Characters for your dolls VS. dolls for your characters

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?

Characters for dolls. I see a sculpt I like and then maybe make up a character for them.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?

No. I think different owner like doing different things. It's totally up to the owner what they want to do with their dolls.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?

Always been the same. I don't really have characters I want to shell, but will do that if I fine a doll to suit. But more often I'll fall in love with a sculpt first.

Any other thoughts on the matter?

No. The great thing about these dolls is that there all kinds of ways to appreciate them.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Characters for dolls. I'd always look for a sculpt that appeals to me, wait for it to arrive, and give it time for the doll's character to come to me.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Not really, no. Everyone have a different way of enjoying the hobby, and I see no reason why it can't go either way.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I've always been a character for dolls collector. There were several times where I attempted to get a doll to fit a specific character I had in mind, but it never works out. They'll arrive home, and the vibe they'll give me is always so drastically different.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Both! I have a good mix on my wish list.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Definitely not~ Everyone is free to character create (or not!) as they please

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
My wishlist has two kinds of dolls: sculpts I've always wanted to own, and sculpts I've added as I brainstorm. The first kind usually starts with the sculpt, then I build the character around the sculpt. The second kind begins as a character first, and then I pick a doll sculpt to match that character ^__^ I based most of my current doll universe around the characters I've created for the sculpts I wanted, and then I've started to create characters in that verse and then pick doll shells for them later ^^

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters? I'm the dolls for characters variety.


Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby? Not at all! Whatever makes you happiest. It's not like you need characters for your dolls anyway. You can just collect them because you think they're pretty, if that's what suits you best.


Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch? There have been a couple of occasions where I didn't have a specific look in mind for a character and a doll has come along and helped me form the idea. But I was still shelling existing characters.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Dolls for characters. That's why I'm getting into the hobby.
Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I think it's entirely a personal choice.
Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I'm only just getting my first doll, but I can't see myself ever switching too characters for dolls. My characters are too important to me.

 

I am a "characters for dolls" person. I find a doll I have to have first, then discover their name and think of a background and the connection with my other dolls. I certainly don't think one way is better than the other - in fact I sort of envy those who can write such interesting stories.
I know I will never change to a "dolls for characters" person because my heart definitely goes before my head!

 

(Not sure if off topic here but....)

So I am eagerly preparing for the arrival of my dollys (even though I just ordered them. Seems like it'll take forever) and since I only order blank dolls, I am really excited to spend some time designing their faceups & clothing etc by flipping through the forums and it's giving tons of inspiration.

But here's a big question I have, how do you decided your dolls, do you have a "character" that you have in mind to try and emulate that with the doll (seems like that's what a lot of people are doing) or do you just pick a face up that you think suits them, then dress then, pose them sort of like with a child/pet and then let the doll speak to you and see where it goes and sort of 'figure out' your dolly's personality

Currently I am leaning more towards the latter, but apparently, for the latter, it is very likely for a person to grow tired of their dolly because they don't connect. However, I personally find the first type is a little bit too limiting because if I do that then the dolly will probably be stuck with that one outfit and one look, and it makes them seem less... alive...? not sure if that's the right word for it.

So how do you raise your dollys, any suggestions? Tips? Stories?

 

Most of my dolls are physical respresentations of my role play characters. I create the character first and play them for awhile before deciding to shell them in a doll. Though they have set characters, they still get a whole wardrobe to change out and sometimes have multiple wigs for different looks.


However, a few have been created around an existing doll that I bought because it was cute. In those cases, I do just play with it see what speaks to me. Though if no character develops in months, I usually do lose interest and sell because it holds little meaning for me. Of course, there's also the chance that I'll fall hard for them! That's how two of my favorites, Luc and Parker, happened!

