Perception of BJDs in other doll circles

I've been involved in various doll collecting communities and, overall, I don't find people to have any problem with BJDs in particular--it's just that *any* community that is dedicated to a *specific* type of doll will often consider that type to be the "best." Hey, we're collectors! You have to love it to collect it!

 

I have been collecting dolls, or more accurately "playing with dolls" since I was a child; I am now 41. (ouch) My dolls have gradually evolved from Barbie to larger fashion dolls like Gene and Tonner, and finally now to BJD's.

What I love most about the BJD's is the size and ability to customize, giving free reign to all your creative ideas. I find there is a certain presence and romance in my doll's personalities. Each one has their own story and history, that they will tell you if you just listen closely enough.

Many of my fashion doll collector friends who have never seen BJD's in person were all very surprised at the beauty and quality of them. I even got one of them hooked and now she is saving up for a Lishe I think most doll collecters are quite open minded about them, except for the odd few who think they are "creepy."

 

I first got interested in BJD after I saw the BJD section on a French Pullip forum.

I had just put a high bid on a Greggia Pullip in ebay, and was pretty sure I'd win her, when I started thinking about Bluefairy Xiao all the time. Almost dreaming about her. She was SO beautiful!

I did what I had never done before, I contacted the ebay seller to ask her if I could retract my bid. Luckily, she agreed and wasn't angry about it. I would never have had enough money otherwise.

Well... In the Pullip community, I think BJD are regarded as beautiful - yet unacessible - dolls. My impression - but I could be wrong - is that they like to have a lot of dolls, which is not really possible with BJD considering their price. Yet, in that forum, it seems more and more people are buying or saving to buy BJDs.

 

That's an understatement

 

Hm, I'm not sure if this counts, but I'm really into collecting anime figures. I view BJD as an extension of that, except infinately customizable. At first the price and the fact that they have genitals really turned me off but eventually the allure of BJD caught up to me.

There are definate parallels between the two and most people I know see BJD as the next step up. If you're willing to spend $200 on a single fixed pose figure, what's $1300 for a customizable one, right?

 

I know people complain about the prices but considering the rising prices of Tonner, Gene and Fashion Royalty, one BJD almost equals 3 dressed Fashion Dolls. And if you are into repaints like I was, one repaint could often be the same price as a BJD.

 

I'm not really into other dolls (I used to be, but never bought more than one American Girl Doll when I was nine) but I think this is really interesting. I don't think price is a big difference. Some other dolls cost way more than BJDs, and some cost way less.

 

I'm not involved in any other doll collecting, but I do know two avid barbie collectors. The girl that sits next to me at work is one and she positively squeels when I bring my girls with me. The other is my sister's best friend, who (grudgingly) agrees that they are in her words "pretty damn cool". Both are of the "leave them in the box" variety.

I do also do dollhouse stuff and the lady at my local dollhouse museum was very interested in them, especially when I said there were tinies that were dollhouse sized (if a bit on the chunky side ). The cheap dollhouse dolls are, well, cheap and it usually shows. Some are down right fugly, imho. The nicer ones are usually porcelain, and cost nearly as much as tiny and aren't poseable at all. Once I get my dollhouse up and finished I fully intend to get a couple of tiny tinies... and take them to the museum to be fussed over.

 

If we have noticed more negativity on our side toward other dolls and collectors, how do we go about changing this? Because if we have noticed it, surely this will get back to to other collectors.

We certainly dont want to appear to be negative toward other people's hobbies.

(We certainly face enough negativity about ours, no need to be that way toward other's)

 

I don't think it is an assumption that BJD owners will be rude about other dolls or anything. I have my other dolls and have seen a few people make rude comments about them, but thoese people tend to be rude about everything they don't like, thats just a rude person. I won't judge all BJD collectors by one or two people. Everyone knows one of thoese people who rather than just not say anything instead has to say something unneeded and negative in every thread.
If I don't like a doll I just don't comment on it, or if you can find something you like about it then comment on that.

 

I don't come from the doll backgrounds that most of the other posters here seem to have (Barbie to Gene to Tonner to BJDs) but I can say that from what I have experienced of other collectors and my doll was mostly negative experiences.

