"Those Anime Dolls"- Does the connection bother you?

It really doesn't bother me at all. I see lots of correlations between the dollfie and anime networks - especially when you have Volks making dolls specifically to represent certain characters from anime.

If someone who doesn't know anything about BJDs is talking to me about mine and is able to connect them with some aspects of Japanese culture that can seem very similar, why should I judge them? They're just trying to understand where the dolls come from in most situations; it's how they relate. And if they're really interested, I could take the time to explain how some companies make anime dolls and other spheres of the dollfie community are completely removed from anime.

 

Most likely, if I ever take up the task of stringing a doll together, and doing a face-up (which I'd suck at), I'd probably always model it after an anime character I like. One of my dollfie wishes is to make one (big or small) like Capt. Tessa from Full Metal Panic, since she's such an awesome character to begin with.

But maybe a vampire might come into consideration... who knows?

 

Well, I discovered BJD dolls, specifically dollfies, at an anime con. The con goers had them and many were showing them off. When I tell people about the dolls, even I say "dolls with animeish characteristics" normally people associate them with anime and manga due to their eye and body proportions to the body. I do t think this is a BAD thing. Also, it's quite clear to me WHY they would be grouped in with Japanese items since a main company that helped popularize them was volks with their super dollfies. And of course, volks is in japan, which would make it seem that the hobby oroiginated in Japan, even though this is not necessairly the case.

 

The first time I heard about BJDs, I thought they were German or something like that because the girl who made the forum post had mentioned the company called Volks but not that the dolls were Asian.

It wasn't until several months later when I looked into the hobby a bit more that I learned that they are mostly from Korea and Japan (and that Volks is a Japanese company).

However, some of the dolls look a bit anime-like and I suppose that because they're from Asia it's easy to make the connection. However, most models don't really look like anime dolls, so I don't understand the connection in most cases.

 

I couldn't care less honestly.

I learned about them at a anime convention and there are usually bjd panels [and sometimes gatherings] at the local cons. I cosplay but don't care much for anime or manga in general. I can certainly see how someone outside of the hobby would connect the two. I haven't seen anyone carrying around a bjd except at anime conventions so why wouldn't some people assume that they are connected?

I've never really dealt with anyone in person who had anything negative to say about bjds or their owners thankfully : F

 

I wouldn't care most of the time, but when it comes with negative connotations I bristle like an angry cat. When i got my first doll, my mom was sneering and insulting my doll and generally lumping it with my interest in manga (she still thinks manga=pokemon). She finds both extremely childish and almost called me a freak. So if people start comparing the two in an insulting manner, I would care.
very much.

 

It bugs me about as much as when I (or someone) says that I (he) like anime, and the immediate response is, "Oh, you mean that cartoon porn?" Or, "I listen to Japanese music" gets the response, "Oh, you mean that gay-rocker shit where they all dress like girls?"

It's hard but I try to end the conversation right there.

Can you be any more close-minded? Seriously.

 

Eh it doesnt really bother me either since I was also into anime before dolls. Nowadays my interest in anime has waned due to only 2% of them being any good, and it feels good to have my interest flipped to something thats not -completely- unrelated. That way my parents don't go "see, we told you you'd lose interest in anime fast!". That and I won't feel like the two years of college japanese i took were wasted xD

I dont think its unusual for people to be into anime first, since when it comes to japanese pop culture in america, anime is far more well known, and kids can afford being into anime before they can afford being into dolls :P anime also climatizes westerners to like the big eyed angrogenous look.

 

The connection burns my insides. I cant see whatsoever makes them relate to anime, beside cosplayers taking them to cons...

I like anime, I like cosplay, but not the connection to the dolls.

 

I watch anime, read manga, and love bjd's andthe 'cartoon porn' thing bugs me much more then the 'those anime dolls'. I discovered these dolls at an anime convention. People who are ignorant of certain things will always generalize about them, we've all probably done it before, heck I did it about the doll fandom before I was involved in it.

 

I don't mind the generalization when it's innocent ignorance. When it's disdainful, then I have issues.

 

Actually its kinda funny (to me anyways). our owner and boss at work teases me and tombrobber Anenia about our dolls. like really all of the time haha... i work at Mcdonalds and if im in the drive thru during that time our owner likes to bug me about them haha.. not in a bad way though.

Same with our friend... they found out he has a bleach figure from box set 2, and now hes in the same group as us...that ticks me off a bit because dolls are not action figures. (to me anyways)

 

A little, but I just correct people about it and go on with my life.

