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

they don't bother me at all.

i like anime and bjd. and yeah it helps during cosplay when you look like your anime doll.

 

I didnt find out about BJD thru anime..but I am an anime Fan and my dark elf soo she often is cosplaying as a certain anime character...it just fits her...
but I dont think the two are synonymous in my mind.

 

The irony of this board is amazing xD
Last night, I showed my dad (parents are split, so my dad was unaware~) a picture of a BJD, particularly the one I'm getting

He said "oh yeah it's like one of those Japanese-y anime-things,"
And otherwise seemed disinterested xB

It kind of bugged me a little bit that he related it to that, and not because I dislike anime. (My bookshelf is filled with manga, and I've adored Pokemon since it came out all the way back in '97 )
Just that where I live, being in to Anime and such, there's a stereotype that goes along with it. This stereotype includes middle schoolers who think they're completely fluent in Japanese just because they saw Bleach with subtitles, love Naruto, and say "kawaii" and end everyone's name with "-san" or "-chan." That part. I don't. Like. At all.

So when I showed someone a BJD and they automatically assume it's Anime-related, I think of the stereotype, and that's what bugs me :C

Otherwise I'm not too bothered by it, there are some BJDs whose eyes are meant to like Anime-ish... and those I personally just don't like the sculpt, so it doesn't concern me o:

Oh, and... I didn't find BJDs through Anime nor did I/am I getting into them because of it xD

 

I voted "NOT AT ALL."

For one thing, people saying they are "Anime Dolls" obviously don't have a clue about what they are talking about. Secondly, who cares about what people say? I find that people will say all kinds of silly things and there's not much one can do about it. Maybe correct them with actual information, if one cares enough. I pretty much have given up. Let them think or say what they wish.

I've heard of so many people categorizing BJD with Japanese things, particularly anime. Have you had the same experiences, and if so, did it bother you? Why did/does the connections and assumptions they made bug you or not?
I actually don't hear this at all! But if I did, I wouldn't care. Everyone has opinions and most of them are very odd!

Also, in your opinion, why are BJD often clumped together with Japanese things, like cosplay, anime ect.?
Volks started making ABJDs before anyone else and have remained a big name in BJDs, so maybe that's where the Japanese connection comes in? Also, these are Abjds--Asian. The aesthetic is Asian and most all the companies are based in Asia. Some people think of Japan when they think of Asian things. The look of the early ABJDs were indeed closer to Anime than the Realism that is creeping into BJDs these days. And finally, there are lots of cosplayers and Anime fans who are into BJDs, so that's another connection.

Not all people who own a BJD are into anime, and I also assume none of them appreciate being called 'otaku', especially just because of their love for the dolls. There are often doll cons integrated into the regular anime cons, is this a reason for the connection, or simply a cause of it? What makes the dolls seem strictly 'anime' or 'Japanese', particularly to people who aren't acquainted with the hobby?
True, not all BJD owners are into anime and many of the dolls aren't anime-ish in the least. That just shows how ignorant the people are who are calling them "anime" dolls. But as I said, I've never heard them being referred to as anime dolls. And I've never heard anyone call a BJD owner 'otaku.' And most people who aren't into anime won't know the term anyway. So what's the big deal?

There are doll meets at anime cons because there is a cross-over of sorts between BJDs and anime. But I've also been to meetups at ComicCon and GenCon, which aren't Anime cons. I suppose Anime fans who see the dolls there may associate the dolls with anime, but people not into anime won't be at the cons, so they won't hear or say anything about the BJD-Anime connection. I think a person would have to be around a lot of Anime fans to even hear something like this in the first place. So if you're not into Anime, I doubt you'd hear that the dolls are "Anime dolls." If you're into Anime, then it shouldn't worry you that the dolls are associated with it, should it??? I don't see why it should, but I guess that's just me...

