Why do you think there has been a shift from anime-type headmolds to realistic ones?

[Karhys]

In the early days of the hobby, I guess we saw a lot of headmolds like Nono (http://www.angelden.net/volks/sd10/nono-oldmake.php), Rio (http://www.angelden.net/volks/sd10/rio-oldmake.php) and Mimi (http://www.angelden.net/volks/sd10/mimi-newmake.php) -- in fact, Nono and Mimi were some of Volks' most popular models; I can't remember how many gorgeous customs of them I used to see up on Y!JA.

These days, however, if you look at more recent headmolds, say Amakusa (http://www.angelden.net/volks/sd13/amakusa.php), Yukinojo (http://www.angelden.net/volks/sd16/yukinojou.php) or Elena (http://www.angelden.net/volks/sd13/elena-le.php) for example, they've gotten a great deal more realistic.

This trend is hardly limited to Volks either! (I merely cite what I know best. :oops) I remember the early starting companies like Rasendou and CustomHouse had much more stylistic molds, whereas newer companies like DollShe or Supia are much more grounded in a realistic style. It really seems to be something across the whole ABJD scene.

I wonder why, do you think? Is it that the demographic of the fans have changed so much? That with the introduction of more Western and/or Korean/Chinese fans there's a different appeal? Is it that the Japanese and Korean fans are getting older or moving on? Is it a change in what's popular or sought after in Japan and Korea itself? What are your thoughts?

[Pooki]

I don't know for others, but I personally prefer the more realistic molds. The anime ones are cute, but don't hold my interest. I think the only anime-like one that I really like is Nono. By "realistic", I don't mean necessarily western in features only. I would like a realistic Asian or other ethnic doll also.

I also think that there are more westerners getting into the hobby, so that may be a factor, as to the more "western" or "Euro" facesculpts. Plus, maybe more collectors who were into other dolls such as the 16" fashion dolls, so they are looking more for a bjd that has the more familiar facial styling that they like. Interestingly, it's not just the faces that are becoming more realistic, but the bodies as well with less styling and more musculature.

[CatMoran]

I wonder if they felt they needed to branch out, to keep new molds from looking too similar to existing molds?

[miss sha]

I don't know why, exactly, but I can certainly say it's a trend I'm happy to see grow. I think, perhaps, like anything, as the sculptors and designers get better at what they do, they try and develop a new sense of style and strengthen themselves as artists. The most straightforward way to do this, I think, seems to be to try and copy life, real faces, real people.

[astrosnik]

I think the style expansions have many aspects. More Western audiences for one, and the interest of general doll collectors and artists, where they were originally marketed towards the anime market like many of Volks's resin kits. Companies are realizing that they can offer more choices and buyers will still be interested. I don't think the Korean dolls are necessarily more realistic, but I find a define style difference especially around the eyes, akin to manga vs. manhwa. I find myself attracted to both realistic and stylized anime dolls, but I think once we buy one doll we tend to buy more in the same style class so that they "go together."

[mk13]

I'm not sure it's a trend of anime to realism as such.
Of what I've seen, there's a trend in anime and manga itself that realistic looking characters are more common. The manga style is no longer restricted to giant eyes and gravity-defying hair :XD. I think Supia dolls in particular look extremely manga-ish. Maybe it's more of a general trend.

[kuro]

Perhaps to reach a wider audience? I think these days there are many doll affecionados who don't have roots in the anime fandom because Volks (/other companies) have stressed the unlimited opportunities for customization that these dolls hold, thus reaching photographers, clothing designers (of all styles), painters, etc...

[kellyhime]

While I am not sure what caused the shift, with my limited experience, I have found that doing faceups on the more realistic heads is easier than the anime heads, because I tend to approach doing faceups as more like putting on makeup, rather than having to paint on features. However, I think the shift, especially with Volks, to more fashion doll inspired BJD is a bit disturbing and I hope that they don't forget their roots, as it were.

[il_bello]

I'm not sure I ever would have bought a doll without some of the more realistic sculpts. Also, the anime types, I would assume, give little leeway for copyright; it's much easier to be original with realistic scults I would think.

[Muunu]

Well back in the day, most of us who got into BJDs came over from the anime and figure kit hobbies. Anime was what we knew and were familiar with. As this hobby grows however, these dolls are bringing in people from all over, what we're seeing is marketing to as wide a consumer base as possible. Take elves for example, not exactly an asian concept but it appeals to quite a bit of people in this new generation of BJDs. I think more realistic sculpts are the same.

It's not a new concept either, other hobbies (Pullips, Blythe etc) are also getting western touches and designs in an attempt to draw in the global market.

[fullcircleagain]

My experience is at first the people buying abjds were coming from being into manga/anime/cosplay and interested in related items.

The hobby grew, more people outside of those interests, people who were mostly just doll collectors started taking notice. I remember there being a time reading some new people wishing the dolls had more realistic sculpts.

With the companies trying to expand their business, they have been adapting to the increase and newer collectors. However, there is still a demand for the more anime heads as anime and manga also grow in popularity. Which is good. More variety is always better :)

[Defectivegirl]

I think the shift probably started as people's style began to change in other things. Anime for example, look at older styles of anime and the popular styles of today. They have moved away from the HUGE eyes, small mouth to a more realistic shaped eye and more realistic features.

It is also possibly to appease the taste of other collectors, to widen the market. It has grow so popular you don't see the totally anime derived aesthetic. Now people are looking for a more realistic almond eyed, soft mouth-ed look. But I will always be partial to the anime-ish look of older Volks dolls and at the same time love the beautiful faces of the realistic dolls of today! Both are lovable and breath taking.

[Guide]

I think it's also a case of people becoming more aware of realistic heads. When I first got into this hobby I honestly had no idea that companies like Unidoll and Supia existed, so I was limited very much to the Volks heads and the Luts Delfs. As I discovered other companies, however, I began to move away from those head styles and am now very much grounded in the realistic head camp. (This was not helped by the Minimee Project, either!)

I think from the company point of view, reaching new collectors is definately a concern, but so too is the need for variety. With more and more companies now producing dolls, I think realistic heads is giving them more scope to stand out from the crowd.

[SephXIII]

I think this "realistic" trend probably began when they created the Lucas/Chris mould with Kyon. Though in reality, I'm not sure about the term "realistic". It just seems to me that Volks had done the obvious anime head moulds, and they naturally moved on to the next step, the other type of anime head moulds--the more "realistic" types. I'm very much of a fan of anime and manga, so every time I see a bjd, I naturally think that's its an straight out of a animanga, hence realism never enters my mind; they just fall into the "I love this look" or the "I don't like this style" categories.

I've always assumed that Volks' influence is closely tied to anime, manga and the video game world because of the type of products Volks creates and sells. So as the anime and manga world progresses, and CG in video games start churning out characters who look better than ever (being more realistic), I guess Volks is right there with the trend. Like the expansive world of animanga, with all their different drawing styles of the characters, Volks too has their share of different styles. It's not so much that they've "moved on" to realistic styles, but they seem to be concentrating their different styles in different product lines? After all, they still have their very anime heads in their Dollfie and Dollfie Dream lines. And so the more realistic style now seems to fall into the more expensive Super Dollfie line.

