What do you think about Hybrids?

I'd be interested if anyone else has had an experience like this too. It sounds bizarre, but anything's possible in this hobby!

 

I'm sure that hybrids must be acceptable since most companies sell doll heads and doll bodies alone. I wouldn't see the point in them selling the doll heads/bodies if they didn't assume that people would go out and buy the missing part somewhere else. Aren't there companies/people that only sell heads? Wouldn't those companies/people obviously be hoping supporting a hybrid doll to be made?

Anyway I don't think it's "wrong" to make a hybrid because like stated before, I'm sure the companies rather you buy a piece of the doll then blow off the entire idea of getting the doll because you don't like it's head/body. I'm not saying that I don't respect the artist who made the doll either, I actually respect them more for creating a piece of art and then bringing it into the public to let other people fulfill their dreams of what they think the "ideal doll" is. To me, it's almost like drawing a line on a piece of paper and then passing it around a room of people and seeing the end result of what the line has been made into.

But of course, this is all personal opinion.

 

I can understand not liking hybrids because of bad resin matches, but are there still objections if the resin match of a hybrid is pretty perfect?

What about when a company changes their resin colours or just has really variable resin? (Any Luts owners wanna chip in here since they're notoriously erratic about resin?) It's perfectly possible to have a 'one brand' doll who doesn't have a good resin match.

If you don't agree with hybrids then I'm curious to know how you feel about modding?

I'm going to carry on playing Frankendolly with my little tribe, I'll happily even tag my very, very occasional gallery posts 'hybrid' so I don't offend hybrid haters if that would help. If you'd rather not see it then I don't want to shove it in your face.

But this whole purist vibe that's coming from some people about not mixing companies, because there is something 'wrong' somehow... not cool at all.(This is a whole different issue to those who object on aesthetic grounds - in my opinion anyway, and totally different from the 'it doesn't fit with what I want in my collection but I'm cool with you doing it' attitude.)

I am deeply uncomfortable with the idea that based on their entirely legal doll collection someone is being seen as disrespectful or lacking in integrity somehow, that mixing brands is being viewed not just as a matter of personal taste but almost as a flaw of character. (Please note, if you don't like hybrids but you're happy for other people to have them then I am not referring to you, I am only referring to those who think hybrids are unethical.)

 

I have a hybrid and I love him very much. I have an Elf Mod El on a Volks SD13. I don't honestly think that it matters whether someone's doll is a hybrid of two companies or not. Your dolls are yours. It's whatever makes you happy.

My first doll was a Luts CP El and because of that, I have developed a bit of a preference for that kind of quality. Three out of four of my dolls are fully CP Dolls and I bought an SD13 because I love the quality of Volks, the hands, the chest joint. I must admit that I do fancy the slender, androgynous boy that Luts makes, but I don't think that my Fingon would be Fingon if he wasn't on his body that he's on now.

I love Hybrids. I hope for more.

 

I'll fess up. I have been a discount dollie buyer.

I bought Doyle a Fantasy Doll body when they were first released, because they were $130 and the bargain hunter in me just couldn't pass up that kind of a deal. Was I compromising? Yeah, I was. I took a chance on getting a body I might not like as much, because I felt that the cost difference was a greater value to me than the potential quality difference. That's my call to make as a consumer of a luxury item. I don't think it's anyone's business to tell someone else how much their personal budget should be for a purely non-essential hobby. (And that does go both ways. I don't think it's fair to criticize people for spending the extra money to get the matching body that they really want, either.)

An example: when I go grocery shopping, I save a little here and a little there by deciding which discounts are worth the quality difference and which little luxuries I'm willing to sacrifice. Generic syrup? Sure. Not quite as delicious as the real maple syrup, but I feel that the savings is an equal exchange for lesser quality since I'm not too picky about syrup. But I love cheese, and I've learned that the generic brand cheese tastes oily and doesn't melt well... so I splurge a little for the better cheese. With each item, I weigh my options. I did the same thing with the FDoll body. If someone really loves a more expensive body and wants to save up for it, I applaud them for their perseverance in getting what they really want. But if others are happy to make a compromise that they feel is worth it, then their choices should be respected as well. I don't think anyone really has the right to be a "quality assurance monitor" of other people's belongings in something that is intended to be purely for enjoyment anyway.

(As a side note, I ended up loving the FDoll body, even better than the CP body that would have been a "match").

In the end... I'd say I have to fall into the "they are intended for customization" camp. I think the very nature of a "DIY" hobby intended for creative customization begets experimentation and hybridization as a part of that philosophy. It's a natural progression in some people's quest to put together that "perfect doll".

 

<still laughing hysterically>

I find it a howl that there are probably people posting or thinking indignantly about "artistic intergrity" being violated by hybrids who would have NO problem writing or reading fanfiction and photostories that often goes violently against the Original Creator's desires and intentions with the characters and stories.

<giggling madly>

 

Maybe I'm beating a dead horse here, but I don't understand why people keep referring to the 'artistic integrity', or the 'direction of the artist's idea'.
When I, as a professional script-writer, sell my script to a theatre company I have no longer a saying over it. Even if I made notes in the scripts and told them how I envisioned a particular scene, it's their right to ignore that advise and do something else entirely. They could even point out to me that I should shut up, because it is not my job to give directions. That's a director's job.
This is simply how it works when you, as an artist, sell your art. A sculptor, a painter, a 3-d modeler, it makes no difference. As soon as someone has bought your work, they have all right to do with it whatever they want (within legal boundaries of course).

