Why larger dolls?

I have been thinking about this lately too. I have a good range of sizes: 3 SDs, 2.5 MSDs, and 2 Tinies. I have found that my favorite size is indeed the SD size. I don't hate my others, and they all have their good traits, like MSDs are easier to dress and tinies are easier to transport, but there's a lot that doesn't beat out the bigger dolls.

While I have found a few tinies that I love, for most of them, I absolutely hate their faces. I've looked at a few companies, and it's very rare that I find a sculpt I like.

MSDs are better, I do like their face sculpts more, but for some reason, even if they are more portable and easier to dress, they're a little small for me and they always look so young!

SDs have very mature faces, and I feel with the increase in area, there can be so much more details that can be added when developing sculpts. I think the body structures are more detailed and the bodies can be very surprisingly real. I also think that the maturity of the faces have more room for creativity. Having a size that would lend itself more to kid-like appearance can be limiting. I also like the weight of them. It really feels like they exist. You know what I mean?

Overall, I still love the sizes, but there's so much about the SDs that have captured my interest.

 

In general, larger dolls tend to look like mature woman, which is the reason I started buying them as model dolls in place of human models. All my current dolls, but one of them, are 58-60cm. Also, custom clothes designers I have come across like the larger dolls because it is easier making clothes for them, though I don't know if that is true for most designers.

Still, although my 43cm Leda is smaller, she looks more mature and is a great model doll. Just putting a grey wig on her makes her very mature looking. Yet, when I initially searched for wigs and outfits for her they tended to be displayed more on kid dolls but that has changed. I see more MSD models that have a mature look to them and it has been easier finding clothes for Leda.

 

From a display perspective, I find that a few large items tend to look more intentional and decorative than many small ones (which can easily look more like clutter). Someone with a good eye for design could make them all look good, but for a layperson it's easier to make a larger item into a centrepiece.

Do you have no intention to buy more dolls?
I might buy more - I'm not terribly short on space at the moment though, so it's not an issue for me at the moment.


Are they a replacement for children that you can't have or can't stand or maybe you're not ready for children yet?
No, certainly not. I'm baffled at how that stereotype even exists - isn't the grandmother (who obviously has had children) with the doll shelf the typical doll-collecting cliché?

Does their size make it easier for you to dress them and give them face-ups and put their pieces back together when you unstring your large doll?
Absolutely - everything is easier when they're bigger.

Do they maybe make better companions than a YoSD or MSD?
Companions for whom? Each other? I'm not hugely concerned with scale, so not really.

Maybe it's the only size you can find the age that you want your character to be?
This is a fair point - I generally prefer non-childlike dolls, and the larger sizes tend to be more mature (although there are obviously exceptions to that).

 

I just prefer the aesthetic of larger, SD-sized dolls. They are by no means replacement children, or companions. If anything, I feel that I can get a better sense of their personalities since I picture them to be around the same age as me (in their 20's). They are just a collection, much like video games. It's the same reason why I prefer Nintendo handheld systems and games over other handheld systems, larger consoles or PC games. It's just my personal preference, and everyone is different. I would rather have 5 SDs in my apartment than 10 MSDs or 20 tinies (though I could fit 20 SDs in my apartment if I really wanted ).

 

My big 72 cm boys are crowded on a shelf in a flat and if we down size to a one bedroom flat, they will be just as cozy. I like the bigger dolls because I love fashion and the bigger dolls take a lot of detail while the smaller ones, you have to really just lightly sketch in or fake the detail on an outfit. I think it may be that people can get a smaller doll for less money, and more stuff in the doll's size for setting up a doll house scene for them? And lots of people just like tiny dolls.

 

I like bigger dolls best because it just feels right holding them. When I pick up my MSD size dolls they just feel too small and light and it doesn't feel right at all. I love my 40-45cm dolls but I want to start buying less of them and more of the bigger dolls because I just feel happier with them.

 

I'm going to be honest, at one point in time I swore to myself I'd never buy anything over 50 cm tall (this was after I owned and sold a Soom Super Gem boy). They were big, and unweildly, they generally cost several hundred dollars more than what I was comfortable spending in one go, and the boxes, the boxes.... they are huge, and difficult to store. Then one day I was shopping around for an MSD girl, found the perfect one, began making arrangements to commit to buying the doll... and suddenly got struck with the panic that she was just too small (at this point, I've owned two MSD-sized dolls, and 2 YoSD sized ones, so I was very familiar with the size). I just wanted something bigger and more obvious. So the same day I swore off the MSD girl and purchased a new Iplehouse woman that had just been released a few days ago instead. Yep, we like to roll with rational thinking here.