Oh, and also, the generic anime face can be quite limited. Just how many mix and matches of big eyes, small mouths and pointy noses can you come up with? Back then, the next move for their more expensive SD line would naturally have been to try to create faces which were different from what they already had. So in comes the different noses, the more defined mouths, the different eyelids, etc. When their F28 and F29 heads were made, and were very popular, I guess they realised these styles sold very well for the Super Dollfie line. As they go on producing more and more "realistic" head moulds, and we keep proving how much we love them by buying them, I'm thinking they'll just keep producing more "realistic" heads for the Super Dollfie line. ^_^

[Cynthia]

I'm trying to think back . . . when were the Bermann 77s released? A couple of years (or more) after Lucas/Chris and their brothers?

I woke up this morning, and found myself trying to construct a timeline of the shift toward realistic/portrait-style heads--and toward a smaller head in proportion to the body, which to me is also part of that shift. Volks' introduction of the Lucas/Chris family (and I would add Michele in there, though that head isn't seen nearly as often) is the first turning point, for sure. But I keep coming back to Bermann as another turning point, at least for Korean dollmakers. But that may just reflect the way I became aware of BJDs, rather than the real history of the dolls.

[Catrina]

I think perhaps it's a matter of variety.

I learned an interesting thing from a Korean artist who lives near me. She told me that in Asia, you go to university and learn sculpting and painting but you don't learn much about painting and sculpting people. Because they don't consider it "high class" to paint faces and people. Flowers, landscapes, and natural themes are considered appropriate for formal artists. I think this is why BJD schools have appeared over there. When I asked her to paint some faces for me (blank heads) she was quite perplexed and didn't know where to start.

The work of Hans Bellmer (1930's) and Ryo Yoshida (dolls from 1980's- present) (Japan) fascinates me. It's got both a realistic and surreal look. Perhaps some of the new dolls with a realistic feel are influenced by these important figures in the BJD world.

The other thing I was told from a dollmaker in Japan is that a large amount of dolls in Japan are bought by male collectors. I think their influence in doll collecting is underestimated.

Catrina

[AreeElf]

I think they are following the trend of demand. Originally the dolls were made to be customized in the anime aesthetic. As more people are made aware of the customize ability of these dolls people who play rpg or other video games want to make characters that represent character's they've develop from possibly years of play.

I notice not only is there a trend towards realism there is also a demand for certain fantasy style aesthetics found in many rpg and mmorpg type games. Elves, demons, and etc.

I for one wish I hadn't missed out on the original anime trend of aesthetics. The original anime art style is closer to my own style of art and also holds alot of sentiment for me.

I was aware of BJD during the early more anime style but unfotunately for me buying them was not in budget at the time

[OddEthics]

I guess I was thinking it's more like a fashion trend. Where one things popular for awhile then switches to something else. I'm more a fan of less realistic but I don't see a problem with everything switching to realistic. I like looking at owner photo's.

[tylonika]

Part of me wonders if theres a link with the trend of realism and the 'Korean Boom', So to speak, of dolls? I really noticed the realistic switch more after you started to see a wider variety of doll companies (2004-2005ish?.) Since there was more choice, companies could see what was selling better.

[Lizzard]

I don't think there's been a shift at all. I mean, there have been changes in the molds, yes, but if you look at the changes in doll designs and the changes in anime designs over the last few years, you'll see that they are nearly parallel. Thus, BJDs aren't really moving away from anime at all -- they're still on the same course. Both are moving toward greater realism.

[SharonFish]

In addition to the valid points made by others in this thread I think a number of the newer more anime styled sculpts are simply being made in the tiny size. The big eye small mouth sort of cute is very well suited to little dolls.

[jaeninha]

Very interesting topic, Cassiel!

I agree with what most people have said, that this hobby kind of sprung from the anime-based fandom. But as we've seen, not only anime, but also manga (manwa, manhwa, etc.) has evolved: character's features and anatomy are more proportioned and realistic looking, while keeping the fantasy elements in.
The same goes to 3D art, animation, games, etc. Just think of Final Fantasy VII back in the days and compare it now with Advent Children. XD I think this is one of the best examples out there that anyone can relate to; technology has revolutionized our way to perceive images, and thus people become more picky and more demanding. (Just think of those action figures made of anime characters, don't they look a bit weird with their attempt to give them more dimension and features than what their 2D image have?) :p

People are always trying to make things look as realistic as possible (more 'believable', as explained in one of my art classes), within the realm of fantasy that they've created.
As the tendency draws toward the more realistic looking characters, so are BJD companies working to adapt to that trend, which is what I believe is happening with Volks. But I don't think they're 'forgetting' their own roots. I think the F-32 head mold is a reminder to all Volks fans that they're not putting away their more simple ideas. :)

My dos céntimos. ^^

[Sola]

Well, darlins, all i have to say about it is THANK GOD. :XD


A big reason why i was able to avoid falling face-first into the hobby for a number of years was the lack of realistic headmolds. While i loved what was available, there was simply nothing approaching suitable to house any of my boys, and i couldn't picture them as anything other than what they are, and a cartoon approximation simply wouldn't do. (it was Saint that broke the seal. doh. [shakes fist in general direction of Mr. Dollshe.] )


And honestly, speaking of Dollshe, i don't think any artist with two eyes in their head could have failed to note Bermann and the absolute frenzy surrounding him. Let's not discount that simple bit of innovation and economics.

[bunnydots]

I agree that the appeal of the dolls is expanding to Western collectors, including those who may not be so much into the traditional anime styles. Frankly, I wouldn't know if anime is also moving towards a more realistic style, as I am not into anime at all and come at this hobby as someone who's always been interested in art dolls, which are made in a wide variety of styles. The first ABJDs I saw, a few years ago, were more in the large-eyed anime style and I was not at all interested in them. I do have one or two of that type of older doll now, but it was definitely an acquired taste on my part.

The dolls that eventually caught my attention were the very realistic Dollshe boys, which looked like some realistic art dolls I have seen, but were more durable (there is no way I would ever buy a porcelain art doll, as it would be broken after 10 minutes in my disorganized house) and had a greater range of customization possibility. I think the popularity of Bermann, Hound and other realistic dolls helped encourage other companies to also become more realistic, and I really prefer that style. Eventually I would like to see more realistic body options too, as well as heads.

[Kyrie Arashi]

I'd say it has to do with the changing tastes of owners and the attempt of bringing new people into the hobby. Not all BJD owners are anime fans, and I have to imagine that many of the non-anime fans are more drawn to the realistic style dolls.

I've also noticed that many older collectors (age-wise) have fewer anime-style dolls.

Also, the art style is different in different countries. Where there were once only Japanese BJDs, there's now Chinese, Korean, and American. And when I open a Korean manga compared to a Japanese manga, there is a major style difference. I'd say the dolls from different countries reflect this as well.

