Today, we delve into a detailed comparison of miniature flocked animal families, focusing on how the newcomer Honey Bee Acres stacks up against established brands like Calico Critters and Li’l Woodzeez. Specifically, we’re putting the Honey Bee Acres Barkster dog family under the microscope to see if this more budget-friendly option can truly compete with its higher-priced rivals, or if it falls into the category of a “knock-off” in terms of quality and appeal.
This review expands upon an initial look at the Honey Bee Acres Playground Pals and Barkster family, where some shortcomings in the Honey Bee Acres line were identified. Now, we’ll directly compare the Barksters to dog families from both Calico Critters and Li’l Woodzeez, assessing their relative merits and drawbacks.
| Comparing dog families from Honey Bee Acres, Calico Critters, and Li’l Woodzeez brands. |
Let’s quickly recap the initial impressions of the Honey Bee Acres Barkster family before diving into the comparisons.
We’re focusing on these three dog families today, having already examined the Honey Bee Acres Barksters in detail previously:
| Brand comparison of Li’l Woodzeez, Honey Bee Acres, and Calico Critters toy dog families. |
The Honey Bee Acres Barkster family’s packaging immediately sets a different tone. It comes in a hexagonal cardboard box, distinctively shaped like a honeycomb, which is a nod to the “Honey Bee” theme. Notably, the box lacks a plastic window, a departure from the packaging norms of Calico Critters and Li’l Woodzeez.
Inside, the Barkster family consists of four members: Cooper, the dad; Poppy, the mom; and their two sons, Gus and Theo.
| The Honey Bee Acres Barkster family, priced at $9.94. |
Examining the figures themselves, the Barksters are dressed in simple outfits using common fabrics, creating a somewhat homespun aesthetic. However, a closer look reveals a potential area of concern: many fabric edges are unfinished, leading to fraying, especially noticeable on Cooper’s shirt. This contrasts with the generally higher standard of clothing finish found in Calico Critters and Li’l Woodzeez.
Articulation-wise, all Barkster dogs boast six points of articulation, which is commendable for figures in this price range. However, the articulation isn’t without its issues. Gus and Theo’s leg joints have a limited range of motion, preventing them from sitting properly. Poppy’s flocking also presents problems, exhibiting noticeable patches where fur is missing. Adding to the inconsistencies, Theo, a boy character, is given eyelashes, a feature typically reserved for female characters in these toy lines, suggesting a lack of attention to detail.
Despite these flaws, the Barksters possess a certain undeniable charm. They are cute, but the imperfections raise questions about their overall quality when compared to competitors.
| Honey Bee Acres baby figure with diaper fit issue, a recurring clothing problem. |
Honey Bee Acres Barksters vs. Calico Critters Yellow Labrador Family
Now, let’s move into a direct comparison, starting with the Calico Critters Yellow Labrador Family.
| Calico Critters’ Yellow Labrador Family by Epoch, retailing at $24.99. |
Priced significantly higher, with a MSRP of $24.99 (though found on sale for $15.99), the Calico Critters family is roughly twice as expensive as the Honey Bee Acres Barksters. This price difference immediately positions Honey Bee Acres as the more budget-conscious option.
The Calico Critters packaging is a window box, allowing potential buyers to see the figures inside – a common feature for this type of toy. The back of the box features a charming illustration of Calico Village, setting the scene for imaginative play.
The bottom of the box provides names and character descriptions for each family member, adding depth to the play experience.
Unboxing the Calico Critters is straightforward. The cardboard backdrop slides out easily, and the figures are attached with rubbery ties that are simple to cut.
Meet the Yellow Labrador family: Barker, Lucy, Buddy, and Sadie.
| Calico Critters Yellow Labrador Family members Barker, Lucy, Buddy, and Sadie. |
Barker, the father, is described as sporty, though his attire – a checkered shirt and tweed pants with suspenders – leans more towards dapper than athletic. The clothing quality is immediately superior to the Barksters. Barker’s shirt features finished edges and small, detailed red buttons. The pants, while not closing in the back to accommodate his tail, are also well-made, and the elastic suspenders make dressing and undressing easy.
| Calico Critters Barker, showcasing his well-tailored and detailed clothing. |
Barker has five points of rotation, with his tail adding a sixth point of articulation thanks to its bendable wire core. While his joints were initially stiff, they soon moved smoothly. Unlike Poppy Barkster, Barker’s flocking is flawless. However, his tail, while posable, is noted to resemble a golden retriever’s tail more than a Labrador’s.
| Calico Critters Barker’s tail, highlighting its posability and shape. |
Comparing Barker and Cooper side-by-side reveals differences in proportion and build. While similar in height, Cooper is skinnier and lighter with a larger, rounder head, giving him a more cartoonish appearance. Barker, in contrast, is more solidly built and realistically proportioned as a Labrador.
