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Just like people, each Kelly and Li'l Friend doll has it's own individual face. For as varied and numerous as these faces are, they are all based on a few basic face molds. Characters are often identified by facial screening and hair color variations, yet the face molds are used interchangeably and without preference. The four face molds are the bottle mouth, the toothy smile, the closed mouth, and the dimpled smile. It should be noted that recent dolls appear to have larger or mis-shapen heads. This is attributed in large part to the overuse of the head molds and manufacturing variances. Bottle Mouth The bottle mouth head mold was used on the first Kelly and other early editions. After 1998 (box date 1997), the bottle mouth head mold was no longer used in domestic doll production. However, the bottle mouth head mold was used on a few foreign dolls after that date. The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©1994 Mattel Inc.  (Pictured: Shoppin' Fun Kelly)  (Pictured: Bathtime Fun Kelly)  (Pictured: Baby Brother Tommy) The toothy smile has been used since the early editions and remains the standard head mold used in production of Kelly and Li'l Friends dolls. The toothy smile can take one of two forms: lip color painted over the teeth or white painted teeth. Toothy Smile - Lip Color Painted Over Teeth It was more common in the beginning to see the toothy smile with lip color painted over the teeth. The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©1994 Mattel Inc.  (Pictured: Kwanzaa Keeya)  (Pictured: Pool Fun Kelly)  (Pictured: Little Patient Tommy) In 1996 the first example of the white painted teeth toothy smile appeared in the form of the Li'l Dental Patients. Later white painted teeth became more common with Kelly and Li'l Friends dolls. The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©1994 Mattel Inc.  (Pictured: Power Wheels Kelly AA)  (Pictured: Giggles n' Swing Kelly)  (Pictured: Swim Buddies Tommy) The closed mouth face mold was a latecomer to the Kelly world, starting to show up in 1996 with Deidre and Jenny almost exclusively. In later years Kelly doll was graced with this head mold, as have many other Li'l Friends. No doubt created in response to the popularity of the Bob "Mackie" head mold used on Barbie. The closed mouth head mold presented a more serene and shy look. The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©1994 Mattel Inc.  (Pictured: Deidre)  (Pictured: Picnic Kelly)  (Pictured: Evening Recital Tommy) The dimpled smile face mold was the first new face mold since the original molds of 1994. This mold was first used on Pony Ride Marisa in 2002 and has yet to be used again. The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©2002 Mattel Inc.  (Pictured: Pony Ride Marisa) In 2003, Mattel redesigned the head and body of Kelly and li'l friend dolls. For as varied as these faces are, they are all based on only one basic face mold, the toothy smile with white painted teeth. Toothy Smile with White Painted Teeth The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©2003 Mattel Inc.    In 2004, Mattel released a Kelly doll with a "missing" tooth. This feature was based on a new face mold. The toothy smile with white painted teeth included one temperature sensitive painted "missing" tooth. This doll was available in both Caucasian and AA versions. The inscription at the nape of the neck for this head mold is: ©2004 Mattel Inc.  (Pictured: Tooth Time Kelly) |
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