At last we have a female screen hero with the body of someone you could bump into in the supermarket and an aesthetic that suggests substance over style. I also think that, in some ways, Hasbro should be praised for producing a toy for an 'outdoor girl', rather than the makeup, jewellery, dolls and tea sets that sit them down inside the house. I'm tired of pointing out that pink was the colour of masculinity a long time ago – that there's nothing inherently feminine, or inherently problematic, about the colour. I've got nothing against pink per se, and I'm happy to see it having a bit of a fashion moment for grownups. It isn't all about being pink and pretty.' Not that there's anything wrong with being feminine, but there's more than one way to be a girl. What's so disappointing is that it has to be done in a pinkified, prettified way. 'We are desperate for decent female characters in film. People, crossbows are meant to help you survive, not look good on a catwalk.Ībi Moore, the founder of Pinkstinks, the campaign that managed to get Hamleys to stop branding beauty products and ironing boards with pink for girls while leaving the construction toys and outdoor games for the boyfolk, is also disappointed. 'You can play with the hair and face and shoes and clothes,' she says, happily.

In a promotional video, a saleswoman dressed remarkably like Katniss shows off her target practice and speaks of accessories that allow girls to create an avatar. OK, so the Heartbreaker Bow isn't marketed directly at Hunger Games fans – partly because Hasbro didn't win the franchise rights, I suppose – but I can't think of many other reasons for the launch of a bow and arrow for girls this year.

Nerf rebelle bow instructions