There are a minimum of three distinct brands making these cute animal character dolls. Wondering which type is better? Despite their similar sizes, each of these dolls has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many opt for the popular Calico Critters, formerly known as Sylvanian Families. However, I’ve discovered that the Little Critters that come with the Mitcien Caravan Camper boast some noteworthy features, as do the dolls from Honey Bee Acres.
The Mitcien dolls stand out with a distinctive feature – their gripping hands. Unlike Calico Critters, these dolls have the ability to hold items such as teacups, tablets or utensils. Furthermore, the Mitcien bunnies can tilt their heads up and down as well as side to side, making them more expressive.
Honey Bee Acres dolls also have a separate thumb, but the grip is quite narrow and short. I’ve found they can only be made to simulate holding something quite thin (see photo).
Rabbits left to right: Honey Bee Acres, Mitcien Little Critters, and Calico Critters.
Comparison Chart
| Calico Critters | Mitcien Little Critters | Honey Bee Acres |
| High quality construction; flocking doesn’t rub off with use | Can grip small objects and tilt head | These have cute facial features including eyelashes on girls |
| Clothes are detailed and well made; interchangeable w/Mitcien | Clothes are easy to put on and are interchangeable w/Calico Critters | Clothes for these slender dolls won’t fit other doll types |
| Large variety of quality clothes and accessories | Costs less than Calico Critters | Costs less than Calico Critters |
So which to choose? Of course it depends on your child and your situation. I have all three because I love the variety that Calico Critters offers, and I think Honey Bee Acres are really cute. For the photography that I do, Mitcien dolls having the ability to hold items and tilt their head in different directions is a big plus. Unfortunately, Mitcien seems to only offer 3 dolls (koala, rabbit, and bear) rather than whole families …sigh. If only Mitcien could expand their line of dolls, or Calico Critters enhance their features and abilities, I could live in a perfect miniature world.