 

It only bugs me a bit because BJDs arrived in North America with anime so I understand why people connect them. And some dolls are very anime-like. But the dolls aren't anime dolls and my have nothing to do with anime.

 

No, not really. I am a mid-average anime fan so I don't get bothered by it. I think that BJDs and Anime can be very seperate, though.

 

i found these dolls at an anime con. i imagine that since they are asian, and people who tend to like asian things go to the cons because that's really the only place to go other than asia for some things, so it all gets lumped in. it does not bother me though.

 

I like it when people say nice anime doll. what anime is he from then I say, "Well he isnt from an anime, I made his character my self." and they are just like "what? Your creative."

 

The comment or perception itself doesn't bother me. It's more a matter of how and why the comment is said. In some cases, "those anime dolls" is probably meant as an insult coming from people who love to accuse others of being weeabos. I'm more bothered by the fact that there are people out there who are so immature, judgmental, and/or insecure in themselves that they feel a need to insult other peoples' interests and hobbies. Frankly, it says an awful lot more about the person tossing around insults than it does about anyone else.

In other cases, a person making a comment about "those anime dolls" isn't meant to be harmful or insulting at all. For those folks who are making the connection between dolls and something else (like anime or Lolita fashion) out of innocent ignorance, it's not that big of a deal. Tell a person like that that your interest in dolls has nothing to do with an interest in anime/Lolita fashion/whatever and chances are it's going to go over reasonably well, because that person never meant to insult you in the first place and any comment that person made was probably just an attempt to have a friendly conversation (perhaps with someone they thought might share some of their interests) or learn more.

 

I love to see dolls cosplaying, I think it's cute. But being called "Those Anime Dolls"? No, I don't really care. Honestly the face sculpts of most of the dolls look like they belong in an anime, with their big eyes and pointy noses.

 

I don't mind it myself and I love to see cosplaying dolls. I have two myself though.

 

i agree with shiori hime. it really depends on how the question is asked. in a 'you're such a weeaboo' way, yeah. but if someone who only had the outer grasp of what anime is said so, i wouldn't really mind.

i also don't find any similiarity between them at all, imho.

 

I came to the BJDs through a friend, and I generally don't watch anime. It didn't offend me when my roommate's mother saw me show my roommate a picture of the Ante that I wanted, but I was quick to correct her. To me, they don't have anything in common. Not that they don't overall, because I know that there are a lot of anime fans who have dolls and crossover their fanaticsm [no complaints out of me]; but as someone who doesn't enjoy anime, I do get tired of it.

I am interested in BJDs because I am a doll collector, not because I love Asian culture [even though I do find it interesting, I'm not AS interested as other fans are.]

 

I was an anime fan long before I found BJDs.
I was also into gothic lolita for a while, still have an interest in it but it's not my hobby anymore.
I like BJDs because of the way they look and many of them do have similar aesthetic features to anime characters -- big eyes, small mouth, heads bigger in proportion to bodies.
But I wouldn't think of them as 'anime dolls'. When I saw the term 'anime dolls', I immediately thought of Dolfie Dream, specifically. (Whether DDs are BJDs or not is a different topic altogether and I won't go into that here, but suffice it to say I don't really care whether they are called BJDs or not.)
So I wouldn't think of BJDs (in general) as 'anime dolls'. Even though I recognise that they all have the same sort of aesthetic.
Around here, I don't think I've run into anyone calling them 'anime dolls'...

 

Not all people who own a BJD are into anime, and I also assume none of them appreciate being called 'otaku', especially just because of their love for the dolls.

Except as it is originally intended, the word "otaku" doesn't just refer to anime. It refers to people who are obsessive about their hobbies. So a casual doll owner isn't an otaku, but if you have 20-some dolls and claim that they talk to you, "otaku" might just fit.

The average BJD is no more an anime doll than a Bratz or Blythe. I did have someone on DA mail me referring to "anime dolls." I just ... pretended I had no clue what they were talking about. "I don't own any anime dolls. What are you talking about?"

