Stardust Classics is a children's book series and doll brand by Just Pretend (which launched in 1995 and was founded by a former executive at American Girl; later it was a division of Kid Galaxy) that lasted from 1997 until 2001. Unlike American Girl which focused (initially) on the historical past, or Magic Attic Club which was set in the present with magical-style adventures, Stardust Classics avoided both and focused instead on fantasy worlds.
The three characters in the line consist of:
- Laurel the Woodfairy: A woodfairy who lives in part of a great magical forest and goes on magical exploration adventures out of her secluded section of the Dappled Woods.
- Alissa, Princess of Arcadia: A princess living in the fantasy storybook kingdom of Arcadia, training reluctantly in deportment to follow her father in rule — and secretly in magic with the local wizard, Balin.
- Kat the Time Explorer: A modern-day Time Traveler with her scientist aunt Jessie, who has discovered a time machine left to her by Great-Uncle Malcolm that sends them to various eras of the past.
The first two characters lived in completely magical lands; the third character, while based in the real world, explored the past of various lands through Time Travel. Laurel and Alissa were available at release, and Kat was added to the lineup in 1998. Along with 18" dolls of the characters and books featuring their adventures, the dolls had elaborate collections and outfits to flesh out their worlds.
The line didn't last very long; the Just Pretend division of Kid Galaxy folded as a victim of the dot-com collapse when their site iDolls.com went under- taking it and two other doll brands tied to Just Pretend, Dream Doll Designer, and Friend to Friend, down. (Another upcoming doll brand, Capatina, briefly sold Just Pretend's remaining stock of Starlight Classics until it was exhausted; Carpatina Dolls still exists and sells their own 18'' dolls). The dolls and their collections are harder to find compared to other longer-lasting doll lines due to their short availability, but books are easier found (like Magic Attic Club and many other brands of the late 90s and early 2000s) the brand has its own subset of fans.
Compared to Magic Attic Club, another book series with dolls, books, and fantasy themes- and one can compare the dolls literally, as both brands of dolls are nearly the same size and can share clothing.