School Heads
BJD Hobby History
DOLL COMPANIES, ASIA & ANGELS: A NOTE ABOUT CULTURE
Many times in the doll hobby, you will hear of dolls being referred to as angels, especially by certain companies. Dolls have a very different symbolism in Asia than they do in the West. (More specific information required to complete this passage accurately.)
Get used to them being called angels, babies, children, fairies, sons and daughters.
A note about copying; it is looked down on very strongly to copy a doll. Here is a list of known copy issues: Here is a page on Recasts and how to avoid them:
Volks
Even if you never plan to own one, you should know a little bit about this pioneer of BJDs. They made the first resin BJD and have continued to dominate the market ever since. Volks is so synonomous with BJDs that many people mistakenly refer to all ball joint dolls as "Dollfies". Only dolls made by Volks are Dollfies.
Volks stands alone in the BJD community for many reasons; one of which is the great attention they pay to their fans. Not only did they start this craze, but they offer the widest variety of dolls of any company in the market. They are the most recognized name and the most experienced. This doesn't mean they are the best; just the first.
Volks isn't JUST set apart because they were the first, however. Volks is in a league of it's own because of all the special things that they do for their customers. One great example is Dolpas. A Dolpa is a 'doll party' or convention where you can buy special Limited dolls or attend special events. Prizes are given away at Dolpas and the famous Volks Tea Parties. The prizes are usually the opportunity to buy a special kind of doll, wigs, shoes or some other Limited item. There is usually a 'Doll Doctor' available at these events who can repair or restring your doll (for a fee). You can also sometimes purchase a School head and take a faceup painting class at these events.
Their quality also stands apart. First of all, their dolls come with built in UV protection as a standard feature. Secondly, they are always releasing new bodies, updating old ones and engineering new technologies (such as KIPS discs to replace old methods of sueding).
Volks has created a culture to surround their dolls in and it's getting more elaborate all the time as the BJD craze spreads into other countries. If you travel to their flagship store (known as Tenshi No Sato), you can experience a doll heaven with omukae ceremony, a lovely cafe where you can share a meal with your doll, gorgeous grounds to photograph your doll and of course, a doll store rivaled by none.
FULL CHOICE SYSTEM
For many years now, Volks has offered the Full Choice System. The idea of the FCS service is to allow you to build your dream doll. There is a wide variety of choices to make that include head, eyes, wig, and many body options as well as skin tone. You can order special customized faceups and you receive the famous Zoukiemura glass eyes with your doll. FCS dolls are available in Super Dollfie size and Mini Super Dollfie size. Other companies now have their own versions but for a long time, Volks was the only company to offer this kind of service.
There are three main options if you would like to order a FCS doll: Sato, Sumika and Online. Sato is also known as Tenshi No Sato and is the home of many very exclusive choices that you cannot get in a Sumika, such as sunlight skin and certain heads. Sato is located in Kyoto, Japan and is their premiere location. Tenshi No Sumikas are more plentiful. There are quite a few in Japan as well as one in Los Angeles, California. You used to have to place these in person or hire a shopping service but Volks is now offering Online FCS as well. Click the link above to order online. Be aware that at this time, the online options are severely limited compared to what you can choose from at Sato/Sumika. (June 2016)
It is strongly recommended by Volks to come in and make all the choices yourself because they go to alot of trouble to make it a very personal and very exciting experience, but if you can't, that is okay too. If someone orders for you as your proxy, be aware that you may not get exactly what you want, especially if they are not a doll person. Volks is not responsible for these types of mistakes and will not fix them. To get more details and see photos, check out these links:
OMUKAE CEREMONY
FCS dolls can also be given naming cermonies, or "Omukae". It is also known as a greeting ceremony or welcoming ceremony. This is one of the many reasons to make it to a Volks store. The ceremony itself is free, but must be arranged with the store ahead of time because they totally close the store during the ceremony which means no one in or out so there may be strangers watching you receive your doll. This ceremony celebrates your adoption of a special doll just for you. Omukae ceremonies are also the only time that cameras are allowed to be used in the Volks stores. You can also have a memorial photo taken of you and your doll after the ceremony that will be mailed to you later. Of course, everything is a little different and more ornate if you do your Omukae at Tenshi No Sato instead of a Sumika. You can also do the ceremony at another time later down the road, or with a non-FCS doll, as long as it is a Volks doll.
