[Soom MD/March] Shonki & Appini Bestia Animo!

I'm buying them because of a promise I made to my best friend, and because they are cute and Soom will probably never make a tiny like this again. It's just a little disheartening to see they didn't do their best this time. Usually Soom tends to wow people. Is this going to stop me from buying them? No. If the LE faceup is stopping me I'll order it blank and do my own. I love fullsets and extras but this time it's not worth it to me. Nothing really excites me. But I still want the doll regardless, so I'll buy the doll blank with no extras. First time for me, and I didn't realize it would be so easy. One thing thats best is, the possibilities are endless.

I'm very excited for my Shonki and my friends Appini to come to my house. I don't regret buying them ^^

 

Actually yes for me.
Except I wouldn't call in Mardi Gras glitter, nor would I go as far as to say that the doll won't be loved without it (loads of people get their dolls blank and are happy with them).
On the otherhand, I personally adore the way Soom does body blushing/painting. Their body blushing is just so delicate and stunning, and the parts painting is the best I've seen.
Even if I don't like the colour they've gone for much, I'd STILL rather go with their blushing than get it done myself because I just know that no one can live up that stunning quality (ok there are one or 2 people on DoA I suspect can.)
Except, as I've said I felt that all their parts painting up to now has been much too neutral. The only teeny so far I've been thrilled with painting wise is Eliv and Iv! Pink and blue.. no brown! :s::
I just don't like simple, as none of my dolls are human and I really want a lot of creativity in the way my dolls are painted.
Soom's faceups and blushing were already verging on too simple for my own personal tastes, and that was something I was hoping they'd break this year. This though is just a personal thing and I understand that loads of people love the way Soom have been doing their faceups and blushing exactly as the are.

I think the point though is that this time they didn't even try to blush or do anything much with the doll.
Even if black resin is hard, surely they could have blushed the doll with SOMETHING?
And am I right that they haven't touched the paws at all, except for the paw pads on the bottom?
The faceup might have been working find if they'd just painted the lips too and used different colour lashes. I can see what they were going for, and can see how it might work, they just needed more time to perfect it I think.

You do raise a good point though in that I'm now VERY concerned about how on earth to create the image I have on the black resin.
Maybe it might have to be that the makeup needs to be more muted colours like greys and such, with touches of an accent colour? Will have to have a think about that.

ANYWAY, so I've woken up this morning and totally different things are bothering me about these two.
Why do their feet look like sausages? While I really love the aesthetic Afi and Ai have with their no ankle joint (they are the most beautiful hooves Soom have done I think), I felt that the ankle joint Hati and Skoll had actually added to the paw-like effect.
It looks like Soom have a done a little fur sculpting, but really they just look like sausages with some paw shaping at the ends.
I wonder if there's more definition to them that's not coming out in the photographs?

The faces too.. are just not for me, the more I look at them.
I think that Appini is absolutely adorable, I'm not going to lie about that!
She's just not for me as she does look like a little child.
Shonki I felt like might have potential with the black resin, as that might mature her somewhat, but now I stare more I'm realizing that the black resin is making that chubby little child face MORE defined. Hmm.

So I am still on the fence.
Think I need to see that black resin in person, and have a chat about what other colours might look good on the resin.
I'm also still concerned about Soom Japan's new system, so need to have a chat through with the store about how this is going to effect everything.

I am glad to see Soom trying new things though.
Even if this particular execution wasn't great, the point is that they're TRYING.
Could be that they just weren't prepared for how difficult it was going to be to work with black resin, and after they've tried a few more similar dolls, they'll have it down.
They've had a couple of years of releasing hooves and stuff with the same sort of painting to get that formula right. Now they need to work on their fantasy resins a little more.
I actually am quite excited to see what they come up with down the line now!

..wow this was an essay. xD

 

I really think I'm going to hold out for the next tinies or so because I don't want to chance the black resin or having to deal with the no-ankle joints.

skyza: i love the fact you're naming your tinies Ares and Eris :3

 

Ok well I've poked the artist I had in mind to see how confident they feel working on black resin.
I know they don't do body blushing though so I'll still have to find someone to that, but I suppose if I can get at least the faceup and fantasy parts done, that's a good start.

I think it's going to come down to what I think about them in person really.
Maybe the black will be much nicer? We'll see!

 

Yeah. Part of me wants to make a financial run at Souldoll's GS, 4-armed Shiva (a serious fullset run). Part of me wants to sit back and wait to see Angelheim's Kozy, because wow, I've never bought an MSD before, but he could persuade me. And there's still a part of me considering Shonki. Soooo, when do you think you'd be able to get out for pics? Before the end of next week?

I'm definitely not spending money on blushing. I'm not getting the wig. Like the Cass eyes, getting the clothes. But yeah, not a fullset for me if I go for it. And if pics of Shiva keep sneaking out.... We'll have to see, but I'm always leery when I find myself trying to talk myself into something, it's not a good sign to be persuading yourself to do something in this hobby.

.hlp

 

Oh-my-god. So I caved, really i just CANT say no to that face. and I want a cream white dolly!

(she'll be some sort of forrest creature, tho not a cat or kitsune)

As soon as I opened my split I was called off to fight my neighbors chimney fire (I'm with the local volunteers) its been a busy night!

 

The only thing keeping me away from Shiva is the fact that she's basic. I just cannot rationalize spending THAT MUCH money on a BASIC doll, it's ridiculous!
She would basically be my most expensive doll (as I'd have to have a fullset), which like I said, for my only basic doll to be my most expensive? What logic is that? ::laughs::
Kozy I really like too but, don't do boys so safe! Am in fear of their upcoming girl release though.. THAT could get me. And if they start releasing fantasy MSD girls, bye bye my wallet.

I definitely feel the same as you though, that I'm sort of trying to talk myself into Shonki.
Saying that though, I was doing the same thing with Hati, didn't get her in the end, and regretted it later!
It could just be that I ALWAYS get blushing and faceup, and it's such a risk not knowing whether or not Soom's faceup really is the best that can be done on jet black resin.
True, I wouldn't be getting a fullset. I could probably just get away with blank doll plus eyes, so it's not as huge an investment. There'll always been someone who wants the doll down the line too, when people have worked out how exactly to pain the resin!

It's a tough one, that's for sure!
Right now I really don't know when Japan are getting them in the store either!
They're re-doing their site with these horrible horrible horrible changes at the start of next month, so I assume just after that.
My guess is they'll be on sale here anytime from perhaps the 5th?

 

Drat, there goes my budget! I had completely forgotten about the May Dolpa, and its fairly likely that there'll be a must-have girl released. I don't think I can afford both Appini and another Volks LE so soon, and however much I might kick myself for missing Appini I'd kick myself harder for missing my dream girl from Volks! >.<

Plus I am not quite 100% sold on their faces and paws (sausages! LOL!), so I think I will hold out for "real" photos from elvesgate and/or our lovely midnite before I decide either way. I'm thinking/hoping I may like them less in real pics so I don't feel so bad about passing on them! Or if I adore them even more I will try and swing getting Appini on layaway.

 

Hehe Eris was my friends idea I told her she should probably pick a name and she gave me a list and said Eris was her favourite...we both have learned about greek gods and goddesses and we agreed right away it was a perfect match.

 

Lol i totally relate, i would just be so extremely sad... then my wallet would run away .

 

Midnite, was going to suggest the use of mica powder in metallic instead of the usual pastels for body blushing if metallic is what you're going for :3
Here's some Appini mockups and I even added a Winnie Dee head for those interested in the mix. I even got rid of the brows on one, just to show a "blank" faceup and I actually like it lol less human face I guess.

I'm gonna attempt at Shoki later.

 

Thank you so much for that! Can't wait to see what you do with Shonki (s/he really needs the help here!)
Thanks for the mica powder advice too! I'll definitely check it out and throw it in the direction of which ever faceup artist I go for! xD

 

sad yestursday morning i places hold on shonki's outfit set and when I came home the order for the sets were canceled and now I can`t find any up on the split. now my bbs can match, if I can`t find shonki`s outfit set with shoes, I don`t think I`ll be getting Appini`s outfit set. T_T

 

Oooh Ayperi that looks awesome~
O_o I use jacqard Pearl Ex Powders, i get them from the Dharma Trading co. website, their really nice, and have some really awesome colors, only problem is you gotta buy the pack ^^;;

Love what you did with the appini pictures thats going to be so useful, i really cant wait to see what you do with Shonki~

 

Thanks for the mock-ups Ayperi! That helps me, too!

 

Thank you and you're all welcome I see so much potential for this sculpt that faceup with asian/anime themes may be the way to go, I'll be doing my own faceup again and am contemplating what look lol Appini is going to be a ghost/spirit just not sure what and once I figure that out it'll help in the look and gender. But if anyone wants to request a faceup idea (or even change the eyes or whatever) I'm doing free ones right now for Appini/Shonki since i'm getting Appini myself Oh and Midnite, I'll see about making metallic looks for Shoki, too

 

oooh, I think I'm in trouble now. The thought of making Appini into a tiger just crossed my mind, and after seeing Ayperi's mockups I see potential in this doll again. I guess it's all going to depend on what my friend decides to do. If she still wants Shonki, then I'll consider getting Appini. If she doesn't get him, then I don't think I'll get her. All we really wanted was a set of Soom tinies, and we thought this one would be perfect for both of us but now we're both really unsure. I guess we'll really decide right before they sell out lol

 

I think they are cute and while the face sculpt is different it does make me think of Persian cats with their pushed in noses. The black cats face-up is NOTHING I would pay money for. I'm sort of dying to paint one of the black cats because I know I could do a better job than that.

The lack of an ankle joint wouldn't bother me if Soom had sculpted very dimensional fur onto the legs. That would have been adorable.

I like the outfits until it gets to the shorts. I was like SHORTS?? WTH? I wanted bloomers!

Still, critique aside I think a lot of these kittens will find loving homes. They are cute and they certainly have the potential for a lot of personality.

 

Their little story likens them to bratty little boys, which may explain the choice to do shorts over bloomers.

 

I'm having so much fun with this! I rarely order from companies so I'm in for the long haul with the wait!!

I just keep seeing myself opening that box with the little pawsies and stuff, and then to see my new girl! *o*