Your non-BJD Grail?

Mine would be this Tonner doll

Far East Stella stock photo par Mu Shu, on ipernity
She rarely comes available on the secondary market and when she does she goes for well over $400.

 

@Satan's.Bake.Sale
She does have a burlesque look! Tonner's out of business now and a lot of his dolls you can get for some good prices on the secondary market as people "unload" or "downsize" but there are a few that seldom come up and when they do the prices go crazy high (I can't justify that kind of money for a vinyl doll). I would also really like to get one of the Dianne Effner resin bjd version of her Little Darling dolls (but I never have the funds available when they become available)

 

I badly want a Hujoo Janus Gato. It’s such a beautiful sculpt, but I haven’t had much luck finding it in the secondary market.

 

I just saw someone in my Dragon Ball collector group post that he got that Atem figure. Your grail is out there!

They're not very expensive, but I'm hoping to get two complete sets of Anytime Zen-oh without spending over retail

 

There are a lot of figure grails I have on my list, that I'll probably never get all, but I have gotten lucky and got a few in recent years. Mostly they are crane prize or kuji prize figures, I think I got most of the scale figures I wanted when those were released, but I missed a lot of kuji because of lack of availably from retailers that shipped to the USA, or they were super expensive through second marker sources. I got one of my grail prize-figures quite a few years ago (Code Black Lulu), that I thought I was never going to get, because he would usually go for over $100 second market in earlier years, and I just could justify that kind of money on a prize figure. Then I got two much smaller grails last year and this year, which also usually went for over $100, even used and removed from box. I still want quite a few of them, but the ones that always haunt me are quite rare and I've only ever seen most for over $150, now even closer to $200, so I'm kind of loosing hope on those. They'll only get rarer as the time passes, and I'm not a fan of purchasing used figures, so I'll probably never get a few of them but I'm hopeful that I'll get most. I'm not superstitious in any way, but I rather not say which ones specifically, just incase there is any truth to it. DX



Edit: To specify I meant prize figures from crane machines or prize figures from kuji (lottery games in stores).

 

My absolute holy grail? I want one of these.

This is Brigadoon, after all, and you didn't really specify if it has to be inanimate.

 

An art-based job (working on my portfolio for it), but jokes aside, this girl:
https://www.amazon.com/Phantasy-Sta...=racaseal&qid=1575614908&s=arts-crafts&sr=8-2
She's a character from a favorite game of mine, she's also diecast. A friend of mine has one, she heavy and tiny, and all the cuter for it.

 

My non-BJD grail would definitely be any huge Madara Uchiha resin statue... but there's no way I'm spending 1000$+ for a statue that's not even customizable like a BJD! No matter how much I like him as a character.
For example, this one looks amazing: [PO] Naruto Shippuden - SXG - Perfect Susanoo Uchiha Madara Resin Statue .
So I admire him from afar and rather spend the money on my collection of resin dolls

 

I would love a Lego Disney Castle, but I don't have the money or the space for it...Also a Lego Death Star, Millenium Falcon, a bunch of the modular buildings, etc.

I also want a Smartdoll someday - right now it's Independence, but that list might get bigger when the licensed DC/Marvel/Star Wars characters start coming out.

I also love a lot of the Disney limited edition dolls, but I'd probably be too afraid to do anything fun with them.

 

There are a couple of those that I wouldn't mind owning myself.

 

I was reeeeally tempted by the Elsa and Hans sets...and there's probably going to be an amazing one based on Elsa's new dress at the end of Frozen 2...and the designer collection with princesses wearing fashions based on the year their movies came out...and the masquerade ones...

But I need to save for bjds, so I've been trying to just collect all the princesses in Lego form instead.

 

My non-BJD grail is a captive-bred parsons chameleon, because a cat-sized chameleon is the dream. I wouldn’t do wild caught tho, because the only way I personally can justify wild animals being taken is to establish captive populations, and I don’t have the kinda time chameleon breeders need. Also cause captive-bred usually doesn’t have infections/parasites and is less likely to hate you for its entire existence.

