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

Well, not that the discussion is about anime in particular, but that kind of remark just shows those people's ignorance.

It frankly gets my hackles up MUCH more to have people assume that "anime = cartoons"... thinking maybe that they're all "for kids" or like the screechy loud idiotic stuff I hear on Cartoon Network. There are a lot of older, and very successful, people who adore anime, manga, fantasy and comic books in general.

Ya know? It sounds horribly arrogant but if I were a loser I couldn't afford to have so many of these "anime dolls"


ETA: This is in no way intended as a slam against you, Blaknite. The reactions of people who automatically reject things they know nothing about is what gets me going. You are absolutely entitled to have that connection irritate you.

Especially since there are so many dolls that have nothing whatsoever to do with anything anime.

It's just... arrgh. People make me crazy. (er)

 

I was into anime, far before I was ever into dolls, and to be honest, I don't relate them at all. I tend to gravitate towards dolls with less of a traditionally anime aesthetic, preferring large mouths and large noses with character. But I understand the relationship, as BJD as we know it originated in Japan, so it's pretty understandable that many people link them in their minds. The world at large thinks "Japan = Anime", so I'm certain that's the reason they get lumped in besides all the cosplaying people do with dolls.

It has bothered me in the past, mostly because to me, these are two entirely separate hobbies, but I've learned to accept some people do think of Japanese culture and other popular items from Japan as just another way to extend and enjoy their anime experience, and I've learned to deal.

 

I suppose its not the term that bothers me, too much, but more how someone says it. Whether they use the term in a derogatory way (making the link between anime & kids and dolls & kids) or if they use it in a generalising way, to describe them. I was once a really big anime nerd, so I can see the connection through BJDS to anime (big eyes, 'perfect' features and of course they have an Asian aesthetic appeal!) So, comparing the two is not a big deal for me really.

 

I like anime and manga, but it really does bother me when people automatically relate BJD with them. I suppose it's more the fact they're assuming they have the facts than the association, though.

 

Doesn't bother me a bit. The fact that I enjoy watching anime and OVAs and reading manga helps I guess. Often I have had my likes or hobbies or the way I dress lumped into other hobbies or subcultures and it just doesn't bother me anymore. I understand people can be ignorant to a point of having to label everything they see rather than to politely ask.
That said, although BJDs and anime aren't directly related, a lot of them are stylised to look similar to the anime style of faces. So its little wonder that people strongly associate the two.

 

It doesn't bother me at all. I didn't find out about ABJD through anime/manga, it was through a search on Yahoo on something totally unrelated. I do love anime. I love manga too. And I have an interest in all things Asian (mostly Japanese though). I guess when some people ask you things about anime and stuff when they see that you have ASIAN ball jointed doll, maybe they think that you're open to other Asian entertainment/hobbies as well. My dad calls them anime dolls. I try to set him straight, but I don't get angry with him for it (after all, he paid for some of them...). He's merely uneducated on the subject. And also, there are a lot of BJD owners out there that do cosplays of anime characters or actually base their dolls off of existing anime/manga characters. So I'm sure this happens pretty frequently where non-hobbyists mistake BJD for "anime dolls".

I think this bothers me more than the doll=anime freak thing. I've only recently gotten into anime/manga and all that stuff. And mostly what I've seen was what was aired on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim. But I realize that there is more out there, and some of the stuff I've seen is hardly for children (although most of what I watch actually sort of is... ).

I can see where people get irritated by this association. I just don't let it bother me. And if they're adamant about it, I'd just ignore them. It's not like I'd get into an argument with someone over this. That would only show that they're ignorant and I'm immature.

 

Actually, I could care less about what people relate my dolls to. They can think what they like as long as they don't persistently bother me about it. I've always known these dolls were there since watching Rozen Maiden a few years back and got really interested when I started my research on Hans Bellmer. So I guess in a way, I do have the anime fandom to thank for giving me that spark of interest in the first place.

 

I would find it offensive as I actually got into the dolls due their realism; if I wanted stylized, I'd be more into obitsus or pullips or something. However, I can see where people are coming from--there are a lot of anime fans in the community (like me) so some people I suppose can associate with it. Most of us I'm sure are not rabid fangirls though, and the term "otaku" borders on obsessive (I'm sure a lot of us aren't as "obsessed" as "addicted" to our dolls, ne?)
Overall, what offends me more than the association is the terminology. "THOSE anime dolls" seems very dismissive, as if they are not truly the works of art they are.

 

I agree that it is not worth dealing with stupid people, usually those conversations only last a few momments like when standing in a line. I have gotten plenty of kind comments about the dolls from many people and many who were trying to be nice, but their body language that said they should have kept walking.
I was filling up my gas tank and had one of my dolls sitting on the roof of my car (he was on my lap when I got out of the car) and someone came by and asked if he was from one of "them japanese porno cartoons" I was like O_o and quickly finished up and drove away

During conversations with some of the old people around here i have discovered that many, esspecially men who fought in WW2, hate the Japanese and everything Japanese, even though half of them are retired from the local Mitsubishi plant so when they find out that the dolls are chinese or korean they dont mind so much, though there are a few who hate the koreans as well >_< just pure racism against specific asian races.

It makes me sad when someone makes derogitory racist names toward my dolls because they are seeing them in connection with a completely different fandom.

 

I liked bjds before I got into anime, so I don't really see a connection between the two.

 

I'm not big into anime either. Yet I do find that a lot of dolls, others apart from BJD that I enjoy, do have some sort of kinship with anime.

