figure: RIP Undead Ned

Despite various interpretations, unicorns tend to always be rare, powerful, and fantastical. The toy industry often introduced fanciful, colorful unicorns with girly undertones. In the 1980s, the My Little Pony line featured unicorns in cotton candy pastels. Lisa Frank popularized unicorns of the rainbow and sprinkles variety with her line in the 1990s. Brand strategist, Jess Weiner, suggested that the resurgence of unicorns in contemporary culture thrived because “we’re being faced with some dire messaging around being female. Unicorns are our chance to escape and have some fun.” Around 2019, MGA Entertainment introduced R.I.P. Rainbows in Pieces unicorns, collectible vinyl unicorns that had had something go wrong. Every unicorn character came paired with a holographic trading card printed with a limerick eulogy that revealed how the unicorn met (or escaped) their demise. Undead Ned had zombie-like characteristics and was said to have tried a juice cleanse and "felt his guts start to cave, then rose-up from his grave." Like many of MGA Entertainment’s products, the line had a built-in element of surprise and collaboration (for trading and sharing).