One of my CB panther chameleons hates me, but he was neglected before I got him, so he’s allowed to be angry. I love him anyway.

 

My non-bjd grail would have to be the Jun Planning Corpse Bride doll.
Corpse Bride Jun Planning Doll
I just love the way she looks so similar to the puppets used in the film.

 

The old LEGO carousel that came with a sound brick When they made the latest carousel I got SO excited, until I found out it didn’t come with a sound brick. I mean, besides the animals, the music is the best thing about them, right? Sigh, my amusement park will just have to do without one.

 

I always wanted the Lego Discovery Mars rover set. I remember when it came out for the first time when i was kid and wanted it so badly. Never gotten it and the prices currently have always been not within a suitable range for me. Maybe once Im done paying off my dolls in the next month. I might treat myself to it because its one those grail items that keeps reminding me that I never actually gotten it and its tugging me so hard.

 

These 2 Jokers I've been stalking for ages that don't seem to go down in price.

https://www.amazon.com/Square-Enix-...ion+figure+square+enix&qid=1576601744&sr=8-30

https://www.amazon.com/Play-Arts-Ba...ion+figure+square+enix&qid=1576601744&sr=8-34

I...have Hot Toys that weren't that much. I have BJDs that weren't that much!! I have two other Joker's from that company that were less than 100 each. I love them both but I can't at that price. I'll just sit here and pine.

 

Have you tried looking places other than Amazon? There might be people on MyFigureCollection or somewhere willing to sell them for less, or on layaway at least. I wouldn't trust 3rd party Amazon sellers to have the lowest prices...

To remain on topic, Granado just opened up orders for all their Vindolls again and I was just thinking it would be really cool to have a big vinyl Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle couple...on the other hand Smartdoll is probably gonna have an official Batman at some point...on the other other hand idk if I'm going to like the upcoming buff boy Smartdoll body as much...

 

My biggest regret was not getting Elias' figure when it came out.

Mahou Tsukai no Yome - Aetoniki - Elias Ainsworth - Hatori Chise - Mandrake - Watamushi - Mag Premium Vignette Series #01 (Genei)

Ideally, I would like it with Chise, but it doesn't matter if it's only Elias.
The thing is that prices now are ridiculous .

 

Do things that don't exist count? cause my absolute grail would definitely be a Lacus Clyne (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed) doll made by Smart Doll.

 

For years I’ve regretted not getting the Real Action Hero Edward Alaric 1/6 action figure (this release was way back in 2010). I’d occasionally look at eBay just to see the ridiculous prices ($600 and up). Figured I might as well give up. Then last year I found one for a great price! I got him and am very pleased, feeling like I won the lottery.

Ironically, just a couple months ago a new Edward 1/6 action figure is available for pre order, for close to what I paid for the original one. I’m not upset, just a little surprised. Never would have guessed Edward would be re done as a 1/6 action figure after all these years. Guess you never know.

 

I'm currently looking for the perfect doll from the 1920's, and by perfect, I mean not so perfect. Cracked 'skin' and stains would be great, but they have to be just right so that the doll is still pleasing to look at. I saw a couple of them that fit the bill when I first started looking, but I also didn't have money to spend on one, and now I'm having trouble finding the perfect one to buy.

 

An antique Wooden body French Fashion doll with trousseau.

 

Pullip Seila turned into a grail years ago. I don’t know if I’d actually pay the going rate for her though. She’s more of a wishful thinking grail.

 

My grail is the Amberg Baby Peggy doll from the 1920's. She will probably be even more expensive now that Baby Peggy has passed away..

 

My grails are a Novi Stars Carmela Sweets and a Kid Cuisine furby! There's a Carmela up on ebay right now but I cant justify over $150 on a non-bjd doll atm

 

I still kick myself for not getting the Lego Serenity kit when it was for sale. They still sell instructions, but sourcing the parts is near impossible now.

