Nier Automata x Dollfie Dream

It feels like if someone is upset that these do not feel like "real" DDs, it's because that person has created their own vision of the brand -- but one that is not actually based on the actual brand itself, as defined by its creator and owner, Volks.

 

It feels like its getting nowhere, but I will try to explain this one last time. (Sorry to the Mods and Admin^^" I will stop the off topic post after that)

 

First, it has nothing to do with being upset and of course Volks is allowed to to whatever they want to do.

 

The problem is.. (and I feel like I'm the only one who sees it this way) that Volks established a brand over the years. What does that mean? You see a Doll and say: "Oh, thats a new DD." or "Wow, that is a cute SD."

 

And that is nothing we imagine. Its something intended.... If you click on Volks Website Store on "Super Dollfie" you will see this: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0030&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&category=D01&l=01&m=01&s=001&version=en

 

Click on Dollfie Dream and you see this: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0030&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&category=D02&l=02&m=01&s=001&version=en

 

This has nothing, nothing at all to do with what people "decide the brand to be like". This is something Volks created for itself and is intended. Its the image of the brand. (And please don't tell me I'm the only one who sees a difference between both lines ")

 

There are so many other examples for it. Take Adidas or Louis Vuitton they have clear lines for their brand to make it visiable for their customers. (Pattern, Logo whatever)

 

For me what Volks is doing right now is (and I know its a bad example, but bear with me ;P) as if Apple would say "Oh we always used Apples on our products, but that is boring and won't work for this project. Lets use a Banana instead and see how this works."

 

Of course they can do and are allowed to do it, but that doesn't change the fact, that they are using a different image for their brand compared to the past. And of course there are some people who liked the Apple instead of the Banana.

 

Hope this makes sense

I'm kind of confused by this discussion... I mean, Volks owns the DD brand, they get to decide what is and isn't part of the DD brand. Clearly they decided the more resin-style Nier vinyls dolls are part of the DD brand. Thus they are canonically DDs, regardless of what we as fans think.

 

Here Volks clearly gives us their definition of a Dollfie Dream. From the official site (my underlining):

 

Dollfie Dream® have realistic facial expressions and hair like dolls, in addition they are able to faithfully reproduce anime or game characters like figures.

 

Straight-up, Volks says the brand's goal is to faithfully reproduce anime or game characters. So when they're faithfully reproducing anime characters, yes, they should look like anime characters. When they're faithfully reproducing game characters, yes, they should look like those game characters. And the Nier dolls do. They look like the game characters. They would not if they were more anime-styled. The Nier dolls are 100% aligned with the DD brand as Volks defines it.

 

Here's another definition Volks provides:

Dollfie Dream are a type of dream doll just for you. By combining a beautiful silhouette and astounding mobile capabilities that have never before seen on a doll, the Dollfie Dream will take your breath away.

 

Do the Nier dolls have "a beautiful silhouette" and "astounding mobile capabilities"? Yes, so once again they fit Volks' official definition of DD.

 

It feels like if someone is upset that these do not feel like "real" DDs, it's because that person has created their own vision of the brand -- but one that is not actually based on the actual brand itself, as defined by its creator and owner, Volks.

 

Personally, I've always viewed DDs as Volks vinyl dolls with internal skeletons (or with stringing, if we're talking really old DDs), regardless of the aesthetics, so to me the Nier dolls are very much on-brand as DDs. Thus I have to disagree quite strongly with Alienshroom on this point. Moreover, I don't think any one fan has the right to speak for the whole fandom, when there are clearly such diverse opinions. No one but Volks gets to say what does and doesn't make a DD.

 

Beyond that, I am THRILLED they chose to make the Nier dolls DD instead of SD, and I would have been extremely disappointed if they had been resin dolls. I have been feeling for a very long time that a lot of the newer DDs suffer from "sameface syndrome" and something was needed to revitalize things. I am SO HAPPY with this decision and truly hope Volks continues to add more diversity to the DD line.

