Why don't most dolls have a smile?

Because frozen expressions look creepy and unnatural. Souldoll recently did a winking doll, which I am sure many people found gorgeous but just totally freaked me out. I don't like winking, smiling or even sleeping dolls because I find it harder to project any emotions onto the sculpt if they have a fixed expression so they won't be coming to live with me.

 

i really have always wondered this, i find the expressions of most doll quite sad...some even morbid, it give's them very hollow blank stares, i personally would love to see more smiles, it does put me off a lot of dolls, unless i was specifically going for that look i generally don't like the really sad ones

 

That's actually what attracted me to them...I seem to have a soft spot for sad, orphan-looking dolls. I have a strong connection with ones that have a lost soul look to them.

 

Neutrality for versatility is what I see is going on, but I definitely don't like dolls that pout way too much. Its like seeing a child who's upset 24/7. I choose my dolls based on how happy they look, the more happy/neutral, the better, imho. Now a permanent is kinda weird, but so is D:

 

I think it's sort of the nature of the dolls. Non-expressive, or neutral expressions, can benefit a photographer in trying to show people a specific emotion. People can be told to see the doll being happy, or being sad if the photographer does the right things. It's probably a lot harder to create different emotions other than only happy or sad (not saying it can't be done, it's more difficult) on a doll with a set emotion on their faces.

Also when it comes to photography, most models typically don't smile. A lot of times, they're somewhat neutral or even a little frowny.

 

Honestly, I don't really like the frownier dolls. Neutral is okay, but I don't really LIKE it... I feel neutral about neutrality. XP

I don't like extreme expressions either, but slight smiles really get me. It feels like the doll is truly happy to be wherever it is and it makes them look kind of serene. It's nice.

 

I think most have neutral expressions because neutrality is a lot easier to change around than an expression that falls at either extreme of sad or happy. I personally prefer happier dolls - real life has enough sadness, I want my dolls to be happy even when real people usually aren't. xD But I do appreciate the more neutral, enigmatic expressions like what my Littlefee Ante has. I don't find myself ever really liking the extremely grumpy/pouty dolls though. Unidoll Ark and Souldoll Hye definitely come to mind when it comes to very extreme expressions on the side of displeasure and I'm not a huge fan of either of those. xD

 

I personally think that they look a bit creepy with smiles. A non-expressive face is easier to work with than having a doll that always has a smile on his/her face. I know many of my friends find my doll creepy, going to far lengths to get away from her, and I know I would add more people to the "Run Away!" group if she were to have a smile.

 

I feel that neutral dolls are a better thing to do from a business stand point. It appeals to everyone! My remedy for neutral/sad looking dolls is to give them a face up where their eyebrows hint a smile and you know those dark lip lines running through the middle horizontally? Instead of just keeping it a straight line, you can just curve the line up and its a smile! That is what I did to my DoD Homme Ducan. He seems a bit mischievous and not as melancholy as displayed.

 

Oh, that's what I love about my boy the most. You could hardly say he's smiling. If I were to choose, I'd say he's more inclined to have this almost desperate look. But even that is mostly achieved through his eyes. His mouth on the other hand... It's not even about angles, he simply has moods and often surprises me with the variety of his expressions. Melancholic, happy, or outright mischevious. And, you know, it's good to see he's alive, too.

 

Some manufacturers actually have different face plates for their dolls and combined with the right face up can give a number of different deversed looks. I am glad their expressions in sculpt are not too extreme becuse that would limit the looks that you would be able to get out of the dolls with different face ups.

 

Why don't most people have a smile?

 

I don't mind blank expressions, but I hate dolls that look like they're going to burst into tears at any moment! It just bums me out!

 

I am not really a big fan of smiles. I like the versatility and I feel like a slight smile (or smirk) is fine but I don't really like the wide open mouths or big grins.

 

I personally HATE that there aren't more smiling dolls, because the expressionless faces just look sad to me...Then I just can't look at them, it breaks my heart!! In a way though, its going to save me money....Or make me spend more money trying to find better faces!

 

my Sayuki is a smily mold and I really like her! I don't think that she can't change her mood because of this. if you look at her in a different angle you can see her angry XD
I like also doll without expretion, and I would love to have one! (i've got only my kdf Darae)

 

There is real skill involved in making a neutral/ambiguous face sculpt. On a sensitively created "blank" face, a clever change in lighting, moving the eyes, or tilting the head just so can completely alter a doll's mood. My guys are very enigmatic, but the smallest of tweaks can turn them into clowns, or quite gruff and angry, or very sad souls indeed. A built-in smile would ruin the potential for that sort of subtlety.

There are a few companies (DollInMind comes to mind) who are really bold and obvious with their expressions, and I think they look great... but they're doomed to be in that mood forever!

 

He may not be one of the specific sculpts you're thinking of, but my DiM Arno has turned out to be one of my most versatile, surprisingly. He's usually mentioned as a "smiling" sculpt, but at certain angles he looks more sadly wistful or even worried. I was actually a little worried about him looking too happy all the time for the character he's meant to portray, but it hasn't been a problem at all.

My Ninodoll Bada head on the other hand...well, he's a cheerful little guy. Though even his smile could probably be turned into the nervous/worried sort with faceup and lighting. Like a fake "Oh man, quit looking at me like that!" sort of smile.

 

Because in reality the absence of a smile gives more scope for imagination, rather than vice versa.

 

I imagine it's because people can project more character traits and/or different personalities into neutral looking dolls?

My BJD has a smile which I adore. It can go from a happy smile to a mischievous grin, depending on the angle you look at it. But I imagine if it she'd have a huuuuge grin she'd definitely freak me out. No one can have a grin 24/7, haha. I also don't like most dolls out there which have this super frown or pouty face on them. Overall I don't like dolls which show an extreme emotion which can be translated into something else. In future I'd like to get a BJD with a neutral face or a small (!) frown, though.