 

My grail for over two decades was the Kenner 18" Baby-Sitters Club Jessi doll. I wanted her as a kid but never could find her in stores, despite searching for ages and making my mom call the company and annoy them about it for months on end. We had all six of the others, but not her. And then, one day, my sister found her on eBay for $70 and you better bet I bought her immediately! TWENTY TWO YEARS of searching for this doll, and now I own her! I don't even own the other girls anymore, but Jessi hangs out on the nightstand in the guest room now.

And current grail (?) since it doesn't exist and I couldn't have it anyway...a real, live teacup hippo. Like a pygmy hippo, but Chihuahua sized.

 

I would so be on board with this!!

 

I pine for a Tonner Disney Rapunzel - the one with the loose hair, not the braided one. I wish I had had the money to buy her 2-3 years ago, when I first found out about her and she *only* cost $200-$300 (if you were lucky). Now she goes for $600-$800, easy. It would be one thing to maybe pay that much for a grail BJD (which I haven't so far), but I don't feel right paying that much for a doll that wouldn't be providing much entertainment/customizing value, and just sitting as is on a display shelf.

 

The Disney limited edition Alice in Wonderland or the Disney Limited Edition Ariel and Eric. I wanted Princess Aurora and Jasmine too but at the time I was only able to get the Prince dolls from that series as the others sold out so quick

 

My grail is a 114 gallon rimless aquarium.

 

i would love to someday get my hands on a roullet & decamps rabbit in a cabbage musical automaton! the dream would be to find one where the mechanism is broken but the fur of the rabbit is still in good condition.

 

The other non-bjd grail is a captive bred Brookesia Micra chameleon. They’re the world’s smallest chameleons, but researchers, from my understanding, have found they’re way more long-lived than other dwarf chameleons. But they’re not commercially available at all that I’m aware of, and I’ll need a captive bred little guy because I don’t plan to breed, so I’ll have to be patient.

 

I'm really into anime figures, and my number one grail is the 2013 Sepang Racing Miku! I got the nendoroid version of this figure for Christmas, but I would love to have the real thing someday.

 

I don't really collect much other then rocks, but like, any fancy skull by skullery (their sales are never in my timezone and they go fast) or maybe that one Uravity figure I wasted like forty bucks trying to win out of a crane machine. Japanese crane machines are evil.

Alternatively, I kind-of-sort-of wanted a medieval-period tent for reasons. Technically I could afford it, but I don't drive and we have enough trouble getting the car packed for events as it is. So it's kind of unreasonable.

 

I used to collect Ashton Patti playpal dolls in various hair color , Penny, Peter, Saucy walker playpal then I sold all of them. Now I want them again but they are more expensive now. So I will just look now and admire them from afar LOL.

 

Right now it's this figure that everybody and their mother is trying to get their hands on. I've missed it 3 times because I got lazy with checking websites

 

I love monchhichi dolls and I have a few that are grails to me ^_^ still looking 4 them.

 

Aaah monchichi reminds me so much of my childhood. I either had one when I was young, or saw them around during the 80s. Might be the only thing from the 80s which I haven't repressed! XD

My current non bjd grail is... Smart doll Justice. I can't help it T_T I just like her. I don't usually go for 1/3 dolls, but I'll make an exception for her.

 

I have spent about 18 years trying to get "Jenny" the brown variant of Snuzzle produced in Macau for about 18 years now, without having to pay my soul in shipping. Or spending a fortune when she becomes in vogue every few years

Macau Jenny by Eurocoin, on Flickr

One day, one day.

 

I never have the idea any doll is a grail. I usually get hyper-focused on one and end up finding it. I simply will not look at any others until I find the one I'm after. There's some that are certainly very nice, but, if it's nearly impossible or blatantly impossible to have one, I'll loose interest. Most recently, I did decide I wanted a Masterpiece doll, Jill. The run was limited to 350 for international release, and all are numbered. The company has been out of business for awhile. I lucked out within a few months of deciding I wanted her and found one in used condition. I've replaced her original wig, it was damaged. She was missing a few pieces from her default outfit, which was fine because I wasn't crazy about that outfit anyhow. It was okay, but not great. The default shoes were super-ugly, so I didn't care one has a permanent crease. The only issue I'm having is some glue stuck in her ears from a previous owner gluing some earrings in after making some holes in her ears. So, she's far from mint. I like to enjoy her like any or my other dolls, and being able to change wigs is always fun! Here is a link for anyone curious to see.