 

ETA: Super Dollfie has not been around "a lot longer" than Dollfie Dream. The first SD was 1999, making them 19 years old. The first DD was 2003, making them 15 years old. That's a difference of 4 years, which is pretty small when you're looking at a timeline of nearly 2 decades.

Nobody besides Volks would describe DD as realistic and you clearly stated the sameface problem has existed for awhile now, because DD all have a very similar aesthetic. Im not going to ignore the dozens of DD releases that all have a very similar aesthetic just because Volks has some fancy description written on the website. Now they put SD head on a DD body and call it DD. Sure, clearly they can. In my eyes, as a consumer who only purchase DD this just tells me they are weak in the face of Smart Doll. I have stayed a Volks loyalist but I just wont pretend that these are somehow hyper creative or really interesting just because they put tried and true designs into 1/3 scale vinyl form. Its not like these faces are totally brand new and unique in the world of BJD. Been following DD since 2012 and I know what Volks has done with the brand in that time. I dont think it is too much to ask that next time they shrink a SD into 1/3rd scale and call it DD they could at least somewhere along the line kinda let that be known rather then making people think a DD was coming for a year.

 

Also how many people here remember the pre DD2 years? I mean really, its pointless to bring any of that up. Super Dollfie had its identity in check long before DD. Also, you full well know that so why be deceptive for no reason?

 

Again, no ill will towards Volks. Im glad to see them putting out a doll thats uniquely Volks. Its just not the craziest thing in the world to admit that a SD head does not fit the preexisting idea of what DD is. Nor to pretend its somehow some saving grace to the DD brand or really anything other then them bailing out of the standard DD design for reasons why can all speculate but seem a bit obvious.

It does not surprise me that volks gives a realistic touch to its vinyl range.

You know, you remember the announcement at the dollpa in LA? The vinyl dollfie prototype lines? It will happen, the vinyl range of volks will evolve a lot.

 

Worse for the resemblance, whether DD or SD at one time the faces is the same in the whole. But there are differences via small details sometimes that make it a rare pearl.

 

 

And as for the preco, I really expect images on the website. With unclear pictures you can not see the potential.

I have both resins and DD, and both have their pros and cons. I have far more DDs for the simple reason that the aesthetic most of the resin faces simply isn’t my thing even though I can appreciate the beauty in Volks designs.

 

With resins I find the legs are fine for standing, mine have the suede parts, but you either have high heeled feet or flat feet. On my Belldandy swapping them involves restringing her, so it’s nowhere near as convenient as swapping hands on a DD.

 

Resin is nicer looking than Vinyl, and on resins it makes sense to give them a full body blush. It’s a lot of work to do that, but I did it with my Bell, and adding that bit of pink to the sculpted lines of her musculature really enhances her look in a lot of outfits. You can do this with a DD, but if they stain you may end up having to redo it after stain treatment, so it just doesn’t seem worth it.

 

The biggest negative in my mind is the arms. The strung arms on a resin just don’t offer the posing options of a DD, and for a character like 2B with her sword that would be a big problem.

 

To me this change combines a beautiful aesthetic and huge collaboration potential with the convenience and durability of DD. There are still some characters I would rather see done as resins. Belldandy is perfect as a resin, if they made Madoka Ayukawa I think I would want her to be a resin. Belldandy and Madoka are just timeless, and I think resin captures that feel better than vinyl.

Sorry, gloves off a little on this one.

 

Been following DD since 2012 and I know what Volks has done with the brand in that time.

I bought my first DD directly from Volks in 2009 and started following the DD brand years before that, so I also am well aware of the brand and where it's been, perhaps more so than you.

 

I dont think it is too much to ask that next time they shrink a SD into 1/3rd scale and call it DD they could at least somewhere along the line kinda let that be known rather then making people think a DD was coming for a year.

They made people think a DD was coming for a year because they are DDs. Maybe not the DDs you like or expected, but DDs all the same. You're only disappointed because you made assumptions that these would be anime-style, although Volks never said they would be.

 

Also how many people here remember the pre DD2 years? I mean really, its pointless to bring any of that up.