That's why I have no problems with hybrids. I've bought the doll and now I customize it with the 'direction of my ówn artistic idea', just like a director would do with my script, or an actor with the character that came from my mind. To me this is the reason I joined this hobby.

 

It has been very interesting reading this thread, and I agree with the last three posters.
My pesonal thoughts/feelings:
I'm a bit of a contradiction about Hybrids ( just speaking about my personal choices only). It just seems neater in my mind if I can get dolls from the same company, so it's like a matching set. Similarly I like to have even numbers of boy and girl dolls. Now I have to add, that my collection isn't like this at all...I have odd numbers and a mix of full sets AND Hybrids,( as there is no girl Minimee body yet).Plus, I am also in the camp that sometimes goes for less expensive bodies to save some money,( even though I have some very pricey full set dolls as well), and I have found that I can get very good resin matches with intense base blushing. I'm not too fussed about types of bodies, but again personally I like legs that don't have those horizontal rings at the top of the thighs.But generally it's the face mould I appreciate more than a covered with clothes body.
Now as for discussion for the general thread.
People have different ideas of what they like and don't like for their dolls, which I understand, but to totally be against hybrids, I just don't see why. I agree with Silk, and don't see the ' artistic integrity' argument at all, because if you are an artist and feel that strongly, you shouldn't be selling customisable dolls to others in the first place.
Usually also, if people sell dolls, they tend to be prepared to split them as well, so no problems there.
I think the mentality of people is that if they don't like hybrids, then they are just probably collecting dolls as an investment or just to look at them,but certainly not to customise them which to me isn't much fun, but good luck to them too.

 

Oh, this would be grand. It must be a beautiful, intricate, embroidered scarlet H though. Hmmm. I just might set up my embroidery machine today.

 

(Disclaimer: this is posted entirely in jest)

Do you own an abomination? A freaky Frankendolly? The Elitist Council has decided your doll must wear a scarlet letter H, for Hybrid. It also stands for Horrible and Hideous. My own Franklynn, being of Bobobie head and Angel of Dream Body, now must wear the Scarlet H.

 

I love you. And i want one XD

 

Oh PLEASE sell these!

I need FIVE!

 

How funny and ridiculous at the same time. I have seen hybrids that I really love and I felt it was better than the original artist's pictures. When I see a doll that is a complete full set, let's say my Luna once wore her fullset outfit, I am not that interested. I love when people customize. Extreme customization is something I love (not that hybrids are extreme at all, lol). YAY! I want an H Letter myself. ~Gus

 

I too want an "H" letter hoodie.

 

LOL I don't even own a hybrid(yet) and I want a scarlet H hoodie.

 

Have to make one as well! Oh dear... Poor Alessandro will kill me! XD

 

I don't even have hybrids and I want one

 

But judging by the tone of some of the comments, "artistic integrity" itself is being made out to be some sort of superficial farce based on undying respect for the artist. In actuality, I'm pretty sure the first person to bring up "artistic integrity" in this thread had no intentions of attaching a universal ethical dilemma or a case of artist worship to the term. If someone doesn't want a Prada strap on a LV handbag for the sake of artistic integrity, it doesn't necessarily mean they're concerned about Louis Vuitton himself rolling over in his grave. It could just mean that they want a sense of brand "completeness" or unity. That's why I set a distinction between that and the arguments about "abominations" & company losses. Perhaps the repeated cases of equivocation and straw men are failing to set a distinction between what has been said by different people.

On a general note, I don't find BJDs and written works to be on the same level at all. There's a great deal of brand recognition and aesthetic signatures with BJD artists, who then have the right to make what they want without taking creative directions from customers. Even if the customers do what they want with the dolls, other people can plainly recognize the brand and the characteristics that make it unique to a specific artist.

The same can't be said for writers who submit/sell drafts of their work. They expect that everything may be rehashed beyond recognition and they cannot claim a "brand" or "aesthetic" connection to the buyer/employer's end result. As for original visual artists; I don't think painters and sculptors sell their work with the expectation that the customers will modify their work and have some sort of a "yeah, this was a <insert name> original, see how I painted/sculpted over it/hacked bits off?" mentality. And I don't know that many art collectors who would do such a thing. This hobby has certain elements that can't be compared to things that don't have an emphasis on brand/artist recognition and customization.

As for fanfiction, that's another rather weak point considering:

a) What has already been said about artistic integrity and "completeness," which isn't just about adhering to a BJD artist/team's vision (assuming they have one to begin with for standards) but rather their own based on keeping a consistent brand name for the whole body and head.

b) Authors usually don't write books with the express purpose of having people reinterpret their work. Some promote fanfiction, some don't. I'm sure most people here (some more than others) are familiar with authors who forbid fanfiction from being published online and file lawsuits against those who plagiarize under the guise of "inspiration." Meanwhile, BJD hybridization has nothing to do with possible legal implications. Even doll companies who prefer their dolls not be hybridized don't take such measures to control their fanbase.