Realistic-Idealized & Mature Vs. Stylized Youthful-Dolls: Which Do You Prefer?

I am quite new into collecting BJDs, I've only had my first for about six months.
In the beginning when I saw them here and there, they scared me or spooked me, because of their big eyes and often very demonic face-ups, they gave me the creeps. But then I saw one that looked more like a human being and I started to search for more information about these dolls. I then realised that there are actually quite many dolls out there that looks more realistic than others, and my interest in getting them grew. So I ended up buying one that is semi-realistic - mostly because she was a cheap one to start of with. but I am now ready to pay more money to get the realistic dolls that I adore.
and I have to add, I'm 36 years old, and I could easily imagine that age has to do with dolltypes of bjds that have interest... so I think you have some good points in your questions.

- Karina

 

Yes, the BJD market has changed & changed quite a bit. It is no longer a fringe market of mainly anime influenced fans, it has taken a huge step into the general doll collecting world with the greatest influx of new collectors being former fashion doll collectors followed rapidly by fans of artist & antique dolls.

The more mature & realistic dolls are in part an answer to the desires of the current collector market but I also imagine that as the doll sculptors grow as artists they may want to try out new designs & techniques. (That's purely speculative on my part but most artists do grow & change & if the market is ready for them they are undoubtably encouraged to do so.)

But back to the point... the demographics of the audience has changed as well. There are many more BJD collectors in their 40s & 50s now coming, as I did, from other areas of doll collecting. The more realistic sculpts are appealing to a wider variety of collectors & are really pushing these dolls into the area of playable art. There are both body & facial sculpts now that verge more on fine art than anything ever meant for play & the emerging collectors appreciate this. By virtue of their articulation, these dolls were like little people in their posability & the companies have taken that a far step forward by producing more realistic looking dolls.

I don't consider it a fad but rather a movement within the market as a whole. Fashion dolls kept becoming more articulated & BJDs became more realistic until the two sort of met. Then add in companies like HyperManiac, Alice in Labyrinthe & Unidoll that imbue their sculpts with character & emotion & you brought in the leading edge of artist doll work as well. BJDs have taken their place in the wider doll collecting community & just as it is influenced by them, so are they by the doll world at large.

Personally though this influence has worked almost backwards on myself. I started with only the realistic sculpts then was slowly charmed by more stylised dolls. I still can't appreciate the true anime style but those big eyed boys & girls from Customhouse & Peak's Woods have certainly crept their way into my collection along with assorted elves & animals.

 

the first doll I liked(sort of, I didn't know too much about the other companies) and thought about purchasing was an AR Diana-not too anime looking but not realistic either. then Lati M was releasexand that was it-my choices for realistic molds were cemented. Between then and now (about two years) i have found and fallen in love with asian bisque dolls, which may be recognized by artists such as Koitsukihime. When Alice in Labyrinth released their molds i saw that it was a close as i would ever come to owning an artist doll or a koitsukihime, and its pretty much the only company i'm collecting from now. I don't see myself stopping any time soon either, Yep, uber realistic molds are an absolute new trend, and one I hope will continue, so perhaps there will be other companies who will supplant my obsession with AiL Stylized dolls just don't attract me--not sure if its because i fall into your "older" collection bracket--not too old though, i still enjoy lots of Anime

 

I love a little bit of everything. I love my Mimi/F-01/F-02 just as much as I do my more realistic styled dolls. I do see companies moving towards more "realistic" styles, though I also just see companies refining their sculpts. I'm happy when I see a new more stylized sculpt come out that I find attractive because I like variety and the most important thing to me is the personality of the sculpt.

*edit* Just to clarify, I also fit into your older bracket if that helps. I've also found myself a little more attracted to some of the more stylized dolls as I've gone through the hobby such as the new Mini Dollfie Dreams.

 

I think the change was brought on by one company releasing a very high selling doll, then the others saw the popularity of that one company and now they are jumping on the bandwagon. Now that there is a selection of the dolls to choose from both realistic and non realistic more people are able to get into the hobby. There are alot of people who have seen one of my dolls and asked if it was an "anime" doll, while another they didn't presume that he was from asia.
I don't think the market has really changed much, while there are more and more people joining the hobby, there seems to still be the same number of new Delf and DOTs on the boards as well as the collectors who prefer a specific size and there are very few mini and tiny dolls with realistic features.
The increase in number of realistic dolls is just because of the bandwagon of companies producing more "manly" (as most realistic dolls I have seen are male) dolls rather than the cute girly boys we have previously seen with the delf boys as well as others.
I really dont think that age has really much to do with the change because within the age group of just the DFW group everyone has dolls that if you put them on a table, brought in the theory of age and dolls, then dolled out the dolls based on that theory 90% of the dolls would not end up in the hands of the owner's age group.
I personally have about an even split of real and non real dolls, it will lean toward more real dolls for a while then back to the non real as I purchase groups of dolls. To me some of the real bodies creep me out such as the DOI body while the Uni Real body kinda makes me drool.

The movement of makers in the directions they go is mostly a fad among the makers, for a while they went SD then Mini, then to Tiny, now they seem to be going up and up, with delf seniors at 65 and Modeldolls at 71, and the feeple around 70. The market will go where ever the companies take it. Whatever is new and exciting is where we doll lovers will go...

personally I want to see more girls with a height between 62 and 66cm, with luck that will be the next fad.

sorry if I went on a bit much... or repeated anything... need sleep >.<

 

My questions to specific age-groups are these:
In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

---I think as it has gotten bigger their are more people out their to support doll companies and more people also means a wider variety of tastes. Its also possible that some artists were inspired to try something different.


In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?

---I really don't think its a matter of maturing. That would somehow suggest the less realistic are less mature, and they really don't have to be. I'm not sure that age of collectors has a lot to do with it--I think it comes down to just differences in taste.

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?

--I don't know (I'm in the older category), but I wouldn't assume so.


Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?

--Again, I would hesitate to make that assumption. What might be a bigger factor is where people came into the bjd hobby from (was is an interest in anime/manga vs fashion dolls, for instance)

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?

