Anyone not into anime, but into BJDs?

I used to watch anime and all that when I was in middle and high school. I was already waning on it due to the steep decline in quality after everything decided to try to be Evangelion when I went to college, but meeting the otaku in my Japanese class clinched it. Killed it dead.

I got into bjds about 3 years later, while living in Japan. So, pretty unconnected and I'm happy to say I've been anime-free and clean for 8 years.

 

I like anime like Wolfs Rain, but not because it's anime. I like anything with animals as main characters. I don't watch most anime and don't really go out of my way to view it over most western films. I go to cons like Anime Boston because it's local and my furry art sells well there.

I'd count myself as not an anime person, despite all that.

 

I'm not into anime...I currently would not sit down and watch anime or seek it out in any other form. But over time my interests are evolving.

I am really really new to this hobby. When I initially started my research, there were certain characters, sculpts, styles, companies that just did not apeal to me. But, as I learn more about the history of BJD, the artists who bring us these pieces, and the time and effort put into each item my viewpoint grows and the more I am exposed to other things that I would not have considered previously. For instance, just a couple of months ago I would just skip over anything that even remotely looked like an anime character. I just wasn't drawn to them. And, truthfully, I am still not. But a few days ago I came across these dolls and something about them intrigued me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japan-Moe-Moe-B...in_0?hash=item45ed81733c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://unidoll.com/

I'm still not sure what it is about them, but I do know that I like them for some reason and just last month I would'nt have even given them a second look.

Right now, to me, anime=cartoon (anime lovers please excuse my ignorance on the subject, I am sure that I have oversimplified it. Its just where I am right now in my lack of knowledge on the subject and not meant in a disrespectful way). And I am not really drawn to that type of look right now. But..who knows what I will like a month or a year from now.

But, to answer your question, I didn't discover BJD via anime. And even if I never develope a full appreciation for the art of anime, I will still enjoy BJD.

 

I admit that I am an anime and manga fan. I saw my first bjd at an anime convention and from there began to look them up. I stopped for awhile at seeing how expensive they are but then more recently came back and now own a few.

Even being a fan of anime/manga, I do not associate them together. I like my bjds to look realistic and not like anime characters. Though there are a couple I wouldn't mind having in doll form, I like the realistic original ones better.

 

I'm definately not an anime or manga fan but I am obsessed with BJDs. However I am beginning to like the anime aesthetic in BJDs. I used to only like more realistic ones but now I pretty much like any BJD. I guess I just go in cycles. I liked anime when I was little but now I don't care much and certainly cannot contribute anything to any anime-related conversation. I'm glad to see that BJDs vary immensely across the board in style.

What actually got me into BJDs was not anime, manga, an interest in Japan (although I did already have an interest in that), or anything like that. It was simply an interest in dolls, haha.

 

What's Manga?? No, I have no interest in Anime. My two, one of whom is still in waiting, don't look oriental at all to me. I am a DOLL collector. I love dolls of all kinds. If I like the face and the body, then it's for me.

 

You already know you're not the only one, but I'm with you. I do not like listening to music in any other language but my own, well and Latin and Gaelic and Celtic. My first and pretty much only love of anime is Pokemon (is shot). And I have no interest in wearing a kimono because I think white people look ridiculous in them! There I said it! And I feel SO much better. But I do believe that Asians kick butt (reverse racist = A person who believes the best race is every race but one's own). And their awesome Asian awesomeness falls over into making dolls. And cute things. Someone beat Disney at cute. They deserve high praise.

 

You're not alone. I'm not interested in anime/manga or even particularly anything Oriental. While I enjoy ethnic sculpts, including Oriental ones, they're more of an additional diversity to my collection than anything else. That said, I love Japanese cottons but that's a completely different discussion.

Please don't get me wrong, it's not like I dislike Japanese things but outside of dolls my interests range more towards animals, Native Americans & wilderness areas than any other certain culture.

