Is there pressure to make your BJD the BEST?

For my dollies based on my old characters, yeah, they're way out there. Mostly because I made these characters when I was 12, so everything ZOMFG AWESOME is packed into them. And well, they're not believable in the slightest, which irks me a little. But, I keep them that way, since I'm very,verrrry attached to Rais, Akemi, and Zero just the way they are.

My other dolls, the ones not based on my old story, they're the "bland" dollies. The every day ho-hums.And they tend to get a lot more attention from other people, since they're more...I dunno, relatable?

But I do think there's a little group pressure to make your dollie the bestest. Best story line, best put together, most outrageous but still gorgeous. But that's any hobby; or really...life? XD

 

I feel pressure... But not to make my dolls exotic, all that, etc.
Naturally I love fantasy and fictional doll concepts. (currently planning a gargoyle chara)
However its because I love none-human doll concepts more then I love human-plain doll concepts I feel pressure.
Pressure to have: 'normal' dolls. The "none blue-kind", with no mods, and decent clothes & beautiful flowing wigs.

I'm a bit embarrassed because my plans for dolls can be considered 'far fetched', and it seems like majority of doll owners couldn't be more happy with what I would consider a blank/plain concept. D:

Sometimes feels like some people/doll owners disapprove of what I am most fond of at times.
Like they think I am going out of my way to out do their dolls, when I just want the doll to be perfect -to me-.

 

I think that what is "the best" is completely different with every person. I create my dolls to suit my tastes, so that they are best for me. Of course I am very happy, when someon tells me, they are pretty, but If someone doesn´t like them or thinks they are too plain...I honestly couldn´t care less.
I love to read stories that are original and I love to see unique dolls. But my dolls are in the end the best for me, because they are mine.

 

I love my girls the way they are. They're a bit 'out there' but so am I.
There is always going to be something or someone better in someone's opinion. Sure, sometimes I see a doll and think "aaw I wish I had thought of that". But you shouldn't go over the top with it. If your doll is a straight to the point kindof guy, he doesn't need frills and horns and whatnot.
I've seen some people try way too hard to make their doll the most special, by giving them horrible back stories. Somehow that seems to make them think that makes a doll awesome. 'Mine has a worse past than yours, so mine is better'. it doesn't work like that, and neither do clothes and whatnot make one doll better than the other.

 

Hmmm, it seems like you're using "best" to mean some kind of crazy fantasy character. I like my dolls to be real people for the most part, so to the extent that that's "bland" then I guess I prefer the "bland".

Even for a "real person" doll you can try to make your doll look nice with a cute faceup, the right wig and eyes, and a well-fitted realistic outfit. I never think in terms of "bests" because it's not a contest, but there are a lot of fairly "ordinary" dolls I think are very cute. I tend not to like most of the "god and goddess" type dolls and frankly am a little tired of certain doll companies pushing the fantasy concept, though I admit it makes money for them.

 

I don't feel 'pressured' about my dolls either. XD Yeah, they have some elaborate backstories, due to being really long-running role play characters first, with some huge drama in them, but most of the time they're pretty normal guys. I mean, I don't go into them with people, but my 'fantasy' boys are pretty ho-hum for their type! XD I mean, I do stories about playing games and stuff, nothing dramatic, just every-day stuff.

Yeah, sometimes I see molds of my boys, with really GREAT faceups and stuff, or fabulous clothes but... I still like my boys as they are. Sure, they have mostly standard stuff or easily hand-made clothes, but they're mine and that's what makes them 'the best' to me. ^-^

 

I don't feel pressured to make 'em epic or fantastical. All of my characters are just normal people (apart from the fact that they're dolls living in a doll-society) and giving them 'super powers' would be... odd.
But I do want them to look great and with huge attention to detail. Even the most ordinary character can swipe you of your feet if his hair, face-up, clothes, accesories etc, all tell something about him.

I like to think about my dolls' clothes. To think if my girl would wear dresses, what kind of dresses they would be. And when I made up my mind about that, I like to take it one step further... to make that outfit something only she would wear, clothes that tell so much about her character and her story. It is why Zana is dressed an elaborate dress that looks like it was expensive once, but is dirty and worn now.

 

Hmm... I don't really feel pressured to make my dolls characters amazing or out there. I like them with their average, normal personalities with their own little quirks and habits. They don't need to be crazy to be awesome.

...But I do get jealous when I see people with really perfect looking dolls. Amazing faceup, perfect wig, stylish clothes... I aspire for all my boys to look amazing like that. Eventually. :P

 

Hm, not really, but I guess a little, in a way. Not pressure from others, or not pressure to be 'the best', not at all. But I did notice when I bought my first doll recently, that I wanted to get her all the bells and whistles that would make her look great almost straight out of the box (the proper wig, a full outfit set, matching shoes, what-have-yous) . That might just be more a normal feeling though.