Lots of us, actually, including myself. Many of my DD friends have been collecting for LONGER than me. If anything, the radical move from elastic-strung vinyl to internal skeletons is simply proof that Volks has dramatically changed the brand before, so another change now -- a much more minor one, imho -- is not out of nowhere.

 

Super Dollfie had its identity in check long before DD. Also, you full well know that so why be deceptive for no reason?

I'm not sure if you're calling me deceptive or Volks deceptive, but I'm going to continue disagreeing quite strongly with you on this. SD did not have it's "identity in check long before DD" -- and I speak as someone who's been in the larger doll hobby since 2003 and got my first resin in 2007. Since I actually lived this history you're talking about (9 years BEFORE you joined the hobby), I think I can speak with a little more authority than you can on this point. Unless you're going to somehow argue your personal experiences are valid and mine are not?

 

Its just not the craziest thing in the world to admit that a SD head does not fit the preexisting idea of what DD is.

No, the craziest thing in the world would be constantly arguing that the Nier dolls are not DDs despite many other people -- many who have been collecting longer than you and who have far larger DD collections than you, and thus probably have a better feel of what actually makes a DD a DD -- vehemently disagreeing with you.

I don't understand this whole discussion on brand identity or how it seems lazy for them to just use a SD head on a DD body? O.o

 

As pointed out before Dollfie Dream's are meant to be based on anime or game characters. But it goes further. Dollfie Dream were a doll line designed to be be appealing to male otaku (a blend of dolls and action figures) whereas SD have always been mainly popular with mostly female collectors. Now I'm not saying DD's aren't also popular with female's (they are beautiful dolls after all) but the key target has nearly always been male otaku. The reason some anime characters are made into SD dolls is because they are usually characters that appealled more so to female collectors.

 

With that said 2B has a massive male following so that meant they qualified to be made into dollfie dream. They don't make Dollfie Dream exclusively for male's so the ideal Dollfie Dream nowaday's is one that appeals to both male and female collectors.

 

Again it has been stated but this is hardly the first time Volks has made heads for DD that are very SD like. eg. Kos-Mos and Rise. Rise in particular has a very SD head but with a more anime like face-up but their goal has always been ultimately to recreate the character as accurately as possible. For anyone to be surprised by Nier's SD heads is just shocking really as the heads are perfect copies of the faces in the game but with larger eyes to make them more doll like. Honestly if they had used anime sculpts they would just not look anything like the characters and they even choose the DDdy body so that 2B with have the thicker thighs and nicer bum heavily associated with 2B. If another anime doll company had made her she'd have skinny legs, and an anime head which would be just wrong.

 

I think the Nier dolls are perfect, very high quality, and very faithful to the characters. My only gripe is that the bust seems a little too big on 2B. I'm hoping it's at least a unique smaller shapely bust than the usual which it might be...

I feel like the discussion has derailed quite a bit here.

It looks clear to me that nobody is debating if 2B/9S should be in the DD line or not (they are, so what is the point in this kind of a discussion?), but how unusual is the style Volks did give them.

And tbh I stand pretty close to Kushina here: although I LOVE 2B, her facial features are pretty uncommon for a DD, that just partially fit in the design line that Volks has given to the dolls so far (except for Rise, which is a great love of mine, too. I keep on seeing Kos-Mos as fully DD-style).

I honestly think these dolls will be the gateaway to introduce Dollfie Icon at (hopefully not so) latter stage. We'll wait and see

I think we should just stop here an accept that there are people who think they fit the DD line and people who disagree.

 

Up till now it was mainly a discussion, but some arguments are getting pretty low and I feel responsible for the whole thing. So can we go back to the topic now and leave it like that, please? T^T

Edited September 18, 2018 by Guest

Sorry, gloves off a little on this one.

 

Been following DD since 2012 and I know what Volks has done with the brand in that time.

I bought my first DD directly from Volks in 2009 and started following the DD brand years before that, so I also am well aware of the brand and where it's been, perhaps more so than you.

