Fake Brazil Prototypes
KNOWN USER NAMES
- helnu_79: Original user name that she began selling under - account created March 21, 2021
- brazil_toys_7: Changed on August 29, 2023
- vintage1982br: Changed in September or October 2023
- rimor-763: Created September 1, 2023 SECOND USER NAME
- old-toys1963: rimor-763 account changed to this user name in November, 2023
- starshinesprinklesjblackjrcgal: THIRD NAME CHANGE FOR ORIGINAL ACCOUNT - changed around November 29, 2023
On August 29, 2023, Helena changed her user name, and eBay required her to change the language of her listings from "protótipo (prototype)" to "variante (variant)." This is still an inaccurate description of what these ponies are. No other ponies like this are currently known to exist with any other individual, whether they were a child of an Estrela worker or a Brazilian collector who found them on the thrifting market.
Helena's story is that her grandfather worked for Estrela, a Hasbro-licensed company that produced G1 My Little Pony for the Brazilian market. Her grandfather would bring home bags of toys - not strictly My Little Pony - from the factory and distribute them as gifts to her and her seven cousins for birthdays and holidays. Helena also claims that each child who attended the Estrela Christmas party was sent home with a bag of toys.
These ponies are in many odd colors that were not typical of MLP's pastel color palette. They sometimes have distorted features, as if they did not pass quality control at the factory. Helena claims that she and her cousins received these ponies this way and that she is selling them as is. She has stated that Estrela was performing dye tests on ponies at the factory, and these are the results. She has provided proof in the form of a gold Estrela logo necklace that belonged to her grandmother and a My Little Pony tattoo.
She also stated that Rit dye is not available in Brazil and that she does not believe that Brazilian ponies are capable of being dyed at all. She provided video "proof" of her wiping one of these ponies' symbols off with acetone to show that no dye came off. It is important to note that Rit dye can be ordered into the country from online outlets and that her test is not an accurate measure of whether or not a pony has been altered.
Another community member posted a video in which he cuts into the neck plug of a dyed Cotton Candy pony purchased from Helena. The original pink color is clearly visible below the dye permeation. Hasbro sculptor Kirk Hindman has also mentioned at past MLP events that it would have been cost-prohibitive for a manufacturer to dye prototypes and that it is easier to paint them for production review.
All collectors should exercise caution if planning to purchase any of these unauthenticated "prototypes." The seller will indeed provide the goods, however, she is not likely to willingly issue a refund if the buyer decides that they are unhappy.
On September 19, 2023, Helena began adding a false email exchange with an Estrela representative to all of her eBay listings seeming to confirm these ponies' authenticity. The email contains no official Estrela branding to support its legitimacy. The language in the message seems to state that dye was injected into the molds after the vinyl and conveniently supports each point that the community has questioned. The process of injecting dye after vinyl into a mold is not standard protocol for production and highly unlikely to be true. Hasbro US has proven unable to confirm its past products from that long ago without community assistance, so it is not likely that Estrela would be able to confirm products made in a now-defunct factory.
Within hours, the fake exchange was removed from the listings. She has also resumed using the term "prototype."
Helena again changed her eBay user name in September or October 2023, and she has resumed listing ponies with photos of her fraudulent certificates of authenticity and email exchange with Estrela.
- Sold Listings for Fake Prototypes
- Fake Prototypes and Descriptions from eBay Listings
Waterfall with Blue Sprinkles, Sold for $1,000 USD on June 21, 2023
Pink Undertone to Blue Dye
Pink Undertone to Blue Dye Inside
Waterfall Listing Description
Purplish-Gray Snuzzle, Sold for Best Offer on $380 USD Asking Price on June 25, 2023
Darker Neck Seam Determines It Has Been Dyed
Purplish-Gray Snuzzle Listing Description
Brown Peachy, Sold for $380 USD on June 26, 2023
Splotchy Dye Job and Hair That Absorbed Some Dye Color
Darker Neck Seam Determines It Has Been Dyed
Brown Peachy Listing Description
Dark Purplish-Gray Snuzzle, Sold for Best Offer on $360 USD Asking Price on June 30, 2023
Splotchy Dye Job
Dyed Neck Plug
Darker Neck Seam and Hair That Absorbed Some Color Indicating Dye Job
Dark Purplish-Gray Snuzzle Listing Description
Purple Blue Belle, Sold for $380 USD on June 30, 2023; Same Pony Sold on Same Day for Best Offer on $380 USD Asking Price...
Purple Blue Belle Listing Description
Same Purple Blue Belle, Different Listing
Second Waterfall with Blue Sprinkles, Sold for Best Offer on $1,000 USD Asking Price on July 1, 2023
Second Blue Sprinkles
Color on Bent Knee Is Questionable
Oddly Splotchy Face
This Actually Looks Like Poor Airbrushing
Second Waterfall Listing Description, Mentions That Knee Is Stained
Pink Collector Pose, Sold for Best Offer on $378 USD Asking Price on July 3, 2023
Either Shadow from Poor Photo or Poor Dye Job Noticeable on Nose
Pink Collector Pose Listing Description
Blue Green Collector Pose, Sold for Best Offer on $390 USD Asking Price on July 4, 2023
Darker Neck Seam and Hair That Absorbed Some Dye
Splotchy Appearance
Blue Green Collector Pose Listing Description
Magenta Baby Cuddles, Sold for $1,200 on July 9, 2023
Listing Description Stating That Pony Was Discarded and Saved from Trash
Poorly Dyed Blue Sprinkles, Sold for $900 USD on July 9, 2023
Very Poor Dye Job
Third Blue Sprinkles Listing Description
- Known Returns That Are Relisted and Retaliation
Orange Collector Pose, Sold for Best Offer on $500 USD Asking Price on July 12, 2023
Buyer Returned This Pony
Orange Collector Pose Listing Description
Pony Has Been Relisted with Previous Buyer's Name in Listing Title
Seller Included Retaliatory Statement Against Previous Buyer in Portuguese While Rest of Description is in English