I do sometimes feel like 'I want my doll to look better than that doll' when I see some doll photos though. No offense to the owners, not like I say it to their face or anything, but there are lots of unflattering photos that float around. Or, well, like the word used, some dolls seem 'bland', overly so. Not just because they're in 'plain people' clothes, but it's just like 'WHAT is that WIG doing on that head?! IS THAT A FACEUP?? Those clothes are really boring'. Stuff like that. And then I tell myself 'If I'm going to spend all this money on a doll, I have to make sure that I don't end up making her look like that/treat her like that. Remember to make sure to at least make her look decent!'.

Sounds mean, but that's just what's going on in my head. Lots of people's dolls I don't think like that, because lots of dolls are pretty. I'm pretty sure most people see some doll photos where they think similar 'That's NOT pretty' thoughts. I don't have to be 'the best', I'm just afraid and trying to steer clear of hitting the barrel bottom.

As to how 'fantastical' my dolls are... huh, I don't know. I think I prefer more exotic or fantastic styles better, like lolita clothes, bright traditional Asian costume, fantasy outfits, etc.. But plain people clothes can be great too. But I think it can be a bit harder to impress me with that, unless there is a lot of attention to detail and really good coordination (which most plain people clothes don't do, since that's kind of the point ^^; ) .

ali

 

This concept of other dolls being somehow better than mine....I don't quite understand it.

The only pressure I feel is from myself, to make my dolls fully be the best representation of their characters and to be well presented at all times. I don't like dirty, unkept, or unattractive dolls, and I certainly don't want mine to ever appear that way. I don't care what other people would think, but it bothers ME to have dolls without shoes or cheap eyes or ratty wigs, so I never take mine out into public until they are perfectly outfitted and up to my standards.

 

I don't think there is any real pressure, but I do get the feeling that some people think they need to have the best of the best to stay in the spotlight. They give the impression they need the latest, hottest mold with the most expensive outfits and face-ups from the current most popular face-up artist to put a neon light in their gallery thread titles. Those people are praised for being innovative and their constantly changing dolls. I keep an eye on them to see with what new thing they’ll come next.

It depends on how you enjoy the hobby. If you collect dolls for attention and praise from others, then I guess you do need the best of the best to remain the centre of attention. If you collect dolls with more emphasis on what you want to do with your doll and less on what others may think, you only need what's good enough for you. Maybe you like a "simple" character with no greater worries than what he may have stepped in to relax after a long workday.

Considering how much sock dresses are frowned upon, I get the feeling people are more pressured not to linger at the bottom too long.

 

Is there pressure to make your BJD the BEST? Well, I want my Llew to be the best Llew and my Fox to be the best Fox. I don't care if they are "better" than other people's dolls or if other people find them boring, ugly, bland, etc. Actually, if I dressed Llew in one of those gorgeous LE outfits I see the popular clothing designers/companies putting out on occasion he would no longer seem like Llew. More than anything, I like keeping my dolls true to their characters.
Now, the character may feel pressured to look good for attention. Kit behaves in silly ways or does things just for attention because that is his character. A future doll based on one of my OC, Max, will have to wear very fashionable clothing because he HAS to look good, get attention, and be admired.
So when you get a doll, do you have to make it FREAKIN EPIC in every way you can? Or you content with a more... 'bland' doll. I am content with the doll being the way that specific character is supposed to be. I guess all of the dolls I have now are made "bland" on purpose. They are not magical demons, angels, or gods, they don't have super powers, and they aren't even ex prostitutes. For the most part, they are regular everyday people who live fairly dull lives. The doll I am working on has a fantasy background and he was a slave but he is still pretty plain.
I have some dolls I am planning that will be a bit more elaborate but that is not to impress anyone- they will be that way because that is the character and story I created.
While I am sure there are people who mod, dress, and make up elaborate stories for their dolls to impress and look better than other people, I think most people are just expressing their creativity the way they want to, whether that is with their idea of dorky teenage boy whose most epic moments involve video games or with a fantastic and exotic resin interpretation of the Goddess Athena.

 

Well, Caleb, my Soom Dia boy, is suppose to be the most fabulous and well liked celeb that there is. Does anyone else on the forum think that? Most likely not, but I'm happy living in my fantasy land. ^_^

 

Hmmnn let's see...
Is there pressure to make your BJD the BEST? So when you get a doll, do you have to make it FREAKIN EPIC in every way you can? Or you content with a more... 'bland' doll.

I like my dolls to be 'finished' to me, and rather than bland I like to think they're not boring or 'safe',( again to me). So it's the best I can make them for my tastes.
I really admire people who try different things with their dolls, because it inspires me to have a go at something that maybe I normally wouldn't. So I love seeing the diversity of a particular mould, and it's those dolls that tend to stay in my mind rather than some of the lovely looking dolls with fantastic faceups, but are very similar to others.
Also being able to photograph dolls helps enormously, and I'm really hoping in the New year I can get a bit better with my photo's.
That's what's so good about this hobby. There's always something different to try or aim for.

 

There might be pressure for me to do this if I were interested in acceptance and accolades from the community. I'd want an epic, amazing doll that everyone would compliment me on and be wowed by.

