1998 Movin Groovin replaced 1997 Walking Barbie

The 1997 Barbie booklet, dated 1996, must have been printed very early in the year, because four items pictured had the caption "Subject to change" next to them.  They were Teen Skipper; Walking Barbie, Teresa, Kira and Christie; Dentist Barbie and Kelly; and Hula Hair Barbie, Christie and Teresa.  Teen Skipper and the Hula Hair dolls were sold in 1997 and Dentist Barbie appeared in 1998.

The walking dolls were completely revamped in 1998.  They got new bodies, new outfits and a new name.  They were now called Movin' Groovin', a copyrighted name that Ideal used for its Crissy line in 1971.  One has to assume that Mattel obtained the copyright to use that name.

There were four dolls: Barbie in yellow and blue, Teresa in lavender and blue, Christie in orange and blue, and Kira in magenta and blue.  In Europe, Kira was named Marina.  Each outfit was a one-piece jumper set.  Underneath was a short-sleeved knit bodysuit, topped by a very short diagonal print jumper.  The shirt and jumper are sewn together, although I suppose you could rip them apart.  The dolls also came with socks, high heels, high-top sneakers and short boots.  The separate boots have a tendency to come loose from their cardboard and float around the box, often landing on the dolls' shoulders.  Their outfits are similar to the 1992 Rappin' Rockin' line.

The doll has hard plastic straight arms and legs, like an early Barbie or a My First Barbie.  The right leg can swing backward from the hip and the left leg forward from the hip, but they cannot go any farther than that.  There is also a separate handle to help a doll walk, but I don't know what it looks like as it is not pictured.

Ironically, the walking dolls of the early 1970s could move both their arms and legs forward and back!

I purchased a European NRFB Movin' Groovin' Barbie at an antique show.  The languages on the box are English, German (Lauf mit mir--Run with me); Spanish (Pasos Mágicos--Magic Steps); Italian (Passos Mágicos--Magic Steps); French (Se Promène--Walks); Portuguese (Camina con te--Walk with you); and Greek (I don't have Greek letters on my keyboard but it means "walking").  On the back are pictured Barbie, Teresa, Christie and Marina.  Several years ago I obtained a loose Barbie at a garage sale, with her outfit but not her handle.

With the straight hard plastic arms and legs, these dolls are very easy to redress.

Although shown in the 1997 booklet,
the Walking dolls were never sold.

A unique feature of the Movin' Groovin' box
 is the wrap-around window.

The name "Movin' Groovin" was originally used by Ideal in 1971
for its Crissy, Tressy and Velvet dolls.

Barbie's left leg can only go forward.

Although her arms swing out,
Barbie's body is otherwise similar to the My First dolls.

Barbie's right leg can only go backward.

Some of the outfit ideas for the Movin' Groovin' dolls
came from the Rappin' Rockin' dolls.