--I like both (I don't consider my more stylized dolls more or less youthful than my realistic ones). The more realistic head sculpts I have are mostly for a specific set of characters. A lot of my other dolls not from that story line are more stylized.

Other less specific, but related questions:
Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?

--Too soon to tell, but I think both styles will be sticking around.

Is it do to the joining of a completely new audience?

--I think that could be a factor. The more people that want a certain look the more likely someone is to pick up on that cater to it.

Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more 'real' looking dolls?

--I don't know, but again I think the coorellation between mature doll = maturity in owner of company to be kind of odd.

Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?

--I think to keep things fresh and interesting, artists are going to expirament. I wouldn't expect them all to stick to one style and never deviate.

 

I haven't read all of the replies, but I'm inyour "older" bracket (24) and prefer the cute young stylized dolls XD;

Although mature sculpts are becoming popular, I think cute and youthful sculpts are still very popular as well, especially if you include sizes other than the 60cm range- YoSDs and other dolls in the same size range have been hugely popular lately, as have Pukis.

I think it really depends where you're looking.

 

I'm in my twenties. I'd say I'm primarily a huge anime/manga fan, and only secondarily a bjd fan.

That said, I dislike the early "anime" molds, or DDs (although the new Saber is cute). I collect anime figures, and I think those are a far, far better translation of anime style to 3D form. "Anime" bjds on the whole just look awkward to me.

On the other hand, I also dislike the trend toward bigger, musclier, manlier (even for female dolls!) bjds... which are starting to look like giant fashion dolls to me, a style I definitely don't care for.

I suppose art dolls - Koitsukihime, Etsuko Miura, Hizuki, Narutodoll, etc - are my favorite style. Would you call that realistic or stylized? In any case: a youthful, androgynous, strangely beautiful figure.

I do see that the bjd market is evolving and the fanbase is changing, but I can't say for sure whether I like it or not. Some of the recent sculpts from asian companies look more or less like western dolls, and for me if the aesthetic keeps going in that direction I won't follow. But, you know, that's true of everyone for every collecting-type hobby: there's always a "golden age" when your tastes match up perfectly with what the hobby is offering, and then when the hobby's sensibilities change, you sometimes don't change with it. You can still collect from that old era that you liked, though, staying true to your personal aesthetic.

I thought bjds were hideous when I first saw them, years and years ago. Then, about four or five years ago, I revisited bjds and saw new sculpts that I liked. And I just recently made my first bjd purchase. I'll bet it's the same for some new fans - maybe they didn't like the bjds that I love, but now the trend toward "realism" and more western-looking dolls has changed their opinion. And that's great. For me, right now I'd like to see less "maturity" and "realism"; but maybe others would like to see more, and still others feel it's just the right balance right now... to each their own. Hey, maybe the hobby can expand in all three directions or branch off. Who knows what could happen?

(To give an idea of my personal tastes, my favorites right now are: 4D Javi, Volks F-16, BF May, Glorydoll Louis, Volks Hewitt, Kdoll (any sculpt), AiL Alice, Ndoll Miru, Supia Roda, Volks Liz, Delf Miyu, DIM Andrea, Delf Abadon, Volks F-34 and/or Okita Souji.)

 

I'm not sure how accurately I can answer questions about the general doll public's age preferences, since I don't usually know the ages of people I've met only online. In my personal experience, my sister falls into the younger age bracket (10) and she prefers younger looking tinies. I suspect it's easier to mother a dolly that looks younger than her...

It seems to me that everyone is being drawn to more realistic scupts; I don't see many extremely stylized dolls at all.

Personally, (at 20) I prefer a more realistic look, as opposed to dolls with a more anime aesthetic. And I like anime... a lot of those dolls just look a bit off to me (anime can be hard to properly capture in 3-D). On more realistic doll faces, I like the eyes not to take up half the face; just a bit of personal preference.

The change probably has a bit to do with the type of people who are collecting now. Before I even thought about getting a bjd, I only heard about them in online anime communities; now they seem to be something of interest to people in the doll collecting world.

 

My questions to specific age-groups are these:
In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

---There are many more doll collectors now interested in these dolls, especially collectors who know nothing of the "Asian aesthetic" or anime and manga, who like the realistic dolls. Doll companies are responding to this demand.

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?

---I don't know about anyone else, but I have been interested in bjd's since 2003 and I've always preferred the realistic dolls.

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?

--I think it depends on the owner's taste in dolls, irregardless of their age.

Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?

--I think it varies for each person. I know many older collectors who prefer the young stylized dolls.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?

--I generally prefer the more realistic dolls, but I also love Notdolls, with their huge eyes and fangs. (shrugs)

Other less specific, but related questions:
Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?

--I think there will be even more varieties of dolls and that there will always be people who like each type.

Is it due to the joining of a completely new audience?

--Maybe, and maybe the companies are evolving as well.

Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more 'real' looking dolls?

--I have no idea. I think it varies from company to company.

Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?

--I think it has to do with the artist's preference and the customer they are trying to reach with their product.

 

In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

I think thereis. I think that many people were attracted to BJD because of the realism in comparison to other dolls, so of course more realistic dolls would become popular.

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?

I do not think it has anything to do with maturity, just a change of style. It happens all the time in all hobbies.

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?

I do not think it is an issue of age. I have seen all ages with different dolls.

Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?

I am 20 and certainely do not like realistic dolls at all. I much prefer the stylized sculpts like Dollzone and AE. In fact I find realistic dolls mostly creepy or ugly.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?

Stylized, but adult. I prefer mature MSDs, not childlike ones.