[Cynthia]

And honestly, speaking of Dollshe, i don't think any artist with two eyes in their head could have failed to note Bermann and the absolute frenzy surrounding him. Let's not discount that simple bit of innovation and economics.

Though the Bermann frenzy--in terms of buyer demand--took quite a while to build, didn't it?

As I posted earlier, I'm still trying to work out exactly when the Bermann 77s were released: in late 2003, maybe? I believe Bermann already existed when I became aware of BJDs in early 2004, but I'm not 100% sure of that. (Apologies if the date is sitting right there in plain sight on Anu's website; I did look, but I'm just not seeing it, somehow.)

As late as the fall of 2005, and maybe later, there was a Shinsengumi Bermann sitting unsold on the Tensiya site. (I remember, because I wanted to buy him but talked myself out of it for a whole string of now-absurd reasons.) But by the spring of 2006, the Bermann demand was beginning to climb--and by a year later, well, we all know what was happening.

I still suspect that Bermann was influential for (especially) the Korean BJD sculptors even before buyer demand shot up. But there was a time lag between the first appearance of Bermann and the growth of the sizable international audience for him that exists right now.

[rhii]

I always thought the companies start moving towards the more sculptured chiselled (I'm bad at this description thing lol) look was because to appeal to the western market...
but then again, maybe its because they have new sculptors or ran out of other types to do ? XD

though they didnt' completely wholly shift to non-anime / less cutesy types. Hmmm...

Diversification perhaps ?

[Duae]

I personally would say two main reasons.

1. As others have pointed out, the Nono style anime face is not the only one out there. While they might work for something like a Fruits Basket (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohru_Honda) shoujo girl they're not going to work as well for a more shonen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Makimura_Kaori.jpg) style girl.

2. There are plenty of anime/manga out there (like most anything by Rumiko Takahashi) where there's basically one anime face and lots of different hairstyles and outfits. However, if you're going to come out with new molds there's only so much you can do with that one face style. Eventually you have to go to other styles.

[Merry]

While I couldn't say what prompts each individual to choose a certain head mold over another I think what motivates the companies is, simply, what sells best.

I recall when Volks was pretty much the only show in town the most popular heads tended to be whatever were more realistic. At that point those would be the (old #s) f08, f09, f28, and f29 (I'm missing one here that's been discontinued, I think...). One might also include the 4 Sisters head in this bunch as well since, aside from the f28 and f29, 'realistic' was still pretty stylized at this point.

I think Volks noticed this trend and started offering more realistic head molds. Companies that followed Volks (in time frame, not in style ofc) were no doubt noticing in what areas their competitors did well and, logically, followed suit.

It seems now companies are finding their own strengths and things are starting to 'settle' a little. Some companies do the strikingly realistic boys exceptionally well (Dollshe, etc). Cerberus Project does a wonderful mix of realistic faces with exaggerated eyes that is obviously irresistible to many of us. And, of course, there is the Tiny Invasion which, in general, seems to be a wonderful balance of realistic and, while not anime so much, definitely idealized cherubic features.

Hm...maybe I'll take a stab at reasons why the market has leaned toward purchasing more realistic head molds. I think Duae hit the nail on the head with regards to an anime face being a bit too generic. Certainly, I've seen some fantastic Nono and Mimi repaints but you can almost always recognize a Nono or Mimi no matter the faceup.

With more realistic head molds there tends to be more that can be altered, either via faceup or by modifying the resin directly. I've seen 'realistic' head molds that I thought I was extremely familiar with changed in ways where I couldn't recognize them at all simply by a certain faceup and the smallest of modifications.

Also, the most popular realistic dolls seem to be male and given that this hobby tends to attract mostly females...well...I think it's fairly safe to say a large number of us don't mind having loverly boys around. :sweat (Though right now I'm adult boyless :cry).

[Shankula]

Part of me wonders if theres a link with the trend of realism and the 'Korean Boom', So to speak, of dolls? I really noticed the realistic switch more after you started to see a wider variety of doll companies (2004-2005ish?.) Since there was more choice, companies could see what was selling better.

I have to agree with you, once Luts and other Korean companies started churning out more realistic (compared at least to the sisters and other volks anime heads) and reasonably priced dolls, Volks decided to follow what was bringing so much success to the Korean companies--more realistic sculpts. My two cents, and nothing more.

[Christy]

Though the Bermann frenzy--in terms of buyer demand--took quite a while to build, didn't it?

As I posted earlier, I'm still trying to work out exactly when the Bermann 77s were released: in late 2003, maybe? I believe Bermann already existed when I became aware of BJDs in early 2004, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

Hi Cynthia! You're correct about the release of the originals. They went on sale in November of 2003 (Anu ordered hers a few days before I did!). They were put up on various Korean doll sites to buy. They didn't sell very many so the creator of Dollshe, Kim Kiyong pulled them off those sites and made them available only to Cyworld members to order. There, they became their own 'group' so to speak and got little numbered cards with them.

Initially only a few foreigner's ordered them (I got mine when they were still available on the various doll sites - my shopper got mine off yentown.com). However, not many people liked his look. Many thought he was too 'grumpy' and skinny. Noone ever wrote me personally about disliking him, but I'm sure there were a few! :|

It was really when Tensiya released their 3rd Bermann (in the re-release campaign), the open-eyed Hu-die-meng, when things started to get crrrraaaaazy!

(ooo I need to go "introduce myself" now - this is my first post here!!!:confetti)

[Ragsolith]

I like both kinds, really, depending on the mold, but like many have pointed out: anime's getting a bit more "realistic" too, so everything's evolving together. :3

[Tereya Chan]

I like both kinds, really, depending on the mold, but like many have pointed out: anime's getting a bit more "realistic" too, so everything's evolving together. :3

This is my general sentiment about the whole thing. Firstly, I don't consider my dolls, any of them, to be realistic. My most recent doll is about as close to "realistic" looking as I could imagine ever wanting, and yet he's still hyper-stylized. I think that part of the ongoing trend is a move away from generic styles to more specific identifiable looks on dolls.

With more companies coming out, the need to have dolls look noticably unique to a company helps a company distinguish themselves from the masses. Frankly, I don't want to lose the "anime aesthetic" entirely because my dolls are meant to resemble comic characters and my original inspiration was anime style video game art. While I have no desire to order her, I was happy when I saw the release of the F-32 headmold. It's nice to see that there is still a place in the hobby for the older style as well.

But this is much like, at least to me, comparing the styles of western comics to the styles of asian comics. There is so much variety out there, as others have pointed out, but the majority within both spheres of art tend to pull away from true reality at least a little for effect and style. I do, though, foresee companies continuing to embrace more natural proportions and defined features because the public seems to want them and that's fine as well.

