If you're a fan of cute, collectible animal toys, you've probably come across both Honey Bee Acres and Calico Critters. At first glance, these two brands might seem pretty similar, but there are some key differences that make each one unique. Whether you're deciding which to buy for your kids, adding to your collection, or just curious about how they stack up, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Honey Bee Acres vs. Calico Critters. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What Is Honey Bee Acres?
Honey Bee Acres is a toy line featuring animal figurines and playsets that showcase woodland families living in colorful houses and going on fun adventures.
Launched in the fall of 2021, it started with 13 products available exclusively at Walmart in North America. Popular items included the Around Town Van, Buzz General Store, Sunflower Country Cottage, and Buzzby Farmhouse. The collection also introduced 37 collectible characters, like the Playground Pals, the Barksters dog family, the McScampers rabbit family, the Purringtons cat family, and the Cuddlesworth bear family, all with interchangeable clothing.
Now that their exclusive contract with Walmart has ended, Honey Bee Acres toys can be found in many stores, including Amazon and Target, with new accessories and families joining the collection.
Is Honey Bee Acres Compatible with Calico Critters?
If you’re thinking about mixing Calico Critters and Honey Bee Acres toys, you’ll be happy to know that the parent animals in both brands are about the same height - around 3 inches tall. Are Calico Critters and Honey Bee Acres the same size? Well, sort of - there are some differences in their proportions. Honey Bee Acres animals are slimmer and lighter, with large, rounded heads that give them a more cartoonish look - their heads almost feel like flocked ping pong balls!
On the other hand, Calico Critters are more solid, with their weight evenly distributed across their bodies. Honey Bee Acres figures weigh about 25% less than Calico Critters, adding to their lighter, more playful feel.As for the kids, Honey Bee Acres figures are shorter and skinnier than their Calico Critters counterparts, though their head sizes are similar.
One thing to keep in mind is that these two brands can’t share clothes. Calico Critters’ outfits are too loose on Honey Bee Acres figures, and Honey Bee Acres outfits usually don’t fit Calico Critters well.
However, they can share playsets! The furniture and houses are a good size for Calico Critters, and while the Calico Critters can fit into Honey Bee Acres vehicles, it’s a bit of a snug fit, but they still manage to fit. Check out this fun video showing how the Calico Critters Hopscotch Rabbit family fits inside the Honey Bee Acres Around Town Van.
What Is the Difference Between Honey Bee Acres and Calico Critters?
Though they might look similar at first, there are several key differences between Honey Bee Acres and Calico Critters. Let’s break them down:
Manufacturers
Calico Critters are made by Epoch, a well-established Japanese company known for producing high-quality, timeless toys.
So, who makes Honey Bee Acres toys? They’re produced by Sunny Days Entertainment, a newer brand focused on creating fun, budget-friendly toys. Sunny Days Entertainment is also behind other popular toys like Ravel Tales, Maxx Action, Elite Force, and Maxx Bubbles. They’re based in South Carolina, with their toy factories located in China.
Style
Calico Critters have a vintage, traditional style with soft flocking and detailed clothing, beautifully capturing the essence of each animal with their simple, gentle features.
Calico Critters Chocolate Rabbit Family. Image credit: Amazon
In contrast, Honey Bee Acres toys offer a more modern, cartoonish aesthetic, with vibrant colors and playful designs.
If you’re familiar with the cute styles, you could say Honey Bee Acres is more Disney-cute, while Calico Critters lean toward a Japanese-cute, or kawaii, style similar to Sanrio.
A small but noticeable difference is in the boy and girl Honey Bee Acres figures. The girls have little eyelashes, making it easy to tell them apart, which is a nice touch.
Honey Bee Acres The McScampers Rabbit Family. Image credit: Amazon
Quality
When it comes to quality, Calico Critters really stand out. Their soft flocking is smooth and pleasant to the touch, and their joints move smoothly and easily. Honey Bee Acres toys, while cute, have less dense flocking that isn’t as soft, and it can come off with a simple rub of your fingernail.
The joints on Honey Bee Acres figures don’t always move as smoothly, which can make it difficult for them to sit properly. Their figures also tend to have trouble standing on their own due to their larger heads and body proportions. The heads can be quite wobbly and sometimes even pop off.
As for clothing, Calico Critters have carefully stitched outfits with charming, old-fashioned designs. Honey Bee Acres clothes are simpler, often with unfinished, fraying edges. Because of the small size of Honey Bee Acres figures, putting on and taking off their outfits, especially the thin pant legs, can be a bit tricky.
When it comes to accessories, Honey Bee Acres has a few issues. Some pieces have sharp parts, like the corners of doors or the flame in the fireplace. Additionally, certain furniture items, like lamps and chairs, can be a bit bent and don’t always stand up properly.