 

I'm 57. While I've had dolls all my life, I never realized that BJDs had evolved to anything beyond the vague & geometric artists' models; so it was a considerable shock/surprise to me to run across these 'new' style bjds only last year. I was actually looking at Tonners, & liked them because they were so 'real' looking - far beyond anything I'd ever had or seen as a kid. I loved that they were so normal & human-looking, not with the usual 'doll' look. Somehow I stumbled across bjds - I think it was on ebay - and really fell in love; in fact, the one I saw at first I thought was an actual photo of a 'real' person. That it was a doll floored me. IMO, and to my tastes, the more realistic & natural, the better - however this has ALWAYS been my preference, even when I was very small. I prefer dolls that have some individuality, even to the point of homeliness if necessary, rather than the one-face-fits-all standard 'doll' look. Which is why as soon as I get my hands on a doll, I mod it, even just a little, so it may be a Limhwa, or a Supia, or a Soul Doll - but it's MY unique Limhwa/Supia/Soul Doll.

Other than that, I don't know enough about the BJD world to judge if the clientele has changed. I should think that as the dolls get more publicity, & better known, it would; besides, nothing stays the same. An excellent point was made, above, about the artists changing as well. My own sculpts, artworks, & other handcrafts are a far cry from what they were even a few months ago. Also, tastes change among the public as well. Instead of adhering to a set standard of Eurocentric beauty - blonde hair, vapid childlike face - dolls are beginning to branch out to other skin tones & ethnic looks, altho they still have a very long way to go & are fairly limited in their scope of available skin colors & features. Whether this is a reflection of market bias or makers bias remains to be seen.

I can say with certainty that I just could not bond with the (IMO) overly - pretty, 'dollie', girly looks of the soul doll Arhanian face. Fortunately he was placed in a good home that could relate to him, and I was able to get a Rickman DIM Minimee head - a MUCH older, more realistic, less idealized, far more individualistic face that IMO really makes the entire doll far more of a thing of joy to work with, as far as designing, making, & showing outfits, etc. or just having him around. But again, this seems to have been a lifelong preference of mine anyway.

 

I think it has something to do with the fact that bjd owners now come from all over the world and have all sorts of backgrounds, the bjd companies are trying to cater to all sorts of different demands now.

As someone who's addicted to anime (and japanese culture) the idealized sculpts and faceups are more apealing to me, probably because I'm used to that sort of aesthetics and the looks I want to create are inspired by it. I prefer a middle term between over the top anime-looking and realistic sculpts. So, in my case, it has nothing to do with age. I do think realistic sculpts are beautiful though and if it wasn't for my anime obsession I might have been more interested in them... who knows?

However, I can see how someone with a different background, especially adult western bjd owners, would prefer realistic dolls. They are more elaborate, more life-like, they demand great skill from the artist and I think they are more suited to the western taste. They do seem more like sculptures, like art pieces or collector's items, which distinguishes them more clearly from other western dolls.

But this is of course a generalization, it all comes down to personal taste and that has everything to do with the influences that surround you, regardless of age or location.

 

My questions to specific age-groups are these:
In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
Yes, I think there is more demand for realistic dolls

If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?
~~~~I believe as much as anything that it is due to the influx of new collectors who do not come from an anime/manga background collectors of fashion dolls and other sorts fo dolls have gravitated towards BJD's and appreciate a more realistic style. The manufacturers IMHO, are just trying to meet the market.~~~~

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?
~~~~~~I am not sure about that. I think that those collectors who have been with it a long time, tend to like the more stylized, anime look. That's just my hunch anyway.~~~~

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?
~~~~~~~I don't think that is necessarily so.~~~~~~~~~


Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?
~~~~~~Again, I don't think the line is that rigid based on age in terms of likes and dislikes.~~~~~~~