[St. James]

I think that the shift from stylized faces to realistic ones is partly an illusion created by the greater variety of dolls now available. Newer doll companies must be innovative to succeed in the shadow of established companies, and so the variety that realism affords is a clear path to that survival.
I am somewhat reminded of the shift in sculptural trends in the ancient Mediterranean. Greek sculpture was a stylized ideal which was admired and adopted by the Romans, but by the first century A.D. Roman portrature was as realistic as anything seen today. Sculpture had found another role to fulfill, that of embodying a specific character rather than just an ideal.
So while early doll creators could have a limited range of faces that would suit many owners, the more involved collectors become with creating individual characters the more appealing variation became. Think of how impossible it was only two years ago to find more than two BJDs with a prominent nose.

[Ridgeway]

I've been a manga/anime fan for, sweet jeebus, almost twenty years. I can see what people mean when they say "anime style/type" but that really means the style of animation which any layperson could identify as anime related - big eyes, small mouth, simple lines. Many of my favorite Japanese artists have never fit that identifiable mold. I don't think the trend towards a more realistic style in manga is all that new as most of the artists I'd point to started their careers in the early to late 80's. If I wanted to create some of my favorite manga characters only a realistic mold would suit their image, they could never have been made using the more simple, open doll faces. I think it's just taken a while for the doll companies to catch up with the exsisting trends in manga. It makes sense, start with simple faces, then diversify and branch out.

[avacado]

I think the company shifted because they wanted to keep the customers that they had and to gain new customers with new styles. I personally like the more realistic molds. But I have seen a couple anime style dolls that I really like.

[leokitsune]

I think that everyone has covered most of the main reasons. The way I see it, there is more than one. More Western exposure is a key one. The core market is evolving away from its anime beginnings, branching out to reach a wider audience, including people that never have even seen anime or read manga.

The growing numbers of old-school doll collectors coming into the hobby is a big factor, the way I see it. Money talks, and many of those collectors are willing to drop a lot of cash and have it to burn, especially on the pricer limited market. For people that started this hobby collecting Tonners and Barbies, a more mature, less anime sculpt is going to appeal more.

Even among anime and manga fans like myself, there seems to be a preference for more realistic and more mature sculpts. Maybe I'm too used to seeing them 2D, but when I see the anime-styled sculpts like the default DD heads, they don't look right in 3D to me. Seems to me when people translate their favorite anime characters into a doll, they pick dolls that look like what the character would look like if it was a real person. I hope I'm making sense here, my thought processes seem muddled today.:sweat

[greeniebone]

I agree with others who have said that most headmolds are still anime-inspired. There are really very few headmolds from any company that I would consider realistic. People keep bringing up Dollshe, but their boys are to me highly representative of the beautiful men one might find in a manga or anime. Many people who collect BJDs but are not fans of anime/manga may wish to disregard the anime influences, however, so perhaps it's easier to call it an "Asian Aesthetic." I think Western ideals have little to no influence on how Japanese or Korean doll companies produce their designs, except when a specific trend is involved, or a deliberate effort is made (i.e. Volks and their USA Dollpa exclusives).

I do disagree that anime in general is moving towards a more realistic style, however. Some of the most popular shows to come out of Japan in the past couple of years have been highly stylized. However, that is a debate to be held at another time and place. ;)

[Wotan]

I don't know why, exactly, but I can certainly say it's a trend I'm happy to see grow. I think, perhaps, like anything, as the sculptors and designers get better at what they do, they try and develop a new sense of style and strengthen themselves as artists. The most straightforward way to do this, I think, seems to be to try and copy life, real faces, real people.
This was the first thing to come to my mind. There might have been an improvement in the skill of the sculptors, or maybe there was some refinement in the production process.

Well, darlins, all i have to say about it is THANK GOD. :XD

Indeed!

I think others have expressed this, but I think part of the initial dominance of anime-type headmolds was that they're more of a blank slate. Most of the features are exaggerations or suggestions of features rather than detailed expressions of those. Character came through in how a faceup was done, what eyes were put in the head, the wig, the costuming, and so on. As the market expanded, doll companies could produce more detailed molds, knowing that the range they offer still gives potential buyers a good chance of finding the best expression of the character they want.

[Angma Suzy]

Someone upthread made a very valid point regarding the difference between manga and manhwa. Different countries, different aesthetics. Take a look at a non-sci-fi full feature Korean animation and it's quite blatant. Even though, the entrance of the Korean dollmakers may have influenced the mold trends, but in my opinion, the stylized anime molds are still going strong. (Volks is still "the" company.)

There's also a half-joke speculation regarding this trend for more realistic molds - that it's because now more and more women are into BJDs, whereas before it was mostly the Akihabara otaku guys. Their fantasies lie someplace other than the "real world" so realistic molds wouldn't suit them. :XD Something to that effect.

One more thing : I personally have a problem with the term 'Asian aesthetics'. It's so broad a term. I have never heard 'European aesthetics' mentioned. English, French, German, Italian, etc... it's never lopped into a whole continent, so why is Asia?

[greeniebone]

One more thing : I personally have a problem with the term 'Asian aesthetics'. It's so broad a term. I have never heard 'European aesthetics' mentioned. English, French, German, Italian, etc... it's never lopped into a whole continent, so why is Asia?

Well, I certainly meant no offense with that term, and I apologize if anyone felt as such. I think many people here have actually mentioned that they feel dolls are getting more realistic in order to suit a Western market, and if one believes this to be true, this could in fact be referred to as a "European Aesthetic." I think it is is undeniable that the countries in Asia, all of them, have different cultural styles than the countries in Europe and beyond. My phrasing was a reference to this, and again, I apologize for any misunderstanding.

[Angma Suzy]

Well, I certainly meant no offense with that term, and I apologize if anyone felt as such. I think many people here have actually mentioned that they feel dolls are getting more realistic in order to suit a Western market, and if one believes this to be true, this could in fact be referred to as a "European Aesthetic." I think it is is undeniable that the countries in Asia, all of them, have different cultural styles than the countries in Europe and beyond. My phrasing was a reference to this, and again, I apologize for any misunderstanding.

I meant that in a general sense, with no intention of pointing out anyone in particular. You see that phrasing all over the internet, not only in doll forums. It's just that I'm quite befuddled why it is so general a term. I was just wondering out loud (albeit in a frustrated way), no need to apologise. I think I may have to phrase my sentences better in the future.

[greeniebone]

I meant that in a general sense, with no intention of pointing out anyone in particular. You see that phrasing all over the internet, not only in doll forums. It's just that I'm quite befuddled why it is so general a term. I was just wondering out loud (albeit in a frustrated way), no need to apologise. I think I may have to phrase my sentences better in the future.

No worries, and I think it can be chalked up to folks like myself who just want to categorize everything. I have a degree in Anthropology, but clearly I'm not above making rash generalizations. :sweat I actually appreciate you pointing out my folly, so I can steer clear of that sort of blanket statement in the future!

[Cynthia]

There's also a half-joke speculation regarding this trend for more realistic molds - that it's because now more and more women are into BJDs, whereas before it was mostly the Akihabara otaku guys. Their fantasies lie someplace other than the "real world" so realistic molds wouldn't suit them. :XD Something to that effect.


