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

I found BJDs through my friends....
and even though I'm a HUGE anime otaku....I never noticed there was an anime connection to BJD until I saw ppls dolls cosplaying characters.

So it doesn't bother me at all....but I'm a little weary about naming my dolls after anime characters or giving them Japanese names cos I know a lot of ppl don't like that (although I seem to have gotten away with a couple hehehe )

 

You mean when people call anime 'cartoons'? But anime is a form of cartoon, just a japanase (and often korean/chinese/etc) version.

I don't really mind that there is a basis for these dolls that links them to anime and manga/manwha. When you look at most doll websites, you can tell there is an influence by these mediums in the way dolls are presented to the public eye.

Considering the original market for these dolls was the overseas asian market, we should be thankful that the doll designers have opened their market to us and kept our opinions in mind. Most designers for Japanese video games - for example - are aware there is a english market for these games, and that their game will probably be localized and brought over. They know this, but they also state that they will worry first about relating to their local market - which will generally result in more anime-styled dolls - and then hope the rest of the world accepts these things as-is.

The recent influx of less stylized dolls is probably due to a bigger western and possibly Korean market, as the doll makers realize there is enough of a market to start appealing to outside tastes, as it's now safe to do so.

I personally think this is a great thing for the hobby, and will probably draw it a bit further away from the anime/manga influence and more towards it's own stylization, but the fact that these dolls follow an asian aesthetic will always mean that there will be a link to other mediums with the same aesthetic - including manga, manwha and anime - and sometimes even a resembelence that will lead someone to call them 'anime dolls'. While we can gently correct them on this matter it's not like they're too far off the mark and it's nothing to get too upset by.

 

I got into BJDs through Anime and Anime cons, so it doesn't bother me at all when people connect them with anime. In fact, I find it even easier to explain when they do, because then it seems to be easier for them to accept that this is just a typical hobby- not some weird 'crazy cat lady' thing.

 

I am an anime fan and I take a lot of elements from that to give my characters something.

 

Speaking of which....today I was talking to a classmate in our school shuttle bus and he asked me about the dolls I collected. When I talked about them a girl sitting in front of me said, "Oh you have one of those pretty anime dolls!!" When I heard her say "Anime" it didn't annoy me but I made me laugh because this thread popped up in my mind.
Somehow I wanted to go into detail about how these dolls aren't so anime, but I let it go.

 

"Anime" is a term that most people can understand... if I'm talking to a non-doll person about dolls, I'll be the one calling them anime dolls. That way, they get the right sort of image in their mind.
"Big eyes, smallish noses and delicate features... think Sailor Moon!" and there's an understanding "ahh!" from the other person. You say "doll" to most people and they think western baby doll, American Girl, cabbage patch... fat faces and chunky arms. You say "anime doll" and it changes the image in their mind.
"Asian aesthetic" means squat to them, but most people know what anime looks like. Thanks Adult Swim.

I found these dolls through anime conventions... I prefer a more anime look in the ones I have so to me they are anime dolls.

 

You're right! If I were to describe a Pullip, or an Obitsu to someone who hadn't ever seen one, "think anime-styled doll," is the easiest way to describe them.

 

I haven't owned a doll for very long, so I haven't personally experienced this, but it really dosen't bother me. I got into this fandom through anime - or maybe cosplay - it was such a long time ago that I discovered Volks dolls that I don't really remember. I think I saw someone cosplaying with their doll on cosplay.com, and liked the doll and looked into it.

The connection makes sense, they have that anime character style to them, and besides the fact that Volks does make specific characters, they also just make dolls with the painted on anime style eyes. There's definitly a connection between these dolls and anime.

Personally, I stay away from the more anime style sculpts, they don't appeal as much to me.

 

im not big on anime... i tried to get into it because most of my friends like it but really it just never clicked.

but alot of people find out about these dolls through anime related searches/parties/conventions so no. if anyone made a comment about me being interested in anime dolls i'd either politely correct them or shrug it off

 

i keep both anime and realistic dolls....
anime dolls can be cute.^^

 

The connection anime-bjd bothers me because I dislike most of the animes I've ever seen.
It doesn't bother me to compare the dolls to anime aesthetics, but it really bothers me that most people thinklike abjd-asian-anime.
"Hey, what's your favourite anime?"

 

Then you answer, "Well, anime really isn't my thing, I just like dolls" and move on. I guess I don't see the big bother in it.

 

My guess would be the repetition. One or two people associating your doll with some kind of anime obsession isn't a big deal. But lots of people...I can see how that would get annoying.

 

Mmmh quite a bit, because of the image people have of animes, mangas, japanese stuffs in fact. It sometimes gives the image of something not serious, childish. That's what bother me. But I like mangas and animes, I'm not childish or immature, but many people think japanese stuffs and immaturity are linked. Tss u_u

 

Anime is essentially how I got into dolls, too. The friend who first got me hooked on anime introduced me to ABJDs when she got her first girl, and all my doll-owning friends are also anime fans--and, by the way, some of them are indeed college-age, but most of them are around 30-50 years old. We're conspiring to get ABJD programming items into the local SF and anime cons! When I showed my first doll to members of my writers' group, one of them said, "So he's kind of like an anime Barbie?" and I laughed and agreed, since she wasn't mocking but trying out a connection that made sense to her. So no, the anime connection bothers me not a bit. I love the stuff (anyone seen Mushishi? Gorgeous!) and I love the Asian aesthetic that created these dolls.

 

Same. Misconceptions are part of life. Just answer truthfully without getting too defensive, and move on.

It's the same as me with video games. I'm a big gamer, but when people ask me "so what's your favorite RTS", I just answer "Oh, I'm not into RTS, I'm actually more of an RPG and Puzzle game fan". When things are associated at a certain level, people make assumptions. It's just in our nature.

 

It only bothers me because the association is often a negative one and I don't like others forming opinions about me based on the things I may or may not enjoy. Especially negative opinions.

I'm not really a big anime fan, there is a series or two that I watch sometimes but I don't consider myself to be a real follower by any means. I actually think, in general, I like it a lot less than many. Just like how reading a certain genre of book doesn't make me a raving fan of it either. It's just a thing some people enjoy, some more than others but we all have things we like.

There are enough things out there people are going to judge me based on... I'd like to have one less to worry about. I've actually gotten comments from people when they see my doll that I don't seem to fit the image of a doll owner they had in their head... It's a relief in a way, but also just so demeaning over all. It's nice to get to show others I'm just a devastatingly normal person, but it is very irksome that I should have to.

 

I got into BJDs thanks to Rozen Maiden.My second Psychiatrist calls them Anime dolls so I dont really mind.

 

im an otaku so obviously it doesnt bother me but ive seen many ppl make their dolls into victorian or pirate fictations so not ALL doll owners are otaku. i think dolls got popular due to anime/videogame/otaku lovers so thats why ppl assume they are strictly put in that category. thats jsut saying ppl who dont truly take the time to find out the truth. it happens with everything. its like if you have a peircing or dress in black ppl ASSUME you're goth.
PS: besides my boy MSD is chinese and his woman MSd is japanese but they dont even have anime names ^^;;

 

I see no problem with it. As Volks original dolls were very much based on anime style. Plus, i am sad to say, it makes it easier to explain to those who are not sure what they are.