From the public to the doll collectors I've found in the area, the general feeling is "That isn't a doll. It's a hunk of plastic that costs too much". So, as you can imagine, I don't take my boy out of the house much.

I was surprised when I went to the local anime convention (MTAC) and was recieved with open arms. Even though it was a different culture there, when I had my boy out no one said anything about it being freakish or weird. What I told them the price, the people would normally say "That's not too bad". This surprised me because I was speaking with people who didn't know BJD culture or anything, they were just anime fans.

I guess whether or not the doll is accepted does have to do alot with where you are and who the people around you are. Not only that, but is seems to have a link to being more open to Asiatic cultures.

 

I think the negative reactions come from mundane people (i.e non doll of any sort people or non-collector people).

They can't see why you have one and I'd never tell the price, it only give people a shock. If they look interested, send them to websites and let them look on their own.

I've had a bit of trouble trying to meet up with National Doll & Toy Collectors NYC branch. I made mention of having BJDs and running meets for them and now they don't answer my emails. However I think that might be more of a viewing me as a competitor thing.

Still the only disparaging things I've ever heard have come from the younger BJD crowd who sneer and say "ew, fashion doll crap" or "ew that looks like a fashion doll faceup"

Which of course, they are allowed to not like, but it's the tone and the contempt that puts people off.

 

AH. Yes, I've seen this too. I'm still a fashion doll collector as well as BJD, and it does always rather bug me when I'll share a pic of one of my bjds, and somebody invariably will say "sigh... i wish i could afford one" and I think, look, I saw you post your tonner preorder list for 5 dressed dolls - there's your BJD right there, so don't say you can't afford one!! LOL!!!

I have to say I've felt a little animosity from other bjd owners here, rather than the vice versa, because I still collect fashion dolls. Snarky remarks about Barbie, vinyl dolls, etc., and I always think it's mean. We don't all like the same things.

To answer the question at hand, though, I'd say for the most part the people I run into in other doll circles like the bjds. Some think they are weird looking, but for the most part, people like them.

 

It still amazes me that anyone can be hostile to what kind of doll someone else buys or collects. Isn't this something we do because it makes us feel good? I love the BJDs because their very structure makes it easier to really play and relate with them. Also I think there is something about their faces and bodies that engages my imagination more then the fashion dolls that I also collect.

 

P.S. Who really cares what anyone else thinks about what we play with and collect anyways? There are always going to be negative people and who needs them?

 

hear, hear. it always astounds me - on ANY board, and I see it on the other doll board I frequent, too - snarky remarks about certain kinds of dolls. There are a lot of dolls out there I think are just awful, but that's MY taste, and I don't like thinking I hurt somebody else's feelings by saying "zomg that doll is so ugly she's creeping me out!" when clearly the owner really loves their doll.

 

I so agree with you Sher, your last two posts have been so dead-on accurate from all counts!

 

I've definitely run into the same "complete the collection" mentality that misa1 and sher have mentioned. It takes a real paradigm shift to move from the idea of, I dunno, having 740 MIB dolls on shelves into the BJD mentality (fewer dolls, more active play with them).

However, the artist-doll collectors I've met aren't fazed at all by the price of BJDs! I had such fun at a local doll show a few weeks ago--sure, there were a few people who turned up their noses at my doll (I was carrying my Dollstown Mui), or were just indifferent, but a lot more were *seriously* interested. The ones who asked about prices, every single one of them, just shrugged and grinned when I answered, and then they said, "Hey, I collect artist dolls. That's not bad at all!" As we talked a little more, I found out that the artist-doll people I met were charmed by the idea of having a doll that's intended to be played with, instead of displayed.

I pimped DoA all over the place, too. Hope to see some of the Topeka doll show peeps stopping by here!

 

I don't feel it's about the price [well yeah maybe the price too, but not so much]. I feel it's more about the fact that this interest is rather rare actually. It's the minority's interest, so of course it's not as well recieved. Anime fans are also of the minority in most countries, so maybe they understand how BJD-collecters feel? And add that to the fact that somehow, many BJD-collectors also like anime/manga [speculation only ><].

And do the above mentioned fashion doll collectors who "get all of the ones of a particular set or style" love all their dolls and give them personalities and care and what not? That's the difference between buying one for a whole lot of money rather than a few at that same price.