 

I dont think it is too much to ask that next time they shrink a SD into 1/3rd scale and call it DD they could at least somewhere along the line kinda let that be known rather then making people think a DD was coming for a year.

They made people think a DD was coming for a year because they are DDs. Maybe not the DDs you like or expected, but DDs all the same. You're only disappointed because you made assumptions that these would be anime-style, although Volks never said they would be.

 

Also how many people here remember the pre DD2 years? I mean really, its pointless to bring any of that up.

Lots of us, actually, including myself. Many of my DD friends have been collecting for LONGER than me. If anything, the radical move from elastic-strung vinyl to internal skeletons is simply proof that Volks has dramatically changed the brand before, so another change now -- a much more minor one, imho -- is not out of nowhere.

 

Super Dollfie had its identity in check long before DD. Also, you full well know that so why be deceptive for no reason?

I'm not sure if you're calling me deceptive or Volks deceptive, but I'm going to continue disagreeing quite strongly with you on this. SD did not have it's "identity in check long before DD" -- and I speak as someone who's been in the larger doll hobby since 2003 and got my first resin in 2007. Since I actually lived this history you're talking about (9 years BEFORE you joined the hobby), I think I can speak with a little more authority than you can on this point. Unless you're going to somehow argue your personal experiences are valid and mine are not?

 

Its just not the craziest thing in the world to admit that a SD head does not fit the preexisting idea of what DD is.

No, the craziest thing in the world would be constantly arguing that the Nier dolls are not DDs despite many other people -- many who have been collecting longer than you and who have far larger DD collections than you, and thus probably have a better feel of what actually makes a DD a DD -- vehemently disagreeing with you.

What you seem to miss is that putting a generic Super Dollfie head on a DD is really not innovative or interesting. Its not like a change from string to internal skeleton that was more radical but also immensely better from a full on functioning standpoint. The amount of time you spent involved in the hobby merely explains how dense you are now. You cant see clear distinctions and the examples you list are poor. It took you too long to think you won because you been in the hobby longer, when I was simply being honest and yes giving prospective regardless of your feelings on my status, elitest much?

 

Whats putting a SD face on a DD got to do with anything you had to say? You buying this doll wont make a impact because you already invest in both. People who only collect DD will be the movers and shakers on this decision. Its not a matter of being into SD, into Volks, into DD, into the history. It just is what it is... putting a SD head on a DD is something that makes some of us raise questions. You make it more of some big grand thing, but you are really just happy with anything which is fine. I only bring up history because you can clearly look and see the lineup of dolls and the style they have rather then pulling weird information from Volks website.

 

Also people who own "far larger" collections then me? Again... Elitists. That has nothing to do with anything because those community members invest in everything.... again, not movers and shakers. If you invest in everything, and are happy doing so fine... You can still have a discussion without half the nonsense you really put in my mouth more then I put out there myself... I am still a consumer, still been involved with modern DD for long enough to have an impression on what these are. My first impression? These are not DD... not because im an asshole, but because they look nothing like them? Still awesome, still Volks, still quality, but yea... not DD in aesthetic but in name.

 

I think the biggest disagreement we come to is that DD to me and I presume others is the anime design but that does not just mean "anime" that word is focused on too much, the dolls themselves still have a unique charm that is because the fact that they are a doll on top of being an anime design. So that is a special factor that only anime DD delivered for some. So again, I dont remember anyone saying outright these dolls suck but I mean some of us would like some sort of minor separation. Maybe Volks wont do that, I presume they will, but hey you know if they leave us to tread those waters then we are gonna feel that.

My only gripe is that the bust seems a little too big on 2B. I'm hoping it's at least a unique smaller shapely bust than the usual which it might be...