 

When you say create a character, how extensive is your process usually? Do you have a specific look & personality & costume in mind? Also have you had cases where you try to shell the character and things didn't really work out? what happens then? (that's what I'm most worried about, if I create a character, but when the dollys come, the characters I create doesn't fit well with how the dollys want to behave)

 

Depends on the doll, and what I feel like doing to be honest. I currently own two non resin BJD which represent my two real life daughters. I'm going to be making me and my husband eventually too. With those dolls I am sewing clothes that represent clothes we already have in our closets. Hair will be the same color but I can style it any way I do in real life such as ponytails, buns, braids, pigtails, straight down, and so forth. This means basically the dolls can have the same unlimited looks as my family does in real life. These are basically a kind of 3D changing portrait of my family.

Now I do have resin dolls coming to me that have a vague but specific character in mind. I wish to do a Victorian family, so these dolls will have the clothes and hairstyles of that era. Again their looks can be changed as long as it stays within that same era. For those who like to change up their dolls I think this is the way to go, to not be too specific.

For very specific dolls I want to someday do a doll family from the anime show Karin. These dolls have a very specific look both in clothes, face ups, eyes, and hair styles that won't be changed. For these it's very much closer to an art project since I'll have to style these dolls in a very specific way.

edit: I forgot to add the reason why I went with Victorian was because the doll I saw looked it belonged in that era to me. I did let the doll speak to me first. Then I just need to find some more matches.

 

All except one doll I've had in the past have had characters made around them after they arrived, but the next 3 I have planned are all going to be pre-made characters. Both methods are fun! And I know for some people, they'll get a doll with a specific character in mind and then it won't work so they'll make a brand new character around the doll. I don't think either method is right or wrong. I think if you're just drawn to a doll, go for it and make a character later (or don't! It's fine for them to just be pretties on your shelf if that's what you prefer) but if you already have a character you love, seeking out a doll to embody them is a blast

 

I usually always have a character beforehand; if I don't, then I see the doll and create a character around it before I buy it. My character creation process is super in depth (because I'm a writer and an anthropologist, I have to fully develop the character and culture [if it's a fantasy culture or something] before I'll love the character enough to get it in doll form), so it takes me a while. I always have to love the character before I'd buy a doll, so I've never bought a doll and then created a character around it. In my opinion and experience, knowing who's coming and being able to anticipate and craft stuff for that character is so much more exciting than waiting for a random, blank doll!

(My character frames usually end up being 4000-5000 words...I'm super obsessed with character making. I make new characters, cultures, and stories all the time for fun, which is why dolls are so cool to me! A physical manifeststion of one of my favorite original characters is pretty much the best thing ever to me.)

 

I totally just bought my dolls because I loved the sculpts, and 'figure them out' when I met them in person, trying eyes and wigs to see what fits. You'll see and feel what fits to your doll when it's in front of you. I have bought dolls I loved in photos and when I got them just didn't liked them enough to keep, and then there is the ones I won't let go, but I just had to get them in front of me to find out.

I have developed some kind of idea of whom they are but it is a very general idea, since I love fantasy and stuff, to me each one of my dollies is something: a demon, a witch, an android, an alien, a vampire, a ghost (I'm thinking of getting a dragon and a unicorn :P) even though they all have human bodies (no fantasy parts). So I just face-up and style them as I want.

Just to look at them satisfy me, love them as the dolls they are. So I don't have the problem I suddenly feel they don't match a character or something, and I think I can change the thought of whom they are anytime if I want to.

Good luck figuring out your dolls or characters

 

I just pick my dolls based on how I like their face. I also just go with the company face-up (or what the owner has) because that is usually part of what I end up falling in love with, when I see the doll. My first doll, I loved the fullset and only gave him a different wig.

My second doll, there was one thing I wanted, which was maroon/wine colored hair with yellow/gold eyes. That's it. In fact the sculpt was chosen by my bf who was buying a bjd from my favorite company as a gift. I gave her the hair and eye color I wanted and it looked great.

Some dolls show me their personality over time, or my second doll did right after I got her out of the box. I just give them clothes that I think would look good, without much planning. Unless I want to do a doll cosplay, then I have to think about what character would look okay.