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?
~~~~~~~Definately mature and realistic. I have absolutely no interest in anime, so the anime looking dolls never grabbed me. I had zero interest in owning a BJD until more realistic sculpts became availible.~~~~~~


Other less specific, but related questions:
Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?
~~~~~~~Constantly evolving hobby.
Is it do to the joining of a completely new audience?
~~~~~~That has an impact.
Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more
'real' looking dolls?
~~~I think that also has an impact
Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?
~~~~~~~those things probably have an impact to a degree, I think younger people who are into anime are really the ones who primarily like young looking anime type dolls.

 

In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

I think there is more demand in general. I do not see more demand for realistic BJD's over less realistic.

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?

No.

Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?

I am in that range and I do prefer more realistic BJD proportions in head and eye size, but not realism toward the fashion type of proportions. I like 6.5 heads on slim mature minis (head still larger than human but not extremely large). I like Narae and Unoa the best and I have loved them since 2005. I also like well-proportioned slim tinies, but I was never a fan of big-head dolls like Blythe and Pullip.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?

See above.

Other less specific, but related questions:
Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?
Is it do to the joining of a completely new audience?
Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more 'real' looking dolls?
Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?

I do not see this fad/trend.

When I joined DoA in 2005, looking at minis... there were immature minis, and for mature there was mainly Unoa and Narae and I think Volks SDC (all slim matures with 6.5-ish heads) and Serendipity Sharmin/Alice who was even slimmer with about a 6-inch head. I think Minifee was introduced soon after I joined DoA, a slim mature with 7 inch head. Since then more sculptors have come out of the Bimong school (Narae sculptor) typically with slim body and 6.5 inch head but they are not as popular as Narae and her various faces. Many immature mini companies have added nice mature bodies (usually for their existing heads), and more mid-range and inexpensive companies have developed. Some of the new companies sell very skinny mature bodies with 7.5 inch heads and big eyes (less realistic imo). I think there is more of everything and more people with every range of spending ability.

If you have other views, or opinions of why more 'realistic,' and mature looking dolls are suddenly popping up,
please give me your insight, I am curious to know what you think!

I disagree. What more realistic dolls are popping up?

Carolyn

 

Hi, I can't answer your questions because I don't think age has any significance whatsoever in this issue. It's a non-factor. The BJD crowd here in Korea is getting younger and younger - it's mostly teenagers now*, but according to your logic that should mean that the immature/non-realistic BJDS should be all in vogue, but it isn't. I don't get the rationale of this at all.

What I do know is that the BJD crowd has certainly gotten bigger, accomodating a wide variety of taste, and the companies are opting to cater to that variety. And in another factor altogether, several years back a certain powerful company of the more anime/stylized type started sending out innuendos of legal battle about "copying" to other companies so the other companies had to develop BJDs with different aesthetics to avoid this. It wasn't the only reason why more realistic sculpts were developed, but it did have influence, and since the realistic sculpts were favorably accepted by the BJD community, it prospered.

Everything is a matter of personal taste, IMO.

*One of the reasons why I like coming to DOA. Not only is it international, but there is a higher age bracket, so less teen angst related dolly-drama going on.

 

Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?
Doll collecting seems to have been around for quite a while, and I think it changes as people change the ways in which they made dolls. A hundred years ago, we'd be collecting porcelain figurines, instead of resin-based ball-jointed dolls.

Is it due to the joining of a completely new audience?
New audiences in a hobby will always bring new ideas, new styles, and change the nature of the hobby--to an extent. Doll collecting will probably always be doll collecting, but yes the styles and preferences of the members of the community will affect the overall community at large. I like the idea of having a doll that represents a character that I created, but I also like the idea of having character dolls crafted after actual people (I'm fiendishly plotting an Edith Piaf doll, and also an Oum Khalsoum--she was a famous Egyptian diva).

Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more 'real' looking dolls?
As a BJD company has a greater demand for realistic dolls, and a capacity for better craftsmanship, they're going to be more willing to take on the challenge of "real" dolls. I don't think it's just the BJD companies or just the BJD collectors/owners. Pleasant Company makes the Girls of Today dolls that can be somewhat customized to look like you. That seems to have spawned from a demand for little girls to have dolls that looked like them. (I had grown out of American Girls dolls by the time this started, otherwise I totally would have jumped on that trend.) So definitely there needs to be a demand, or an interest, before the company is willing to do something like that. Sometimes, a company might make an offer to do custom dolls to test it out before offering widespread "realistic" dolls.

Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?
It probably relates to all of the above.

 

To just be short on this...

I like realistic dolls better because they simply..look so real.
Especially in Photo's you can trick people in making them believe they are
staring into the eyes of a real human.

Also the Details in the faces,
i would rater pay 800 usd for that then get one free limited anime-ish volks head worth a milion. (atleast..if i can't sell it after that)

And there for i think it also depends on what you do with the hobby,
i am from the artsy and photographing side...
allot of the realisitc doll collectors seem to come from that.
Tho people that have them as characters from rp's or what so ever...
seem to go more to the other side (just something i noticed)

 

In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
Yes. I remember looking at Super Dolfies 4 or 5 years ago, they were more big eyed and "doll like." There is definately more demad for mature sculpts, which the companies are catching on and providing.
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

To be honest I have no idea.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?
Yes. I like my boys realistic, girls cute and big eyed XD I have no idea why, I guess it is how I see the ideal type for both sexes in my mind, Men to be mature and elegant and girls to be cute and sweet. I guess my dolls are idealism of what I like a certain type of that gender to be... I probably am not making much sence, excuse my poor english >_<

Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?
I don't know, but I know if they stopped making mature looking boys I would stop buying boy dolls as I came back to looking at BJDs after 4 years last year to find the mature sculpts appealed to me, before, 4 years ago I thought they were cute but nothing I would spend $ on. It was the mature sculpts that drew me in and made me actualy want a doll.

 

I'm 24. I prefer more mature looking dolls. However, I love realism so I can chose a younger looking doll if she or he looks realistic to me. I love anime but I don't like dolls that look like anime. I think that the reson for this is that I love photography and art. I look dolls from an artistic point of view more than from the collector point of view...

 