 

Yeaaaah. While 2B may have been shapely she was definitely not that busty. I know that it says that it is a "flat" bust but I hope that maybe they modified the size a little. If it wasn't for the outfit fitting to her I would consider a bust mod if she's the full sized DDdy bust. Now it would be AMAZING to me if they introduced a smaller line of busts for the DDdy because just cause you are shapely doesn't mean you are always packing. XD

 

~~~

 

I've said all I have to say about this conversation. If they feel the need to ignore clear points then that is their decision, and if we are dense for allowing something a little different in the DD line then I am dense AF. Shame on me for wanting some variety.

Whats putting a SD face on a DD got to do with anything you had to say? You buying this doll wont make a impact because you already invest in both. People who only collect DD will be the movers and shakers on this decision. Its not a matter of being into SD, into Volks, into DD, into the history. It just is what it is... putting a SD head on a DD is something that makes some of us raise questions.

I only collect DDs. The problem here is that DDs are NOT anime per se, they’re vynil dolls replicating the character. Some better than others. NieR is a realistic game, not anime, and I would never buy a 2B with an anime looking face. Volks did an astonishing work with that nose.

 

Please drop it as Kushina says.

Kushina, I wasn't necessarily referencing you

 

There's no debate they look different from most of the DDs released to date, which I know can be jarring and people totally have the right to not like them / be disappointed in their final look. But "these are not DDs, Volks is wrong to do this" is a different discussion from "these don't look how I expect DDs to look and I'm not thrilled with that."

 

Rather than the apple/banana metaphor, I think of it this way:

- Apple has had iPhones (small portable digital devices) and iPads (big portable digital devices), but recently they'd decided to launch the iPhone XS, which is only a little smaller than an iPad mini -- they're mixing features of two of their different lines -- but still called an iPhone, and not a new separate brand line

- Volks has had DDs (more anime dolls in vinyl) and SDs (more realistic dolls in resin), but recently they decided to launch the Nier DDs, which are styled a bit more like an SD -- they're mixing the features of two of their different lines -- but still called DDs, and not a separate brand line

 

Personally, I don't want a giant iPhone XS, so the announcement isn't exciting for me; in the same way, some people don't want more realistic DDs, so the announcement isn't exciting for them. But that doesn't make them "not DDs."

 

I don't have any complaint with people expressing how different they are, or that they're very different from what some expected. But all this "they're not DDs" (they are) or "Volks deceived us" (they did not) really makes my hackles rise.

 

I do think this is a smart business move, too. Every time I've attended a "general" doll meet, not dedicated to a specific type of doll, there have been WAY more resin collectors than vinyl collectors. Usually the majority are resin-only, then there's some resin+vinyl, and a very small number of vinyl-only (of course this is the North American market; Japan itself may be quite different -- but considering how many resin companies the hobby is able to support, in comparison to only a tiny handful of vinyl lines, I'd guess the resin market is the larger of the two in general).

 

I always get lots of comments on my Rise form the resin-only collectors. They tell me "Oh, I would get vinyl doll if they looked like that! I love how light they are, and the posing is so amazing!" But then they find out how hard and expensive it is to get Rise, and that no other DDs look even close, and they give up. These two Nier dolls are pretty perfect to appeal to that segment.

 

Plus, as Volks faces competition on the vinyl side (see: SmartDoll & Obitsu-manufactured dolls like Azone and Angel Philia), they're carving out a new and unique niche: the more realistic vinyl doll. It's a great blue ocean strategy for them. They're offering the market something that no one else is, which is a more realistic vinyl doll, with resin-like styling but the weight and poseability of a vinyl doll, and using an extremely popular property on top of it all.

 

I've even seen gamer sites reporting on the dolls and people in the comments seriously considering them, which I don't think would happen to the same degree if they were (a) off-character, which they would be if they were anime-style or (b) made in resin, making them much less like over-sized action figures.

 

I'm personally still debating whether I buy only one 2B, or if I should get two of them so I can keep one default and one custom.

 

Personally, I think it's folks who buy more dolls who will be the "movers and shakers" on this, which means... yes, collection size matters. If Person A buys 2-3 dolls per year and Person B buys 1 doll every 2 years, Volks is probably going to care about the opinion of Person A a lot more, because Person A is a greater source of profit. Maybe that makes me elitist -- I've already purchased 4 dolls this year -- but if that's the case, I'm happy to be an elitist.

