feelings towards hybrids

I love hybrids! Sometimes it's necessary to get the body style/height/whatever needed for that particular character. I see lots of talk about resin matching, but the fact is that even heads and bodies from the same company often will not match 100% unless they're cast at the same time, sometimes an alternate body will match better than the company one, and with a little research and some blushing matches are not that hard. Most people's faces don't 100% match the rest of their bodies in real life, so if a doll is a tiny bit off I don't consider that a problem. I initially thought I would only have hybrids as a temporary measure, but I like my short Lati Rucas (on a perfectly matching older DoC body), and my tall Minifee Shiwoo girl (on an older Souldoll body - not quite a 100% match but fixable once I get around to doing some blushing). Some of my current hybrids will eventually go on their "correct" company bodies - but that's because they're Minifees and Fairyland makes the best bodies in the whole hobby hands down, IMO (A-line Minifee bodies, not the B-line!). But there are also Minifees I have who will NOT go on Minifee bodies, because they're supposed to be tall, and Minifees aren't.

I had planned for my Delf heads to eventually go on CP bodies, too. The "beauty green" one might out of necessity, if I can find one to match, but the other definitely won't. I have discovered I can't stand bodies with no mid-torso joint, so any that come with only low torso joints are destined to be hybridized.

 

Other.

I think when it's done for creative purposes I'm totally fine with it. For instance, putting an SD13 head on an SD16 body. Or putting a Unoa standard faceplate on a Unoa Chibi body. Or putting a head on a DD body for greater poseability or for the curvier figure. I tend to like this kind of hybrid.

However, it sort of...dissappoints me when people make hybrids because of a price point. I feel like they're cheating themselves just as much as the original sculptor of the doll. Lately, there are a lot of Unoa hybrids, and I know that Unoas are expensive on the secondary market. It's a sad but inevitable fact that despite Araki's attempts to make Unoas both high quality and affordable, the prices for dolls that are only produced a few times a year are bound to go up.

But if you just have the patience to wait for a preorder, they're really very affordable. I have immense respect for Araki, and I personally think he would be sad that some people are only interested in the aesthetic aspects of the Unoa, rather than all the little engineering and sculpting details he puts into his dolls.

It's just little things like that. But if you have a hybrid due to finances, and you're happier with that than the more expensive complete doll, then more power too you! This hobby is too often all about money, when it should be about creativity and quality.

 

I love hybrids! A lot of doll owners do wonderful work with their hybrids. I'm always so amazed by them.

 

I have no problem with hybrids! After all I'm the type of person who likes bodies to look certain ways. I prefer a more mature looking male body but I don't like the head that goes with it so what should I do....find a head I like of course. Though they do seem like a lot of trouble if you don't know how to work with bjds like I don't.

 

Lol they just had to go and make a topic like this. Point is alot of people do accept and like hybrids etc. I dont believe there an insult to the artist, I just never liked them and people like to get all sensitive about it. I mean I could like the faceup, or the wig or the eyes or etc but the fact is I will never like the overall doll if its a hybrid. I know ill have to accept it and I will have friends with hybrids but its never been my thing and Im entitled to my own thoughts. So no I dont have any hybrids and never will ^^

 

Hybrids can be a great way to save money on a doll. You can buy a head you love & put it on a less expensive body. The only real problem comes with matching the resin. I only have 2 of them but they work perfectly.

 

Just a question: How about dolls that are only sold as heads? Like putting a School A head on an Isao Nanjou body. Do you dislike those as well?

As for me, I do not dislike hybrids. For me, the body is perhaps more important than the head, because of the engineering that has to go into it to make it both poseable and aesthetically pleasing, but it's not always easy to find a sculpt that has both a pleasing head and a well-constructed body. For example, I love the DOI body for its combination of aesthetics and function, but I'm not fond of any DOD heads, so, I would go look for a head to hybrid the body with.

I'm also quite fond of and amazed at some of the Soom hybrids here on the forum. You can really see the love and dedication poured into putting together the doll, and that's always heartwarming.

