Today in my newest blog post I will try to answer every question you might have on the topic: “what is a Blythe doll”? Because every time that I share a picture of these dolls on my Facebook group, lots of people would like to know more about this 🙂
So I would suggest getting going and dive right into the topic.
If you would like to head straight for Blythe doll sellers, take a look here!
updated June 2023
What Are Blythe Dolls?
Blythe dolls are dolls that are popular in the world of collectors of vintage and cult dolls.
They have oversized heads and large eyes with the possibility of changing the color and positions of the eyes up to 4 times by pulling a string from a mechanism at the back of their heads.
In this way, you can change the colors of their eyes to match a particular mood, personality, or outfit.
Not just the color can be changed, but also the way they look and they can close their eyelids.
A Little Bit Of History of Blythe dolls, what’s the story behind these dolls?
The first Blythe doll was made by Allison Katzman in 1972 because she wanted to compete with Barby dolls. She passed away at the respectable age of 95.
During that time, the manufacturer of toys company called Kenner LCC started to produce the dolls. Because of a lack of further interest by children in the dolls, however, they stopped making the dolls after one year already.
At the end of the year 2000, the dolls made a comeback in Japan, when a charming TV commercial was produced by CWC (the new license owner and seller), and Blythe was used in it for the Parco department store and supermarket.
All of a sudden, the brand became an overnight sensation all over Japan and Asia.
The result of all this was that the Blythe dolls produced at the early start, received a ‘cult’ status over time and now are sold for almost 1000 dollars, or more. (nowadays the new ones have an average cost of about $120 per piece).
The American company called Ashton Drake Gallery also tried to produce the dolls for the American market, but they didn’t become as popular as the ones from Japan.
These days, and still in 2021, Blythe dolls seem to have a huge and worldwide fanbase.
What Is A Neo-Blythe Doll?
So because of the newest interest from the Blythe fanbase, in June 2001, CWC produced an 11-inch doll called the “Neo-Blythe doll”, with the help of manufacturer Takara Co., a Japanese toy company.
Ever since that launch, more than 62 different editions of neo-Blythe dolls have been produced and the process is still ongoing.
In 2002, another version of the Neo-Blythe doll was invented, named ‘Petite Blythe’, aka “Pucci” and it is 4,5 inches high. In the meantime, there are over 100 different editions of this last doll produced.
Have a look at this video where a Neo-Blythe doll is unpacked and shown off.
Someone Else Was Also Responsible For The Revival Of Blythe Dolls.
A photographer and producer from New York, called Gina Garan, also played a huge role in the revival of Blythe dolls.
She made a book in 2002 called “This Is Blythe” and it was packed with pictures of the Blythe dolls.
Later on, she added lots of other books on these dolls, like “Blythe style“, “Hello Blythe” and “Susie says“, and even postcards.
The books showed the dolls in a series of fashion shoots on artistic and exotic backgrounds and they became quite popular.
Some More Info On The Sizes, Structure, Etc, On Blythe Dolls
The Blythe dolls exist in 3 different scales:
- The Neo-Blythe Doll: 12 inches (30 cm) high. (so, more or less a Barbiedoll scale : 1/6).
- The Middie-Blythe Doll: 8 inches (20 cm) high. (I can’t see these fitting into any regular scale dollhouse honestly).
- The Petite-Blythe Doll: 4 inches (10 cm) high. (I’m not sure if these would look nice in a dollhouse on a scale of 1:12, but they wouldn’t be too big).
When you asked yourself: “what is a Blythe Doll”, I would assume that you wondered if these dolls are pose-able? As they are fashion dolls: yes, they are!
You can move their arms, legs, head, and eyes, as explained before. Also, as with Barbie dolls, you can change their outfits and hairstyles.
Beware though, that you can not change their hair or eyes, as they are attached to the big head.
Does A Blythe Doll Have Accessories?
There are tons of Blythe Doll accessories out there!
Different hands, clothes, wigs, shoes, handbags, hats, jewelry, socks, masks, eye chips patterns, the necessary tools, and more. I will mention shops and sellers in a future article!
Blythe dolls could also wear the clothes of Barbie dolls, only full-length Barbie pants will not fit well.
Blythe Dolls Tutorials And How To Maintain Your Blythe Doll.
How to wash the Blythe Dolls’ hair?
All you need to do is wash it like you would wash your regular hair. Just use regular shampoo, rinse it with hot water, and put a conditioner on it. Use a straight-tooth comb to comb it.
Beware: do not use a human hair straightener for your doll’s hair, cause that will burn it!
How to dye a doll’s hair?
You can find the right instructions in the video below!
How to change the hands or eyes on a Blythe doll?
Well, for that question I have another video for you to show!
How to customize these dolls?
For this question, I would like to refer you to this link.
Also, it seems that there are a lot of artists on Etsy who are able to do this for you if you are not experienced in customizing dolls.
How to change a Blyth doll’s hair?
What do you know, I have found yet another video for you haha! 🙂
Where to buy or sell Blythe Dolls?
The best place to buy Blythe dolls would be of course to buy them from official stores in Japan, Singapore, or Hong Kong. Just because these are the most reliable:
- Junie Moone, from Japan.
- Hobby link, from Japan.