I definately prefer the more realistic, mature sculpts. In fact, it was the discovery of more realistic sculpts that finally drew me into this hobby. I had been aware of BJD through anime conventions, but the anime-esque sculpts, (which were inevitably girls), didn't do much for me. It was only after I began idly looking into BJD a bit more that I discovered dolls with a more realistic bent and I was hooked.
Which makes me wonder....am I one of the 'new breed' of BJD folk..? I'm 29, so I suppose 'older', (well, adult in any case), applies. though I have no prior interest in dolls/fashion dolls etc...
Hm...
In any case, I hope the mature, realistic look isn't a fad. I also hope that the more stylized sculpts don't completely fade away. Variety is a great thing.

 

I'm in the 'older' group (45), and my first 2 dolls were semi-realistic mature sculpt. I'm now tending towards the more realistic mature dolls. Much as I like the more stylized dolls to look at, I cannot see myself getting one.
For me its about eye size. I find I prefer dolls that either take smaller eyes, or are squinting or frowning.

 

I personally prefer more realistic-looking dolls, because I think it takes more care, and I think they're more beautiful. They are still idealized, but I think I'm getting my money's worth more from dolls that are more realistic-looking, for some reason. Also, I think it would be harder to apply personalities to my dolls, as I'm planning on doing, if they didn't look exactly human, per se.

I haven't been in the hobby long enough to notice trends, even differences between age groups, but I personally think it's a very personal thing. I think that some people, regardless of age, like realistic dolls, and some do not. I'm not sure if it has to do with the TYPES of people that are now being drawn in to the hobby or not (as in, other interests), but I do think this, like the preference for realistic or surreal or abstract art, is a very individual thing, and I'm not sure exactly why this trend has emerged, if indeed it has. All I know is that I find more realistic dolls more beautiful, and want them more.

 

I never liked dolls before BJD's, I thought they were too realistic and I was tired of seeing the same things over and over. Especially when it came to fashion dolls. They just didnt intrigue me. I love BJD's specifically because they are unique, and dont have that "adult" or realism that many classic dolls have. Even without it, they can still remain to look real with certain angles and photography. I think it's the best of both worlds.

So yes, I do prefer younger-looking dolls. But I do admire mature BJD's, and think many are beautiful. My heart just doesnt flutter as much with them.

 

I'm only 16, but I kind of have a personal taste for 70cm dollshe boys. Their a little more masculine and older in my opinnion. : D

I actually really love a lot of sculpts. Just some arent for me. ^^ Realistic, is something I prefer.

 

I prefer sculpts that are not necessarily more realistic, but that look more "finished" to me. IMO, some sculpts are very basic and look like they could be taken a few steps further to be more successful. Since many realistic molds are more detailed, they fall into the "more finished" category, but there are plenty of less real-looking sculpts that can also be included.
I think that the exploration of different types of sculpts (animal, realistic, fantasy) are a natural progression of the hobby. As people get a better grasp on the materials and techniques, they start trying new things.

 

I think that more compaines have jumped into this market because they see that this is a great way to make money and works of art.Second,that they felt "Hey,I see that every other company only makes 'child' looking sculpts.So why not make realistic!".
So usually people whill try to out sell another vendor by selling different murchandise or selling at different prices.However,I think that the pices will stay the same with a great deal of these sellers.

 

I don't care what "category" a doll falls into as long as I like it. I am an old fart of 38, with no interest in fashion dolls, and I like both styles of BJD.

I just realized this recently, when I painted a Volks School B (rudimentary anime features) and a Limho Mano (hyper-real creases & crags everywhere) within a month of each other.

 

I definitely prefer more realistic molds - heads and bodies. Photographically speaking, for me, the more realistic molds are capable of having more projected upon them, as static still life studies....than the more doll molds. Although, artistic expression is absolutely still viable with those sculpts...just not for my vision.

The one thing I find fascinating is the ultra-realism we've seen the hobby move towards and I find that those molds lend themselves to a "fetishization" that the other dolls don't seem to be able to contain. The dolls can be seen as fetish objects regardless of "realism" but the minimee heads, for example, truly move into the idea of almost being considered as a means of magic "not being itself the object of worship, but a means by which man is brought into close contact with the deity."

 

At 51, I definately fall into the category of older collector. I personally prefer the more realistic sculpts-- both child-like and mature. I create fashion and costume and I find the realistic sculpts a more appropriate venue for this. At the same time, I enjoy realism that is stylized as opposed to an exact copy of a famous face. Just as I try to put something of my own creative essence into my work, I like to see something of the artist in the sculpts they create.

Marie

 

I already responded with some abstract intellectualist diatribe (I'm really good at that, and also boring people to death), but I figured I'd put in my own personal feelings.

I'm 26 and I suppose I fall into the "older" (i.e. older than teen/YA); I don't prefer one type of doll over another. To me, they are all pretty and well-made. I pick a doll based on what suits a particular character I'm planning. For the most part, I guess you could say that since most of the characters I plan are more mature, I prefer mature, realistic dolls. But that's not to say that I'd never buy a stylized, youthful doll.

 

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?
I am 13 and i prefer around the realsim you get with elut's Delfs. Although i do like Bishonen House and that kind of realism, i think BJD's are ment to have a non-humanlike beauty.

 

myself, I prefer the younger looking dolls because most of my characters are of the "uke" variety... but lately, I've been looking for a mature look for some adult/manly characters I have in mind.

 

I'm in my later 20's and I'm not sure that I like very mature dolls as opposed to younger. I do like adult dolls but more one's that look like boys or androgynous as opposed to "manly" bodies for a doll

 

This isn't really a "debate" so would probably fit better in the "General Discussion" section.

I personally like the realistic dolls. That's what you'd expect from me given that before the BJD era, I was really into art dolls. I didn't buy too many because the art dolls tended to be priced at even more than the average BJD, made out of materials that were fragile like porcelain or even wax, and hard to find and buy because the Internet wasn't invented and many dolls were one of a kind, so if you did see something you liked the odds were it was already sold before its picture popped up in a doll magazine. Realistic BJDs have all the qualities I liked about art dolls and in addition are more durable, more available and easier to buy.

It seems obvious that when BJDs were first invented they were targeted more towards fans of anime/manga and now the hobby is reaching out more to the art doll audience and the fashion doll audience.

I don't think the age of the collector has anything to do with the preference for doll realism. You get a lot of younger people enjoying the realistic looks of Minimees and Bermanns, and a lot of older people who like cute little stylized tinies. It's just personal preference.

 

I think people like more realistic BJDs because if they weren't looking for more realistic dolls,they wouldn't spend so much money and just go buy an obitsu or dollfies that look less realistic and less expensive.For me,i like the more realistic dolls because they can photograph nicer and have really beautiful sculpts.

