According to Mashable, a few years apart has only increased the fondness. Just in time for Valentine’s Day – and Ken’s 50th birthday – Mattel has kicked off a large marketing campaign designed to reunite the two.

Visitors to Barbie and Ken can cast a vote on whether the two should get back together, and Ken and Barbie are all over Twitter, Foursquare and Facebook inviting you to get in on the action.

Mattel’s gone all out, creating a special web series on Hulu called “The Search for Genuine Ken,” taking out billboards in New York and LA and doing everything they can to get you involved in Ken’s efforts to woo the world’s most famous doll back to his side. The only thing missing is a (G-rated) Nikki Minaj tie-in.

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that the efforts will be successful.

A reader at Mashable shared this photo of a coupled up Barbie and Ken at Target. Whoops.

Unless there’s a second shelf with Ken hanging out with new buddies Don Draper and Roger Sterling – stiff drink, cigarettes and sad apartment accessories included, for the “She Said No” package, it looks like a few stores may not have gotten the memo on timing.

It’s doubtful that it will cause too much damage though – the campaign is pretty cute, and more original than just releasing a heart covered Barbie. Meaning it’s exactly the kind of thing that will stick with people even if they’re in on the happy ending in advance.

While millions of kids will probably unwrap one of those famous pink boxes this Christmas, there are a few yet unrealized fashion dolls who would be fantastic to see in plastic.

Christian Dior Couture Barbie

Mad Men Become Mad Dolls

Joan, Roger, Don and Betty Dolls

The news we’re most excited about, however, is that Don Draper and Joan Holloway will be immortalized in plastic (the soon to be ex-Mrs. Draper and Roger Sterling as well). If there were any question that Mattel is trying to let you know that playing with dolls isn’t just for kids anymore, this answers it. We aren’t holding our breath for miniature Lucky Strike packs and bottles of alcohol, but we’ll take this collaboration however we can get it.

Though this obviously isn’t meant to be an expansive collection, there are a few additions we’d love to see:

Don Draper Mistress Dolls – this could easily grow to be a collection of its own

Salvatore Romano Ken Doll – if we aren’t going to see him back on the show, we’d bet there are at least a few Sal fans who’d keep him in their fantasy episodes

Miniature Lucky Strike Packs and Alcohol Bottles – we know, not at all appropriate for items that might appeal to younger fans, but c’mon – what’s Mad Men without a cigarette and stiff drink?

Louboutin’s Lady

Happy Birthday Barbie

To celebrate their leading lady’s birthday, Mattel has re-released Superstar Barbie at the 1959 price of $3 (while supplies last, natch). Target is sold out, but Toys ‘R Us still has the discounted doll in stock. Move quickly though, the $3 pricing ends on March 13th.

Louboutin’s Lady

Christian Louboutin's Cat Burglar Barbie and Dolly Forever Barbie

And in case you missed it, Net-a-Porter put the most recent Louboutin influenced Barbie on sale just a few days ago. This marks two of the three scheduled dolls now available.

Dolly Forever joins Cat Burglar Barbie as a red-soled shoe fanatic, and don’t even think about grabbing this doll for $3. The miniature shoe collection (and doll) will set you back $150.

 

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