I love this idea . . . joke or no joke. :D And maybe it also helps (as somebody pointed out upthread) to explain the huge population explosion of realistic male BJDs, from Chris/Lucas on?

[Angelsfalling]

Well, even a lot of anime is going for a more realistic look, so it's just where things have spun to. I really prefer the more realistic but still pretty dolls that are sort of in between.

[s2kitty]

I know I've been leaning more and more towards realistic looking dolls because the characters in my head aren't animated. Does that make sense? I started off with more anime styled dolls (Kohya is very stylized to me, I mean come on - that nose?!?) I was also making character dolls like Kiba and Sesshoumaru, but I felt limited slightly. I feel I can create more clothing for a realistic looking doll even though either type would wear the same clothes. Maybe that isn't logical, but it's how my mind works. There is just so much more variety with "realism" than with "cartoon."

[kyubikitsy]

Hrm... considering the trends and the growing market, I'd like to think that the styles are changing to suit a larger audience. Looking at what's been released over the past 3 years, I see a stronger lean towards certain features on dolls like a more angular nose, defined lips, smaller eyes - especially for boys rather than their girl counterparts.

I also think it's a reflection of what people see as beauty as well and taking into account the fashion trends in other countries, those defined features are very much "in". It's seemingly natural for a company to second guess what their patrons would be interested in purchasing - i.e the latest SD16 releases from Volks.

[tarouchan]

I think something interesting to consider too are varying degrees of realism: for example, Chris/Lucas has been mentioned multiple times as heralding Volks' foray into realistic sculpts. However, the few times I've had my old F-28 next to a Dollshe he looked exactly like some bobble-headed anime character! :o
You also have things like the DiM MiniMee sculpts - which come with an option of anywhere from 45% to 80% realism. So I wouldn't say it's a total shift, not at all. :)

I honestly couldn't tell you what made companies shift from girls like Nono to girls like Narae, but I think it's good that there's such a wide variety of faces and bodies to choose from - realistic, anime-styled, or somewhere in between.

[BlueSand09]

I prefer semi realistic... Like DOD have and Elfdoll and Reisner. I just don't like the new dolls released by Luts because they have big eyes. Just compare it with the old molds they have. Limwha, Supia dolls and Narae have more realistic looks but I still like them. I just don't like dolls that have big eyes and small nose like anime have. I'd rather buy an action figure... ehehe

[TammyTammy]

I think it has to do with the fashion doll boom. The more realistic, the better.

Personally, I prefer the in between type doll; not really anime style and not really realistic.

[Bandwidth Broad]

The one thing we can bank upon is that there is no *one* reason that the manufacturers and artists are beginning to release more realistic face molds. There are a number of entirely legitimate (and probable) suggestions that have been itemized here. The ones that strike me as most probable (but really, without *asking* the manufacturers and artists, how will we really know? It's all speculation at this point) are:

1. This generation of bjds were originally either prompted by anime stylization or made by a company (or companies) who were already successful in the anime model/garage kit market. As trends in anime change, trends in the doll markets have reflected these changes.

2. As peoples (deliberate addition of "s") outside of Asia have become interested in the dolls and as companies have been asked to either visit conferences/conventions, sponsor functions, and/or appoint retailers in the west and elsewhere, the manufacturers have become aware of the growing interest. Sculpts have begun to reflect the ethnic and cultural facial structures of those within the growing audience base.

3. Retail is a tough business. The buying public is fickle. You can have a known seller for three years then, *boom*, one morning you awaken and discover that the bottom has fallen out of your market. Smart companies diversify and offer an ever-changing slate of options for their customers. What we could be seeing is the natural evolution of products from companies who are acutely aware of the fickle nature of consumers.

I keep seeing this "natural sculpt" vs. "anime sculpt" comparison. Somebody mentioned putting an F28 up against a doll from another manufacturer. What I think would be much more interesting is if we could take a look at our dolls from the perspective of comparing them to individuals we know. There ARE humans who have a distinctly "anime" look, even if they haven't got the cute disappearing carrot tip nose. Goldie Hawn is somebody who, though even in her 60s or so (I believe?!), would look great as an anime-like doll. I can't tell you how many Ziggy Stardust and/or other characters based on David Bowie's personae I've seen -- some of the Dollshe sculpts seem to DEMAND such a treatment. It would be fun if we could have a gallery entry with comparisons between people we know and dolls we own.

jmho!

[tarouchan]

.... There ARE humans who have a distinctly "anime" look, even if they haven't got the cute disappearing carrot tip nose. Goldie Hawn is somebody who, though even in her 60s or so (I believe?!), would look great as an anime-like doll. I can't tell you how many Ziggy Stardust and/or other characters based on David Bowie's personae I've seen -- some of the Dollshe sculpts seem to DEMAND such a treatment. It would be fun if we could have a gallery entry with comparisons between people we know and dolls we own.
jmho!

Actually, there was a rather lengthy thread on DoA somewhere that did just that - compared celebrity faces to doll sculpts. It was really pretty fascinating to see how spot-on some of them were! :D

I'll have to see if I can look that one up.

edit: A-ha! Found it: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4896&highlight=celebrity

[gayle]

More than anything, I think it is due to the influx of new owners who didn't come from an anime background.

I know that I had little interest in BJD's until there were sculpts availible that were more realistic.

[catcooter]

My guess would be, the BJD business itself has exploded. There are many more people interested in it, therefore, it would only make sense that the companies are trying to appeal to a wider audience. In the beginning it seemed like the dolls were more anime-like. That is what attracted me, but as the hobby grows I'm sure there are people that prefer more realistic looking dolls. In order to do more business, the companies have to expand the look of their dolls to do more business. Newer companies are producing those kind of dolls to fill that gap in the market also.

[koi]

From an artist's point of view, I think it's a natural progression for things to evolve into new ones or branch out to include a different look into what is already there. If there is no change then things become dated, no longer visually appealing, and people loose interest and move on to something new. Plus you want to appeal to a wider audience so your "look" has to be up-to-date with what's going on around you. Offering more realistic sculpts gives people a variety of dolls to choose from. It keeps the companies current and in demand, and the customer base keeps growing.

[eptrauma]

I think it has to do with the fan base. In the early days of Super Dollfies, the fans were mostly "otaku". People who were into things from japan, anime and figure kits, and people who were into gothic lolita. But now that BJD's have become more popular, people who come from a mainstream doll collecting background, like tonners, himestadts (spelling?) or barbies, rather than an anime and figure kit background have gotten into them.
Personally, i like both styles.

[Soleil Moon]

I think it's about money. If you appeal to a larger audience you'll make more money. Anime BJD had no appeal for me but the playability factor interested me and I loved the size. After seeing my first Elfdoll Ryung I was sprung!

[clea]

i'm not really a fashion doll person, but when i first got into the hobby i definitely preferred the most realistic sculpts i could find. Over time, though, i've developed a taste for more stylized heads, as well as mini and tiny sizes. For me, familiarity through repainting and playing has resulted in appreciation for the possibilities of different doll styles.

