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| Raggedy Ann | |
| Type: | Toy |
| Continuity: | Real world |
| Aliases: | Raggedy Ann |
| Availability: | Common item |
| Manufacturer: | Johnny Gruelle |
Raggedy Ann is based on an actual rag doll which was visually designed by Johnny Gruelle for his series of illustrated books in 1918. The doll itself was first created in 1915. Raggedy Ann is characterized by her plush sewn limbs, red yarn hair, a triangular nose and a blue dress with a white smock. Her name is a portmanteau taken from two poems written by James Whitcomb Riley called "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphant Annie". In 1920, the Raggedyverse expanded to include her brother, Raggedy Andy, though Andy never quite acquired the same level of popularity as his more infamous sibling.
In 1941, Fleischer Studios produced a two-reel animated short called Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. The film was co-written by Worth Gruelle, who was the son of Raggedy Ann creator Johnny Gruelle.
In the 1978 horror film Halloween, the character of Laurie Strode has a Raggedy Ann doll upon her bed in her bedroom. This same doll (or perhaps a replacement) can also be seen in Laurie's room some forty years later in Halloween Ends.
A pastiche of Raggedy Ann, simply called Annie, was a central character in the 1996 direct-to-video family film Josh Kirby: Time Warrior! Chap. 3: Trapped on Toyworld. She was played by actress Sharon Lee Jones in the film.
An actual Raggedy Ann doll was allegedly haunted by the spirit of a girl named Annabelle and was eventually collected by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. A more fictionalized account of this particular doll formed the basis for the Annabelle film series.