What do you think about asymmetry?

Symmetry is fine, but I think I do find asymmetrical sculpts a little more engaging.

The asymmetry of Doll Chateau's Hilary/Jodie is part of why I like them so much- they sculpted their faces so that they could either be smiling or frowning depending on the angle, and I think that's really neat!

 

I love asymmetrical sculpts!! Have you guys seen Kaka sculpt from Flower and Junior? His sneer is incredibly cute and realistic

 

I really want the most things to be symetric but people in real life are not so just for the eye i can accept a tiny bit :-) it makes it more interesting.
Mel

 

A completely symmetrical sculpt looks fake and induces the uncanny valley response, so asymmetry is necessary. It's why digital sculptors add them on purpose. But asymmetry isn't the same as bad sculpting. One ear that is significantly bigger than the other, isn't 'realistic', it's flawed.

Like everything else: Moderation is key.

 

A lot of people are aiming for symmetry. I notice that in face ups specifically. For my personal taste, I get bored of perfectly symmetrical faces quite fast. They don’t offer much versatility, and loose a lot of personality, too.
Especially on realistic face ups, I adore slight asymmetrical paintings. Often they offer different facial expressions depending on the angle you look at them, also they appear to be more reachable and people-like.
As Silk said, the key is to know the limits.

All those ‘perfect faces’ keep me from bonding, too.

But also, all this is personal taste.

 

It depends a lot for me. In some things I wouldn't mind some asymmetry, like uneven ears, mouth, or nose for example, but I can't stand uneven eyes. The way I most like asymmetry is in the facial details in an artistic way, like different makeup for each eye, freckles, tattoos, ect.

 

What I meant wasn't how far the ears are positioned from the head (there are people that have one stick out more), but the size of the auricle. When one ear measures 2 cm, and the other 1, it's not realistic. Same with one eye being twice the size of the other.

 

I only have one doll with any asymmetry but I was pretty drawn to it to start. At first I thought it was just in his face up - he's a Dearmine Oskar Creature Claw and his lips are done so one side looks more down turned than the other and straight on its a pretty decent smirk. Or at least, that's what I first thought and its been stuck in my head since! But once I got him home, I realized his ear, he's got big ol' animal ears with tufts of hair on the edges, are also not exactly the same! I loved it. Its a very subtle kind of thing because it wasn't completely noticeable from the company photos because his wig can obscure it. But honestly, that's probably my favorite kind, where it can be played up or played down depending on things. I definitely think it gives his ears some great personality, never mind that face up, so I definitely enjoy some asymmetry in sculpts!

 

I already like facial quirks and crooked features, so this translates over to dolls well. I'm thinking especially of my little Resinsoul Wu, who has one very oddly sculpted eye, and it adds so much personality to his face.

 

@Spuggey You were that other kid in the toy aisle buying toys with broken or stained faces, weren't you? What's up, toy doctor hommie?

 

It really depends on in what way it's asymmetrical and to what extent. A sculpt being a little off to where I don't notice it so much is one thing (like my Ban head), but if it's way off then it irks me.
An intentionally crooked mouth is charming as long as it's not awkwardly done. Some asymmetry is to be expected though as the sculptors are human after all. And I certainly couldn't do any better than they can...

 

Depends on what kind of asymmetry for me tbh I absolutely dig the "imperfect makes perfect", and that we aren't exactly symmetrical beings, but I like when things are aesthetically correct - so the symmetry in dolls gets me going because they are dolls not something organic haha
But, of course, when there's a realistic character shelled in a doll, it makes lot of sense to give them assymetrical face up or such!

Interesting topic, reading the replies is very fun

 

True. You can google celebs photoshoped to have perfectly symmetric faces and it just looks artificial for me.

 

I love asymmetry, even if it's unintentional or a defect. Like @Spuggey I've got a bit of a soft spot for flawed items and I get attached to them more easily than I do with perfect ones, so a doll with, say, crooked eye sockets, or one eye is slightly bigger than the other or something like that wouldn't really bother me at all. I think it adds personality and uniqueness.

 

I actually prefer asymmetry and little flaws in both people and dolls.

 

Unless it has a naturally lopsided expression, I prefer the sculpt to be as symmetrical as possible... at least to inspection by the human eye. Many people do have asymmetrical features. (One of my husband's ears sticks out further than the other. It's quite noticeable, and genetic, as his cousin and grandfather shared the same wonky ear.) Some asymmetry is going to happen with dolls sculpted by hand of course, but because dolls are inorganic, it would take an otherwise over-the-top realistic sculpt for me to conclude obvious asymmetry was intentional and not a lack of care/skill.