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Perception of BJDs in other doll circles

Jun 4, 2007

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    1. Probably not - but again, everyone is different. Not everyone plays the same way. Not everyone thinks there is some sort of rule that says in order to enjoy something, you HAVE to play with it, you HAVE to give it a personality....

      I have a lot of barbies and they don't all have names, personalities, etc., but that doesn't mean that I don't still like them. They are out and dressed, wearing cute little outfits and carrying wee purses, and they remind me of happier times (my childhood).
       
      #81 sher, Jun 21, 2007
    2. I agree, Sher - I tend to dress and display more than carry them around and play, but it doesn't mean I like mine any less. I too have other dolls, like Tonners/Kish, etc. And I like them - right now though, I'll admit that BJD have really captured my attention and that's mostly what I'm spending on!

      I do think it's important to understand that we all collect/play/enjoy dolls in different ways, whether they are BJD or not, and that it's all valid! :-)
       
      #82 padawansguide, Jun 21, 2007
    3. I completely agree with this, Sher. I still collect Genes (a few, not all of them), and while I don't play with them like I do my BJDs, I do redress them, set them up in various poses, etc. (I really need to spring for the Room With a View backdrops). To me, they are like changeable art pieces, and I smile when I see them all dressed up and posed. They just seem to make the room brighter, like flowers do.

      However, with the exception of one particular Gene doll, I am more "attached" to my BJD boys, and would be really upset if they were stolen/broken, whereas with the majority of my fashion dolls, I would just file the insurance claim and use the money to replace the ones I like the most, without much angst.
       
      #83 MichelleAK, Jun 23, 2007
    4. Oh, I like that description - "changeable art pieces"! That's just how I view mine!
       
      #84 padawansguide, Jun 23, 2007
    5. Most other dolls collectors have always loved my ball-jointed dolls. Unfortunately, it doesn't tend to work the other way, and most ball-jointed collectors seem to find any other fashion dolls as inferior.

      Never made sense; all of 'em are fashion dolls and on an equal level to me. I see no differences between my big asian ball-jointed girl, my Sybarite, and my Fashion Royalty doll.
       
      #85 ChristinasDream, Jun 24, 2007
    6. My experience is similar to yours...

      I am something of an oddity being under 40yrs old (33 to be exact) as I came to BJD through other doll collecting (antique bisque dolls, fashion dolls Alex, Tonner etc... -and a little bit of an anime fan too!) I am also a long standing member of a local UFDC club. My group is very supportive. They were facinated by Kai when I first got him and he is one fo the more anime styled dolls.

      Now we have one other member who is involved w/ the BJD scene, although she has tinies and Bambicrony (more trad. doll-like in my eyes).

      I have recieved some unfriendly comments at doll shows and shops, several years ago it was because doll people had heard "rumors", I think now most people are at least aware of BJD if not into it.

      I have occasionally heard a couple comments about the price from people who are into antiques or artist porcelain dolls to the effect of "That's a lot of money for something -new..."

      I think some of it may just be sour grapes since some segments of the trad. doll collecting market are shrinking. I watch the doll shows shrink every year, doll museums and shops seem to keep closing, and our club seems to be getting older.

      Try not to let it bug you. If the comments really bother you then are these people you want to hang around? Just smile and walk away. Making products for our BJD is helping keep some companies who make supplies for other dolls in business.

      Most trad. doll collectors I know appreciate these dolls and are genuinely interested and friendly people. Some are very happy to see a segment of the doll colecting world that also engages younger people in a hobby where the demographic is rapidly aging. They are baffled about somethings like the irrelevance of the MIB issue, and customization, but are for the most part willing to be educated, if not to participate.
       
      #86 Lyrajean, Jun 24, 2007
    7. Usually when I (sheepishly) tell people how much mine cost, the non-doll people usually say something along the lines of "I spend that much on shoes/purses/clothes"...that werids me out more than spending that much on "toys".
       
      #87 Ladyrixx, Jun 25, 2007
    8. I've found people to be quite positive in the other doll circles, particularly Blythe/Pullip. A lot of Blythe/Pullip collectors move onto BJD's. The only negativity i've encountered concerning BJD's has come from the anime/manga/cosplay fandoms. I've found cosplayers in particular can be very anti BJD. It's bizarre.
       