Facial details also differ. Cooper has a plastic pink nose and more molded mouth definition, while Barker’s nose is painted. Despite Cooper’s molded details, Barker exudes more personality with a calm and friendly expression, contrasting with Cooper’s somewhat blank stare.
The most striking difference is in clothing quality. Cooper’s frayed, unfinished shirt stands in stark contrast to Barker’s impeccably finished buttoned shirt.
Undressed, Barker feels softer and more solid than Cooper, whose flocking is less dense and body feels hollow. Weighing them reveals Barker is 0.2oz heavier, a 25% weight difference, highlighting the denser construction of the Calico Critter.
Clothing interchangeability is limited. Barker’s clothes are too loose on Cooper, while Cooper’s pants don’t even fit over Barker’s feet, underscoring the dimensional differences between the brands.
Moving to the mothers, Lucy Labrador is described as a nurturing caregiver. Her dress, a blue number with lace trim and puffed sleeves, is significantly higher quality than Poppy Barkster’s. Lucy’s dress has finished edges (except for the suede-like collar, which is unlikely to fray), and meticulous details like gathered sleeves.
Lucy’s flocking is flawless, and all joints function perfectly. While dress tightness might cause temporary dents in her fur, these smooth out easily. Body and face-wise, Lucy and Barker are identical, highlighting a potential lack of character differentiation within the Calico Critters adult figures, unlike the more distinct Honey Bee Acres parents.
| Side-by-side comparison of Honey Bee Acres Poppy and Calico Critters Lucy, focusing on dress quality and figure design. |
Poppy’s dress, while better than Cooper’s shirt, still pales in comparison to Lucy’s. The quality discrepancy between the two brands is evident. Poppy can wear Lucy’s dress, but it is too big. Lucy, however, cannot fit into Poppy’s dress at all.
The children, Buddy and Sadie Labrador, also exhibit superior quality. Buddy, the brother, is described as sporty and sentimental. His outfit, a red shirt and checkered pants, is well-made with velcro closures. Sadie, the sister, loves dresses, and her pink dress with lace trim echoes her mother’s style in quality and detail.
| Calico Critters Buddy, highlighting the quality of his clothing and overall figure. |
Buddy’s flocking is excellent, and all joints work smoothly. Comparing Buddy and Gus, Buddy’s clothing is far too large for Gus, emphasizing the size difference and lack of clothing compatibility.
For babies, the Calico Critters Yellow Labrador Twins, Shiloh and Marley, are compared to Theo Barkster. These twins, despite being a separate purchase, cost almost as much as the entire Barkster family, highlighting the price premium of Calico Critters.
| Calico Critters Yellow Labrador Twins, Shiloh and Marley, retail set for $7.99. |
The Labrador twins have distinct personalities and come with a plastic car accessory, which is rather basic. Unlike Theo, who has full articulation, the twins are only articulated at the head. Shiloh is permanently seated, while Marley is in a crawling pose. Their outfits, while removable, reveal simple, unarticulated bodies. While Theo has articulation advantages, the Labrador twins are undeniably cuter and more appealing in their design.
| Comparing baby figures: Honey Bee Acres Theo versus Calico Critters Labrador Twins. |
Honey Bee Acres Barksters vs. Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodle Chocolate Labrador Family
Next, we compare the Honey Bee Acres Barksters to the Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodle Chocolate Labrador Family.
| Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodle chocolate Labrador family set, priced at $19.99. |
The Wagadoodle family set, priced at $19.99, is larger, including seven figures compared to the Barksters’ four. This set includes parents, an older sibling pair, and triplets, offering more play value for a slightly higher price than Calico Critters but still more expensive than Honey Bee Acres.
The Li’l Woodzeez packaging is also a window box, showcasing the figures. The back features a family portrait with character names. Unboxing the Wagadoodles is notably more challenging than the Calico Critters, with figures secured by solid plastic restraints that are difficult to remove.
| Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodle packaging back, detailing the family members. |
The Wagadoodle family consists of parents Wanda and Chester, and children Scoot, Spark, Rumble, Tumble, and Romp. Interestingly, the parents have human names while the children have dog-like names, a quirky naming convention.
| The Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodle family, a larger set with seven members. |
Chester Wagadoodle, the dad, wears a shirt and pants outfit. The waistband of his pants tends to flip down, affecting the tailored look. The outfit closes with velcro and has a tail hole. While easier to put on than Cooper’s clothes, getting the short pant legs positioned correctly is fiddly.
| Li’l Woodzeez Chester Wagadoodle, dressed in his business-like attire. |
Chester has a round body, even flocking, and six articulation points, similar to the Barksters and Calico Critters adults. Like the Barksters, Chester can move his tail. His joints move well, though his short legs make it hard to discern sitting from standing.
