Raurencio Discussion Thread - The Story of Vampire

They have giant heads frankly, and they all kind of look a little eerie minus their over obvious similarities to the cast members of the Twilight films. I think it is a bit gimmicky to do this sort of doll. At least with Soom, they were latching onto the underlying themes of VampD to capture their image, and go from their, but what is RStudio trying to capture...teenage angst...even those of us who are teenagers have enough of that to go around without dolls to do so.

Personally, I thought the books (while not well written per se) were entertaining for the week it took me to read them, but going further with them seemed like I was pushing the story past where it could inevitably handle. There isn't as much foundation and lore, not enough deep seated truth behind the words of the book to really find purchase enough to take the fandom to this level. Not to mention, these big headed dolls just creep me out mostly, especially "Edward" or whatever we are calling him atm. I just find that most of the time, dolls are their own romantic notions, they can become their own higher art image, and portray the self we want them to portray, but when you have something like these dolls, you fall short of your own love and agenda, and become a slave to the conformity of the doll itself without tough imagination to push you out.

Honestly, you like these dolls, awesome RStudio is an awesome company, but buy these dolls because you love the sculpts, not because your "Barbie Bella and Edward" just weren't cutting it, and you need a bigger more expensive version of them to fulfill you true dreams as individual artists...just my opinion (and as I said, I enjoyed the books...but seriously?)

 

Ehehe, I know another company got in trouble for doing this.
And actually I'm really let down. I've been loving the newer Raurencio work and sculpts...I was incredibly excited at the idea of a Raurencio scupt with vampire teeth/claws/maybe wings on the new male body. (now tempted to carry out this idea myself LOL)

When the pics loaded I felt so let down This company has been releasing really original sculpts for a while and I respect them for that. Major let down here, for me at least.

(Just sent a message to the Raurencio rep on DOA)

Doing the right thing...right? >,<

 

We all have our honest opinions on this subject, if you feel that they should know about what we think about their work. (Even if some of it is negative.) is totally up to you.

I would like to say if they do happen to peer into this thread is that I like their non "fan-art" works much better, don't follow fads. Instead, offer us (Buyers) more options to enjoy your stye of dolls.
New dolls! In your Style Raurencio!

 

I see potential for customization in these sculpts, and actually think I prefer this take on the theme, so to say, to Nobility's or even Rob Tonner's dolls.

 

As I remember it (and my memory is nothing if not faulty these days) those of use who went "ooo! Love the doll but what a totally transparent copying attempt!" got shouted down really rather soundly.

I still think he's glorious, and I still think it's so very obvious as to be painful.


Sincere and heartfelt agreement with "can't we just let Twilight die a natural death?" theme. The first book was an excellent read. After that it all went downhill, in my opinion -- and the movies are just sad imitations of what might have been a really great vampire tale.

Mostly I'm saddened that Raurencio felt the need to do this. My gosh their sculpts have been such an inspiration in the past (back when there was Unidoll) but this is ... lame.

ETA:

Yes and I understand that desire (obviously ) BUT you and I and other people who make up our dolls to look like our characters are not trying to make a profit on them and therein lies the rub. Because the author and/or Paramount own the rights to make or license likenesses for resale.

 

Lol, that's not the secret. Ringdoll released their Grell homage doll under the name 'Judges.' I think maybe it's because Vampire Hunter is a much, much older series, and the fandom has died down somewhat, and having a doll represent it is more along the lines of 'reawakening interest in the series' rather than 'jumping on the money train' bandwagon approach to making dolls of characters that are all a-buzz on every tween's Facebook page.

And, as many have said, kudos on the likeness, but it's really kind of sad that we get Twilight. Again.

(btw, I love Kuroshitsuji and hate Twilight, and yet, I mock them both. )

Edit: upon seeing that this thread had been brought to the attention of the R. Studio rep, I'd like to add that I really do love the unique style of your original sculpts. Stella has always been one of my favorite female dolls. Please reconsider making any 'fan doll' sculpts.

 

Except it's not really your call, is it? Not legally and not ethically.

Like what you like - variety of taste is great. I have several character dolls, one especially in as close a likeness as I can get to Oscar Wilde. He's my favorite right now... The people making "E, R and J," however, are stealing someone else's intellectual property. I think the books are craptacular (I only got four or five pages into the first; didn't know whether to laugh, cry or gag), but no matter the quality of the source, writers have rights. She sold the film rights to Paramount, along with licensing rights for those characters with those likenesses. Raurencio may not give a damn, but a lot of other people do.

 

Ahh I see, So that's what happened, Usually when company does a "Cosplay" or a "Almost looks like a copyright character" Doll It gets condemned by the masses.

Volks often has the licensing agreement to make official character dolls. While Soom does not, they make a doll with an outfit that looks very very similar to a recognized copyrighted character. Yet it isn't "D".
Meanwhile another Company. not as big as volks/soom comes out with a "Cosplay" Doll that is their own sculpt "cosplaying" as a copyrighted character, yet like Soom, the costume isn't exact. And this doll gets such an out cry from said masses that they pull the doll off from their websites.
Meanwhile.....(IF you still reading this I'm amazed at you still are. O.O;; ) A another different doll company not only sculpts the near likeness of a Character that they don't have the right (copyright/licensing agreement) to it not only becomes one of their most sought after dolls, they provide a matching exact outfit to go with that doll! (and then they do it again with a sculpt-character in the same series.) And there's no outcry from the peanut gallery!

It boggles the mind.

It seems to me that it's very hit and miss for these kinds of of direct from company "character" and "Cosplay" dolls

Eh? The first book was good? I've never bothered reading the books, I watched the movie and it being borrowed from the library, I got what I paid for. (Read: nothing.)

