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

It doesn't totally bother me, but I do think people need to realize that we are a legit hobby, not an anime spinoff.

 

I don't mind. Frankly, I think the "anime connection" is deserved. It seems that 90% of all BJDs have an anime aesthetic!

What does bother me is that I can't find very many dolls that DON'T have an anime aesthetic. You really have to keep an eye out for unique sculpts.

 

I can't blame someone for thinking that, although I would think that the Dolfie Dreams are more the "anime dolls" than normal ABJDs.* It does bother me a little bit personally (though I can't blame them again) because I don't *really* want to be associated with anything anime BUT if someone comes up to me asking about "them-anime-dolls" I get to give them a long lecture on Superflat and they would be really confused and hate me (I LIKE ART HISTORY SO NOW YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IT). xD Y'see the only doll that I have is of Deidara who is an anime character but he's the personification of Superflat which is an art movement that looks critically at things like anime, the otaku subculture, and consumerism (and others but I'm too tired for this right after class). It sort of...brings forth topics people don't like to think about and lay it out like "this is reality" and while some of it is good (and necessary at this point) , most of it is like a warning against this kind of stuff.

*And yes, I do know anime. Been there, done that. I also know that some people tend to think that Dolfie Dreams are anime dolls and ABJDS not because they've been desensitized to the look but that's not what I'm referring to. Dolfie Dreams have a direct link to anime and take their look from the PVC figures of characters. They don't even have a sculpted nose or mouth, just a line representing that, just like a simplified drawing.

 

As an anime fan, it doesn't bother me, but it does make me cringe a little bit.
I also cringe when people use "Dollfie" as a blanket term.

When I took one of my dolls to a con, I was also asked if it was a Rozen Maiden.
I have not seen Rozen Maiden, read Rozen Maiden, and despite its relevance to my hobby I have no plans to.
So I just told the guy "Nope!" and kept on walking.

I think on any other circumstances, I'd just chat to them about the doll, maybe educate them about the hobby, though. I don't mind dolls and anime being connected, I do kind of put the hobbies together, just because the hobbies DO crossover. If I hadn't have been an anime fan, then I would not have seen dolls at a con, and not have had much interest in them.

It only really bothers me when people seem to think I like all things Japan because of my doll, and anime, interests.
No. No I don't. I like anime, and I own dolls from chinese companies.
I have little interest in China or Japan, however. :/

 

I was introduced at the anime convention but that does not link them for me.

 

It doesn't bother me. The only thing that does bother me is the reverse, people who judge dollfie dreams or more animated looking dolls as less serious than more realistic or "artistic" bjd's.

There are an abundance of doll owner who got into the hobby because of anime, and that is also the reason many doll companies make anime type designs for their dolls, because they will sell well.

Its kinda similar to Lolita fashion, not all lolitas are in the fashion because they like anime, but there will always be some level of association between lolita, anime, and Japan. The same goes for ABJDs I suppose.

 

I got to know about ABJDS through anime conventions too and I would actually wish to have my doll to cosplay as my favourite anime characters since I'm shy in doing cosplay myself XD

 

Yea, it bother me quite a bit. I don't really like people clinging BJD to anime. I believe that BJD although has some influence from anime, but it's basically stand alone.

 

In fact, more or less. I'd have to admit some BJDs (and some other dolls some BJD enthusiastics tend to collect too) look like anime by nature or by customization. For some, we are related (fan or not), for other, we aren't. However, people should realize that those hobbies are seperate.

 

I could see someone thinking I was a VERY stereotypical, even an exaggeration of a weeaboo anime fan/gamer. I... don't even care the slightest. Eat my larping sword. I feel bad for people who are bothered by it.. stigma sucks, period. Seriously. I'm burdened with stigma in different areas of my life too. Sorry for embarrassing you. I'm very happy though, and if you look at me with condescension just know that you're looking UP. You truly are.

 

Hey, I love anime, manga and Asian cultures. So if someone refers to my dolls as those anime dolls I'm not going to be offended. At least they're making a distinction, most of my family call them creepy wastes of money, and they don't even know how much they cost. In most cases I just try to explain the basics of bjds and how while some are based off of anime, for most the draw is the variety available and how they can be customized. I then end the conversation with the fact that some are so realistic they look like shrunken people.

 

Also, in your opinion, why are BJD often clumped together with Japanese things, like cosplay, anime ect.?

I guess it's because they both have unrealistically huge eyes and they are both beautiful. A real person have so much flaws. But Anime characters and BJDs are so perfect and pretty. I know if sounds superficial and I am.

 

It just bothers me a little bit, mostly because the majority of my dolls are based on my original characters, so I wouldn't necessarily appreciate someone automatically linking them to anime (especially since I make the majority of my dolls' clothes and do their face-ups). I do however plan on purchasing one doll that will be based on my favorite anime character, so I don't mind if someone makes that comparison with her. ^^

 

Well, BJD's were started and made in japan after some Japanese man saw American porcelain dolls and wanted to make realistic dolls too. They then shipped them and stuff so it was originally Japanese. -.- I remember reading this somewhere. Otakus love them because they were made in Japan and they look like realistic anime characters, Not that Im complaining, Im an Otaku myself ^^

 

It doesn't bother me at all. Its just a popular association. At least people sort of know what they are.

 

I came across to know about this kind of doll from an anime Rozen Maiden but I not interested about that during that time
but I'd come to love dolls when I watched Angelic Layer because it can customized whatever you desired the doll to be but I still didn't know that BJD can customized since I just know this type of doll are expensive...
but years later when I saw my senior bought 1 it caught my heart to have one too XD
well it never bug me at all, different people different opinion =)

 

I don't find it a problem at all. I also love anime and collect action figures and that's how I got into bjds. I find a large percentage of the bjd community that i know also like anime. None of my dolls are done up as anime characters though they are all my own. I don't collect the really anime looking dolls like dolfie dreams I prefer more realistic dolls that suit my characters.

 

As someone who found BJDs through anime, I think it's nothing to fuss about. I just correct them since my BJD is from China.
But to their defense, people not knowing about BJDs could quickly draw parallels between the BJDs big life-like eyes, pouty mouth, tiny nose and colorful and "cartoonish" hair and anime-characters. Not saying that all BJDs look just like THAT, but some of them do. If you're unfamiliar with something it's easy to draw wrong conclusions.

 

Actually, they kind of are. Without anime there wouldn't have been any Dollfie Dreams and it was through Dollfie Dreams that the Super Dollfies came to be and they are what made the hobby into what it is today.

There certainly are people whom collect BJDs without watching anime but we should all acknowledge the fact that we have anime to thank for having these beautiful dolls. I see a lot of passive aggressive shaming towards people who love and watch anime and it's quite sad.

 

I really like some anime (Black Butler, Full Metal Alchemist) and am so tempted to get a doll representing Ciel. But so far my very realistic, EID IH dolls satisfy me. Dolls are what you make them, so make them what you want.