      #88 Damson, Jun 25, 2007
    9. That's been my experience too--the only negative comments I ever get are at anime conventions (though I've gotten good comments at cons too). My worst experience with bad comments was at ACEN two years back. I take my dolls other places and people are always at least polite.
       
      #89 Taco, Jun 25, 2007
    10. I have a small collection of baby dolls - silicone, clay and vinyl and amongst those circles BJD's have become quite popular. I have noticed that a few on baby doll forums have even moved entirely into collecting BJD's and selling off their baby dolls in order to do so. I found out about BJD's from a baby doll forum and now I have one and am soon to get my second. :)
       
      #90 Bianca, Aug 17, 2007
    11. That really is strange. It so happens that the friend who infected me with the ABJD virus is a master costumer, who turned to dolls when her health didn't allow her to do full-size projects any more. You'd think that cosplayers would be thrilled at the possibilities for multiple levels of costuming--at a recent con, I saw a woman cosplaying as Suiseiseki, carrying a doll dressed as Souseiseki (I didn't get close enough to see or ask if it was one of the Volks limiteds). Maybe the cosplayers you meet think costuming dolls is "too easy" :roll: As far as anime/manga fandom, there's a lot of similarities between ABJDs and garage kits, and no one seems to have a problem with people who spend weeks painting and assembling a giant Gundam or a bunny girl. Egads, suddenly I'm flashing back to the literary/media science fiction fandom wars. No-no-no <goes to hide in corner with her copy of the Orbyarium and a nice, soothing Terry Pratchett novel>
       
      #91 blackwingsblackheart, Aug 17, 2007
    12. I've collected all kinds of dolls: vintage/modern Barbie, Bratz, other 11 1/2" fashion dolls, 16" fashion dolls and now I'm looking into abjds. I've found that some purist collectors (barbie only, tonner only, etc.) seem sad whenever I tell them I am branching out - like I won't love their favorite doll anymore (It'll never happen - I love all my dolls). But most collectors are very interested in my varied collection.

      I've met a few bjd owners at doll shows and they are very friendly and informative. They let me hold their "kids" (scary and awe-inspiring at the same time) and have shared their stories with me.

      I guess I'm lucky because, overall, the majority of doll collectors (reguardless of type) have been a wonderful bunch who willingly share their knowledge and seem equally interested in my collection.
       
      #92 Alex's doll, Aug 17, 2007
    13. As a member of the fashion doll collecting world, I've actually noticed some grumbling over on the 16" Fashion Doll side for a while - people outright complaining about fashion doll mags going to the BJDs, such as Fashion Doll Quarterly, and basically saying, "what's the point of having an F.D. mag if it's not strictly about 'fashion dolls'"? Some have even expressed a desire to have a magazine solely devoted to the fashion dolls large and small (Barbies, Fashion Royalty, Gene, Alex, Clea Bella, Tonner, Sybarites and Kinetics) with no ABJDs in the mag whatsoever. I've never before voiced my opinion in response to this sentiment, but I for one think this is unnecessarily bitter and really rather enjoy the mix of most all types of dolls in the collector magazines (else I wouldn't be here :) )! And regarding Tonner's new 19" ball jointed fashion doll and what someone wrote earlier in the thread, it's not the first time I've heard someone mention that that company's suffering partly because of collectors becoming more interested in BJDs and "turning to the dark side" as it were and his new resin doll is a reaction to this. Seems to me that there exists in some collectors a small rift between those who collect fashion dolls and those who collect BJDs. I know there are quite a number of people who collect both, but I've seen enough of a rift to make me certain that there are some who will always be staunchly set against asian ball jointed dolls.
       
