New Disney Store basic 12" dolls will roll out soon.

Even though I feel like several of last year's releases were a step backward, I really like the way The Disney Store keeps giving makeovers to their princess dolls.  Mattel releases the same exact heads line after line, year after year.  Despite the manufacturing quality problems, I appreciate The Disney Store's commitment to producing interesting dolls.

Here's a preview on Livejournal.   Here are a few comparisons with previous years on Flickr.  Some dolls seem to be following new character art set for this year, Cinderella and Belle now have fly-away hairs, the Snow White doll now has Farrah Fawcett hair instead of a flip.

The new 12" dolls will come with knee and ankle joints.  The characters who don't wear heels will finally have correct footwear.  The Brave/Merida doll was the first released with this feature.

•  Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora will have new face paint, with side-glancing eyes
• Ariel will have a new head mold and also become a side-glancer.
• Belle may have a new head mold, definitely has new eye and eyebrow prints.  She looks much more determined than previous versions.
• Jasmine will have slightly different face paint, the colors look softer and I see fewer eyelashes.  She also will get a plastic necklace.
• Pocahontas seems to be getting better dress fabric.
• Mulan lost the puffy tulle layer over her skirt.
• Tiana I'm not sure of, because they never updated her 2011 photos.  The 2010 doll is still shown on the site.
• Rapunzel will have darker lip color and new shoes.

The website has already cleared most of the older dolls off the site.  I hope all the side character dolls will return when the new princesses are launched.  There will also be a doll of the queen from Brave.