Is it quality over quantity?
Erm... this generally is a rule that applies to my collecting habits as a whole, regardless of the size of doll I own. I spend a LOT of money buying items that are juuuust right, oftentimes spending the doll's cost on accessories, clothes, eyes, wigs, etc. before I move on to buying another doll. This means that I buy fewer dolls, but each doll is "nicer" to look at because it's complete and painted. Now, buying SD's means I spend more money on the doll, and it takes me longer to financially recover between each purchase, so that affects the number of dolls I can buy in a given time span, but... it's not really a matter of quality in this case.

Do you have no intention to buy more dolls?
HAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA yeah I wish. Well, actually, I was considering it recently. Selling all of my dolls and just retreating as an observer because I'm pretty sure at this point that I will never find a perfect doll, unless it was made by me (this is also an option I was considering, by the way). But I'm a materialistic person who likes pretty things, so the chances of me not buying more dolls are pretty slim indeed. I will keep buying dolls even if I have to build the Great Wall of Doll Boxes and Their Paraphernalia in my teeny tiny bedroom.

Are they a replacement for children that you can't have or can't stand or maybe you're not ready for children yet? Nope, definitely not. I had the joyous experience of witnessing the entire birth and childhood of my baby sister as a teen, so I am acutely aware of what kind of commitment children require (and, to some extent, if I really felt maternal I do have this kid to dote on). My dolls are physical representations of the characters in my head, who are probably closer to "friends" than any other kind of classifier. They live in my head, I create stories for them and illustrate their adventures, and sometimes its nice to dress something up that exists in 3 dimensions.

Does their size make it easier for you to dress them and give them face-ups and put their pieces back together when you unstring your large doll?

The size offers one particular advantage: the ability to cram more detail into a single doll. The clothes are more intricate and look more realistic, the face-ups have more details, the wig fibres look thinner and more realistic, the eyes are bigger and you can buy pretty pretty detailed eyes to look upon and admire. I personally don't see much difference in how hard it is to dress them - there are various complications depending on size with that aspect. Painting them is probably easier, but like I said - greater size also allows for more detail, so I'm not actually sure how much easier it is.

And, oh lordy no. I recently had to restring my nYID girl and I needed both hands and a foot to do it. At one point in time I thought all hope was lost and that I should retreat in defeat and wait for my boyfriend to show up so he could help me stretch 2 inches of elastic through 12 inches of leg. That's definitely one aspect about large dolls that I don't look forward to.

Do they maybe make better companions than a YoSD or MSD?

Actually, I think MSD's make the perfect companions. They're big and heavy enough to actually feel substantial, but small enough that they're still portable. But there's just something about the bigger dolls that gives them more presence and more... I dunno... grandeur I guess. They just LOOK impressive, you can't help but stop and admire them.

Maybe it's the only size you can find the age that you want your character to be?

You know, I honestly don't know. On the one hand - yeah. Definitely. SD+ is where all the adults are, and most of my characters are teens and adults, which means they are almost entirely drawn out of the SD-sized group (I have a few non-humans, and some childruns that come from the smaller dolls, but generally my characters are ages 14 and up, with most being in at least their older teens, so they're all nearly adult-sized, adult-faced and adult-bodied). At the same time, I'm imagining an alternative reality where I can get all of the adult sculpts as MSD's or smaller, and I'm just not as excited about that possibility. I probably wouldn't have gotten into doll-collecting if they didn't come in bigger sizes. Like I said, bigger = I can cram in more detail for my detail-obsessed brain to admire.

 

I like the bigger ones because they're not so child like and I fell like if I'm paying $300 for a doll it shouldn't be the size of my hand, I find it easier to buy a bigger doll because it doesn't seem like I'm being cheated of so much money for something so small

 

I started with MSDs but fell in love with SD size when I got my first one! I thought "Wow, now I feel I'm holding a REAL doll!!!" LOL Now I can't see MSDs as adults anymore, they all look like children to me, despite they having boobs and all. Besides, I'm fond of more realistic face sculpts, rare on smaller dolls.
SD is the size for me and I'll never buy BJDs smaller than SDs again. Yes, sometimes its hard to get room for them all on the shelf.

 

I just perfer the larger dolls. They're a nice weight and presence. Easier to sew for too. And they're adults. I can't see MSD sized, save for some Minifee, as adult dolls.