 

Another one not into anime or manga..with the sole exception of Vampire Hunter D (the second movie). I do love to look at the Manga book section because I love all the bright colors and artwork on the covers but I can never get into the stories too much. I think I just like reading regular books and imagining the characters myself too much.

I started liking BJDs because I've always liked dolls and action figures. I already had a Blythe and vintage Barbie collection before I bought my first BJD.

 

I too am not a fan of anime! Granted I do like the music and Culture of Japan, but Animé is way over my head for me.

I'm an artist adn I just think of dolls as another way to express creativity - what with the painting and mods and sewing.

 

I am definitely in that camp. I don't particularly enjoy Goth, Lolita or Steampunk either, but adore dolls and doll play.

 

I fell in love with BJDs when I was almost out of anime. Your money has to be spent, on way or another, I guess

 

i liked anime when i was in high school, and have been a j-music fan since middle school. i stopped liking anime when it got too mainstream, and the only j-music i listen to now is old school, the only exception being d'espairsray. i cannot stand all those vk bands. not too big on manga either, save for a couple old favourites.

i fell for bjds when i stumbled upon the volks site long ago, and i was hooked ever since. ^^

 

Back in middle school I was BIG into anime...like wow. Once I hit high school I dropped it almost completely. I'm still an avid Beboper but..that's where I draw the line. I'm pretty sure I loved that one because it's in it's own league...I mean seriously ;D

=/ so...I fall in to the 'into BJDs but not anime' crowd.... a little ironic since I decided to join a hobby that seems to be ridden with the latter... =/

 

i tried to get into anime when i got into high school because everyone i knew either did anime styled art or watched it or read it (i know one of them is supposed to be anime and one is supposed to be manga but its all "anime" to me lol) so i read a few books and tried to watch some but it just wasnt for me. i like looking at the art still but its not really my thing

and i love BJDs (duh! lol)

 

All right, so I LOVE anime and manga. And I was introduced to BJDs through Rozen Maiden.
BUT I really got into BJDs because I saw pretty, pretty photos of them on deviantart, and they looked like people and I fell in love with all the creativity and customization...

The reason I'm commenting here is because I, personally, am not a huge fan of when anime and manga are involved in the BJD world. I think the sculpts with the little pointy noses and/or animetic eyes are kind of freaky (no offense to anyone who likes dolls like that, they just aren't my super-sweetened cup of tea ). But what I REALLY don't like about it is when people assume that the only reason non-asian people can like dolls is because they watch anime and read manga and, obviously, they think this makes them more Japanese (Note the sarcasm, but I've met people who actually think like that). I think everyone should be able to enjoy these dolls, regardless of what sort of TV they watch. And the whole population of us shouldn't be generalized and stereotyped just because a lot of us are addicted to anime, since there are obviously plenty of people who aren't.

 

I rarely watch anime, never read manga, don't care about gothic, lolita or punk fashion and I hate Jpop and Jrock. Still, I'm obsessed with these dolls. I don't think you have to be a fan of anything I just mentioned to enjoy this hobby. To me, one thing has nothing to do with the other.

 

I have to say the only prerequisite for liking and enjoying BJDs that I can think of is, well, having an interest in BJDs. Sharing any other common interest(s) with the rest of the community is just gravy. Nice, but certainly not required.

I happen to be one of those people who enjoys anime and manga, but those interests are at best only tangentially related to my interest in BJDs (I saw my first dolls at an anime convention several years ago, and that's about the extent of it). If anything, my entry into this hobby came through my interest in jewelry design and knitting, combined with a rather active imagination and love of character creation and storytelling.

 

Feh. I'm not much into Anime or Manga either anymore, but I'm still insulted whenever anyone equates Anime with the children's fare that comprise most of what makes it onto American television. The Japanese treat animation as what it is: a medium, not a genre. They produce anime and manga in innumerable varieties, so saying "I don't like anime" is a little like saying "I don't like this idea of depicting stories as moving pictures." Or for a more direct analogy; if you dislike Harry Potter, saying "I hate British books." Forgive my sensitivity, but this has long been a pet peeve of mine.