I don't find this bothersome too much. Just that I happen to not have an interest in anime or, for that matter, Japanese culture. It's just coincidence that these dolls ARE a part of that culture. I'm not about the dismiss the obvious connection, though. And I don't mind the assumption. I don't mind correcting that assumption.

 

i've never really heard anyone call them "anime dolls" but i have heard them referred to as, "those dolls that people bring to cons." i never really associated them with either and neither bothers me cuz i think that a lot of the people that are attracted to bjds share the same personality traits as some people who are into anime and such. i know at sakura con, an anime convention in seattle, a lot of people bring their dolls. but this i'm just speaking from my personal experiences/observations/etc.

what's funny is that when i first told my friends i was getting into bjds, the first thing a lot of them said was something like, "are you going to start wearing angel pretty and bloomers?" i thought it was funny that a lot of them made a loli connection. i didn't think lolis were known for owning dolls(?).

also, i just think a lot of inexperienced people might look at the awesome outfits some dolls wear and think to themselves, "wow, what an awesome outfit! it must be cosplay!" like, i have a red jacket with big white buttons and i can't tell you how many times i've been asked, "who are you cosplaying?" when i go out in it.

instead of getting frustrated/annoyed, i just laugh. hahahaha...

 

Doesn't bother me at all. I'm the faculty/staff sponsor of my college's anime club and have been into anime long before I knew what an abjd was. However, the first one I saw was at one of our local cons. Next year, I saw a few more. The following year, I had one and he's based on an anime/manga character, an older Shuichi from Gravitation.

Our local cons have a LOT more resin visiting each progressive year and it's great because it gives us a chance to meet people who like things we like, too.

Note: I'm old enough to not really care what people think of me...

 

You know what's interesting, though...my dolls run the gamut from very stylized anime looking to ultra realistic minimee head. My mom has seen a good many of my dolls including my more realistic Unidoll. With the exception of the minimee head, which really is aesthetically different, my mom still finds a lot of the more realistic sculpts to be somewhat anime like. I can see where she's coming from too. For one thing, there is a wide variety of art styles in anime and manga--not every character has a tiny nose and huge eyes. Plus, for these dolls to be on topic for DoA, they have to have the Asian aesthetic. It makes sense that there would be unintentional similarities between anime/manga style art and Asian style dolls since they're coming out of the same cultures. Even the more realistic bjds don't really look all that much like Western style dolls just as anime and manga have a distinctive appearance.

 

I acidentally called a bjd an "anime doll" to my mother today. But i think i subconciously believed that if she thinks it's associated with "dolls" she wouldn't understand but with "anime" she would. Since i've been a fan of anime for more than 10+ years i think i could sell her the "im getting it because i like anime" and not that "i like dolls". I never liked dolls growing up so I see it as some kind of marketing ploy I will tell her the technical name is bjd after i get it but i wouldn't really be annoyed if she refered to them as "anime dolls" because, 1) i put that name to her first and 2) because she can't remember the names of anything i like now. I think in the end as long as she calls it a "doll" i'd be fine with it.

Though I think on a larger scale they really shouldn't be called "anime dolls" b/c they really aren't associated with animes and not all fans of bjds are anime fans. I wouldn't be angry if someone called mine that but i would try to correct them.

 

It was at an anime convention I found out about BJDs so it has never bothered me. A lot of the dolls look like anime type characters so it makes sense it's lumped together. Plus I think some may not realize just because a convention is an "anime con" doesn't mean that is the only aim. I know AnimeCentral includes Japanese culture as part of the aim of the convention, so it's natural the BJDs would somehow make it in there. It's never bothered me but I could see why it would bother some owners. If a doll owner isn't into anime and gets asked "oh is that one of those anime dolls?" I could see why it would bother them.

But Caitlin, my Volks Hinaichigo, I wouldn't mind her getting called an anime doll cause that is what she is. She's an anime BJD even if she has different eyes and wig now. Rhiannon, my Shoyo, I could see how she gets called an "anime doll" too. My pukis will be the same way. It just doesn't bother me.

 

well, i don't mind, i love anime and manga, but my boys have anothing to do with anime, just it become a hobby to get away from the drama that life must carry. I think only some BJD i saw that the word 'anime' pop into my head, well mostly those dollfie dream by volk but if i ever see a few of my beloved villian on there, i'll be all over it in a heartbeat

 

It doesn't bother me too much, but I'd prefer it to not be so.

I mean, I would call Dollfie Dreams anime dolls, definitely. The aesthetic is essentially 3D anime. Now, most dolls aren't. So in that sense, sure, it's inaccurate. But I think it's better than, say, "baby dolls". Ugh. I've faced that problem before, and it's QUITE annoying. Mostly because I only liked them for a couple of years, and now detest the American aesthetic. As a personal choice. And because of the perceptions about "baby dolls". I am NOT my doll's "mommy", I do NOT baby it! Really, my doll is like a pet without all the maintenance. No vet bills, no allergies, no food cost, no fleas, no changing out cages... it's quite nice, really. Especially in a college dorm. =) And it's a destressor, holding and playing with your doll at the end of the day, just like holding and playing with your dog. There's just something to be said for it.

So that's my speech, time to get sleep. Sorry if it didn't make as much sense as it could've. I'm sleepy.

 

It makes no difference to me. I've never been into anime/manga & really hated the early dolls with that look. It wasn't until some more realistic molds came out that I got interested in BJDs. Over the years though I've come to appreciate some of the big eyed dolls but still not the really anime looking ones.

People will think whatever they want. I'm too old to worry about how they view me or what they might associate me with. I simply love the dolls for themselves.