Price
Calico Critters are usually about twice as expensive as Honey Bee Acres. This makes Honey Bee Acres a great choice for families who want a similar experience at a more budget-friendly price.
Families
Both brands offer a variety of adorable families. Calico Critters, being around longer, have a much larger selection, with over 30 different species and more than 200 families. Some common species include bears, cats, dogs, and rabbits, each with several breeds. For instance, among the cats, you can find the Sandy Cat, Persian Cat, Maple Cat, Silk Cat, Midnight Cat, Tuxedo Cat, and Latte Cat.
Calico Critters Latte Cat Family. Image credit: Amazon
Unique species include the Woolly Alpaca, Bouquet Skunk, Highbranch Giraffe, Spotter Meerkat, Snuggly Sloth Family and Waddle Penguin Family.
Honey Bee Acres families, on the other hand, are fewer in number - less than 10, including their 9-figure Pals sets, which aren’t exactly families but still add to the collection. They feature classic families like bears, dogs, rabbits, and mice.
Recently, they launched a popular fantasy line called Rainbow Ridge, which includes the Daydreamers Unicorn Family.
They also offer the Rainbow Ridge Pals, a set of nine fantasy-themed figures, including unicorn hybrids, fairies, and other magical creatures. Some of the cutest figures from this line are Pixie the Unicorn Panda, Aura the Fairy Cat, Lucie the Dragon, Indigo the Unicorn Dog, and Coral the Mermaid Cat.
Accessories
Calico Critters offer a wide range of accessories, from detailed furniture to entire homes and shops. They have several different lines, including the cozy Village series with classic, vintage-style houses and playsets; the elegant Town series with a more sophisticated vibe; the School and Sunny Nursery series; the Calico Land amusement park series; the Beauty Hair Salon series; and the Family Trip series.
Calico Critters Large House with Carport. Image credit: Amazon
Honey Bee Acres also offers fun and charming accessories. They have two main series: the farmhouse-chic community and the magical Rainbow Ridge community. The Honey Bee Acres houses and furniture are cute and a bit more modern than Calico Critters but still retain that cottagecore charm. One lovely detail is the stained glass windows in the Rainbow Ridge fantasy line.
Honey Bee Acres Rainbow Ridge Sunburst Art Studio. Image credit: Amazon
While Calico Critters might offer more variety, Honey Bee Acres stands out for its affordability and playful, brightly colored designs. Some of their most popular sets include the Kitchen Accessories Playset, Buzzby Farmhouse, Rainbow Ridge Sweet Dreams Pajama Party, and the Around Town Van.
One nice feature of Honey Bee Acres vehicles is that the doors open on all sides, including the trunk, while Calico Critters vehicles usually only have one or two doors that open, if any.
Overall, Calico Critters tend to use higher quality plastics in their buildings and accessories, but Honey Bee Acres provides a delightful, budget-friendly alternative.
Packaging
Packaging is another area where these two brands differ. Honey Bee Acres generally offers fun and easy-to-open packaging, making it simple to get the toys out of the box. Their families come in hexagonal, honeycomb-shaped cardboard boxes, while Calico Critters are packaged in more traditional rectangular boxes. Both include the names of the animals, but only Calico Critters provide descriptions of the characters’ personalities.
One thing to keep in mind is that Honey Bee Acres boxes sometimes come without a plastic window or protective covering, which can leave the toys exposed to damage or dirt. However, this may be updated in future releases.
TV Series
Both brands also have animated series. Calico Critters features short 3-minute "mini-episodes" available on various streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, with four seasons released so far.
Honey Bee Acres has its own animated series on YouTube, with episodes that are 1-2 minutes long. Currently, there are two seasons available to watch.
The Calico Critters mini-series is superb, featuring adorable stories and great animation. On the other hand, the Honey Bee Acres mini-series has stories that are a bit less engaging. While the animation isn’t the best, it’s still okay, and the voice acting is decent.
Which Is Better: Honey Bee Acres or Calico Critters?
The answer depends on what you’re looking for. If you value high quality, detailed designs, and don’t mind spending a bit more, Calico Critters are likely the better choice. But if you’re looking for something more affordable, with a fun and playful vibe, Honey Bee Acres is an excellent option. When it comes to Honey Bee Acres vs. Calico Critters, both brands have their unique appeal, so it really comes down to personal preference.
So, Are Honey Bee Acres the Same as Calico Critters?
In short, Honey Bee Acres and Calico Critters are not the same, but they do share some similarities. They’re somewhat compatible in size, so you can mix and match their playsets, though their clothes don’t fit each other. The main differences come down to style, quality, price, and overall feel. Whether you love the detailed, traditional charm of Calico Critters or the bright, playful vibe of Honey Bee Acres, both are wonderful choices for collectors and kids alike.