[ravendolls]

Hmmm... Nono et al have anime-styled faces, but their bodies are quite sculpturally realistic in comparison! So perhaps more realistic faces are a natural progression... though I have yet to see any (Volks) face as realistic as the bodies are.

Raven

[junoboy]

I honestly think that more is more.. the more you have out there, the more people will purchase.. and having alot of choice is really terrific.. It's amazing how many of new companies are now creating BJDs..

I also think that having more choice, and not just realistic looks- fantasy: elves and centaurs- is a way to keep the product fresh and different..

Also, having alot of choice can bring different types of collectors into the market.. And more realistic does seem to go a bit hand in hand with fashion doll collectors.

[augustamethyst]

This is a good thread. Like St. James mentioned, it could be a bit of an illusion that there is a shift from anime to realistic because of the number of companies producing dolls now. There's decidedly more companies than there was in 2003 and even in 2005.

I'd really love to see a discussion about changing the definition of the "ABJD aesthetic." Perhaps suggesting new and slightly more dynamic definitions of it.

[branchuchan]

I feel that the companies are just trying ot give us more of what we want. Luts is still very anime and cartoonish, while I still think Volks has a very traditional 'doll' look to them. Neither are very realistic, unless you look at the bodies imho. I think new sculptors too are helping add their flair of style.

[lin]

I really know nothing about anime, but am attracted to realistic bjd's because they are so very different from all my other dolls. I think there will be a market for both types of dolls because there are so many people in the hobby now of all ages and backgrounds. I know lots of former fashion doll enthusiasts who have sold their entire collections to buy bjd's.

[KeiVendetta]

I don't think there's been a shift at all. I mean, there have been changes in the molds, yes, but if you look at the changes in doll designs and the changes in anime designs over the last few years, you'll see that they are nearly parallel. Thus, BJDs aren't really moving away from anime at all -- they're still on the same course. Both are moving toward greater realism.

I agree! I've noticed that as the recent!



I myself am more attracted to realistic sculpts, The more realistic the more I seem to like them and I honestly don't know why *shrugs*

[kyliebee]

I myself have never been interested in anime or any thing like that. I came to the hobby because of my collecting barbies and dolls such as that. An i think the producers of BJDs realize that many people aren't after an anime look at all. I think there just opening up and allowing more people to collect varied sculpt designs, from all collector backgrounds.

[earthspirits]

I think it's a good trend that there is now a wide variety of facial (and body) styles available for folks to choose from (and from many companies too!) ~ diversity is always welcome! :) Now those who prefer a more stylized look can find the perfect sculpt for them, as can those who want a realistic look! As an artist / writer and photographer, I personally prefer realism, as a realistic doll works better for me both in terms of representing my own literary characters, and as models for my art and photography. But I do own a few dolls that are somewhat stylized, because I find their sculpts appealing, and they "speak" to me as an artist.

Again, this in no way reflects on anyone else's preferences, just my own humble opinion. Viva La Difference!!!! :yey

Best wishes,
earthspirits

[Baakay]

I don't see that there has been a shift away from stylized faces - I hesitate to call them "anime" faces because anime encompasses such a huge variety of styles - so much as there has been the *addition* of realistic looks to what already was out there.

It's easy for me to understand why people gravitate toward realistic faces. It's the same reason people look at Michelangelo's David. There's something incredibly magical, for lack of a better word, in a piece of art of any size that looks real enough to get up and move or speak at any second.

I wonder... if that's why most of mine are the more stylized, quirky-looking dolls. Maybe I fear having someone too good-looking around the house! (Rejection would be ugly... :blush)

[harlowe]

I love this trend! Not that I don't want them to continue to make anime-style dolls, but to give people a greater selection for more natural looking dolls is awesome.

[slrphebos]

I think it's starting to shift in an attempt to bring more people into the hobby and there has to have been letters and emails written to these companies asking for more realistic head molds as not all fans like one style. Not to mention it helps to have more variety so that some that want a realstic looking doll for this character can have it, but I think it's important to keep more "anime" looking molds for those that like that as well. The companies are just trying to find a nice little balance between both to keep their sales going.

[Wee_Little_Faerie]

I don't think there's been a shift at all. I mean, there have been changes in the molds, yes, but if you look at the changes in doll designs and the changes in anime designs over the last few years, you'll see that they are nearly parallel. Thus, BJDs aren't really moving away from anime at all -- they're still on the same course. Both are moving toward greater realism.

I agree with this statement as well.

[budah]

I agree with the mutual shift between anime and bjd.

There are a good portion of the anime/bjd community that were around during the early stages of anime and bjd that are now maturing and evolving into a different style.

When we were younger, "cute" was more attractive as that was the developmental stage we were in. As the anime/bjd demographic grows older, so does the level of aesthetic maturity.

Hope that made sense... :sweat

[Wotan]

It's easy for me to understand why people gravitate toward realistic faces. It's the same reason people look at Michelangelo's David. There's something incredibly magical, for lack of a better word, in a piece of art of any size that looks real enough to get up and move or speak at any second.

I wonder... if that's why most of mine are the more stylized, quirky-looking dolls. Maybe I fear having someone too good-looking around the house! (Rejection would be ugly... :blush)
I brought this idea up in another thread in passing, but wanted to repeat it here because I thought this was a more appropriate discussion for it. In particular, Baakay, your quote here seemed the most related to the idea.

That idea is the hypothesis of the "Uncanny Valley" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley), the notion that we like a more humanoid appearance to a certain point; if it gets past that point, there's a feeling of revulsion that doesn't fade until the object in question becomes almost indistinguishable from human form and action.

As you pointed out with the example of Michelangelo's David, the human form is set as the ideal, and something as fully realized as that does cause that "magical" experience. However, dolls haven't achieved that level of closeness to the human form-- they're close enough to recognizable human characteristics for us to focus on the differences rather than the similarities. That might be why you and others favor stylized dolls. They haven't passed that threshold.

[aisy]

The appeal of anime heads appears to often be an appreciation for existing characters/art/art form of Asian influence. The realistic market seems to be influenced by a more Western interest of creating characters unique to the owner. I know very little anime/manga and was not interested in BJD until more realistic sculpts appeared. It was then I saw the possibility of story telling using resin dolls.

[Gypsy Eyes]

I'm not sure how many people agree with me, but I prefer realism. The anime types for me tend to look generic in a way. after a while everything begins to look the same with eyes shapes and similar noses. With realism you can really take a face and make it unique. something about the small imperfections of realism, make the dolls so much more lovable.

I think there is more to be done with realism. For the sculptors there is only so much you can do with an anime styled head before it starts to stop looking anime-styled. There is a more strict set of rules to make a doll in the anime-style. a crooked nose or a slightly misshapen eye and it doesn't look right.