Music is played to set the mood. Your doll is laid on the "altar" in a box surrounded by flowers and a clear lid is placed over top which remains until the end of the ceremony. The store manager comes out wearing a nice velvet robe over his suit and speaks a standard blessing using you and your doll's names. The general jist of the words during the ceremony are that your 'angel' has come down from heaven to be your lifelong companion and to give you happiness and inspiration. Since the words are in Japanese, it's hard to encapsulate it all in English, but it probably adds to the ethereal feeling of the entire ceremony. You then blow out candles to 'breathe the life into your doll'. Special clothing sets are available for purchase, just for this ceremony that can not be bought separately. Volks goes to a lot of trouble to make this ceremony very beautiful and touching. You announce the name of your new 'son' or 'daughter' and they become yours.
Volks Doll Lines
SD17
The most mature of all the Volks sculpts, the SD17 is only available as male currently. Limited release only. Height: M-65cm
SD16
SDGr
The second-most mature of all the Volks sculpts, the SD16 is available in male and female versions. Limited release only. Height: F-58cm/M-63cm
The middle ground on maturity, SD Graffiti are available in male and female versions. Limited release only. Height: F-59cm/M-62cm
SD13
Less mature, is available in male and female versions. Limited and standard releases. Height: F-??cm/M-59.5cm
SD/10
The Original. Least mature in this size, is available in male and female versions. Limited and standard releases. Height: F-54cm/M-??cm
School Heads are special unisex heads that can only be acquired by attending a Volks faceup class. There are 4 heads so far: A, B, C and D. Limited release only. Height: For SD-ranged bodies
SDC
Super Dollfie Cute are more mature than MSD. Available in male and female versions. Limited release only. Height: F-42cm/M-44cm
MSD
Mini Super Dollfie almost child-like. Available in male and female versions. Limited and standard releases. Height: F-41.5cm/M-43cm
Yo-SD
Yo Super Dollfie are like little kids. Available in male and female versions. Limited and standard releases. Height: 26.5cm
Insert photo of multiple sized Volks dolls together here
Tenshi are special genderless or "angel" dolls. Each has their own set of wings. Limited release only. Comes in all sizes.
Tenshi
To learn more about Volks dolls or to look at photos of them, check out this site:
This page contains some hobby history, some big names to know and other randomness.
Gentaro colaborated with Volks to create Unoss and then formed Alchemico Labo to develop and produce Unoa and Unoa Lights. Sometimes paints his own creations. Makes figures & garage-kits as well. Has had several art books produced containing his working including the Andolrea Unoss book, Unoa Freak COMP-X and Montparnasse. Some of these books contain interviews with him or tutorials for his dolls. He makes an amazing array of beautiful figures and considers himself 'nerdy'. I couldn't find much bio information other than his birth year of 1965, but his work really speaks for itself. For more: Http://www.alchemiclabo.com
Commercial Dolls he has created:
Unoss Siena/Aika(58cm), Unoa Quluts Lusis(42cm), Unoa Quluts Sist(42cm), Unoa Quluts L-bi(43cm), Unoa Quluts B-el(43cm), Unoa 2.0 Mocha, Unoa 2.0 Cream, Unoa Lights Azurite(26cm), Unoa Lights Flourite(25cm)
GENTARO ARAKI (Unoss/Unoa)
Dollshe has been pioneering the doll world since his first release (Bermann?) in 2003. (need more info to complete.)
Dollshe was also the center of controversy for suing Dollmore. Dollmore used to distribute for Dollshe but then copied his Hound body for use in their Model boy. Disposition of court case: ???
Commercial Dolls he has created:
Bermann, Hound, Rosen, Orijean, Van, Pabo, Saint, Bernard,
Arsene, Husky, David Knucci, Vampire Khan, DSAM32 & DSAM35 bodies, Rythmos body, King Corey, Lewis Ray,
Ausley Love, Amanda Beauty, Erica Snow, Rosa and Robin.
Kim Ki-Yong (Dollshe)
Cerberus Project/Fairyland
(Delf/Feeple)
CP is based in South Korea and has been blowing the lid off the doll world for a long time with popular sculpts like Woosoo, Chiwoo, Lishe and El. The dolls used to be distributed solely by LUTS, but the company split in two and now offer their own sculpts. CP is known to have started the craze over free event heads with their Juri and Nanuri sculpts and Fairyland continues this popular tradition.
Commercial Dolls CP has created:
El, Lishe, Woosoo, Shiwoo, Chiwoo, Moon, Soo, Harang, and more.
Retired Companies
Rasendou / Rasendo
