Giving your doll a story.

My first doll had a history and well-developed, specific personality, but my current doll does not. It was fun each way, but right now I prefer my current doll. I have more fun with her as a doll than as some carefully-planned embodied character--it's more carefree. :3

 

Everybody has their own way when it comes to collecting dolls and as to whether or not they have stories. Nothing is "required", since it's all about having fun and fulfilling your own wants and needs.

For me, I can't bond with a doll unless it has a story. Characters are a huge part of my life, so I want my dolls to be more than just dolls and have characters of their own. Unlike my other characters, these guys came into being once I saw the mold and then their story started to unfold. No matter how much I love a doll, if I look at it and nothing comes to mind- no character, no story, nothing- then I don't push the buy button.
As for pre-existing characters, well, that's one thing I cannot do. I would be determined to get them perfect, which would be impossible, so I stick with creating characters for the dolls instead of finding dolls to fit a character.

 

Actually with me, their backgrounds were created long before I even thought of making them into BJDs. It wasn't my initial plan to make my oc's into dolls, but it just seemed like a wonderful plan. It also helps me finding the right doll and what to make of him/her, otherwise, I would be completely at loss with so many great dolls, clothes, wigs, eyes etc. I would never be able to choose if I didn't have any characters to start with.

Maybe, this will also help me finally write their story down. ._.

 

No, i don´t. I think it´s cool, though. I´m inventing characters everyday and i love playing rpg, too but i don´t know, somehow it´s different with my dolls and it´s just interesting to read when it´s a doll that don´t belong to me..
i think it´s because MY dolls are part of MY lifestory.. ^^" 3

 

Dolls have always had a background story for me, even back when I was in elementary school and collecting Barbies. I tend to collect accessories more rabidly than dolls, and in part, I think that the stories help to rein in spending. My BJDs' personality traits and background stories tend to shape and be shaped by the little environment I'm building for them, rather than a wish to flesh out my writing or other creative endeavors.

 

Like many of the other members my dolls are shells for original characters. So their back stories already existed long before the dolls did. Kisten is the exception, I just loved the Lu-wen mold too much and had to have him. So his back story has developed as he has been with me. But I find that it does help me control my wish list and impulse buying. If I want to be able to have shells for my favorite characters I have to save my money and find just the right doll not just buy whatever cute doll I see. Yeah...I'm going to keep thinking that....

 

As a newbie myself, I can say that the reason I bought these dolls (other than the fact that they are gorgeous and I've wanted one for a while) is that I was unsatisfied with the pixel versions of my characters and actually wanted a "real life" version I could hold in my hands.

So to answer the question, I wanted to create the characters I write about in my stories and have a visual representation of them in the form of the BJD dolls.

 

My second doll, when she arrived, told me a grand story, and ever since then when I get a new doll I add a character to the story. It's so much fun, I can't imagine having a doll that's just a doll anymore! I don't write or roleplay or anything, it's just these little faces that bring out my creative side!

 

Light don't have a background story, but I know that his personality is based on it somehow...so I need to give him one!

 

Stories aren't required, everyone collects differently. I personally would not want and won't have a doll that doesn't have a story, though. If I can't come up with a character for the doll, I'm not getting it because there would be no purpose for me having it. These dolls are beautiful works of art, so it's totally OK if someone just wants them to have around to look at and never even touches them once they're on the shelf. For ME though, I can just look at a photo if that's all I'm going to do. For me to buy a doll it has to have a personality and a story and a reason for being.

ETA - by "story" I mean basic personality and a concept of how it fits in with the rest of the group and their overall story framework.

 

I can't see why it would be necessary to have a story for them. However, I think many people, even those who don't have a story in mind when they get a doll (Like me!) have at least a name prepared. To me, once I have a name, I have a character. With more characters, it grows into relationships, which turn into stories.... ^.^; I've actually had much more fun watching a story emerge from the dolls, instead of finding dolls for the stories!

 

Caché actually has a whole book for his story (attention whore hahah) but he came after the book was written. What I mean, the character was created already and I later broguht him to life in the form of resin.

But, I don't think it's necessary but it's really part of the fun to have (or make up) a story for your doll. A name dosn't do much. Even so, just say that your doll is into this kind of music thats all it really takes just to give them that little but of life.

 

I definitely give my dolls backgrounds, but I've been known to change them a few times

 

I have to say I like the idea of the doll having a story, though I don't see it as a necessity for me. I of course think of possible names and certain ideas connected to the name but nothing is planned, I plan to let it develop on it's own, so to speak. Besides, I feel I'm simply not creative enough, so like I said, I'll go with the flow

 

I have tried buying dolls simply for their own sake but invariably if they don't fit into my pre existing universes they end up getting sold on. My universes have existed for twenty years so if I can't find a character or a story that works for a doll, then its "byebye" unfortunately.

But not everyone has huge interweaving sagas for their dolls. I don't think its necessary to have a backstory to enjoy owning and customizing your collection.

 

I can't stop coming up with stories, and then I make ones for my mom's dolls too! Personally, I don't think every doll has to have a background, but it wouldn't stay that way for long in my case . I can't stop the constant character ideas, either, I have so many that can't remember them all, mostly for Pukis! I can't help it!

 

Oh, it is somehow a part of how I bond with them My Ariana is not my first doll, but is the first doll I truly fell in love with and Caleb came afterward story-wise, but I knew what sort of doll he'll be and now.. storyline-wise I'm coming up with his daughter (s) and a helper for Ariana. It's like the current theme started with her and then Caleb, then Ariana's helper (Dyani) then Caleb's youngest daughter (Luna) and both of them are Winnie Dees and I just made two dolls out of "one" set. His older daughter, I'm thinking to be a Realskin Amy, but much later as I am making myself broke right now getting things done for what I want at this point. lol To me, a story gives them "life" and makes them more your own

 

My dolls are based on OCs so they all have stories. I have actually been considering getting a doll and trying to not attach it to a story but I don't think that is going to work out. For me, the dolls are more interesting when they represent a character of mine and have backstory.
However, that is just personal preference. Some people may prefer not to attach a doll to a story because they find developing one too complicated, or because they find it limiting. My dolls are always true to character, in dress, hair colour, eye colour, etc. Some people may prefer a doll that can be anyone from any time period based on their mood at the moment.

 

Yes, any doll I have is going to have a background and a story. For me, that's always been essential, but I'm aware that some people do without - and like it that way.

 

I don't think it is neccesary to do.
With my first dolls, I didn't created a background story for them. But after my collection grew, I suddenly got this idea of 1 story that would connect them al together. And also their story is a big inspiration now because I want to make a lot of photoshoots to 'tell' their story.