With realism, they can make the eyes smaller, or the nose bigger, even a little crooked, and it reamins beautiful or endearing. Some dolls are quite odd -looking yet still realistic. Its the beauty of the human face that allows some sculptors to create such stunning molds. I think as more and more people start to want realistic molds, you'll see a lot more unique headmolds.

just my $0.02

[marsh]

I'm not seeing much of a shift. More stylized dolls like Nono, Ryu and the MSD Kohaku/Hisui haven't been discontinued and Volks recently added a new, decidedly anime-inspired, FCS sculpt, the F-32 to their line-up. All of these have a definite anime influence. What I think is going on is more of a diversification of the hobby.

I think a lot of this is because of the recent influx of collectors from other branches of doll fandom. Early on, as has been stated before in this thread, the ABJD fan/collector base was primarily Japanese and then as the beauty of these dolls and the joy of collecting them spread throughout Asia and westward, and as availability became more conceivable, the various companies stretched their artistic boundaries to appeal to more collectors. While the BESM look is very appealing to some collectors, it IS very stylized, and limiting. ABJDs began attracting the attention of traditional fashion doll and other types of doll collectors and when they started to vote with their dollars, the companies responded with dolls designed to bring in as many of those dollars as they could.

And I agree with AngmaSuzy, it really isn't an appropriate to say this is an Asian vs Western/European aesthetic. From the very beginning it's seemed to me that each doll company had their own particular 'look'. Volks, Cerberus Project and Custom House, long the 'big three' each have a very different and distinctive style. And as more companies enter the arena we're bound to be offered even more choices. And while a Japanese doll often looks very different from a Korean doll or a Chinese doll, even within companies we've seen stylistic changes in the sculpts. Some shifts towards more realism, some towards the peculiarities of the 'fashion doll' or 'action figure' archetypes.

I find this diversification really exciting. While I love the more anime looking sculpts, there's room in my doll family for many different types. I find it odd that there's this sense of dread among a lot of collectors that the hobby is becoming 'too fashion doll' or shifting too hard towards cheaper dolls/bodies or towards too much realism, as if there's not room in the wide world of ABJD collecting for those types of dolls. The more exploration the doll companies do, the more choices we'll all have.

The doll companies seem to be very aware and interested in what collectors love and want. They're watching what's selling in their companies and in their competitors'. They're watching forums like this one and DoA. I think it's what they're observing that's driving their product line, because after all, they're in business, no matter how personal this business seems to be to their customers. They're responding to what people seem to favor and I'm sure they're trying to anticipate what the next collector craving will be.

I can't wait to see what they come up with next. We just won't talk about what my aching, complaining pocketbook will have to say about that.

[asteldoth]

I donno... I think there is a wide variety of different dolls and different styles. As more and more people become interested in the hobby, we'll probably see even more styles start to emerge as the companies try to appeal to as many people as they can.

[ArcaneMuse]

I think the companies have moved into realism for few reasons.

1) Artist ball-jointed dolls are almost always realistic and there are many people out there who covet them. (Myself being one of them).
2) With so many companies popping up competition has grown and in order to keep or expand your market share you have to expand your product.
3) I'm sure Volks was not only responding to competition but also to its customers.
4) Smaller companies starting out may have looked to what was missing (realism)and marketing to that niche market.

[Hobbysue]

I think the companies are looking for new ideas and different things for customers to collect and inspire them to part with their dolly dollars. Look at Ark and all the new animal sculpts. They're not particularly realistic (I hope) but have been very popular and made quite an impact. I love the creativity of them and the new ideas BJD manufacturers are coming up with. I think because they cater to smaller market quantities and one mold does not have to make/last for 10000 dolls, they feel more able to experiment. Most companies are trying to make their mark with their own 'look' of doll and appeal to a wider audience. I find that I'm moving more into artist style dolls ie Dollstown simply because I like the sculpt and it's something different. I don't want to buy the same type/look of doll over and over again. Been there, done that. I want a collection of different dolls.

[Surya'sLight]

Well, I've been wonderin' about this trend, also... Well, it's just my opinion but I think because of the relationship between this hobby and the photography... I don't know but I see the same relation for minimee also...
I think earlier dolls were created with the goal of maximize auction figures and make them "customizable" ... then, who knows, maybe they (artists and maker) felt the need of the people to have more realistic, more "anatomically correct" bodies and facemolds... I think even faceups are becoming closer and closer to real features... ^^
There is a huge distinction between for example, Dollfie dream (more anime look-a-like) and other SD's.
In the end...I think maybe people (not me for example) seems to appreciate more realistic features...to make more realistic pics of their dolls? ^^ It sounds strange but I guess there is a small connection between the two.

(Please Excuse my bad english ^^''')

[TheFontBandit]

I don't think it's a shift so much as an expansion... the anime-style molds are still available, and there's just a wider variety available now. Different companies, different aesthetics. Even within the same company, I see it as just expanding available options to reach a larger consumer base.

[Rosebud]

I don't know what most people are looking for in a doll. I thought I liked realistic, but on the other hand some of the limited doll introductions have been elves. Now last I knew Elves aren't real. (No slam to the people who think they are real.) But I still love some of the Eves and I'm considering buying them.

On the anime, I've seen a few anime figurine out there that were well scupted. But the first think I thought of is that you can't play with it. You can play with a doll that is in the same likeness. Maybe make the Anime come out the way you want it not the way it is written.

[Pookinopolis]

Hi
Maybe it's like the way they divide the anime in Japan
like in the Manga there are serious realistic looking figures
and then the big eyed cuties are the young ones

[MaggieMoonbeam]

Coming from the world of fashion dolls, where I collected artist repaints, I have always found realism the most alluring quality in a doll. Whereas I have loved (and still do) the stylized Sybarites, my Tonner repaints, many of whom are HYPER-realistic, still make up the bulk of my fashion doll collection.
I started my BJD collecting with 43cm Naraes, mostly because they WERE realistic (and wore cute clothes so well) but have moved to the 60-70cm dolls now. I find it harder to find "realistic" clothing (not liking Lolita stuff) because, even with my BJDs, I want them to look like "real" people. (My only experience with "real" people dressed in Lolita wear was an astonishing revelation LOL) And despite the abhorrence toward Fashion Dolls which I always felt from the "rules" defining ABJDs, I think the line between BJDs and Fashion Dolls is narrowing. :o
I don't think I would have come to BJDs if they had all been big eyes, small mouth, tiny nose types. I couldn't be happier with the trend towards realism.:noise:noise:noise:noise

[Nineivre]

personally i'm awfully glad sculpts are more realistic now.. for some reason i feel the anime look is great in 2D, but in 3D the nose looks kind of pinched out ^^;

[Aquido]

maybe it's just me, but i have not seen any mainstream BJD molds that strike me as realistic. 99.99999 percent of them all look anime-ish to me. even Yukinojo.....

[Agnes]

There are only so many ways to do a typical Japanese manga face before it's done to death...

