Note: More specific Super Dollfie informations. Check the SD List of site.
- Introduction
The Japanese have given us a lot of great technological advancements over the years, but what other areas have they contributed to? For one, the doll industry has recognized Volks as a leader in the field. Their dolls, the Super Dollfie line, are difficult to find in the United States but are highly sought after. Super Dollfies are available in both male or female versions, and there is a Mini line as well. The dolls won't be as difficult to find for much longer. The company has decided to make them available in the United States. In fact, they're establishing a corporate branch. Registration for the U.S. version of the Super Dollfie Owners Club is now underway as well.
Super Dollfie is unique in a few ways. The doll's appearance is based on Japanese anime. Because of this, they have eyes that are large - you could even say they're oversized. They have slender bodies and have interesting make-up. One other exceptional feature is that the dolls can be customized so that each is more of a one-of-a-kind doll than a commercial production.The company offers standard models, but taking advantage of the customization offer is what makes Super Dollfie so desirable. Customization options include two skin tones, 22 types of glass eyes, 18 different colors of hair, nine body types, and much more. If you're in a hurry to get one, however, that wouldn't be the way to go - it takes an extra four weeks for the customization service. Even still, Americans are eagerly anticipating the new arrivals from Volks and their new U.S. location should speed up delivery time.
- Volks INC
Volks is a Japanese company that specializes in making high-quality models and resin-figure kits. In 1997 Volks began making dolls. They were at 1/6-scale and called Dollfies (a combination of the words "doll" and "figure"). In 1998, they made a much larger version, the Super Dollfie.
- Assembled
Super Dollfies (or SDs) have string joints in their necks, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles and sometimes their torsos. This allows the owner to put her SD in just about whatever pose she wants.
- Skin
The bodies are made of polyurethane resin. This looks like porcelain, but is more durable and can be shaped by gentle sanding.
- Sizes
The Super Dollfie comes in nine sizes, divided by the body sizes of different ages in development, from infant to adolescent. The smallest SDs are 5.1 inches tall and the biggest are 25.6 inches tall.
- Types
There are two types of SDs, both with a human shape. There is the the type with a normal male or female body, and an angel, which has a genderless, asexual body and wings.
- Cost
Super Dollfies range from $300 to almost $1,000, not including clothes and optional accessories.
- Accessories
Volks sells wigs, eyes and clothing for the Super Dollfies on its website. You can also find custom clothing and accessories on Ebay and at some U.S. doll supply companies.
- Super Dollfie Series
There are various types of SDs including ones created by their owner, and other ones that are the only ones of their kind in the world.
Depending on the body size and body type, Super Dollfie can currently be divided into 13 different series.
First of all, there are 9 different sizes. Super Dollfie sizes are not divided based upon scale, but rather on the body size at different time periods; from the youthful figure of one just born, right up to a figure just on the brink of adulthood.
Next of all, each of these sizes can be divided into two types: a human type with gender and a male or female body, and an angel type with a genderless asexual body and wings.
For example, the 'SD Ko-Tenshi' can be said to be a series that is MSD size and with an angel type body.
For the human type, as the male and female figures are different, the clothing and shoe size may differ, and the minute details of the joints and such may be different as well.
There are also some bodies that possess special mechanisms or features that enable certain sitting poses and other various types of movements.
- Super Dollfie World View
Did you know that Super Dollfie also have their own life as a doll? Just as humans have a full life, there is also a world in which Super Dollfie have their own full life.
Did you know that there are 4 different ways to bring a unique SD to life?
The first variation is the “Standard Model.” This Super Dollfie can change to be whatever the owner likes. The second variation is the “Limited Edition” or “Story Arc” SD. The third variation is the “One-Off Model,” which is a doll that bears the destiny of being one-of-a-kind throughout the whole world. The fourth and final variation is the “Full Choice Model,” which is born from the thoughts of its owner. Once these various SDs are welcomed by their owners, they will become parts of the owners’ selves, conforming their appearances to their owners’ desires. They will become “Another Yourself.” This is Super Dollfie, the miracle doll.
- Culture
There is a sizeable community dedicated to Super Dollfie and other ball-jointed dolls. The largest English BJD forum has over 30,000 members as of March 2011. Doll owners customize their dolls and share photos and photo stories online. The dolls are usually named by their owner, and sometimes assigned individual characteristics and personality traits. In the West, enthusiasts organize offline doll meetups and conventions, which include other BJDs along with Super Dollfie. In Japan, Volks hold Dolpa conventions and Tenshi no Sumika store meetups. These are exclusively Super Dollfie events, and other BJD brands are not allowed.
Super Dollfie is associated with the Gothic Lolita and Lolita fashion subcultures in Japan, as well as the Cosplay subculture, with some dressing their Super Dollfie up as famous characters. Volks have a history of collaborating with Lolita fashion designers going back to 2002, when they released limited edition Super Dollfie with clothes designed by Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Black Peace Now and Atelier-Pierrot.
The character Momoko from the Lolita fashion themed movie Kamikaze Girls was released as a limited Super Dollfie, wearing a Baby, The Stars Shine Bright outfit, coinciding with the release of the movie in Japan in 2004. Baby, The Stars Shine Bright have created several other Super Dollfie outfits as well. Some sold separately, some with limited edition dolls. They have also made matching human and doll sized outfits, like the outfits worn by the limited edition Toppi and Luna released in early 2007.
The Gothic Lolita fashion designer H. Naoto created an exclusive outfit for a limited Super Dollfie in 2006, and have since created several other Super Dollfie outfits.
Super Dollfie are influenced by the anime style, but they also have some more direct ties with anime and manga. In 2003, the android character Chi from the manga and anime Chobits, as well as Yumi and Sachiko from Maria-sama ga Miteru were produced as limited edition Super Dollfie. The main characters in the manga and anime Rozen Maiden are all BJD-like "living dolls", and five of them were released as limited Super Dollfie dolls in 2005 and 2007.
Super Dollfie have also been featured in various work. A fashion shoot with Super Dollfie was featured in the November 2007 issue of Vogue Nippon. The virtual band Mistula is composed of customized ball-jointed dolls, several of which are Super Dollfie. The 2006 Kawaii episode of the British TV series Japanorama featured a segment on Super Dollfie.
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