the age does not really matter because i have a friend that is in the 'older' category and she just adores tinies and kiddish BJDs and another friend that is below 15 years of age that likes the dollshes.

 

Which is where the OP had placed it, too. It was moved by the PTB.

---

Myself, I prefer the realistic dolls. I have a semi-realistic DZ mold and have ordered a Minimee head. I'm not into anime or manga, so the overly anime'ish heads actually kinda scare me with their huge eyes and little pointy noses. At the same time I am of course aware of the basic psychological aspects of the "childlike" proportions. And I can look at a childlike doll and find it very cute - but at the same time, not a doll I would buy. Just like dogs, I like dogs but I wouldn't care to actually own one.

I'm, I guess, in the older category, at 42. My kids both seem to prefer less mature dolls (Big kid prefers molds like Chiwoo and Little kid has her Zaoll whom she think is perfect)

I think that one of the reasons why so few Minimee/realistic dolls are portrayed in the galleries here is that they're tricky to incorporate into pictures. There's a certain problem with a very realistic "person" being 2 foot tall... Also, unless you have several minimee/very realistic dolls, they will inevitably look odd next to each other. Already, my DZ doll looks "off" in pics with the nanuri07 and zaoll dolls. I'm hoping that the minimee will work at least somewhat with the Zaoll since that is also in many ways a fairly realistic mold, her biggest problem is actually her size. Or lack of same *L*

I'm a little puzzled by Zagzagael's mentioning of fetishism. Do people in general think their dolls have a soul/are alive? I've never given that a thought, and the thought is rather alien to me. They don't have any more sould han my chair, as far as I'm concerned...

Sure, I got my Minimee because I wanted a 3D Alan Rickman, but seeing that I already have some 10 more or less realistic versions of Him (as Snape) - I do not expect him so suddenly come to life. It would be nice *GG* but not very likely...

 

I'm starting to like some of the realistic dolls but I liked those that were a little cartoonish at the beggining. I'm 24. My like of big eyed dolls definately stemmed from anime, I believe. The first time I ever saw these dolls was at an anime convention. My opening up to more realistic dolls is just from seeing so many nice ones. I don't yet have any that are very realistic, but I'd consider it.

 

I like them both, but I lean towards being more blown away by realistic sculpts a lot more.. Though, when it comes to more stylized dolls, I'm an unbelievably huge fan of CP dolls..

 

I'm in the younger age category.

I prefer more realistic dolls. I believe this is because I'm not really into 'anime', and BJDs are often confused and referred to as 'anime dolls' by people that don't know much about them.

I have one stylized doll and one realistic one. I often pay more attention to the more realistic one subconsciously. Based on aesthetics, I think that some of the more cartoonish faces are sculpted well, but they are not to my tastes.

 

Ill throw in for the statistical analysis: I am in your older bracket (Thanks alot...)
And I go for mature look and realistic dolls. I have an appreciation for the youthful dolls, I really dont like the anime-based ones, well, a few I do, but mainly I dont. Id rather have them all look my age. Since I am older and look young, even when Im 45 Ill probably still look compatible with my soon-to-be Mars Tough doll ;D
I would start a collection of the younger looking dolls from Souldoll, but I just dont connect with them like I do my age. And what kind of stories are they old enough to act out!? Nothing too intruiging involving korean mafia.

 

I like somewhat realistic molds, not INSANELY realistic, but like Dollshe boys. I love that.
But I do hate extremely childish looking dolls, with massively large eyes that look unreal, and little itty bitty mouths. D:

I don't like most volks sculpts.. D:
I love CP though. xD

[[I'm 16 btw, going on 17 in July..]]

 

I prefer the realistic dolls, like new Super Gem, Mecha Angel, AiL, Migidoll etc. Although I am not sure about minimee's, some of them creep me out a bit, maybe due to lack of idealisation . Also, I usually prefer that my dolls are either completely asexual and childish, or, if I want a doll to be "sexy" in any way, the mold must be mature, or I just feel uncomfortable. For some reason, my brain refuses to let a Delf pass for 20+. I also think that many of us probably had many cute, girly dolls while growing up- I think the mature guys is such a delightful change

Mecha boys ftw

 

I'm in the er mid group?

Anyway I think both have their own beauty, realistic and stylized. Personal preference, I like stylized dolls. I don't like large or round eyed dolls and are not fond of childish looking dolls. I also dislike anime styled dolls too. I dislike the earlier Volks models, I do like some of their new ones but it's the semi-realistic ones from them I like the most. I prefer a type of perfection beauty as my art teacher called it. Although I must admit some realistic molds are extrodinarily beautiful I prefer something that looks semi-realistic. Hence I really like the look of CP dolls.

 

"In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?"

To some extent, I think yes. Since I'm one of the people fond of mature-looking sculpts, I'd been looking for something for years and just not being quite willing to invest in faces I found to be too child-like to me (even if they were meant to represent adults). I've been peeking in on what's available for quite a few years now, but I only bought something this year, which says it all to me, at least. When I saw those, my response was, "Must have that, now," and I didn't hesitate the moment availability + finances meshed up appropriately.

"If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?"

The fashion doll crossovers and collisions were mentioned; I wouldn't be surprised if that is a factor. I have a decent sized collection of fashion dolls (a virtual mountain of Genes, a few Tylers, etc.) and I recall how often people lamented their "static" state -- no new hair unless you were going to reroot or shave them bald to wig them, painted eyes, lacking poseability, and so on. I gave up on buying new ones because of this, primarily -- I was tired of staring at 20 of the same face on a shelf just because I wanted hair options galore. (And we will not even talk about what 20 cost, you know? If you think about it that way, the price tag on a BJD with a broad selection of wigs and a few pairs of nice eyes starts looking incredibly reasonable, doesn't it?)

The constantly growing popularity of anime -- which does have more mature styles/looks as well as the ones I saw more commonly for BJDs a few years ago -- may be a factor for American collectors, but I really couldn't say. It's because of this that I wouldn't just say these dolls have a more western look to them. The Mecha Angels, which I love beyond all sense, for instance, look a great deal like Yoshitaka Amano's paintings to me in general feel, but nothing like some of the anime styles my fiance favors. Elf Sabik needs to come home next month in part because I want to turn the poor guy into Vampire Hunter D, even though I have only been generally lukewarm on anime for at least a decade now.

With an ultra-stylized head, there needs to be a lot more nuance in the sculpt to distinctly separate it from another, too, IMHO. Moving toward a more realistic look can help to get away from that issue. I tend to see some styles as STYLIZED+realism, and others more as REALISM+stylization, and I definitely prefer the latter.

"In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls? If you agree, why do you believe this is so?"

I don't know if this is the case. I know at fashion doll gatherings, I was often the youngest person or nearly so in the room when I was going to them, so if it's that crowd shifting over, I wouldn't really agree.

"Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?"