I love all four of my dolls to bits. My next doll was chosen because I wanted a teenage boy with a young face. Found the one I like best, and I can't wait to see what kind of little doll-person he will be.

I have never had super detailed characters planned, not until after I already chose a sculpt and think, "what can I do with you?"

I wouldn't worry too much about bonding with your doll. If you are making them into what you like, then you will surley bond with them. If you can be a little flexible, then you definitely won't have problems with their personality, (which can change A LOT with a new face up, wig, eyes, etc. so you can remake them and try again.) Good luck!

 

For me, since I write and draw, I let my premade characters stay in there instead of shelling them. For dolls though, I look at sculpts I like and if they make me think of a character for them, then I consider getting them. If not, then I don't. I have many sculpts I like but don't get because either I can't think of a good character, or think of one, but their dynamic does not really fit in. Of course, it got weird with my boy since I thought of his character looking at a sculpt, but then ended up switching to a different one, so in a way he became like a premade character.

 

Very extensive. My characters have full names, birth dates, family, job/school, height, weight, hair color and style, eye color, backstory, personal preferences and quirks--a fully playable character. As for clothing/costume, I do have an idea of their personal style, and sometimes there are specific things they need. For example, Luc's trench coat, Hailey's Uggs, Dhani's Star of David necklace. Other times I just have an idea of their basic style, like Kier is casual and sporty, Jubilee is cute and geeky, but what I end up buying or making for them just depends on what's available and catches my eye, as long as it's something the character would wear. They all have multiple outfits, so they're not stuck in one single outfit that they always wear. I think of their clothing more along the lines of how real people could have a closet full of clothes, and not like how a cartoon character wears the same thing in every episode.

Yes, I have had times when a doll I bought didn't work out. When I first shelled Jayden, I ended up hating the doll once it got here because it looked nothing like I thought it would and didn't fit his character. I actually had a different doll who didn't work out for a different character that ended up working perfectly for Jayden! So, sometimes the failed doll can work for a different character, other times I just sell them if I don't like them in person or they turn out to not be what I wanted. In another case, I had bought a doll to be Hailey, and it was great until three years later when I saw a different doll that I felt fit her much better, so I sold the first and replaced it with the new one.

 

I have learned over the years to wait until the doll comes before I buy anything for it, or design it's character. I got the most frustration trying to find the outfit, wig, and shoes that I had envisioned, and not finding them, or they don't make that style for the size doll I have. I almost quit the hobby due to so much frustration! I have also learned that if you stick with 'common sized' dolls, it is much easier to dress them! Most of my collection has ended up odd sizes, so their outfits are mix and match, which means a lot of buying, and hoping it fits/looks good.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?

I'd say I'm mostly a doll for characters person, but there are some sculpts that inspire me to have them and create characters for them


Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?

Not particularly, but if you have an idea of what you want beforehand I feel it gives you more organization.


Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?

reference back to my first response lol


Any other thoughts on the matter?

Do what you prefer as long as you're content.

 

Which type are you? A characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
When I buy a doll it's because I'm drawn to the sculpt, and for me personally the character comes once I've spent time with the doll.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
No, not at all. One of the great things about this hobby is the opportunity for creativity and I don't think it matters how you approach it.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I've always been a characters for dolls kinda gal

Any other thoughts on the matter?
Nope, as long as people are enjoying the hobby I don't think it matters how your characters came to be.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Definitely characters for dolls. I don't like the idea of making dolls for my existing characters. Anyway, the BJD hobby is meant for customization and uniqueness, so I think coming up with a character for the doll is more fun and aligns well with the intentions of the hobby. I can take things at my own pace and I won't be as picky with things as I would if I were making a doll for the character.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Everyone can do whichever they find works best for them. I think my preference is better suited to how I personally participate in the hobby. That's just got I get the most enjoyment out of it.