Originally it was just Volks doing it, and those first dolls came out of the legacy of their garage kits, which had proportions closer to Sailor Moon et al. As Super Dollfie became a high-quality collectible item, it took away much from an older tradition of fine art BJDs: refined production, refined features. It's like an evolution of homo dollfius, haha

But yes, I think it's just a question of general diversification in the companies as well as the dolls; there are so many makers now that it's only natural some would look more realistic, although they're still all highly idealized. And I'm glad Uncanny Valley was mentioned, although I see it from a different perspective, that typical "anime" heads just don't look right to a lot of people. This was something that came from a 2d medium and all its wacky proportion suddenly had to translate into large 3d... I was never convinced by it.

[Ravnsvart]

I think that as BJD expand and develop, it is only natural that there are more styles to choose from. I used to collect fashion dolls, but I don't really feel that is affecting what kind of BJD dolls I want. For me, fashion dolls are merely decorative objects and they have no character. I would never pay hundreads of dollars for a mere fashion doll.

I've always loved dolls, but I have never really liked anime or manga. So naturally, I would not be interested in that particular style of dolls, as my personal taste and "character gallery" is completely different. I love the more realistic and mature sculpts, as they seem more life-like to me. Also, I have always been very fond of vampires, elves etc, so to me dolls like Soom Elf Sabik are perfection- a huge, realistic looking fantasy creature. ;)

You have the style of the sculpt, and the "gallery" of the owner. I believe that as long as the sculpt suits the gallery, realistic or anime-like, it will come to life. Even if I am not sure that I want BJD's to become too commercial, I am very happy that there are many styles and companies to choose from!

[shikaruchan]

maybe because people are looking for more mature head sculpts instead of the child like cartooney ones to make there dolls more life like?

[pbrennan42]

There have always been Mangas that used a more realistic style in their art, but mostly from the more adult titles like Crying Freeman (to name just one) going years back. But I can see that more Animé and Manga are using realistic drawing styles than before, thus attracting a more mature audience.

Also it is the adult market that has the more expendable income, and as the adult market matures in life and in taste, so will the dolls mature likewise.

Also it is partially due, as others have stated, in the need to attract customers from outside of the Animé / Manga / Cosplay fanbase.

I am sure that the likes of Volks, Luts, Fairyland, Bobobie and others will continue to do the large eyes / small mouth Manga styles as well as embrace more realistic styles.

We live in exciting times, and I look forwards to seeing what comes out next.

Phil.

[betsyhoneyvenom]

Is it a change in what's popular or sought after in Japan and Korea itself? What are your thoughts?

I think it's this. If you look at anime itself, the field has changed over the years and there is now a similar range of styles seen, from more classic anime to more realistic, just as in the abjd world.

[cutup01]

I believe that there has been a shift, going on in present tense. Indeed Volks made very anime like headmolds and new headmolds are more realistic. I think that there has been Korean companies' influence like Iplehouse. Even very realistic Iplehouse is getting MORE realistic. I was very shocked when I first saw EID boys-rather MEN. Then again, the overall shift isnt dramatically occuring considering not nation-wide but world-wide. The Chinese companies are very distinct - pointy chin and nose. I wouldn't consider those dolls realistic.

[Aquido]

I think it's just that the dolls were all starting to look the same. I mean if you go over to Luts, and look at their database of head molds they've sold, many of them start to look too similar. I think that companies are deciding to do more realistic styles, because it is the 'different ' thing to do. It's a way to add some variation to their collections. That's just my opinion though.

[Helter Skelter]

I think there's a lot going on here. As has been mentioned, there are changes occurring in the styles of anime and manga, different things are becoming popular in Japan and Korea, and the ABJD market is now global.

One thing we have to consider is that this is an artistic hobby. Not only are many of the dolls used for artistic purposes by their owners, but the dolls are also sculpted by an artist. The sculptor has their own vision of who the doll they are sculpting is and what they should look like. Sculptors are getting more freedom to sculpt what they like now because of the initial shift to a preference for more lifelike faces. In some cases, the sculptors have even made a name for themselves with the popularity of previous sculpts. The design house wants to keep this artist happy, and they know the consumer will buy the sculptor's work.

Finally, many people in this hobby see their dolls as little "people" and they love the realism of a well-sculpted and lifelike doll, whether or not the doll be a human or fantasy sculpt.

Oh, wait, and lastly...:XD I agree that many of the anime-style dolls look too much alike and the realistic ones are more unique, and, in my opinion, more attractive.

[zakka]

You know, I don't ever remember Nono/Mimi/et all being that popular. Maybe it's my own particular lack of insight, but when I got into the hobby in 2004ish I don't recall seeing a lot of Nono, unless their popularity had already dipped by then. They were hard to find on DoA. Also, Shinsia/Misia were not very popular, and still aren't.

It's a harder look to pull off. I also think Volks in particular has put its anime attentions onto Dollfie Dream, which are much more popular now than ever before, and imho more popular than Nono/mimi/etc

[Kideme]

No offense to those who make, or to those who prefer the more stylized head sculpts, but maybe realistic molds are taking over because they just look better. The only exception to the rule being Dollfie Dreams....I don't know, just, especially for SD's, which are like designed to 'be' adults, it looks odd seeing an SD doll with a head that reminds me someone's 3 year old niece, but has a nice pert rear and a perky bag of boobs. Because most stylized heads remind me of children moreso than anime.

[lunarbreeze]

I think that it might be in part because the artists wanted to branch out. They might have wanted to try something new, made one, and realistic models just started selling well. I personally like realistic molds. They are so beautiful, rather than the cuteness of anime molds.

[daisysweet]

This is such an interesting read!

[Deehellseven]

I still prefer the mix between anime and realistic. That's why I love CPs sculpts so much :)

[N2DollsNow]

Looking at when this topic starting and all the comments, it has been for me a thumbnail history of the development and trends of BJDs. For myself coming into this hobby just lately with ties to Anime figure collecting, the realism seems to be parralleling maturing tastes in Anime & Gaming. The distinctions in BJD companies stylings all seem to be headed toward a degree of realism which appeals to me more than Anime character dolls. I find my choices in costuming also reflect a modern casual appearance which I think makes the dolls more approachable & comfortable to be around in the same manner I would be around my friends. So...I think this indicates something of the attachments I'm forming with these intriguing objects. And the realism makes it seem more natural to do so, imo. If I am experiencing this, others likely are too, which is resulting in a market force and response by manufacturers.

[letchhausen]

I personally don't find realism all that interesting, for me the real world is there if I want it. (Remember the chant in the movie Existenz? "Death to Realism!) But like some have suggested, it's apparently following other trends. That being said I like the fact that there is a lot of choice out there. As quickly as fantasy, vampire and elven dolls sell out I think there is a very strong interest in non-realistic dolls. I bought my doll from Dream of Doll who I really like. But the company that's really got me interested right now is Doll Chateau.The stylized nature of their dolls is really exciting. I also like recent Blossom dolls. So I think the popularity has meant that there is a broad range of styles available which is good since we're all different. Which would explain why molds are changing. Also it seems that as companies go through shifts they would want to explore other ideas. Which makes for a healthy marketplace.