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How BJDs Came to Be and How Are They Made?

Jun 23, 2013

    1. I wasn't sure where to put this, so I figured that general discussion may be best. I've always wondered how long A-BJDs have existed, and how the doll was made before it got to me. When did this hobby really start? Are A-BJDs related to other types of dolls? How exactly do they make the dolls? And while I will never, ever get a re-cast, I've been wondering how those are made too. Why does it take so long for the doll to be made and why are they so expensive? I'm so into this hobby, and have gotten progressively more enthusiastic since I got into it. I've been in this hobby for two years and I have no idea how this whole things works... Could someone tell me? Or maybe a bunch of someones?
       
      #1 chanarivka, Jun 23, 2013
    2. #2 satyrsmoon, Jun 23, 2013
    3. I think that page needs some serious updating O_o... The litteral explosion of BJD's had made some of the information .... I guess 'dated' would be a good word. Some of the references to "average" price and such... Also there seems to me to be a lot more variety in size and body type (by body type I mean maturity appearance). Being a 'mini' no longer means a more child like body only.

      And my pet peeve is bjd's have been in existence for waaaay longer than the 1900's... Just like fashion dolls did not appear with barbie bjd's have been around technically for ages. But like Barbie they just hit the mainstream with (in the bjd case) Volks. They essentially to use a popular phrase 'cornered the market' and thus became sort of the 'standard' to measure by. Still the article is a good place to start.

      But like you I would kill to see 'how they are made'. I know the general idea but not the specifics ^^.

      The price thing... fairly simple... a lot of the work is hand done - anything 'hand made' is more expensive. And in my opinion - worth it.
       
      #3 Lady Tiku, Jun 23, 2013
    4. As dated as the info on BJD_WTF is, that's really among the few places where you'll find that kind of information. Googling "origin of bjd" also helps as some sites have bothered to expound upon further info.

      For the question about how ball-jointed dolls are made, I think you'll have to join The Joint to see how individual artists have created theirs, just to get a sense of exactly what goes into making a doll, or check out the artist's blog as they would sometimes show how they create.

      For a step by step tutorial on how one member created her own doll, there's this one, just to give you an idea of what creating a bjd entails. (She also made a couch for her doll when she was done).
       
      #4 satyrsmoon, Jun 23, 2013
    5. Thanks guys! I didn't even think of checking the wiki! And like you said, Lady Tiku, I would absolutely die to see how they are made!
       
      #5 chanarivka, Jun 27, 2013
    6. I have seen "artist" end of creating a doll... what I am curious about now is the 'factory' end of it... I know next to nothing about resin and casting and how the process would go after there is already a 'prototype/original' doll that will be mass produced (mass is a relative term here ^^).
       
      #6 Lady Tiku, Jun 28, 2013