 

I admit that I facepalmed when I saw the pictures, but from a representation standpoint, they're very good. Way better than the Minimees, IMO.

So, given that both companies produced them in limited quantities, with regards to legality and setting aside the clear marketing as Twilight dolls, how is a Raurencio "E" any different than a Minimee Robert Pattinson?

And I'm not at all convinced this is strictly illegal. Shady and smarmy, sure, but not illegal, especially if you consider that Rauencio is in Korea and the laws differ. Does anyone actually know what the international IP laws are that deal with representations of characters using a transformative medium (i.e. not a direct capture from a film, but a new work)?

 

I'm wondering about that, too. There are TONS of Minimees of celebrities, anime/game/TV/movie characters, etc., and nobody has a problem with them at all. How does this really differ, exactly?

I'm not a fan of Twilight and I'm honestly surprised that Raurencio Studio would go this route, considering that they've come up with so many gorgeous, unique sculpts in the past. It just seems like a step down, to be honest. I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, I just think that if they wanted to do a Vampire theme, they could've made something amazing and original.

 

Gah. I keep getting an error message that the site exceeded it's traffic limit. I tried late last night, early this morning, and just now and I still can't see the expanded product photos.

But yes. In bad taste this is... Not to mention the guys look... A little... "Irregular" if you know what I mean. It's the pained expressions.

 

thats because kristen's face is always blank and lifeless -.- lol

i think they did a really good job making them look like the actors.
But really ugly as dolls. I dont see anyone buying these.

i love the series an all, (only heard of it when the movie first came out) and then i just had to read the books after that.
I think it should just say at that though. The books and movies. I hate when things go all crazy like this has become ><

 

So, I'm just wondering - where's the vampires? I mean - Jake's no vampire, he's a werewolf, right? Bella - well, I don't think she's a vampire yet, at that stage. And even if she were, same's true for her as for Edward or Renesmee (silliest name ever, but that's just my opinion - poor kid, she'll be the laughing stock at school, if she ever gets there) or all of those pesky Cullens (and other Twilight vampires). What on Earth did people give the idea there were any vampires in Twilight? Sorry but those creatures aren't vampires. No way.

Though I have to say - kudos to Ms. Meyers. She's done more damage to vampires and the vampire myths than generations of vampire hunters managed to do before her. I didn't read her books but I read about what vampires were supposed to be like in her works and, sorry, just can't take "ye olde bloodsuckers" seriously anymore, ever since. (Though that's hardly their fault.)

Except for that, I think the dolls look great insofar as they look exactly like the actors. And though I don't know whether I agree with Raurencio making them (from a legal point of view), I do have to agree with this: Everyone who's got issues with those dolls looking too much like the "originals" also oughta have issues with Minimees of Pattinson, Lautner and Stewart. But from following different discussions here on DOA, it really seems to be like this: If it's a really, REALLY popular company doing that kind of thing, then it's ok. If it isn't, everyone's on the fence about it. (Even I did recognize Soom's Hyperon as Vampire Hunter D, and I'm neither a fan of the series, nor have I seen one single episode. Ever. And I expected an uproar - but it didn't come, surprise, surprise.)

Just my two cents.

 

Whhhyyyyyyy...? Why would you do this?
Hear that sound like ripping fabric? That's my soul, in pain, at this rediculous thing Raurencio has done. Why not pick a show that has more attracive characters. Taylor whats-his-face is pretty IRL, and Pattinson I suppose isn't terribly unfortunate, but these guys just don't translate well into resin! And Bella? *shudders* Pick a prettier, more expressive character to plagerize, please!!

Where's the plagerize-y love for Harry Potter? Or Lord of the Rings? Or X-Men Or STAR WARS?? Who wouldn't want Anakin or Padme in resin?

Stop with the Twilight please. I don't want to upset anyone by stating my honest opinion of Meyers' writing, but it wasn't that good a book, and movies didn't make it any better.

 

I really can't take this seriously. lol
I wish people would just stop this whole twilight fad. I'm so sick of this. These dolls are unoriginal and unattractive. Honest thoughts.

 

THIS. THIS SO MUCH. I'm a huge fan of Vampire Hunter D, and while I think Hyperon is beautiful, the fact that Soom completely ripped off VHD does NOT sit well with me. Also, I find it kind of ridiculous that the topic of art theft is such a hot issue right now in the debate forum (for good reason of course), yet if Soom makes a doll that very blatantly rips off a character that's existed for years and years, nobody cares? It's not fair to make those sorts of distinctions, just because the company is popular. I don't care if they didn't call him 'D', it's still not their idea.

Anyway, my apologies, getting off topic since this is the Raurencio thread.

 

Wow, lots of negativity here...I happen to like the Twilight books, not the films so much. I was quite impressed when I saw these dolls - I think they did a fantastic job at sculpting the likeness of all three. I think the skill it takes to do that is impressive. I don't know the actual legalities involved so I'll leave that to those who do. I think it's worth mentioning that SOOM also sold a doll called Gluino who bore an obvious resemblance to Tom Cruise as the Vampire Lestat. That is a doll that I used to own & I loved him for that very reason. I would love to own this Edward doll too. Most of my dolls are modeled after one celebrity or another because it's what I prefer.

 

At least Hyperon is attractive. He was nicely sculpted and very well presented.

I don't think Gluino's face look anything like Tom Cruise in that movie, the only resemblance I see is the curly hair and the fact that they're vampires, which really has nothing to do with Gluino's face and presentation.

 

It was all:
Raurencio vampires, awesome!
*click link*
Aww, lame...

 

Doll Twi'leks.

As much as I don't like the dolls, they do a good job as making them look like the actors.