However, that's not what I want. I want a doll that is perfectly suited to me and my interests. I want a doll that makes me look at her/him with a huge smile every time.

I think it's natural to be impressed when you see someone else's well-crafted creation, and there are countless ball-jointed doll owners who have amazing, well-developed characters that they have painstakingly represented in doll form. Some owners have dolls that are the most beautiful, have the most unique clothing, and are painted with the most gorgeous faceups. For the most case, however, they aren't doing it to impress other people--they put the time and effort in because they wanted to be happy with their hobby and enjoy it to their fullest ability.

If I felt pressure for anything, then, I suppose it would be pressure to also enjoy my doll to the most. But, really, part of the fun for me about dolls is that I don't have to stress over it, so I don't want to let other people judge me and my doll and pay attention to it. I'd rather enjoy myself in my own way, regardless of what other people have to say about it. n_n

 

I want my dolls to be the best they can be of their character. I'm still working on details on many of them, but most of them are at least somewhere close to where they need to be as far as looks. And yeah, mine aren't necessarily everyday people in real life, but in THEIR world they are. Sure, some are a crew on an airship and some are pirates... but they still have to deal with everyday issues like who to send out for more pizza and who drank the last of the orange juice and why the plumbing is not working. Those things don't always make their way into stories, though. And some of mine look rumpled - they're working crews so they wouldn't all be dressed to the nines all the time. Finn's hair is a little messy, it's become part of her character.

As for fantasy dolls - I have one that's a fairy, mostly because she's smaller than my minis and I wanted her to not be stuck as a child; and one that's an elf because his sculpt came with elf ears. I actually really disliked elf ears before him. His character is a bit out there more than my other dolls are, because as an elf he gets to be that way. I don't know if he really has any magical powers though. None of my other dolls do (excepting the fairy, who mostly just uses hers to change her clothing frequently and make her wings disappear at will). I may have other fantasy type characters eventually, I won't rule anything out. Most of that is because they're interesting, though.

I don't feel pressure to make them better than other people's dolls, other than the ingrained "trying to keep up" pressure - I don't need them to be OMG spectacular, but I don't want people to look at them and think "OMG please get some better clothes for that doll, and fix it's hair, and that faceup is fugly!". I want them to be dressed appropriately for their characters. It bothers me if they don't have wigs and eyes that suit them, or if their faceups aren't good enough (meaning "as good as I can make it"). Most of mine only have one outfit, but I try to make sure it's one that suits them.

Most of the pressure is internal pressure to get them "right", not pressure to have them be popular, or get lots of comments. I create them for me. If other people like them that's AWESOME, and I love hearing about it - but even if no one ever commented on them I'd still love them and work hard to make them their best.

 

This is a great sentiment. I'd love to see more of that in general.

 

I am one who designed my dolls' characters to be 'real people' (well, real fictional people), rather than immortal vampire elf deities or reincarnated ancient queens or whatever. I suppose that makes them less 'epic,' but it's what I'm interested in, and the level of depth that their character has depends a lot more on the work and attention to detail that I put in than on the scope of their story. I'm always pleased and flattered when someone compliments my doll, but I don't have any particular drive to try to make her well-known or popular within the community, so I just do what I enjoy and occasionally find time to share it. If people like it, great, if nobody notices, I'm usually still pretty stoked by whatever I put together.

 

Funniest. Question. Ever!!!

Mine are basically the latter. Wondering who flung poo this time, you know? Partially it's that I AM going to keep making faceups till I get it right (and I'm not a great artist, so.. they look darned dull most of the time). I have to admit to getting a little stupid with outfits... I'm such a fan of shiny kimono-like things and my sewing skills aren't quite up to the elaborate fabrics, so I overindulge them. But perfection? Naah.

That's not to say that I don't love looking at the exquisite ones but I like to play and putter and pfutz around with mine too much to expect glory. They just... are And heck, in real life there are dozens and dozens of average for every starlet, so what's wrong with that?

 

The only pressure I feel comes from within. I am always playing with my dolls hair, clothes and, sometimes, eyes, to come up with a new look--then searching for backgrounds and props, and honing my skills to create as good a photograph as I can.
For me, the photography is half the hobby. The other half is playing with the dolls, i.e., dressing and undressing them.
I don't do back stories and I choose the dolls based on how each one appeals to me. I've found that I prefer 'tweenage humans in the bigger dolls (although I did get one elf because I loved his face) and anthros in the tinies--no bizarre mythical characters, overly-sexualized adults or too-too cute widdle kids.
Now, I'm not into customizing, so all my original dolls have factory face-ups. When I started to see some of the custom face-ups I got a bit envious and I thought that I would eventually get a doll with a more detailed face, especially freckles.
I now have her and love her, and she actually makes me appreciate my other dolls more, as I can see that they are all beautiful, each in his own way.
Of course it's nice if others can appreciate and comment upon my photos but I wouldn't go so far as to buy a doll or outfit because I thought it would appeal to others, rather than to myself.
And as far as some of those backstories go, Munchhausen Syndrome by Dolly may be the best way to describe them.