My Angel Philia wasn't really a grail, but I did have some interest in them because they have some super-silly parts that I found hilarious, but also some nicer ones that looked nice. I thought the ability to swap out heads, feet, torsos, busts, etc. made for a really fun concept. I really struggled to fine one bust part for series C after I had the complete series of H parts... but I finally found one! I really, really had to keep on top of the search for all the parts I wanted. The first time I've ever 'needed' to use a proxy service was to find all the pieces and parts I wanted for her. Now, I'm after a couple extra wrist parts for her extra hands, and I think I'm all set!

From time to time, I work on my vintage 1960's Ken wardrobe. I finally completed his Halloween outfit after going to a vintage/antique doll show in Ohio last fall. I've been collecting those since 2008 or so, so it's slow-going but that's okay with me!

 

1/6
Fashion Royalty dolls. They're so expensive though, so I can't justify the price. Much rather go for a BJD at that rate. Fortunately I found a cheaper alternative called Kissmela. While the body construction isn't as aesthetic as FR dolls, Kissmela shares the tall slender supermodel body shape that looks great with any clothes.

Grabbed a buyer review photo. The dark skinned doll is FR, whereas the light skinned one is a FR doll head on Kissmela body

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1/3
Custom Night Lolita by Wei Wei Gift Store (薇薇礼品屋), it's famous for their face ups. Taobao is doing a mid year sale atm and the doll I like has a decent discount. The only reason I'm not buying her is because I'm focused on 1/4. Would really hate to buy wigs, eyes, clothes, shoes and accessories all over again.

Another buyer review photo, the only thing changed was her eyes. She looks so good! Once I have the spare cash and storage space I'll definitely buy her!

​

 

Right now I am enamored with MGA Toys line of dolls called Rainbow High! The quality of the hair and outfit pieces is
*chef's kiss* I absolutely must get my hands on the Fashion Studio set that comes with another doll..she has a pixie hair cut

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I've got them.

Tonner Death which I am happy to say I own, albeit she lacks her Reaper costume and her large themed stand. I had to wait for several years and buy her nude to finally get her but she looks fabulous in other outfits. The Wicked Witch is my favorite Tonner sculpt and I am thrilled to have her in pale white vinyl. She's a very gothic and cool doll. Tonner's very BEST, IMHO. Go look her up she is just a gorgeous doll.

If I have such a thing as a grail non BJD now it's a resin JamieShow Gene and Trent. I collected Gene dolls for years so obviously I covet the whole cast madly, but the resin dolls are way out of my price range. I do have Hollywood Canteen Madra. It was dumb luck that I got the one I got. But I'm just thrilled to bits with her. Other than the fact that I can't change out her eyes she is a flawless "fashion" BJD. I don't count her as one though. Different collection for me than most BJD's. She's just a resin Madra vs a true BJD.

Fortunately for me they were both snug way under the car seat and didn't get stolen when almost all my other dolls including my all my Tonner Witches and my last 2 resin BJD's were so at least I still have my two non regular style BJD holy grail dolls. I will NEVER sell them. Madra and Death will always be the Queens of my non BJD doll collection. Madra is the most expensive doll I've ever owned. So is Death in terms of Tonner. She wasn't cheap to buy used at all but she was my Tonner Holy Grail from the moment I laid eyes on her. I miss the rest of my Tonner witches but someday I will replace them, at least buy one Greenie and Gulch again but Death is almost irreplaceable so I am so glad I still have her....

I never thought to actually own either....

I'm just counting my blessings and leaving it at that, you know?

Here is Tonner Death:

Tonner Tyler 16" 2008 Halloween Convention Death LE100 Fashion Doll No Box/Stand | eBay

This is HC Madra...

2016 Hollywood Canteen Madra Lord, Never Removed From Box Fashion Dolls Guide

 

Nendoroid #2068 Wei Wuxian, i got the other two, but missed the preorder for this one since i didnt know Good Smile was making them.

which reminds me to check their site for stuff might want...

