What comes first - the backstory or the doll?

Which happened first for you as a doll owner - developing a character you wanted a doll to become or buying the doll and then developing a personality that seems to emerge from the doll?

I don't generally shell specific characters. Doll comes first, then character. Sometimes I will draw on established characters for a doll, but the doll still comes first.

I don't have one story or one set of characters, so shelling characters in dolls would just be insane! Plus, I like too many different dolls to want to limit myself to pre-existing characters.

 

To me the character comes first and then I choose a doll for him/her.

 

The reason I plan to continue buying BJDs is because I have a back story that goes along with my dears. If I didn't truly have a backstory, I would have to at least have a sniplet idea of what I plan to use my doll for in some sort of story-like sense. Of course, I won't know if my doll will truly fit with the persona until I receive him/her and start to handle them.

 

I have a 50/50 ratio on that one. My first dolls had their characters before the molds, but couple after them had their characters planted in and after that - more characters before actual dolls.
Sometimes I just have some characters in my stories that would be nice as dolls, but sometimes, I just see a doll and go "WHOA! That's it! That's the one I love! I don't care if I don't have a fitting character for it! This baby is mine!"

 

I already have a fixed story for my dolls and characters that inhabit that story. It's one way for me to keep my spendings in check. When I'm looking for a doll, I already have a basic idea of his character and I know about his backstory. Still, I usually don't look for sculpts that match that character. The only dolls I want to buy are those I'm head over heels with.

For instance, Remo is supposed to be this charming, fun loving guy, whose downside is that he can't stay away from the ladies or gambling or booze. To say the least, the guy's a mess, but is very capable to hide this behide his gentleman's behaviour and permanent smile. The doll I chose for him is a Volks Williams: not exactly the most positive looking doll. And yet, for some reason, the mold is perfect for Remo.

I do believe that whatever mold you choose for your character, his personality will shine through.

 

It entirely depends on the doll, for me. If I ever think of a specific character for a doll, I'll build the doll around that character. But to me, there's something magical about getting a doll in its natural state - be it a blank slate from the company, or whatever an already-loved doll received from its previous owner - and letting the doll's character develop naturally. For my Mikomi, I'm going to discover her personality over time. All I know so far is her name and hair color, but I'm sure the rest will come in time. For my second, third, etc...? Well, who knows?

 

It varies for me as well. I have lots of dolls I want for specific characters, and ones I am still waiting for the right doll to pop up. But the others they develop after they are bought or arrive. One came to me with a specific name and character and she never changed. In fact I talked to the person I bought her from and was talking about how much of a pain she was being with photos recently and she kinda laughed and said well yeah, that's Morgen all right. But then like my newest boy Hatter, I saw him and he said "Hey I'm Hatter, buy me!" and so he became Hatter, based off The Mad Hatter. Then he spawned Aliss, his beloved. I have a lot of that.... I buy one doll, they develop, and then they mention family members and things.... But I swear one day I will have the dolls I want to represent some pre-done characters from old RPs, and a couple fan dolls. One day

 

For how it went with my dolls was that I had a general story in my head and after I met them I would tweak it a bit. Dolls are sometimes different in person after all! Though the only consistent thing I enjoy is for them to be all from the same story in general just on different paths c:

 

To me: both. They are one group of dolls I own that I actually want them because they're cute blahblahblah and checked out just like that.
So I didn't think about their characters at that time. But I did think about it while I was waiting for them to ship.
And I just started to save for new group that will arrive after their backstories and characters

 

Sorry for the late response, thedarkeststar13. I have only just seen your post. You are not alone. I will give my doll a name, based on my perception of its "personality", but that is as far as it goes. No stories. No character shelling. I would rather spend time making clothes for my doll and posing it with props against different backgrounds, taking photographs and being with it in the here and now.

 

No character no plot just amazed by her beauty...I had to had that doll......of course when she came she developed a character... but still I am working it!!

 

Backstory backstory backstory.

As a person who does manga illustration, I always design and create the character before getting a doll. Don't wanna waste a single penny for a body which will go unused.

 

I think it really depends. I bought my first doll with no idea who she would be. I love Japanese street fashions, especially Lolita (Baby the stars shine bright, alice and the pirates, etc.) so I planned on decking her out in pink and lace. But when she came she seemed to just not meet my expectations. At first I was sad because I thought I was not connecting with her but I realize I was pushing something on her that she just wasn't. I slowly came up with a back story and now she's very into nature, bugs, stones, and magic. I love her new back story and I'm loving learning about her with all the clothes I make and photos I take. So yea... It just depends I guess.

 

For me, it's been the backstory. It gives me something to do while I wait for the doll to arrive. Of course, I add some to their story when they get here, but the majority of it is written pre-doll.

 

Always the doll first. They sort of develop themselves after they arrive. It's a lot of fun because I never know which direction they'll take. Even then, they don't all have back stories. Some like to remain mysterious and only tell me about their present selves.

 

The doll I love creating a character as I get to know them- adding features giving them life...

 

well it depend... I have a story that I did 10+years ago and I use this one to add caracter. Kiyam, Anis and Hotaru wasn't in this story before but now they are

 

I think as many others have said it can depend much. The two dolls I have right now represent characters from a novel I'm working on, as some future dolls do too, but some do not have a back-story yet. Probably they will develop when they arrive and I can maybe make a character for them. That's the beauty of it all, because it helps both the dolls and writing, growth as a collector and writer.

 

For me, the dolls will come first. Then I will enjoy thinking up their personalities and stories, and getting them set up for pictures.
Although - I think I've already got some names picked xD

 

I'm one of the backstory kind of doll owners. I shell characters from a story I'm writing, so I choose dolls based on that.
I have one character (not home anymore, but will be bought again), who I came up with, because I wanted the sculpt, but I made her fit into the story and she grew from there.