But, I don't like the idea of getting a different body for a doll just because it's *cheaper*. What's the point? It's like getting a beautiful Volkswagen Mini and powering it with some cheap 600cc engine. I would still enjoy looking at it, I guess, but I won't deny that I'd probably have a slightly lowered opinion of its owner.

 

I absolutely adore hybrids. In fact, I'm planning on getting one as soon as I have my two layaway dolls paid and some money saved up for other non-dolly things.

I absolutely ADORE the UniReal heads, but that body is way too thick and beefy for the character, who looks like he's in desperate need of a sammich. Or two.

 

I don't think hybrid dolls are better than non-hybrids, more creative or anything like that. But I don't think hybrids are inferioir either. I just think it's a matter of necessity. If an original body doesn't fit your character, you have to make a hybrid, that's all.

 

I'm indifferent to most hybrids, but I love hybridising with Soom fantasy parts. To me, it just feels like Soom's MDs were made for hybridising. Almost every combination imaginable looks just amazing (a great example being the hybrid out there wearing Heliot legs with Amber hooves, or Yenna's Onyx with Vesuvia tail and Amber arms).

At the moment, I have a Cuprit who switches between her own hooves and a pair of Heliot hooves. I also have a Vesuvia torso/tail which should be turning up some time soon, which my Cuprit will wear sometimes. I've also got some Amber arms on layaway, but they'll mostly belong to my Cass.

Speaking of Cass, have her head and Ocean Elf parts coming, and Cass will also mix and match parts with Cuprit. My Chrom (head, hands and paws only, at the moment) probably won't swap as much (he's NS, when my other girls are both WS). But once I get more NS parts, Chrom's paws and hands will probably end up shared around as well XD

I'm not much of a fan of hybridising across companies, but that's just a personal opinion. If someone else can make it look good, I have no problem with it

 

Because if the original head is the main draw, then putting it on a more affordable body makes it accessible financially, and some of the less expensive bodies are really very nice. Sometimes the less expensive body may actually suit the character better or be a really good resin match. It doesn't make sense to have a lowered opinion of the owner because they wanted or needed to save a little money--wanting to spend less doesn't make someone a bad person or any less of a hobbyist. Everybody has their own budget limitations, and hybrids are a creative way of working within that while still being able to get what you want. People need to stop worrying about what other people are spending.

 

That's a rather snobby attitude to take.

 

Yea, I know. I understand that different people have different priorities when it comes to this hobby, so I try not to comment on it. Since this is a discussion thread about feelings though... well, I can't really help what I feel. I can only try my best not to let them affect others.

If the cheaper bodies are to suit a character, or if the person actually likes them, that's excellent. Good for them. And truly, I have no business dictating what people want to do with their money, nor do I really care. It's just that the first thought that springs to my mind when someone gleefully goes, 'I bought it coz it's cheap' is that they are cheap. Not always true, I know, but first impressions....

 

I dont see why it should mind anyone..... BJDs are supposed to be completely customizable.... so why not ?

My first is an Hybrid, and I would not see him any other way. It helped cost wise and he his how he is supposed to be =3

I do not think of doing it again though.... But thats just me =P

 

Agreed. What does it matter what someone ELSE does with their dolls? Or how much someone else paid for them? How would you KNOW if they chose the body because of price? How do you know it's not temporary while they save for another? How is it anyone's business anyway?

 

I have no problem with hybrids. I think it's a great idea and offers room for creativity.

I don't know if I will ever own a hybrid doll, but I wouldn't be against it.

My only request is that owners label them as such (in the Gallery, for instance) in case I fall in love with a certain sculpt.

 

I think hybrids are great. I know for me i'm looking at B&G hyprids as a possibility for my next doll. Ilove the face molds, but the bodies leave something to be desired.

However i do understand why companies might not like the idea of hybrids.

 

you do what works

 

I voted "other" just cause I am not a fan of hybrids but I am not against them too.
I have tried some hybrids in this years but I was never satisfied by them, just cause I actually love dolls that are perfect sculpted (body and head) and well proportioned. It is not so easy with hybrids.