Well, I'm 34... and I waited for one. But I'm a sampling of 1 to go by. *chuckle* I like making things for my dolls a great deal, and a lot of the things I like are either of the high-fashion-gone-insane variety, or tend toward the adult side of sci-fi and fantasy. (Not Adult with the big "A", but still things I would feel uncomfortable making for a doll with what I saw as childlike traits in some way.) This was a major factor for me. Also, I -- please don't kill me here -- I have never been a big fan of cute. Some cute breaks through my Cute Defense Shield, but not very much. I can appreciate it for what it is and certainly like it, but it doesn't trigger 'Buy me!' at all for me. The more mature and realistic sculpts steer further away from cute more often.

 

I am more into realistic and masculine boy molds. Well, the Dollzones that I own, are somewhat doll-fied from their appearances but there is still something that I love about them (and actually quite generally within DZ dolls)
But when I was searching the mold for Zaelaporo, I noticed that the usual "pretty-boys" with big eyes did not appeal to me at all. And I clearly wanted him to be manly man from his facial structure. So it narrowed possible molds and companies very much.
Narrow eyes are also the thing I like. Standard Elfdoll K does not do a thing for me... But oh, when I saw Reminisce and special half-closed eyes version. Geez... that amount of imaginative drool! Those totally blew my mind off, so badly that I am waiting for my Reminisce K to arrive. I have now been madly in love for that mold for about a month... and no matter what makeup or style the Standard K would have, I have no feelings for that version at all. It pretty much shows that how big deal eyehole size can be

 

Interesting topic. I'm in my late 40's and I've always preferred realistic dolls as in baby dolls since I was young. When I discovered abjds, I was blown away with the whole concept. But, I find myself veering more toward realistic and/or mature looking dolls. My dolls tend to be adult whether human or other-worldly like elves and vampires. My first doll is Megi(DZ) and he is part elf since he doesn't look human to me. Even if they look like realistic humans, I tend to make them into vampires who pretend to be human in order to blend in - sneaky lil' bastards. I guess I'm just more into fantasy characters then real life ones.

 

At 23, I suppose I fall into the older collector crowd, but my preference for dolls has changed from when I was in my teens. It could be that this is a result of my "maturity" with time, but I think it has more to do with my maturity with art. When I was younger, before I could afford a BJD, I was absolutely in love with DOCs and Volks dolls, and was coming from a major anime loving background. I would draw all the time according to my taste. Over time as I tried to increase my artistic skills, I was more and more drawn to realistic bodies with stylized faces, and as such, that is how my taste in BJDs has changed as well.

I don't really think age has much to do with taste, as I'm sure many younger people prefer realism, and many older prefer non. It's more of an issue with a larger audience having a larger range of taste. With more being offered, more people are interested. I'm sure there will always be an audience for certain types of dolls, regardless of what direction the look is heading, if it is heading in a certain direction at all. It seems to me like doll aesthetics are just becoming more rounded, so as to appeal to the most people, and therefore sell more.

I love mature, as well as immature bodies, but I prefer them to be realistic in nature, or at least slightly stylized as opposed to incredibly "anime"-styled features. BigEyeSmallMouth makes me unhappy in general, but there are some dolls that match the right kind of aesthetic for me, if only in part. For example, I adore Peakswood dolls faces, but dislike their bodies as being too symplistic. I would like to see a more realistic tween doll with a stylized face as well, but I haven't seen one that really works for me. I may have to make my own one day. Realistic hands are pure and utter love for me. A large part of what will make or break a mold for me are the hands... I already want to change some of my dolls hands.

 

In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

I'm a newbie. But it does seem to me that there might be more realistic dolls now than there were before. But I want to say that this is true of a lot of popular companies. They constantly change to different things and test out the waters. My little pony tried changing to a thinner pony look that didn't do very well. Now it's more along the lines of Bratz/MLP. I imagine that before long BJDs will have another drastic change.

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?

I don't know. I've not really been a part of the BJD world. But I suppose it would be something like trying to compare the older lovers of Barbie and the younger lovers of Bratz. There are still younger people who find Barbie the best and older collectors who have switched to Bratz instead.

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?

I'm not at all certain. I'm 25 years old (in a couple of weeks) and I rather like a less realistic look unless the realistic look is more unconventional (I'll explain that later.)


Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?


I don't think so. I don't think it's an age thing except for older collectors who prefer dolls that encapsulate the first BJD's appearance for nostalgia purposes...though I'm not sure if it's been long enough for there to be nostalgia in BJD. Though I'm sure the collecting has been around much longer than I think it has.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?

I do. I think that if a face is going to be realistic then I'd want flaws that make it look as if it could be a real face. Asymmetry, a birthmark, a mole, folds in the skin that are usually covered up, a larger or bulbous nose. From something I'd see on the street or in my friends as apposed to something I'd see in a magazine.

I also really enjoy fantastic looking dolls, dolls that are obviously never going to exist except in doll form. Faces that are too thin, too fat, and eyes that are too large, too small, too far apart, too close together. Colors of the imagination. Ear additions. Pig noses. Elephant noses. Horns. Antlers. Huge ears. Anything that sort of makes you look at it and figure out why it looks so familiar or why you relate to it even though it looks like nothing you've ever seen.


Other less specific, but related questions:
Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?

It's a constantly changing hobby. I don't think it's a fad, I think it's another aspect to be integrated in a wide growing and ever morphing hobby.

Is it do to the joining of a completely new audience?

Sure! At least partially. Makers of any product are always trying to reach audiences who haven't found anything to get excited about yet. It's a yearning to reach those people who currently aren't part of the hobby yet. It's a very common strategy.

Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more
'real' looking dolls?

I think growing companies want to try something new that sets them apart from everyone else and more realistic dolls could be one of the strategies. Then other companies see how well it's working with that company and also try to integrate the same aspect into their dolls.

Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?

I don't think it's a specifically age-related sort of thing. I think it's related to growth of a product. It's perhaps a strive to make their dolls all the more fantastic by making them look all the more realistic. I think Americans, today, can be obsessed with the real in a fake medium (take reality TV). Perhaps it's more to do with society and culture rather than age, then. Because BJD collectors are of such varying ages I doubt that it's got much to do with age and I'm not sure if there is a staple age who likes a staple sort of doll, y'know?


If you have other views, or opinions of why more 'realistic,' and mature looking dolls are suddenly popping up,
please give me your insight, I am curious to know what you think!

