Aesthetics or posebility?

I prefer aesthetics, hence it is why I like regular hands on the bjd over the jointed ones. It is a constant challenge to find the best of both worlds but one sometimes have to give up one for the other. If the character is an athletic type, I would choose poseability.

 

There are probably a few other posts exactly like this one on here. Who knows if I ever commented on any (ancient old fart here!).

I like a good balance of both, but I far prefer aesthetically pleasing bodies, than posing ability, if I can only choose one.

Having said that, most of my BJD are as ancient as can be, so most have "nice" looking bodies, and not that great engineering. I only own two more "modern" engineered BJD (double jointed knees and elbows, and extra upper thigh balls. Lol!). Both have things that could be improved, but I love my FL Chicline boy because the body, proportions and build are more to my liking. It is also better engineered (IMHO). However, I prefer it due to the aesthetics as a whole, not due to the posing abilities.

I own a few 1:6 scale action figures, so good engineered bodies are not foreign to me. I just like to have more aesthetically appealing lines, and don't mind giving up some range of motion in exchange. (:

 

I usually end up leaning toward aesthetics but am pleasantly surprised and very happy when I find a body that fits both. But I've noticed I tend to forgive a lot if the sculpting is beautifully done. For example, I have 2 big Dollstown boy bodies for some of my boys and, while they can feel clunky to pose sometimes and are super heavy I absolutely love the way they're sculpted so I can get over it.

 

I feel the same about the hands. I have dolls that have them because the characters more regularly require to hold things, but they're so uglyyyyy on photos Wish there were optional hands made of silicone. Bendy, with a seamless aesthetic. But they'd also age horribly, so so much for that wish.

Regarding the original question: it's a bit of both. Ideally I want a certain amount of mobility and stability, combined with the right aesthetic. However, most of the time I'm just glad when the doll can do the most basic stuff (stable stand, sit, touch face) and have a vaguely fitting silhouette for the character when dressed (height, overall width).
Trying to find the perfect in-character bodies is just near impossible unless all your women have hourglass figures and all your guys six-packs

 

Aesthetic over poseability.

I have both type of bodies and still prefer one that is more of my aesthetic and less ability to pose, so this is for sure.

I to cover lack of posing ability, I try to be more creative myself than demanding my doll to follow me. I curate hyper realistic dolls so posing limitation has been an element which makes my dolls more doll-like. (And I like it that way)

 

I lean toward aesthetics, seeing as I still buy dolls with single-jointed knees in 2022. I had more poseable bodies that didn't fit my aesthetic and I hated them. I'd rather sacrifice a bit of articulation for something I like more.

 

It’s both for me, with probably a slight preference for poseability. When I’m deciding on a doll to buy, I spend just about as much time researching the body as I do the head. Usually though I prefer bodies that can strike a nice balance between aesthetics and poseability like the volks sdgr body, the llt ballerino body, or the impldoll mgb body. It’s definitely more difficult (and sometimes more expensive) to find dolls that fit that criteria but I find it’s worth the effort.

 

Aesthetic completely. I don't take photos of my dolls, so posing is a great bonus, not a necessity.
I especially can't stand neck joints and panty joints to a degree I won't even consider buying a doll with them.
I find collectors who buy dolls with elaborate neck and shoulder joints only to go to extreme extents to cover them up hard to understand.

 

Poseability but to a point. It doesn't help that I'm not personally a fan of the Popovy/PashaPasha etc aesthetic even though those bodies are definitely some of the most posable. I think my favourite balance has to go to Bimong's Narae Fusion because that's an aesthetic body that I like and the poseability is pretty great.

Jointed hands win almost every time over static hands, though I wish the wrist joints for them were a bit less chunky.

 

I own a few older Iple EIDs... I think that alone answers the question.

 

I prefer a mix of both. My favorite bodies are Little Monica's, as I feel like they're beautifully sculpted and are pretty decent at posing with some modifications.

I take pictures of my dolls when I feel up to doing it, so poseabilty is a major plus, but not that big deal if they have some troubles with that.

 

I lean more towards aesthetics because most of the time I will just be looking at my dolls. There are a couple that I prefer poseability a little more since they need to be able to hold certain poses for photographic purposes. So far a little wiring has helped so I can keep the pretty bodies.

 

I’m more towards aesthetics. I don’t take very cool professional looking photos where I have my dolls posing. I just take phone pics of them looking nice and I like to show off what I made them

 

I think posability, for the most part? Since all the dolls I would like to have are characters in a nineteenth-century inspired world, they're pretty covered up by their clothes, but I would like them to be able to strike nifty poses.

I have so much respect for all doll designers: those who put thought into very beautiful joint aesthetics, those who favor very posable, flexible jointing systems, and those striking a balance. It takes so much knowledge and craft!

 

Posability. Their body is going to be covered with clothes anyway, for the most part, so I would rather them be able to pose natural and nicely. I do look at proportions though, what height, bust size, hip size, skinny or more muscles I want, then find the body of that type that I like the posing of the best.

 

I prefer a balance -- a doll that is very beautiful loses appeal for me if they are a terrible poser, and a doll that has good engineering raises it's appeal for me.

 

I choose aesthetics. And then I will patiently, painstakingly make. the. doll. do. the. pose.

I have found over the years that most dolls will do a lot of things, even if they are supposedly incapable of them. So I'd much rather take my time and enjoy the view.

 

Why not both?

Seriously though, We can have our cake and eat it too. Fairyland, Dollmore, Dream Valley, etc proves this.

So I guess balanced?

 

Posability, to a degree. There are some joints and such where it's just like ugh, I don't like the look of those. (Bean elbows and shoulder joints... not my fave.) Though honestly, I don't see why single versus double joints are seen as such an aesthetic difference much of the time! Especially on the arms - I can't tell the difference on some dolls until I actually look at the inside of the elbow. I do enjoy the look of a nice double joint, though, one that fits into the body instead of floating there.

I'm not super huge on body aesthetics over face, though, unless it's either a joint I really hate or a single-jointed doll. I have two OT dolls with single jointed elbows and one, I didn't pay anywhere near full price on, the second I loved enough that I was willing to deal with the single joints.

Only body where I've kind of wanted it just because of the look of the joints is Xagadoll's (I think it's them anyways) heart knee body. I'm a sucker, I think they're cute.