 

A house.

JK, right now I am struggling to get some short Nendoroid hair to complete one of my dolls. I really don't want to buy a complete one, but people keep snatching up all of the short men's hair that I want. It's a pain.

 

Well if I have to say a non-BJD grail is the ultimate in cars, human size that is and that would be KITT from Knight Rider, a real working replica is $150,000+ so yeah I keep looking in the driveway every Christmas to see if Santa left me my dream car, but as usual that cookie eating lard still won't bring me my dream car. So a 2014 Toyota Camry it is then......

 

This is my non bjd grail. She is a 16” Robert Tonner Miss Piggy. I got her nude from eBay and later I bought the dress and the wig. I LOVE miss piggy and I own the 11” Robert Tonner Miss Piggy basic but I always wanted the big one. But when I discover her she was very expensive a a full set already. I’m glad I found one nude and a low price on eBay.

 

Besides a 3-bedroom house with a yard (owned) and a car that doesn't die repeatedly every single time I drive it? J/K

I have 3 things. One being THIS jeweler's workbench. The others being Hujoo Action (the ABS MSD-sized dolls they had years ago) Sara and Matthew. I *knew* I should have gotten them when they were available at Junky Spot!

 

For the longest time my biggest non-bjd hope was for a release of figures for Avatar the Last Airbender/Legend of Korra (still waiting on a few of the LOK ones (points to avatar), they're probably just a pipe dream at this point...).

Well, with as crazy as 2020 was—it finally gave me the figures I was looking for! So far I've got Book 1 Katara, Air-glider Aang, finale Agni Kai Azula, and Book 3 Zuko. I'm hoping to get the Toph one once she's been released, and hoping they'll branch to other characters like Sokka, Suki, Mai and Ty Lee. There's a waterbending Katara one being released in July, whom I've currently got on preorder.

I'm not sure if these have even been made, but—I'd love a maquette of the new Fruits Basket version of Kyo Sohma. I've got one for the old early 2000s anime, and I'd love to have a more updated, detailed version from the new series. I'd also like to pick up the series on DVD season by season at some point as well.

 

tlou (the first game) 1/6 figures. that and the rdr2 figure of Arthur morgan. tried to get some once but ended up being sold out by the time i had the cash. haven’t been able to find it since.

 

For me, it's Star Wars figurines in general. The character I want the most is a beautiful and detailed C-3PO statue. The one that they have on shopdisney went on sale over Thanksgiving and I feel really silly that I didn't take advantage of the discount. Now that it's back to full price I feel like I can't justify the full price knowing how much cheaper it was!

My husband painted a 1:72 scale Millennium Falcon for me for Christmas, though. So I can't complain audibly in my house about missing other Star Wars figures... at least for a while

The grail that I didn't know I needed in my life until the moment I purchased it was the Disney limited edition Moana doll. There was ONE in my local Disney store, and when I saw her behind the counter, I knew 100% that if I didn't buy her then and there I would regret it forever. Was probably the most impulsive purchase I've ever made. She's so detailed, down to having sand on her feet and individual leaves on her outfit. I am SO lucky to have found her.

edit: @jade-eyed-cat Did you find your Korra figures? I got a couple from eBay last fall that look fantastic... I could share the company name of who made mine if you want it for reference. I imagine they'll pop up for sale second hand here and there!

 

My non BJD Grail would have to be this boy right here:
Sank the Child Escape Blues PRE-ORDER SHIPS AUG 2020
I've followed Sank for awhile on Instagram and I love the design of all the Sank toys so much, but Escape Blues is literally the one I've wanted out of all the rest and--
Never got the chance to get him.
Escape Blues reminds me of one of my most favorite games, Alan Wake, and I'm hoping I can find it somewhere secondhand.

I mean stranger things have happened. Seven years ago, I told myself I'd never have a statue of Ral Zarek from MtG like I saw online, and then my S/O ended up finding the artist and commissioning a double for me. So, there is ALWAYS HOPE