      #93 Lady Tavington, Aug 17, 2007
    14. At the risk of veering OT, I might be able to shed some light on that particular conflict...:sweat I haven't cosplayed in years, but back in the day I served as a judge at several east coast cons. I'm still senior staff at katsu so I get to hear some of the issues, even though I'm not directly involved with the cosplay anymore.
      There are some cosplay folks (as well as just general con goers) who are snotty about bjds for no good reason. They're just acting out against a new thing that they aren't interested in and there isn't much more to it than that. There have however been larger issues with regard to BJDs and convention cosplay. Several cons have had BJD fanciers who want to "perform" with their dolls on stage in the cosplay, not using the doll as a prop or accessory, but as an actual participant. Most cons do not to allow this. As a result, some BJD fans and costumers get angry and claim that the con is "anti-BJD" (I'm totally not saying that anyone here feels like that, just that it's happened). The resulting arguments have resulted in some cosplayers developing an attitude about BJD owners that they might have not had otherwise. There are some good reasons for not allowing the dolls to compete in the regular cosplay. For one thing, if the cosplay is performed on stage in a hall, most of the audience can't clearly see the bjd, even if it's large one. At least not to the degree that they would need to to clearly view the costume. A second issue is that including bjds as equal cosplay participants would mean that the BJD costumes would be judged alongside costumes made for walking, moving humans. There is a difference in construction when one has to actually move and bend in the garment. Plus, to the BJD costumers credit, working on such a small scale is in many ways more difficult and therefore hard to compare. Basically it's not fair to either party to have the BJDs directly alongside the flesh and blood cosplayers in a competition setting. A solution is for more cons to create specific BJD activities and cosplay events made just for the dolls. If your con doesn't have anything like this, maybe suggest it? ...Or even better, volunteer to spearhead the effort yourself!

      Aside from the genuine cosplay issues, yes, there are a lot of haters at anime cons. Just ignore them. I'm sure you're having more fun anyway.:)
       
      #94 misa1, Aug 17, 2007
    15. *_* :doh All those tiny 1/4" (or less) seams and detailing! If anything doll clothing is a test of a seamstress' skills. You can miss imperfect detailing on a human sized creation but they stand out like nobody's business on a doll sized project.
      Being a tomboy, this is the first that I've had a doll (that wasn't an anime figure) in frankly two decades so I don't have any reference as to the mindset of other doll collectors unfortunately.
      ...I kinda went OT didn't I... :? sorry :sweat
       
      #95 Lilnekochan, Aug 17, 2007
    16. blackwingsblackheart's comment about the literary/media science fiction fandom wars just made me realize that for the most part ABJD owners tend to be a part of other "fanish" groups such as anime and sci-fi where use of imagination is highly promoted. While people in these groups do collect things just to admire them, they also welcome an outlet to their creativity that non BJD's just don't have.
       
      #96 Lilnekochan, Aug 17, 2007
    17. I've heard some of the same grumbling that Lady Tavington has, and it's a shame. I'm not into Sybarites, but I'm not demanding they be removed from the magazine. I just skip over articles that don't interest me. I don't see how it'd be any different if BJD were banned from the magazine - not everyone likes every fashion doll and there will always be some things that just don't interest you.

      I have also suspected that BJD were cutting into Tonner/Gene territory a bit since BJD have expanded from a very anime niche thing to more fashiony dolls. I'm more interested in fashion dolls than anime, so it's what got me started. I used to collect Tonner avidly, but I kind of reached saturation where I just have too many, plus they tend not to hold their resale value. The market is flooded. This kind of came at the same time as I got interested in BJD. I'm not surprised Tonner is trying to attract the BJD market. We'll see if it's successful or not..
       
      #97 padawansguide, Aug 17, 2007
    18. I belong to another forum that welcomes all kinds of dolls and when I first joined I was very much into baby dolls. Then I looked at the forum they posted just for BJD and I was hooked. Next thing you know I am selling all the baby dolls, and packing away clothes to sell at a garage sale one day and looking for my first BJD. I don't miss the babies as one day will be a grandma, but these dolls have been wonderful and I know I am not the only one there that got hooked too.
       
      #98 animemom, Aug 17, 2007
    19. I also collect Blythe and Pullip dolls, and in there's a lot of ABJD collectors in those circles too. In fact I've seen some recognisable faces here from those forums! :D
       
      #99 Inamourada Flux, Aug 18, 2007
    20. I use to collect Barbie...I liked the different looks to her and all. I even repainted one's eyes, but over her old ones diue to the paint coming off. But I got bored with them and moved on to BJD. I've never been in the fashion doll circuit until I got into the BJD one.
       
      #100 Rynn007, Aug 19, 2007
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