 

I've never really heard them be called "those anime dolls" I always get "expensive barbies," "Creepy dolls," and my favorite "Wastes of money." Anime dolls might bug me, but not as much as those.

 

It doesn't bother me, really. Though mine aren't based on anime characters, I can understand the connection because of the exaggerated features. ^^

 

Anime led me to ABJD, so I'm proud of the connection. If I could find a doll that looked like Chihiya from Earthian....sigh

 

The dolls are modeled in a very anime/manga style. Even some of the more "mature" or "western" looking sculpts still have rather large eyes in proportion to the rest of the head even if the chins aren't pointy. The only exception is with some Western-made BJDs that I've seen. They take on more "comic book" appearances than more "mangalike".

I became aquainted with BJDs through attending anime conventions. I'm not an anime fan, and I'm barely a gamer. But I enjoy conventions, making costumes, competing with them, and just having a lot of fun. I'm also interested in Japanese culture, be it historical/traditional or modern. I did come to know them as being anime and J-culture related. This is especially true since Volks is one of the most established companies making them, and they are Japanese.

This doesn't mean that all collectors and appreciators of them are into anime and Japanese things. But I keep in mind that anyone outside of the hobby has their own speculations about them. If anyone came to me with questions/comments like "What's your favorite anime" or "OMG OTAKU/Weeaboo" I would kindly explain that a) I'm not really into anime, but the series I do like are quite old and rather obscure. and b) Thanks. Have a nice day. I don't come off as obsessive about J-stuff IRL, aside from when I do cosplay at conventions. But I'm pretty quiet and down to earth, not "OMFG SASUSKE SQUEEE" while wielding a yaoi paddle and a pocky stick in my mouth.

As for me, after getting more aquainted with the hobby, I've realized that not everyone who owns them is into anything remotely Asian. So I no longer have those assumptions.

 

Really, one would think with Miyazaki-movies out there and one even winning an Oscar, people would slowly start to realize anime isn't all about "cartoon porn". *shakes head* I thinkt he problem isn't as big in Germany, though. Here, people are more like "oh, those kids' movies". I can live with that. There's just as many really great "kids' movies" out there as there's "normal movies".

As for BJD and anime-doll, so far, no one's made that connection with Luken. Might be because either, they simply don't know enough about anime and the BJD-owners who're also anime fans. Or because Luken doesn't particularly look "anime". He's an Ark and those fellows definitely don't look as doll- or anime-like as other sculpts I've seen. In fact, on some pics I took of him, if you don't look too closely, you could mistake him for a real person ...

 

I wouldn't generalize all Eastern BJDs in the anime category... I just don't see it in Super Gems, Mecha Angels (insert David Bowie lookalike joke here), and some of the Dollstown and Souldoll sculpts.

I can't see the connection beyond "I found them at a convention," or "They have big eyes," either. Maybe if we were talking about Dollfies and Dollfie Dreams I would agree, since those truly follow the typical style of anime... But then, anime can go far beyond big eyes and pointy chins. I'm no huge fan of it, but I've watched a lot of anime and seen that the line between it and realism can actually be pretty well-blurred.

So really, would it make all of our dolls from the east "anime dolls" based on subjectivity, regardless of what category they fall into? Eh.. :/

 

Okay this is what I don't get from people... here anyway... People taking offense that their doll is considered Anime...

Hello? Those dolls are supposed to have Asian Esthetics and guess what... Anime has Asian esthetics. So of course people are going to make the connexion because it's a REFERENCE POINT. People tend to oversimplify thing because it's easier for them. And most people (I'm not saying all but most) have been introduced to ABJD in an Anime convention. And yes the dolls do look Anime for a profane because he sees the ressemblance to the Asian esthetics.

So if you want to have dolls with an Asian esthetics be prepared to get that reference. It's nothing to be insulted by... isn't that the esthetics you want for your doll? And please the more you're gonna say NOOOOOO! IT'S NOT ANIME!!! the more people will disagree with you. Just respect their interpretation of it and stop being so high and mighty about it. Because it makes you look like a snub and an elitist. Let those people have that interpretation and if you just say well I disagree with you but if that's how you see them... maybe that person will not be put off by your attitude, their opinion may change.

Also remember some people ARE uncomfortable around dolls, like some people are uncomfortable around clowns. And once they label something with name that they already know it makes the dolls less scary for them.

You know what your doll is and people will always have an interpretation that will make you go BUH??? O.o;; I remember some people who got stopped on the street because people were saying their dolls were used for voodoo...

Believe me the dolls can be called much worse than saying they look Anime.