I realize though that some people have a very narrow definition of things. I mean, there are people who think I live in China. "It's all the same," they say. So Asia + big eyed dolls = anime. Gotta be.

 

Um... Yes and no...

I have only a passing interest in anime, and never really got the whole Naratu/Bleach/Sailor Moon/Pokemon appeal. Call me old-school, but I cut my teeth on Ranma 1/2. I am a big ElfQuest fan, and Wendy Pini's art has some anime influence in it. I've always enjoyed animation, though, including Disney (until it got all CGI). I manage a metaphysical store and teenagers are always coming in saying "I watch Full Metal Alchemist, so do you have any books on alchemy?" ....Get the *@!# out of my store!

I also didn't find BJDs through anime, but through my hobby of doll-making and miniature dolls houses. I was actually looking for a supplier for wholesale clay for the dolls I make and decided to check the ads in the doll magazines at my local Barnes & Noble. I picked up an issue of Haute Doll and a few pictures later I had to have one!

So while I understand that BJDs have some of that anime look, I prefer my dolls not to be associated with anime if only because it's limiting. I don't want them to be labeled like that. Most people will assume they are supposed to be a character from a show, a copy of something someone else created, and they're not -- I put too much work and love into my dolls for someone to look at them and ask "What anime show is that supposed to be from?" I could type the snide answer to that question, but it would probably be deleted by the mods.

 

I'm not generally interested in anime, but I don't mind the connection. The aesthetic is similar. If you don't like that aesthetic, there are other dolls that have ball joints out there.

 

I think it's fair enough to make that connection. The only doll I own at the moment is based on an anime character, and the next one I'm going for is aswell. There are plenty of dolls out there that have anime style characteristics, but plently are quite far removed from them.

It is an easy assumption to make, and maybe people should think more about it, but if they aren't interested in anime or BJDs, they aren't going to put in the thought.

 

It bugs me a little as here in Quebec Manga and Anime are categorized as kid stuff and really not known that much.

We have the Fangirls, the Otaku, some that read it becasue its good not becasue its popular, those who dont like manga/anime, those who hate it and finally those who dont care.
I'm part of the ones who like it becasue its good.

From all these categories, BJD are Anime props and having them makes you almost automatically an Otaku or over the top fangirl. Everything that is remotely asian is categorized as Anime and I dont like that becasue Japan (And all of Asia for that matter) is not only Anime. Its as if you were saying that America is only made of Marvel Comics.

While I dont mind if someone makes the connection "normally", saying "Oh! That's Asian right ? It looks a little like Anime Style" I dont mind, but saying that it is Anime and nothing more, that bothers me D=

 

The term only really bugs me when someone repeatedly says it after I correct them the first time "/

I'll admit, before I got into BJDs at the slightest, I thought they were very pretty but very expensive anime dolls (blame the fact that I had only seen BSSM dolls at that point). I wasn't really interested, so I didn't rectify my mistake. A few years later, I realized, "Oh, those aren't anime dolls, they're ABJD," and left it at that.

Now, however, I've gotten into it, 'cause a friend of mine rekindled my interest, lulz. Before last year, I never thought there were so many damn sites for these cute lil' buggers, hahaha.

Like April said, "otaku" is not just a person into anime (I'd probably be a manga "otaku" but not an anime or ABJD one), but into anything. And the reason why there are doll meets in anime cons is the fact that quite a few people into ABJDs in the West are also into Anime. And it costs a hella lot less to be a part of a con than its own con, lulz.

Someone said "Big eyes, Small Mouth" - that's very, very anime-ish =3=;;; *points to her BESM 3rd Edition RPG book*
That might be due to Asia's overall style though, and not just Japanese anime (BESM was prevalent in early Chinese art, so I wouldn't be surprised if it bled over into both Korea and Japan, the big three in ABJD making)