 

I wanted only MSDs when I started, but when I got my SD, just... the level of detail you can put into a doll as big as that, and it's so much easier to manipulate his limbs and pose him. *shrug* I'm planning on 2 more SDs now. ;_;

 

Personally after getting an MSD...I don't know if besides a Yo-SD if I can ever get another 1/6th scale doll again. It's so much easier to photograph my MSD then it is my littles. I still love them to death of course but Avalon...He's bigger, he doesn't get lost in the bedsheets when I have him up on my bed with me, I can hug him, carry him around and there's less of a chance of me dropping him. I like the bigger scale because of the sewing aspect too....And so many more MSD sculpts I like then in Yo-SD sized.

 

I just got my first SD-sized boy yesterday and in all actuality, I prefer his size over my MSDs. He towers over them but for me he's easier to handle and hold. Bigger isn't always better but I can see how easy they are to customize and shop for.

I found that Yo-SD and tinies are harder to customize because I was trying to achieve a certain look in my mind.. and they aren't as easy to photograph and pose. Plus, the size makes me feel like I'm going to break them if I'm not extremely gentle...

If I could, though, I probably wouldn't have bothered getting any Yo-Sds or tinies.. and probably would have started off with an SD.

 

I just love the maturity in the faces and the selection of clothing they have. Also, most of my OCs are teenagers and smaller sculpts just wouldn't fit them right.

 

I always buy smaller dolls because I always felt that the bigger ones are kinda awkward. I think that's because I grew up with smaller dolls (polly pockets, mini bratz) and the biggest I ever had was barbie sized. I would like one in the future because of the fashion options though.

 

I think they're the best. Pretty much everyone said it. Mature looking and nicer clothes. Also if I'm gonna pay 100+ dollars for a doll, I'd make it worth my while.

 

I love larger dolls because of the weight and presence: larger dolls are striking, I can see them from across the room and smile. That said, I didn't do well when I tried to go to a specifically "large dolls" collection. I do also like smaller dolls for their holdable, huggable nature and for photography.

 

I used to think that big dolls would be too big. I heard people complaining that they take up too much space, are heavy to carry around, are more expensive etc etc etc
For years I've just had MSDs and was happy with them. I recently got my first SD... and... just wow. I'm so impressed by her. She's got good weight, but not too heavy to carry around. She poses just as well, if not better, than my minifee and I just feel like I'll be able to put so much more detail into her. I cannot wait to sew her a proper outfit. My sewing machine may not even attempt to eat the fabric (too much)

I'm so amazed by her I may even "upgrade" some of my MSDs to SDs, but we'll see. I'm pretty attached to some of my smaller ones.

Just like some of you may not understand having larger dolls, I can't really understand having anything smaller than an MSD. They seem so tiny and fragile to me and limited with what you can do with them. But hey, that's what makes this such a great hobby, right? The variety of ways people enjoy it

 

Is it quality over quantity?

It is always quality over quantity for me but the size of the doll has exactly jack squat to do with this. I demand a certain level of quality in the dolls I purchase. Some companies pass muster. Others don't. But the size of the doll is irrelevant.


Do you have no intention to buy more dolls?

HA. What, on the argument that one big doll = multiple small dolls? It don't work that way, chum. I have a very limited number of dolls I'd still like to purchase, but size, again, has jack squat to do with that. I just have a small wishlist and I don't fall in love with new sculpts like...well...ever. I'm consistent if nothing else.

Are they a replacement for children that you can't have or can't stand or maybe you're not ready for children yet?

LOL NO. Even if I wasn't a parent -- and I am, I have a ten year old daughter -- a doll could never ever be a replacement for a child. There is no comparison at all. My dolls are just pretty things; if I want kid time I go spend kid time with my daughter. Admittedly, she does talk back a lot more than my dolls do...

Does their size make it easier for you to dress them and give them face-ups and put their pieces back together when you unstring your large doll?

I'm not a faceup artist but the large size does make dressing them easier, I've found. I had more trouble with my minis than I ever have with my big boys.

Do they maybe make better companions than a YoSD or MSD?

Er...companions for who, exactly? For me? I prefer living companions to resin ones.

Maybe it's the only size you can find the age that you want your character to be?

Age isn't it, really; it's just sculpt. I find myself more drawn to sculpts that are available in SD size. Minis don't do it for me anymore, really, and with a couple of very rare exceptions tinies are too young. I like what I like, and what I like happens to be SD-size. It's all personal taste in the end. I have big dolls 'cause I like 'em. I don't need any other reasons or rationales.

 

Larger dolls are more mature than the smaller, and they have more clothing options available. I have trouble finding diverse clothing for my JID, not only because of the weird measurements but because it's hard to find the type of clothing I want. All the time, I see clothes I would LOVE to have for my doll that's in SD size.