"Over Popular" Sculpts & Originality

I don't care if a doll sculpt is 'too popular'. For me it's important to like a sculpt so I don't really care if someone else like it too. I give my dolls the outfits that I like. If that means my doll is not original: so what? Every doll is original in it's own way, as long as you give it your own twist.

 

I have swooned over Minifee Chloe and can understand why she is so popular.... I wouldn't mind an 'unpopular' doll but to me I don't think of it that way, yes, I see lots of Chloe's but I look at sculpts and choose which ones I personally like, not if they are popular and everyone has one hehe. I think popular dolls do get more notice, especially when you see that 'Sold out' stamp on the website and you're like awwww so maybe next time that makes you really want to get one?

 

I never really even thought about what dolls are popular and what dolls are not. Sure I've noticed some sculpts being talked about/showed off more but that was basically it, hehe. If I see a pretty doll I see a pretty doll. Two people can have the exact same sculpt and even the same basic idea, yet one doll will appeal to me and the other not. So in the end, to me, it doesn't matter if there are thousands of a sculpt or just ten; they are all going to be different because their owners are different

 

I mean there's a reason the sculpt is popular, right??? If you like it, get it, it's simple as that. People can't stop you from buying something you like. Personally, I'm one of those losers who doesn't want a sculpt that's "too popular" but if you like it, then why does it matter what anyone else thinks??? But yeah, they're popular for a reason.

 

I really agree with this statement! Everyone has their own set of aesthetic preferences, so no two dolls will ever look the same. Also, like everyone has said, it really shouldn't matter how popular a doll is or isn't. Sometimes it is helpful if a particular sculpt has gained some popularity, because it's easier to find reviews. And if you are someone that battles with wanting to be unique, remind yourself that being in the BJD community is unique enough. ?

 

I definitely wouldn't pass up a sculpt I liked just because it was popular. The face-up (especially eyes and eyebrows) and the size and positioning of the eyes can change a doll's look dramatically. If I ended up getting a popular sculpt, I'd consider it a fun challenge to give the doll a unique face-up.
And who says your doll has to be unique? If you like something that's been done a million times, hey, it's your doll. You're allowed to customize it the way you like, even if some would consider that "unoriginal".

 

I wouldn't let popularity affect my fondness of a sculpt. I am new to bjd's and Minifee Chloe is actually the first doll I ordered (I'm still waiting on her.) I can't wait to get her and add her to my fast growing family!

 

The amount of customization that goes into BJDs is enough to make even the most popular sculpt unique for each and every doll. I wouldn't choose a sculpt because it's popular, but I certainly wouldn't back away from a sculpt because it's unpopular. The hard thing about falling for a sculpt that isn't as popular is that there aren't as many owners pictures on the web. That can be a tough hurdle to jump over when you're making a decision about purchasing it. I passed up on the beautiful Souldoll Gana (pains me to think of it ) because I couldn't find more than two owners pictures and it is so tough to imagine her in the customized vision I had in mind.

 

My favorite girl is a Fairyland F60 Chloe girl, and people will tell me -- to my face at meets, even -- that she's just too common. Seriously, what does that even mean? I just thought her squishy lips were cute, and I love my doll. I feel sorry for anyone who seriously worries about what other people in the hobby are doing enough to keep them from buying the dolls that make them happy.

 

I'm also new to BJDs and have ordered Chloe. She'll be my first Minifee. I looked at tons of MNF pics before ordering, and Chloe was the one I was most drawn to. I even individually searched for photos of each face sculpt to make sure I wasn't missing anything Yep, Chloe it is! She's such a beauty that I wasn't too surprised to learn she is so popular.

 

I struggle with liking/wanting popular dolls, mostly because I feel the sculpt's potential has been explored. I tend to lean towards underdog sculpts—sculpts that have potential, but haven't been explored to their fullest.

 

Hmm...Honestly, I don't bring home new dollies cos they're popular or not. I bring them home cos they call me in one way or another, are of my aesthetic and will fit in my doll families. If they are popular or not is not of my concern and doesn't affect me in most ways. I guess the only concern I have is if it's a completely unpopular mould and can't find many face-up examples, that'll make me sad, but that's about it for me. If I do end up with a very popular doll, I do develop her/his character fully to what I envisioned for her/him and if s/he happens to be similar to others, oh well, it was not intentional. People that spend their time hating on other's dolls I find really pathetic and wished they'd get a life.