- Mandarake, from Japan.
- CC Toys, from Hong Kong, or
- Magma Heritage, from Singapore.
Now, all of these, are, of course, a bit difficult to either:
1. Order (because of the websites not being in the English language), or
2. The shipping costs/customs/taxes are way too high to be sent to your country, etc.
You could try looking for original Blythe dolls on eBay, for example, but you need to be careful about imitations or prices that are way too high on that platform.
If I were you, I would rather look for them on Etsy, as there when people review sellers, in my experience these are really to be trusted.
For your convenience, however, in my next blog post, I will review 5 Etsy shops that sell or customize Blythe dolls.
Why are Blythe Dolls so expensive?
The short answer would be: because of their originality.
Original Blythe dolls are no longer in production and didn’t last long on the toy market, so these original ones became collector’s items.
Another reason why these are so expensive is that they are not just meant for kids, they have an international appeal that attracts a very wide audience.
They are seen as a form of art and are popular within the world of Blythe dolls’ collectors of all ages.
A few more FAQs on Blythe Dolls.
Here below, I have 2 more FAQs on these dolls answered for you:
There are three types of Blythe dolls: This is the official website of Blythe. As you can see, it is also available in English.What are the different types of Blythe dolls?
What is the official website of Blythe Dolls?
My Final Conclusion.
To be totally honest, at first, I was like: iiiiwwww, these are creepy! The dolls look at you like they are going to ‘get you’, as in the ‘Chuky’ movies. Don’t you think? 😉
But when doing the research and watching Youtube clips on “what is a Blythe doll”, I started to see what the fuss is about on this generation of dolls.
Whether you would like to share your creations with an ever-growing community of collectors and people, or you want to develop your photography work through unique ideas and designs, Blythe dolls can create the perfect models for your settings.
I think that I have covered lots of questions on this topic of “what is a Blythe doll”, but if you have something extra to ask then please leave a comment below or join me on my Facebook group.
I wish you a happy crafting/collecting/photographing experience!
Best regards,
Lizzy
Hi everyone!
My name is Lizzy, and I am an amateur miniaturist obsessed with everything in the dollhouse and miniature world, ever since I was a teenager.
So far, I have created 2 dollhouse projects, a backyard shed and a miniature treehouse, tons of DIY dollhouse kits, and “hacked” some.
I also created a fairy garden, and lots of small and simple miniature projects on my YouTube channel. (mostly made from trash or everyday items).
I love to write as well about all things happening in the miniature world, hence the reason why I created this blog!
I wish you happy reading and crafting!
Lizzy
The doll in the picture is beautiful. I especially love her face, it’s very expressive. The clothes are also cute.
Interesting that they became so popular in Japan but not so much in the US. The price is a lttle high, is that because they are handmade? They look handmade 🙂
I have never used Etsy to shop but I’ve seen so many people online advertising on Etsy, I think I’ll start looking there. Those dolls would make a nice gift.
Hi Christine,
They are very special looking indeed, especially the eyes 🙂
I think they became more popular in Japan, because of the Hentai culture there, they love it. But collectors of Blythe dolls are really worldwide now, they just stopped manufacturing them in the US, that’s all 🙂
No, they are not handmade, but they became collectors and cult items over time because the original ones were only produced for about a year ..
Happy shopping on Etsy! 🙂
best regards,
Lizzy
WoW! These dolls are amazing. They remind me a bit of the Bratz dolls but these are a lot more beautiful. I would gift one of these dolls to a child as it can be fun for children to change dresses, features and other stuff. They also look cuter than average dolls, like Barbies.
Thank you for all the explanation.
Maja
Hi Maja,
You are welcome, I am happy to give you all the information that you might need;-)
Best regards,
Lizzy
Wow, thank you so much for the detailed “scoop” on these dolls. I had been wondering what all the fuss was about these unique dolls as I have seen them showing up a lot in 1:12 dollhouse scenes. At first I too thought they were a little creepy, yes, reminding me of the Chuckie movies. But with your detailed history of their origins and new found popularity, I can honestly say that I can see myself falling in love with them. If I had a granddaughter, I would give her one for Christmas (& maybe one for me too!) The pop Manga culture in Japanese comics reminds me of them—the large innocent eyes—perhaps that’s another reason for their overwhelming popularity in Japan & the re-birth of the Blythe dolls. I wish the original creator, Ms Katzman, was still here to see her dream come reality. The clothing and accessories seem to be very well made. I think it’s a wonderful alternative to the anorexic Barbie doll, which has left so many young girls with a damaged self esteem. I admit I had Barbie dolls back in the 60s (I also had The Vogue Dolls, remember those?), but I also admit that they gave me a diminished self-image, knowing that I could never look like her, or have her glamorous life. I am now a fan of the Blythe doll. Thank you so much! ❤️?❤️
You are very welcome again Abigail! And yes, I totally agree with what you are saying. I also think that the people giving these Blythe dolls a make-over are doing a fantastic job!
To be honest: I never really liked Barbie dolls. I always was ‘half a boy’, can you imagine that now that I love miniatures? haha, I tended to play more with Lego as a kid, always ‘constructing’ things and ‘decorating’ shelves and Lego or Playmobil houses. Each his own thing, right? Thanks for your comment!