Are all BJDs by definition, strung together with elastic? Or are there BJDs that use a method similar to articulated dolls like monster high? With pegs and circular attachments?
By basic definition, it has to have ball joints, or similar (like peanuts, ovals, etc). Dolls with hinge joints or peg and socket joints don't fit the definition of ball joint. The reason some peg and socket/hinge joint dolls are allowed on DoA are because Dollfie Dreams and Obitsu were grandfathered in ages ago when the forum was new, and they were allowed to stay because of that. The reason some actual ball jointed dolls are off topic are because the forum had to draw the line somewhere so it didn't get overwhelming to moderate and crash from too many users and pages. This makes non-resin BJDs, and BJDs lacking certain joints or other details off topic here. They are still technically ball jointed dolls.
Yes, all BJDs are strung with elastic, have ball and socket joints, the ability to change wigs, so no rooted hair, and changeable eyes, either of glass, acrylic or silicone. They are generally made of resin as well. Believe it or not the BJD as we know it has not been around all that long. Earlier in doll making history, porcelain was used to make dolls with ball and socket joints. Much more fragile than the resin we have today.
In purest terms, a ball-jointed doll is any doll constructed with ball-and-socket joints. Could be made of wood, resin, polymer clay, plastic, porcelain, or anything else, and the internal tension could come from elastic or wire-and-spring. So dolls with hinged or peg joints (like Barbie and MH and most other fashion dolls) are "articulated dolls" (which also includes BJDs) but by definition are not "ball-jointed dolls". Doesn't mean they're innately inferior, they're just not "BJDs," in the same way it wouldn't make sense to say that a kitchen-table chair is a "recliner" if it doesn't actually recline. The DoA rules about resin, elastic, changeable hair and eyes, and overall aesthetic are specifically referring to the so-called Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls (or "ABJD", because this type of construction originated with the Volks Super Dollfies in Japan and became popular in East Asia before catching on in the West). The reason DoA is has so many picky rules about what "counts" as a BJD is just to narrow the scope of discussion so the forum doesn't get too big and hard to manage.
I always wondered why some people said obitsu isn't considered a bjd. Thank so much for this explanation! I've seen porcelain BJDs and they are so pretty. I'd be terrified of breaking one though. I can see why resin gained popularity. Thank you! That makes complete sense. Thank you for indigling a noobs curiosity Lol touche
