Just For Fun What's the most basic way you'd describe BJDs to someone?

A doll. To random people not interested in the hobby that's all they're going to hear anyway.

 

Dolls with moving limbs, dolls, which have detailed sculpting of faces and bodies.

 

Dolls. Collector items that are handmade.

 

Dolls with a lot of customizability and articulation! If I had to go further, I'd probably mention what you can customize haha.

 

I think I've used "Resin dolls that look more like real humans versus, like, Barbie" to explain them to my grandparents.

 

Big doll that's handmade (handmade is added to explain the price xD).

 

Usually when I'm talking about one of my dolls to someone I barely know, I describe them as anatomically correct dolls. xD

 

Some of my co-workers know about my dolls. I pretty much told them they are large, handmade dolls that I can customize.

I mainly collect 60 cm and up so for a height reference I say that they come past my knees when they're standing.

 

Customizable dolls made of resin!

(Most non-dolly people seem to find their customisable nature, and the fact that they're made out of resin, their most distinguishing marks compared to other, more familiar dolls such as Barbies.)

 

To random strangers who ask when I'm taking photos of my BJD, I'll just say they're a "Fashion doll" for photography portfolio or something Usually I don't have to explain any more than that cuz I think they could imagine what it means.

 

I also keep it short and say “really customizable art dolls”.

Spoiler

This explains what I (ideally) do with them but doesn’t imply that I sculpted them and prepares curious people for the sticker shock if they ask about prices.
No it doesn’t begin to cover the scope of our hobby but it’s a quick way to describe them that makes the most sense to non-doll people about why I personally have them. If someone is interested, they will ask more! I’m ok talking to non-doll people about dolls if they ask but I really don’t say much at all about them unless someone is clearly interested and asks further questions!

 

Giant action figure is my usual go-to. (Which probably shows the nerdy male company I tend to keep, heh.)

 

A hobby! like that of Car models and plains that you customize and build yourself. just in the shape of a doll. (i dont go in depth or say anything else unless they seem interested. )

 

What's a BJD you ask? It's a 1 1/2 foot doll made of resin that I can customize the face, eyes and hair. It's really extensive.

 

"Dolls, but not the kind you're thinking of" and I leave it at that for non-interested people. Cause more often than not, I find people ask more out of politeness than actual intrest.

"Customizable, handmade, articulated dolls that are more on the realistic side than the barbie side." For the interested people.

 

I usually go with " a hand made resin articulated doll who's joints are a separate piece."
to keep it short

 

I usually say they are art dolls that are very customizable and that people get them for a lot of different purposes but clothing design and photography are main ones. Usually if people are asking about them it is because I am taking pictures of them in a public place

 

Okay, 9 times out of 10, when a friend of mine sees my dolls and asks, the first words out of my mouth are “these little beauties are why I’m broke all the time.”

Darn wallet vampires...

I then explain that these are basically poseable sculptures of my characters.

 

An extemely posable doll that you can customize to your liking.

 

I take a lot of pictures of my dolls in public parks and Being a guy I can't say it's a doll, so I tell everyone it's a customizable art figure I use for my photos and sketches that is fully articulated. Then all that is probably ignored by the individual and they think I'm a freak or weirdo and move on.

 

I describe them as articulated dolls, very poseable, with interchangeable wigs and eyes, akin to a mannequin.

 

I say "they are the most expensive Barbies you'll ever see." sometimes I say that they are "Souped up Barbies" and leave it at that. If they seem more interested I explain that they are art dolls and the real details.

 

I recently described them as "Resin dolls that are easily customized to look like original characters."

 

Jointed art dolls strung with elastic, meant for customization.

 

Dolls or art pieces. I avoid actually showing people the things so I let their minds make up what they please.

 

I usually just say customizable dolls. I only go into more detail if the person seems genuinely interested.

 

“Physical characters” is usually what I say bc it makes the most sense to me lol

 

Giant, customizable action-figures.

 

"Fancy Barbie" usually does the trick.

 

"Asian art dolls"

That's my go-to description when I'm talking to someone who's vaguely curious about them but not really interested in hearing all the details.

 

I typically call them "Jointed Sculptures", as all but one of mine are non-human (though he's not going to stay that way for long) and it gets across simply and clearly that they're not just a toy and then if they're interested a lot of the other elements don't take them quite by surprise. (the cost, the art side of the hobby, etc)

 

I usually also go with something like "big customizable art figure" because I hate using the word "doll" in German. (It makes people immediately think of a baby doll)

 

A resin doll that you fully customize to be your own. Also good for figure drawing, in some cases.

