According to a report by the Star Online, the two sisters have launched a kick-starter campaign to fund their new Velara Warriors action figure line, designed to give young girls more options beyond the usual princess-Barbie-esque toys they have been given so far.
“We created Velara Toys to give more options to girls.
“Toys have a huge influence on shaping the way children see themselves and we want to empower girls to believe they can be more than just princesses, and to show boys that women can be heroes, too,” said Roobini, 25.
They got the idea for a line of female action figure heroes when Trisshala, 22, could not find the action figure for Rey, the heroine from the latest Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, which was released late last year.
Rey’s exclusion from the toy market is not unique. Controversy had sparked much earlier following the release of the Marvel Studios Avengers movie series when fans found that Black Widow, one of the two female members of the Avengers, also did not have her own action figure.
According to the sisters, female action figures are few and far between.
A series of illustrated storybooks telling the story of three warriors – Laiera, Sahana and Nehili – from three mythical kingdoms will be released as well.
“It took us a year to research, conceptualise and come up with a prototype, as well as find a manufacturer and supply chain for the line,” said Trisshala, 22.
However, males are not left out of the mix as the sisters have also conceptualised several male action figures.
“Our entire line is based on bringing the genders together. We will have female and male action figures so that girls and boys can play with our diverse range of heroes together,” Trisshala said.
“We want to change the misconception that boys don’t want to play with female action figures or that girls only want dolls.
“Girls and boys both want cool toys.”
The kick-starter campaign was launched last week, giving itself three weeks to raise £70,000 (RM376,000) to start manufacturing the 20cm-tall figures.
They have raised more than £20,000 (RM107,400) so far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPORsAaHPJ4