Standards Are Too High To Find "The Right BJD"

My first doll was to be based on a very special role play character, one I'd been RPing as for about 6 or 7 years. He meant a lot to me, but I went through site after site and couldn't find any doll that even remotely resembled what I imagined him to look like. It was really disappointing and frustrating, and I was beginning to think I should just give up on the idea. Then my wife showed me a doll on Dollmore. I didn't like him (which is funny because he's like the only Dollmore boy I see on Den of Angels, and he's incredibly popular!), but I found another doll on the site that was EXACTLY what I wanted. He had the right expression, the right body, the right facial features, everything. And I knew it was him because the doll was pictured with short, black hair, and my character has long silver hair, so I knew I was in love with doll and not just the hair/makeup/clothes he was pictured wearing (which I think is a common issue among newbies like I was at the time).

So.. My advice is to keep looking. You'll find each other. And you don't have to settle for less than what you think is perfect.

Also.. Faceups can make a world of difference. I got one doll I was super disappointed with because he didn't look as pictured, and the faceup artist working on him for me now has made such a vast improvement it's almost like the head's a better shape than I thought it was, even!

 

If the only thing wrong with the Luts Kid Delf Ani is that the nose is a little too pointed you could always just sandpaper the nose down a little, it's not that difficult to be honest, just make sure you start with a lower grit and work your way up to a very high one to smooth it all out, use water to help

 

I think a lot of people get caught up in this pursuit to find the perfect doll.
I've dealt with it myself but always en up just diving into an option (sometimes an option I'd been planning, or something that randomly popped up that was a good deal) and I've never been disappointed.
I've loved every doll I've ever owned, and never regretted buying a single one. There are some dolls where I don't keep them for long, but they were fun while I had them.

I try not to nitpick, and I always shop for cheap secondhand dolls, so rarely do I lose much money (if any) when reselling a doll. There's really no harm in it for me XD

 

I don't think your standards are too high, I think you just haven't seen enough dolls yet and may be getting a bit too eager to find the perfect one right away; I know I was! It took me about 2 years to find my perfect doll and I've been in the hobby about 4 years and still don't have her. Funny thing is, when I first saw her when she was released I thought she was cute but nothing special then I got to see and handle her and totally different story, she is now the only doll I can ever see myself owning.

So long story short, the best thing I can suggest is to look up the list of all the different BJD brand makers in the DoA wikia, search their sites and see if anything strikes your fancy. If not, maybe it's a good idea to watch the new release threads in the News area to see if your fancy is tickled by something as it is released. There are new dolls being made daily, so there's always something new just around the corner!

I also second the opinion of that if you see a doll you like a good percentage of, it is always possible to mod it to be the perfect full percentage you want. Even if you don't want to do the mod yourself, there are plenty of insanely talented modders here on the forum. So in that case, maybe it's worth taking a chance on.

The most important thing is to ask yourself if you can see yourself holding and loving the doll when you imagine it's end-stages. Best of luck to you on your search, also try and remember that this is half the fun and don't let it stress you too badly!

 

Sera? Knew exactly what I wanted right off.

Bella? Had to wait until BBB/Resinsoul came out with colored resins.

Vickie? Still a WIP. Finally the Mo head came out in 60 cm size, now I need to get that head on a 50 cm body.

Djinni? WON him.

Gairdner? Was GIVEN him.

JM? Drove me bonkers. Could not find a sculpt. Finally bought the perfect Minime, which wasn't even the actor he is based on but a game character that looks as if the artist copied the actor. Sometimes it takes time, and a lot of it.

 

I don't feel that high standards are frustrating. I think I have more fun shopping around than when I am sure of something! There's no rush. I'm happy to wait if it means I avoided a questionable decision.

 

I struggled.... rather, I waffled for a while until I found Iplehouse's Isar. I was impressed by Iplehouse's dolls, but of the MSDs, I only really wanted Asa... and I wasn't sure how much I wanted her. Then Isar came out and blew me away! And she was limited, so I had to get her. I love her to bits.

If you want more mature sculpts, you might wanna try iplehouse. They have some gorgeous new JIDs. :'D

 

I hear what you're saying! I believe it is a sign of the times- we have so many sculpts to choose from these days, it makes it that much harder >< If you feel you've looked at enough different sculpts, stop looking & choose from the few you select as your favourites

 

Standards are frustrating. That said...

The small details that bother you in photographs might not bother you as much in person. The way the photograph is taken and how it's processed after can accentuate some details.

When I ordered my LS Emily - the company had just released her and all I had to go on was their stock photos, there were no owner photos that I could look at. I didn't check out the photos of her blank sculpt when I ordered her - when I finally did, I was disappointed to see that she had a really shallowly sculpted profile (I had been wanting/imagining a doll with a more deeply sculpted profile - similar to Luts).

If I had seen Emily's profile before I placed my order, I probably would have convinced myself that I wouldn't like her, and therefore wouldn't have gotten her. But... I didn't see, so I ordered her, and she is just so perfect to me in every other way, that I'm not bothered at all about her profile.

 

Maybe the best solution is to just stop looking, as in taking a break. This is a hobby after all; buying a doll isn't a necessity. You do want one, I understand that, but sometimes all the looking and critiquing can probably burn you out.

You might be unconsciously nervous, too; after all, these dolls aren't $20 Barbies that you can buy, and easily buy a second if you didn't like the first. It's almost like a major purchase. It can be a little overwhelming to know that you're saving upwards of $300... for a doll. You might be getting a little too caught up in thinking "This is it; I must have the right doll!" and taking a break to settle down might help to clear your thoughts and help you realize exactly what it is you're looking for.

It is normal to have one doll in mind for weeks or months, only to see another doll that looks more like what you pictured later on, and deciding to get that one. Other times, you just "click" with a sculpt, and you don't like anything similar. And sometimes, you take a big risk and buy it anyway.

No one said that doll buying had to be absolute, but it can be overwhelming if you forget to take a step back and examine things from a distance.

So, if you do decide to step away for a little while, is that nose going to still be a deal-breaker when you return?

Just remember doll buying is not something you have to do right now; some people are even content to just look at other people's dolls. You can take as much time as you want to find a doll that you like. If not, keep searching or wait it out to see if a company releases anything that sparks your interests.

 

I kind of like finding flaws in things I like, and maybe that makes me weird, but it means that even things I would like to be perfect are imperfect, and I find beauty in that. Everything is unique.

Granted, there are some sculpts I just completely despise... I do still have my aesthetic tastes.

 

*looks at doll list* Nope. No problem with that.

Though for you I'd say just keep looking. OR be willing to alter a sculpt.

 

metcheu, you could try for Souldoll? I frequently found myself in love with their sculpts because of that mature, dark aspects they had, especially the 40cm line. I'm not a big fan of that sort of "perfect" or "cute" sculpts. Oh yes, they look wonderful at the first sight, but I just can't remember them after I left that page. But I do get hit occasionally by some sculpts though. Once I saw them, I know I like them. And I know one day I want to get them home.

 

I suggest this too~ When I first found out about BJDs in 2006-2007 I was desperate to get my own doll. I knew I wanted a mature looking boy with anime-like aesthetics and a tall one, but somehow I just couldn't find *the Right One*. Also, with all the different companies and instructions on how to take care of resin dolls, I found the hobby a bit overwhelming.

So, it took me six years to find my dream doll~ I got into BJDs again via Pullip dolls (or Taeyangs as a matter of fact, since I like male dolls better ;3 ) and started my search again. This time I found out about DikaDoll and fell in love immediately. It didn't take long to order my first doll, Autumn from them and I love him to bits, we're inseparable~ ;-D

Although it feels a little that I have missed out on these six long years away from this hobby, I think it was still better to wait for a doll I knew I just HAD to get, rather than settle for something less. I don't mean you have to wait that long, but taking a bit distance from dolls may make things easier and clearer for you what you really want.

From own experience, I can say that when you see the right doll, it "hits" you and you just know that this is the one~

 

I also never found the perfect doll. The perfectness I aim for is split between all of my dolls, somehow.
You could always go for a doll and then change it to your liking. That's not one of the biggest possibilities in this hobby for nothing. ^^

 

I used to do that, look and study until I found something I didn't like!
In the end I decided to pick three things I really wanted and focus on those instead of the bits that may not be quite perfect

 

I'm doing that right now. Noble (my OC) is supposed to look like a mix between Trevor Fehrman and Michael Pitt....and I'm not finding much of anything even remotely close. It's really frustrating, since he'll be my last planned SD for quite awhile and nothing is coming up right. Atm, I'm looking at Souldoll, but every sculpt is just a little wrong....face is too narrow or nose is too wide...something is always off. I had him in a Leekeworld Koji and it was just ALL wrong. So...my search coninues.

 

My story is much the same as Fin Raziel for my first doll I was also looking for the embodyment of a beloved RP character. I kept searching a long time (over a year) and never found the right doll, until I started looking at owner pictures. And I just Bumped into the right doll, so I pm'ed the owner to ask what mold it was........ and found out it was a doll I had already seen a dozen time, but didn't like because of a hidious face-up.

My advise:
- Take your time, there are so many companies and molds the right one is bound to pop up someday.
- Look at owner pictures, sometimes a company picture just does not do a mold justice, if you like a mold look at owner pictures, it can show a whole different side of the mold (even the cutest faces can be turned into darker dolls with the right face-up, clothes, stuff.)
- Safe up money, the worst thing after all this searching would be if the perfect doll pops up, and turns out to be an expensive limited that you can't afford. (there is always an aftermarket but some prices only get higher)

Other than that I just want to wish you the best of luck in looking for your dream doll.

 

I second all the advice given in this thread ^^ And depending how ugly you think the nose is (from 'ugh, no, a button nose will never fit the character at all!' to 'it's a bit too pointy but that's all), you should just go for it! Some features look a lot different in real life than on any (owner) pictures, and some you might come to love after all. I always disliked my old Kid Dollmore Calvin's large, pointy nose, but now that I am upgrading him I find myself looking for an SD mold with the same pointy nose!

I would always recommend to spend enough time to make sure you find your dream doll and never settle for less, but if you feel your annoyance is minor, then you should go for it!