I think there is always an interest in how very real or how close to the maker an artist can get with his/her art. Some artists do this with the abstract or with metaphor, but other artists do this by trying to blur the lines between reality and art so much that you'd almost think that it was real if it wasn't a doll, or it wasn't on canvas.

It's similar to robotics. You don't see makers of robots trying to make robots more efficient in looking like robots. You see makers making robots look more human and being more relatable. It's a social need to relate to something you're going to be constantly talking to or ordering from.

It's that wanting to create things in our own image, thing. It's the need to reproduce. It's clashing with the need to make art. And it is amazing. I think it's more artistic growth, though, than consumer demand but it has, in turn, become consumer demand as it has suddenly become a just as popular choice as a less realistic doll.

$0.02

 

In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?

I haven't been into BJD's for too long now, but I think it probably has changed. I see more and more realistic dolls coming out, while the older sculpts I see from companies mostly seem to be less realistic. It would seem that consumers are taking a liking to these realistic dolls, and that's why it's changed. That or some company decided to make a mature looking doll, and then other companies liked this idea and followed along.

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?

I'm not really sure. I still see plenty of the Shiwoo/Chiwoo type, so the more immature looking dolls can't be TOO unpopular.

Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?

I really have no idea, I don't fall in this age range. Perhaps the younger people would like the more anime-ish ones more because maybe the younger crowd watches more anime? This is just a wild guess.


Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?

I think it could go either way, and it really depends on preference.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?

I tend to go either way, and it really just depends on the doll. The doll I have coming is a DOI Luke, which you couldn't really call an immature looking doll, but he isn't really realistic either. Then again, I love Dia from Soom, which I would call a realistic, mature doll. On the other hand, I also have quite a few cutesy, tiny dolls on my list, the kind with huge eyes and little mouths. I find all of these appealing just because each one catches my eye in a different way.


Other less specific, but related questions:

Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?

It could be, but I think companies will still continue to make mature looking sculpts as well as less realistic ones. Whether it changes or not, I think there will always be a market for both.

Is it do to the joining of a completely new audience?

It could be. I think I heard someone on one topic saying that a lot of people who once collected fashion dolls have started to get into BJDs. Since fashion dolls are much more realistic, I can't help but think this has something to do with it.

Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more 'real' looking dolls?

I think it does have to do with growing and expanding, which I think is a good thing, as long as a company doesn't abandon their original works. I see nothing wrong with trying new ideas.

Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?

Hmmm, I wouldn't know about that. Age-group, maybe. The others, I couldn't say.

 

I think you're 110% wrong in this assessment, no offense. To me, the evidence seems overwhelming that "realistic" heads ARE popular. They're just very NEW.

It drives me crazy when people try to pigeon-hole others in the same hobby into little categories that they cannot get out of, so I will not comment on what age-group seems to prefer what style dolls, or anything like that. This is a HIGHLY indvidualistic hobby, and so people breaking these "rules" of what they should and should not prefer are going to be everywhere; this thread makes this extremely clear. Ages and preferences are all over the place, and to me this is a positive thing.

With that said, I am an older collector who will not tolerate "anime"-styled dolls, with the exception of one floating head I currently own: it is a Dark Vampire dreaming Soo. Like her a lot. Most other anime-styled dolls do exactly 0 for me. They appear to my untutored eye to have an unfinished quality about them; I like a lot of detail.

We are currently seeing a fusion of the BJD and fashion-doll categories. Some hate it, I'm loving it. The hobby is morphing instead of stagnating, and so it is likely to have "legs" [as in, be around for a while]. This is great news.

There are dolls for everyone in the BJD world: realism-lovers, anime people, vampire-istas, Lolita, Goth, you name the category and we got a few examples somewhere in this hobby. All one can do is buy what one likes, enjoy them for what they are and enjoy looking at the creativity others display with the dolls they've chosen to collect.

Viva la difference! Now if some company somewheres would sculpt a BODY that would go with these more mature - especially Minimee - faces, things would ramp a few further degrees up the scale of ONE GREAT HOBBY. But that's just me, y'understand.

And yeah, we need more high-heel-style feet.

 

I am a older doll collector. I always find myself drawn to more realistic looking dolls with personality. I have noticed more and more, at auction, the dolls that go fast and bring higher prices, seem to be more lifelike and beautiful dolls.

 

In your opinion, has the BJD market changed, is there now more demand for "mature-realistic looking dolls"?
If yes, what do you believe brought about this change?
I'm to new into the hobby to make any firm word on this, m'fraid.

In your opinion, has the BJD "world" matured, are older (long-time) bjd-followers now seeking more mature-realistic looking dolls?
If you agree, why do you believe this is so?
Again, new to the hobby.
Do younger (10?-18-years-old) BJD-owners prefer the younger, "less-realistic" looking dolls? Why, why not?
I fall into this catagory, I guess. As my siggy says, I'm waiting on a CP doll. They seem to fall into the less-realistic catagory. I also want a Volks f-31 someday.
However, I'v recently managed to have dollshe sculpts imprinted in my head and would want one eventually, also. So I don't think age is all that important.

Do older BJD-owners (19-100?-years-old) prefer the more 'realistic,' more adult-looking dolls? Why, why not?
I wouldn't see why it would be a strong trend they did.

Regardless of age, do you have a preference (realistic/and/or/mature vs youthful/and/or/stylized)?
I'm not swung either way, in terms of realistic or stylized. If a sculpt is geniunly beautiful and appealing to me, then I'm happy regardless
Though I have to admit a personal bias to the "older" (typically aged at 17ish+ by their companies) dolls.

Other less specific, but related questions:
Is it just a fad, in a constantly changing hobby?
I'd like to think its a constantly changing hobby.

Is it do to the joining of a completely new audience?
I can see this having an influence. More people means more demand for a wider variety of dolls, I'd assume.

Is it just because BJD companies are growing, maturing themselves, and they want to make more
'real' looking dolls?
Erm, not sure. I think exersising creative freedom may have an influence, more than anything.
Does it have anything to do with age-group, or is it related to culture, region or other?
I think it depends on the individual person, and can't lay down one rule to work for all here

 

I like realistic dolls, but I also like a bit whimsy as well. The less they look like anime the better.XD

I'm getting an Iplehouse J.I.D. so I guess my taste lies somewhere inbetween.

 

It seems that those with an intention of taking photographs or such things prefer realistic dolls. And for good reason, they tend to be more photogenic and artistic.

Those who want to just admire/dress-up their dolls tend to go more of the stylized dolls, for they tend to be more fun and cute. Hence the reason why Blythes tend to be the dolls of choice for those people.

It could be that the companies are trying to appeal to these photographers who are much more willing to dish out the extra cash for a particular face-up or something of the like.