Shelling Characters Shelling Rozen Maiden characters?

First I would pick a scale (SD, MSD, YoSD, other), and think about how to handle the shorties Hinaichigo & Kanaria if you’re doing a full group. The official Pullips changed scale dramatically and I always thought that was a bit much.

I made a Hinaichigo custom for my wife with a Dollga Ojallin head (very classical doll face with big eyes, a little pouty) and a Volks DearSD body. I figured the BigBB size was a good fit for the “canon” Victorian ball-jointed style but was also very cuddly & didn’t have super long legs like many SD bodies do. And if someday I ever do bring home an official SD10 or SDGr Shinku or Suigintou with a lucky one-off win, I think they will still look cute together, as they will have the same head size! Also I just really enjoy that BigBB/DearSD size! It hybrids really well with general release SD heads.

I have seen a lot of cute MSD customs over time though, especially with Dream of Doll or Volks mini dolls. Luts has some cute heads (especially their Customhouse molds, which have that classic doll vibe) and they also still offer less mature bodies as an option. Luts Kid Delf can be more petite, which would make it easier to do diorama with if that is a goal.

 

I second that Volks would be very fitting for Rozen Maiden characters given your scale preference. If you’re ok with materials other than resin, their mini dollfie dream line is affordable and great for doing anime characters.

 

I'm going to try another way to help.
Alice Collections have cosplay clothes for the Rozen Maiden dolls! Suigintou is here: Clothes for BJD Dolls - BJD, BJD Doll, Ball Jointed Dolls, BJD Accessories - Alice's Collections (And the clothes come in MSD size, too.)

A lot of folks have made fan-dolls from the Rozen Maiden characters, I think you can still find some of them in the Doll Profiles. I personally really like the doe-eyed look for the characters. Volks is a great idea! Ever considered Asleep Eidolon? I think they might work, too.

Good luck!

 

Fair warning Dream of Dolls is long discontinued, but pictures might still be floating around of the customs! I remember a Yen for Shinku especially.

Asleep Eidolon or Angell Studio also have the big eyed dolly look. The Dolk dolls were done with Myou Doll molds - Delia for Shinku, and I think maybe also for Suigintou? I personally think the Myou Doll body is a bit leggy/mature but it’s also very covered up in dresses for Rozen Maidens, so maybe it works for your concept!

For Volks mini dolls, check out Neo Angel Den - Volks FCS - MSD/SDM Boy/Girl/Fairy FCS - Head Molds for the FCS models; a lot of them can be found secondhand.

 

I guess it goes without saying that Volks had special editions of the Rozen Maiden girls that are probably very expensive and very hard to find now There is a DoA database of the molds however if you want to compare sizing or find something similar.

Edit: scroll down a little here to see them with the full sets on.

 

Hello @Cryptid how are things going with this project? It's a great manga and anime. I always loved the anime and season 2 with barasuishou. Was a bit disappointed kirakishou never really appeared other than a few seconds but ohwell.
Will you be adding them as well? or just the main crew.

Edit: Just wanted to drop this link "Rozen Maiden" Suigintou BJD Doll
Date of purchase was sadly from last year, but wow that suitcase is everything!

 

To be fair it's not that consistent and they look smaller sometimes, so anything between MSD and SD would work.

I saw that sell out right under my eyes... I was never that interested in licensed characters, but that was such a beautiful doll- ehm I mean junk! Junk!

 

It depends on if you're striving for accuracy or more fitting the "vibe" of the character. I would personally shell them in anime sculpts to fit the style of the series but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. When anime characters get more realistic doll releases like the Volks or Dolk Rozen Maiden dolls, it feels to me more like it could just be a random doll cosplaying as the character.
That said, for Suigintou (my life, my love, my best girl) I would probably pick a Coralreef body just because it fits her sort of sickly vibe.

 

@Captainnessbot AnotherSecret 59 would be great too. It would be cool to make a Suigintou doll with a 3 part torso and a clear middle bit (it probably wouldn't look very good).
I imagine the RM dolls as very classic, Volks-ish style. I think they're meant to look realistic canonically, you can see that when they show doll-makers crafting the heads. For Suigintou something like Little Monica Sophia.