What Is a Neo Blythe? The Story of Neo Blythe Dolls, Simply Explained

“Neo” is the word you will see most in Blythe listings. Here is exactly what it means, in plain English.

What is a Neo Blythe? In one sentence: Neo Blythe is the modern, full-size Blythe doll, first released in 2001, almost thirty years after the original. “Neo” simply means new. It separates today’s dolls from the vintage 1972 Kenner Blythe, which collectors call “Kenner” or “vintage”.

When someone says “a Blythe doll” today, they nearly always mean a Neo Blythe. Here is the story of Neo Blythe dolls, what makes one a Neo, and how she compares with the other members of the family.

The Story of Neo Blythe Dolls

The original Blythe was sold by Kenner for a single season in 1972 and then disappeared. In the late 1990s, a New York photographer’s pictures of her vintage doll caught the attention of the fashion world, and in December 2000 Blythe starred in an advertising campaign for the Japanese department store Parco. The response was so strong that new dolls followed. The first Neo Blythe was released in 2001, made under licence by the Japanese toy company Takara.

Since then, Neo Blythe has been released in limited editions every year, each with its own name, outfit, face and eye chips. The face itself has been updated several times, and collectors refer to each version by a short “mould” name like RBL or FBL. We explain those in Blythe doll history.

What Makes a Doll a Neo Blythe?

• Size. About 28 cm (11 in) tall, the same height as the 1972 original.
• The big head. Her head is nearly a third of her height.
• Pull-string eyes. A string at the back of her head switches between four pairs of eye chips, changing colour and direction.
• A removable scalp. Her hair is rooted into a scalp that can be swapped. See how to change Blythe doll hair.
• Interchangeable parts. Faceplates, eye chips and bodies can be replaced, which is why Neo Blythe is the favourite doll of customizers.

Neo Blythe vs Other Blythes

For every measurement, see our Neo Blythe size guide. For the smaller sizes, see the Middie Blythe size guide.

Official, Factory and Custom Neo Blythe

You will see the word “Neo” used in three ways:

1. Official Neo Blythe: licensed limited editions, usually sold boxed.
2. Factory Neo-style dolls: plain dolls made outside the official releases, popular for customizing. Read what is a factory Blythe doll.
3. Custom Neo Blythe: a full-size doll finished by hand by an artist, with a painted face, chosen eye chips, styled hair and an outfit. This is what we make.

Why Collectors Love Neo Blythe

Neo Blythe is the perfect size for dressing, posing and photographing, and her parts are designed to be swapped. That combination is why she became the foundation of the whole custom Blythe scene. The Victoria and Albert Museum records how the 1972 doll was revived decades later; Neo Blythe is the doll that revival created.

If you would like your own, browse our Neo Blythe dolls, or design one that looks like you in the build-your-own studio.

Shop Neo Blythe dolls

With love, This Is Blythe Team