What's the Appeal of the Sleeping BJD?

I wondered about that at first too, I love eyes and at first didn't understand why someone would want a doll whose eyes you couldn't see. Then as I looked at more & more photos I realized how sweet they look asleep, and came to appreciate the other ways the sleeping face could be interpreted. I still don't think I would get a doll who only came with a sleeping head, but would definitely get one as an extra head to be switched. I appreciate that Fairyland's faceplates makes it so easy to switch back & forth too.

I suppose a character whose eyes are always closed could also be blind - I didn't read through this whole discussion so sorry if that's been mentioned already.

I was actually wondering though, are there any companies that make dolls with eyelids that close, or would that just ruin the realistic look of the faces?

 

If I could I'd have dreaming & sleeping versions of all my dolls - really would be fantastic for photo-stories

 

I prefer sleeping and dreaming heads over open-eyed faces, just as I prefer heavy-lidded eyes over wide open ones.

When dolls have their eyes wide open, I often get the 'dear in the headlights' feel. Dreaming heads, to me, look more soulful and alive, because they don't have that blind stare. They feel more introspective and that's what I like in a doll.

 

I actually decided to get the sleeping Emily her own body. She's so cute! I really love having the sleeping version, since I love the Emily sculpt so much. I have three of them now so the difference in sculpt gives some extra variety. ^^

 

I love sleeping heads. I love the peaceful expression. Might be because I prefer a quiet atmosphere like that of someone sleeping.

I'd like to have a sleeping and open eyed version of a head as the same character just to switch things up.

 

I don't like them except for the occasional photo or two. I would never buy an only sleeping doll unless I wanted that look on a doll that I was displaying. I don't feel like I could attach a real character to it. Unless my character was in a comma or something. And that of course would severely limit what I could do with them photography wise....

 

Theoretically, I can see the appeal of them, however, only as part of a set. If they're the sleeping version of an open eyed head, it gives alot of possibilities for more photos, expressions, and snippets of life and emotion. I'm planning for a Dikadoll Rena head and her sleeping head for a hybrid one day, and I only chose it because of the possibilities and expressions on both heads. It gives more opportunity when as part of a set.

but with just a doll with only a sleeping head at all times, I too have trouble attaching a character or personality to it. I agree with the original poster about the eyes being a main part of the beauty of a bjd.

 

I find that the sleeping BJDs look so peaceful and absolutely precious. For some, they find it cheaper because you don't have to buy eyes for the doll. I have one sleepy eyed BJD and I love her because she looks so innocent. People who are especially talented modify the eyes to give them a more cutesy shape then fully open eyes.

 

Well I just noticed the mods moved my post I'm ok with that I tried to search this up and didn't find it so I guess my post is kinda redundant now.

Ok I'm just wondering who likes the dolls with closed eyes? I have seen them from time to time and I don't like them but i'm just wondering who does? I do think there cute especially the kid dolls but I feel bad for a doll with it's eyes closed then it's like there sleeping forever and the will never wake up and it makes me feel bad. With adults having their eyes closed like not for sleeping but more like relaxing there good for a few poses but them you can't have them like a normal doll that is awake. I wish sometimes my dolls would close their eyes, but I want them to open them later. So whats your opinion on the subject?

 

I have a weakness for dolls with eyes, as you have different colours and expressions that make the doll come alive. So generally I would prefer a doll to have open eyes with some expression.

 

My closed-eyes "dolls" are actually faceplates I can swap onto dolls with regular open-eye faceplates, so I can pose them as sleeping or awake as I like. I also have plans for a couple of blind characters, who may end up with closed-eye sculpts. I haven't decided for sure with them, it'll come down to what appeals to me most when the time comes.

 

i love sleeping faces especially on boy sculpts. it's sweet looking and I like the idea of a doll dreaming. Im not especially concerned with photography either. I think sleeping face dolls tend to have prettier faceups probably because people don't have to fuss as much with lashes and crazy eye shadows :p

 

I have alternate sleeping heads for my SoulDoll Lune and ElfDoll Red. They were both made that way. I love having them because their characters can sleep! And I have a beautiful DollZone Yue. I fell in love with him from his sales pics, and surprisingly never thought of his closed eyes as a negative factor (though I had never fallen in love with a closed eye sculpt before). His character is not blind or disabled in my stories, but he does look dreamy and romantic, and it suits him well because he is a singer and songwriter.

I also got a second head for my NinoDoll Bada, and had his eyes modded closed, but not so he could sleep...



It's like a laughing head! He's just very happy -- or ticklish!

Linda S.
galatia9

 

Sleeping heads are very sweet and cute but I haven't found any I would actually like to own. I love doll eyes and would miss having that option for customization in my dolls. I like it as an option for dolls who can switch out face plates though. Then you can have your girl, boy or other with the best of both worlds.

 

I used to say the same thing about sleeping dolls...what's the appeal of them? but then I fell in love with the dreaming Honey delf Taffy...I haven't bought him because I'm not sure I'm ready for sleeping heads (I love wide eyed dolls) so I admire him from afar.

 

While I find the sleeping faces peaceful looking and beautiful, I would never have one of my own. I prefer the half-closed eyes over completely closed. Part of the fun for me in owning a doll is to be able to pick the perfect eyes for them...which you can't really do with a doll whose eyes are closed. It does seem to be a little limiting in terms of photography.

 

I got my first sleeping head as a full doll before I'd been in the hobby a year, and I honestly don't even think of him as "sleeping". The head I have was modded by a previous owner to have scars on his eyes because the character was blind -- I loved the mods and kept them so the doll in question is very much awake to me. I've even stopped and tried to remember what eyes he has on occasion (yeah, none. He doesn't even have eye wells). I really don't think he's less anything for not having eyes, I actually believe he's pretty expressive (Breakaways have great mouths on them!) and a lot of his character came from that expression. Same goes for his two "minis" a Puki I modded to have similar scars, and a MNF. They're all "Sleeping" (but not). Plus...positioning eyes can be a PITA. It's nice to hot have to worry about that sometimes. I've been tempted to get a sleeping girl from time to time as well.

I also love them as alternate heads. I'd been trying to get a vampire Ryu forever so my MD Ryu can have a sleeping head (success as of last year!) and I wish more companies would make sleeping heads as alternatives.

And dreamy-eyed sculpts are always going to be my favorite. I love love love them!

 

I used to have an Only-doll Youhe who is a sleeping face sculpt, I miss her dearly and will work towards getting her again at some point.
I guess she's kinda half eyed, like my DollLove Arefa just a little more closed, so she can either look full of herself or sleeping xD

 

The sleepy heads appeal to me with their calm expression and general serenity. I would also like to think of my dolls as actually sleeping because where they are not actually physically alive and they don't move on their own, and 80 percent times they are just sitting around...so why not have them close their eyes and looks like they are just resting and they will be up for action in no time? Also i put away my dolls either into the little closet space dedicated to them or their respective boxes and it's nice imagining them sleeping, like actually sleeping, in their little box.

 

I'd get a little bored with a doll that's always sleeping, but I do really like how many cute poses sleeping dolls can do!!! Having a doll with sleeping AND awake faces would be the ideal thing for me uwu

I do really like dolls with more of a squinty, dreamy look though!!! Like the ones with half open eyes ;w; so cute~