 

I tell them I discovered Asian ball-jointed dolls, and am so happy learning about them, the artistry involved, etc. Then I say, "Wanna see a pic?" Everyone always says "Yes!"

 

Oh, they're articulated dolls that are really nice to customize! Sure, you can pick her up, just don't touch their face! *They touch the doll's face*

 

Ha-ha! It sounds very bad! But it is a reality! Mostly of my friends even after long explanations do not see any differens between BJD, Blythe and Barbie!

 

Very expensive, customizable doll.

 

"Handmade resin figure," because most people hear "doll" and immediately get the wrong idea.

Also used "Play Arts Kai type model of my own characters" for greater clarification and for people to get a (slightly) better grasp of price. Although I guess if I wanted to do that better I'd say "Hot Toys Action Figure" because I just had an email about new ones of those and they make some of my dolls look very affordable.

 

I explain them as "Expensive and fragile handmade posable dolls." That way people know not to just grab one if they see it... because I preface it with "expensive and fragile"... lol. And for some reason, people have seemed a lot more genuinely amazed if I describe them specifically in the quoted way. Maybe because of the word "handmade." So it has usually created more positive interactions about my dolls with others.

 

Dolls that are strung with elastic that you can customize, and very addictive..lol

 

a doll with joints that is customizable

 

“Asian art doll.” If they politely ask more questions and I know for a fact they don’t want to know any more, a quick “Did you change your hair?” usually gives us both an easy out.

 

For a short explanation I say "Customizable Art Dolls".

For longer, I'd use a bit I have on a blog:
"This blog is about my collection of Ball Jointed Dolls. They are made in Korea, Japan and China, and more recently in many other countries, and are painstakingly sculpted by artists, then hand-cast in resin.
They have ball shaped joints at points of articulation and their pieces are hollow, allowing them to be strung together with elastic. The elastic is secured inside the hollow head. Their wigs are not fixed but are removable and changeable, as are their eyes.
Their resin can be painted, sealed, then later wiped with special solvent and repainted, over and over. This means these dolls are not only very posable, but highly customizable. You can change their eyes and wigs, and paint or repaint them again and again.
With the right tools and materials you can even modify the resin sculpt itself. Collecting, customizing and photographing them is a very fun hobby."

 

Giant doll (but only since mine are mostly larger sizes).

Depending on the context I might add additional modifiers - "giant resin doll" or "resin jointed doll".

 

I always say I collect "customizable resin dolls."

The area where I live in Oregon is kinda backwater, and I know that if I just say "dolls" people will automatically assume I mean either "kid toys" (Barbie, American Girl, plushies) or "creepy old-lady dolls" (antique lace and cracked porcelain).

So I describe it the way I do to emphasize the fact that it is a hands-on work of art, not a mass-produced knickknack.

 

Usually I just tell them the following:

This is a BJD, a ball-jointed doll. They are articulated, pose lovely and are strung together with an elastic. They're fully customizable from their make-up to their eyes and hair. As such they make the perfect victim for photography studies or budding artists.

And when they reply with terms such as creepy, weird or stupid I just tell them 'That's not very nice of you to say. Just when I already told him/her (the doll in question) to not call you the same. I guess I better leave you two alone to work it out?'

That usually gets them to back off enough for me to continue whatever I was doing. For those who show genuine interest I always love to elaborate even though I'm usually so very shy.

 

Large resin doll! And let people know I love them so Ill be mad if they touch my dolls without permission

 

Dolls... but not the ones you're thinking of

 

Whenever someone asks what kind of photography I do, my first line is always "I take pictures of big creepy dolls". If someone wants to know more, I'll say "they are resin ball jointed dolls strung together with elastic, roughly 2 feet tall, very customizable, and they're usually produced in Japan, China or Korea so many of them have a more stylized aesthetic." I finish with "they're basically giant action figures", so the person understands these aren't 'baby' dolls.

 

"This kid is a ball. jointed. doll. or BJD. Which means they pose like crazy" (plunks Littlefee into some standing ish pose, gets balance, removes to show they stand unassisted) "Here, check out their joints" (hands over doll) "I usually make clothes and sometimes shoes for them, but you can customize their hair, eyes, face makeup, and even hands." (pulls off mag-on hand for emphasis, then replaces.)
^
Since most people see the doll first and ask about my friend or chaperone or whatever their mind thinks a doll is.

Although when people comment about me taking my doll to the grocery store, I usually reply along the lines of " Some people have service or emotional support animals. I don't have to walk or feed my assistant." and they nod in agreement/approval.

 

“Um, those are the really pretty, really expensive, really poseable dolls that are what Monster High dolls led me to, though my sister is somewhat to blame, too.”