these."
That shared thread between your childhood and theirs is a rare thing. Most of the toys you grew up with either aren't made anymore or aren't made the same way. This one is back, better designed, and ready for a second generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Groovy Girls® still made? Yes. Manhattan Toy relaunched Groovy Girls® in 2026 after retiring the original line in 2019. The new collection launched in Canada in June 2026.
When did Groovy Girls® come out? Groovy Girls® launched in 1998 with four dolls: Liza, Lucy, Lexi, and Lupé. The line ran until 2019 and returned in 2026.
What's different about the new Groovy Girls®? The 2026 dolls feature magnetic hands for interactive play, styleable hair with colour streaks, removable collectible outfits, and posable soft bodies, while keeping the original soft-body construction.
Do the new Groovy Girls® have magnets? Yes — magnets are sewn inside the dolls' plush hands so they can hold hands with each other or attach to magnetic accessories. Many of the accessories have magnetic elements too.
How many Groovy Girls® dolls are there? The 2026 collection launched with five: Rose, Daisy, Poppy, Iris, and Saige. The original line grew to over a thousand dolls, outfits, and accessories across two decades.
What age are Groovy Girls® for? The new collection is designed for children from age 3 and up.
Are Groovy Girls® soft dolls? Yes — they're fabric and soft-bodied throughout with no hard plastic, which makes them lovely for cuddling and gentle enough to sleep with.
Where can I buy Groovy Girls® in Canada? Right here at The Playful Peacock. We're a Canadian, mom-run toy shop, and we ship across Canada, hand-packed with care.
Some Friendships Deserve a Second Generation
There's a good chance one of these dolls is going to end up named after someone in your family, dressed in three outfits before lunch, and buckled into the car for every single errand. That's how it went the first time around, anyway.