Body shape comparison reveals the Wagadoodles are rounder than both Calico Critters and Honey Bee Acres, almost exaggeratedly so. This difference in body type, across brands, seems like a deliberate design choice to differentiate and avoid direct imitation.
Wanda Wagadoodle, the mom, wears a simple sundress with a belt. Her dress is well-made, with finished edges and a clean interior. Like Lucy Labrador, Wanda’s body is identical to her spouse’s, making them indistinguishable undressed. Wanda has minor flocking imperfections and slightly misaligned eyes.
| Li’l Woodzeez Wanda Wagadoodle, showcasing her simple yet well-constructed dress. |
Comparing Wanda to Poppy and Lucy, Wanda’s modern, simple dress stands out. It’s well-sewn and easy to use, demonstrating that simpler designs can sometimes be more effective.
The Wagadoodle children include older siblings Spark and Scoot, and triplets Rumble, Tumble, and Romp. Spark Wagadoodle, the sister, is described as outdoorsy. Her outfit, a skirt and overalls with a stitched-in tee, is bright, well-sewn, and easy to use, similar in quality to Wanda’s dress. Spark’s body is a smaller version of the adult Wagadoodle body, with six articulation points. She has slightly misaligned eyes and minor flocking rubs.
| Li’l Woodzeez Spark Wagadoodle, dressed in her bright and practical outdoor outfit. |
Comparing Spark to Sadie Labrador, both have well-made outfits, but Sadie’s dress exhibits more design detail, highlighting the subtle differences in aesthetic and complexity between the brands.
Scoot Wagadoodle, the brother, is portrayed as studious and helpful. His outfit, a shirt-and-pants unitard, is similar to his father’s. Dressing and undressing Scoot is challenging due to his short legs. Scoot’s body is identical to Spark’s, but he has wonkier eyes and more flocking defects, particularly on his leg.
| Li’l Woodzeez Scoot Wagadoodle, showcasing his scholarly attire and figure style. |
Comparing the older brothers, Buddy Labrador’s outfit is superior in design and construction to both Gus Barkster and Scoot Wagadoodle’s. While Gus and Scoot’s outfits are similar in quality to each other, the Honey Bee Acres outfits appear less impressive due to the smaller figure size.
The Wagadoodle triplets, Rumble, Tumble, and Romp, are compared to Theo Barkster and the Calico Critters Labrador twins. The triplets’ diapers lack velcro, making them less convenient than Theo’s velcro-closure diaper. However, all babies arguably look better without their diapers, showcasing their simple, expressive designs.
| Baby figure comparison: Honey Bee Acres Theo, Calico Critters Labrador Twins, and Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodle Triplets. |
Carlie Caramel Dog Baby, with her full romper outfit, is also compared to Theo and the triplets. Carlie’s romper is cuter but harder to use than Theo’s diaper, though more practical than the triplet’s simple diapers.
Flocking and Durability
Flocking quality is assessed across brands. Poppy Barkster has significant flocking issues, with missing patches and easily scratched-off fur. Theo Barkster also developed a large bald patch during the review. Li’l Woodzeez Wagadoodles have some flocking defects, but are generally more durable in scratch tests. Calico Critters Labradors exhibit flawless flocking with good scratch resistance, with minor fur loss only around a pre-existing mold hole on Lucy’s foot.
Clothing Quality and Design
Honey Bee Acres clothing is simple, with fraying unfinished edges, especially on Cooper’s shirt. Small size makes them harder to handle and prone to looking uneven. Li’l Woodzeez clothing is better made with fewer unfinished edges and more detail, and easier to handle due to larger size, though the triplets’ diapers are less user-friendly. Calico Critters clothing stands out for excellent craftsmanship, detailed designs, and ease of use, though baby clothes can be slightly fiddly.
Articulation and Playability
Honey Bee Acres Barksters suffer from flawed joints, especially Gus and Theo’s legs, limiting poseability and play. Calico Critters initially have stiff joints, but these loosen without breaking. Li’l Woodzeez and Calico Critters joints function well.
Conclusion: Brand Value and Irresistibility
Calico Critters remain the gold standard, excelling in design, quality, and irresistibility. Li’l Woodzeez offer a satisfactory, more economical alternative, having improved significantly over time. Honey Bee Acres, while priced similarly to Li’l Woodzeez, falls short in quality, making their value proposition questionable.
While Honey Bee Acres animals may not currently compete effectively, their accessories and furniture could find a niche, potentially compatible with Calico Critters, Li’l Woodzeez, and smaller dolls. However, regarding the animal families themselves, Honey Bee Acres currently lacks the “irresistibility factor” that drives the success of Calico Critters and Li’l Woodzeez. Ultimately, in the realm of flocked animal families, you often get what you pay for, and sometimes, the brand name quality justifies the higher price.
| Final group comparison of dog families from Honey Bee Acres, Calico Critters, and Li’l Woodzeez brands. |