 

El use to be popular but with all the new companies and everything, he sort of faded away. It'll be Chloe's turn to fade away one day and you'll rarely see one.

 

I can't wait to get a MNF Chloe! I've scoured sooooooo many pictures of her and even when a bunch have blonde hair and are girly, they never look the same. She's a sculpt that takes on whatever personality you give her. I'm certainly not worried about what people are going to think about my "just another Chloe". She'll be my doll and the only one who has to like her is me. At the rate my saving is going, I'll probably get her long after her hay-day anyway.

 

I think it's up to the owners to give unique characters to their dollies - their own style, wigs, scars, tattoos, background stories, everything. It's almost like a never ending list! For example, I'm sure there are many Df-H Lyre sculpts (even though he may not be one of the popular sculpts), but not all of their characters have wings or has a pet or has long hairstyle like my Lyre does. So it's even fun and interesting to see what others can come up with. ^u^

 

No, I don't care how many somebodies have the same sculpt as I do as long as I like it. I'm dressing them up how I want to as well, so I don't care if it's a concept that has been done before.

It's kind of like how some people don't want to watch an anime because they think that it is too popular. I don't care about popularity so long as it is something I like. I guess this could affect other people's decisions, but it isn't a factor for mine.

 

I'm about split when it comes to this subject. On one hand, I do get tired of seeing molds over and over and over and over. I tend to not like popular dolls until they're no longer popular and I don't see them every time I turn on the computer (Like Volks Chris and CP Delf El). On the other hand I got my MD Ryu and Miho during the height of their popularity and I still adore the hell out of them - nothing would stop me from liking those dolls and enjoying photos of them. Same with B&G's Sapphira. When I got him he was EVERYWHERE, now few people still have one, and I don't think too many (if any at all) still have one from when I got mine. No matter how many people had him I still loved mine - and I loved seeing pictures of him all over too.

It's a little lonely out there when you have dolls no one else does. My favorite doll isn't popular at all, there are a handful of those who have one (but don't post! Post photos!!), but if you check out the photo thread and database, it's almost all me :<

And since 2009 I've never found a single other person with a Leekeworld Bebe... a mold I seriously think is the cutest thing ever. It depresses me to think there is not one other person out there who likes that mold enough to own one. I would love to see other pictures of him. Or her.

I like knowing people who own the same molds I do - I've met really good friends for that reason alone, and seeing molds with different faceups and wigs and styles is wonderful. Appreciation/love for the same sculpt is automatically something you have in common, and can open even more doors in the future.

So yeah, maybe FL Chloe's are a little over saturated, but if you don't like her you don't have to look at her - and if you do, that's about a billion photos you get to stare at all day long! How is that bad?

 

Indeed.

Rynn makes a good point, too... The doll world isn't constant, and what's massively popular right now may not be in a couple of years. The dolls that were all over the place five years ago are fairly rare birds these days, and if history is any indication, someday Chole may well find herself in the same boat. 'Remembered by the hobby's "old timers" as a former It Girl, but long since replaced by something else that became new and popular in her place.

That's why the best policy will always be to just buy what you love and not worry about it. If it's popular, so what? If it's not... again, why let that bother you? It's your doll and you don't have to justify liking it anyone but yourself.

 

Chloe is soooooooooooooo cute though!

 

I admit I do have a difficult time admiring my more popular doll as opposed to my others who aren't quite as known in the BJD community. My DoC Kirill, as are most DoDs among first time doll owners, is pretty well known and I remember just how many other owners were saving for him when I was doing the same. I don't know how much I can chalk up to the fact that my tastes have changed over the years (he was my first doll after all and over 7 years old) and I simply don't like him (after all, I still adore my equally as popular DoC Ivan), or if it's because no matter how I try to modify him or change him, he still reminds me of every single other Kirill out there. I think it's probably a blend of both and I just happened to luck out that a majority of my dolls never ended up being super popular.