- Volks has had DDs (more anime dolls in vinyl) and SDs (more realistic dolls in resin), but recently they decided to launch the Nier DDs, which are styled a bit more like an SD -- they're mixing the features of two of their different lines -- but still called DDs, and not a separate brand line

 

Let's not forget the Olden Days, when the anime-style Chii was released as an SD, in resin--using a head that later became the classic, standard DD01!

 

And there've been a couple one-off DDs in resin, like a resin Moe one-off a few years ago.

 

Basically, the DD/SD distinction is pretty clearly based off the material more than the style, given how much overlap there's been over the years.

 

And let us NEVER forget: Volks has patterns, but not really logic. (Hello, Yuriko's release?) Trying to expect Volks to make complete sense is like trying to hold on to a bar of soap--the harder you try, the less it works.

 

TL;DR: Volks Is Gonna Volks

I do think this is a smart business move, too. Every time I've attended a "general" doll meet, not dedicated to a specific type of doll, there have been WAY more resin collectors than vinyl collectors. Usually the majority are resin-only, then there's some resin+vinyl, and a very small number of vinyl-only (of course this is the North American market; Japan itself may be quite different -- but considering how many resin companies the hobby is able to support, in comparison to only a tiny handful of vinyl lines, I'd guess the resin market is the larger of the two in general).

Reading this it hit me--maybe that's what has people concerned? DD is really about the only choice for the large anime doll category (for licensed characters anyway...at least for me Obitsu/Azone/AP are not appealing, nor is Smart Doll), and the thought of that aesthetic being "invaded" by a SD-like one might feel like that audience is being deemphasized or ignored. The fact there are so many resin companies means people in the resin hobby have a lot more choices and companies to buy from.

 

I know personally I'd be upset if one-half or one-third of 2019's DD announcements were this style instead of what they've typically made up to this point since this style is absolutely not my thing. I also expect that's highly unlikely to happen and if it does it's Volks' choice to make or they've decided it's what they need to do to grow, or whatever, and I don't have any control over it anyway. As is I don't like many of their more typical DD sculpts so I buy something I like and ignore the rest (or actually be happy that they are something other people want). This hobby is expensive and I'm only comfortable with a limited number of dolls anyway.

 

 

I will make one other point--to anyone feeling Volks made a bad decision or was deceptive or other such thoughts, at least consider the possibility that Square Enix may have required a realistic style over an overly anime one. We never know the details of licensing or how much control the licensor has or how much leeway the licensee has.

No offense but this is one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve ever witnessed on this site.

Calling them ‘generic SD heads’ is not only weird and kinda offensive to the SD fans here, it also betrays a complete ignorance about the sheer variety of the SD line, or resin dolls in general, and complaining about the aesthetic of the dolls makes it sound like people played the game with their eyes closed.

I would have hated it if they’d made them look more animeish - then they’d REALLY look generic imo (i’d Probably still get 9S though) - I notice a trend where, when non-anime style characters are transformed into anime, such as GSC’s Disney and marvel nendoroids, their faces tend to be generic)

No one here has been ‘betrayed’. Most people have been waiting for an accurate depiction of the characters. Anyone who has looked at the character designs for more than 5 seconds would have expected a more realistic aesthetic. I have no idea why anyone would expect otherwise. The real irony? Volks tones down the realism. You can see especially in that comparison shot that 2B looks incredibly anime compared to her game counterpart. In fact the average resin-only fan would say these two look more on the anime side.

 

Sorry if I sound harsh but I’m just getting tired of all the negativity in this thread - first it was people literally just popping in periodically to complain about the wait, now we’ve got people demanding Volks not call them DDs. Should we force them to retroactively call Chii a DD then, because she doesn’t look like an SD..?

 

I’m not saying people have to be happy with the way they look because that’s what these discussion threads are for. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a new release thread without at least one person who wasn’t happy and their opinions are valid. But this is...something else, and ‘baffling’ doesn’t begin to describe it.

Edited September 18, 2018 by Guest

I'm glad they've mostly stuck with the game designs. I do feel their faces are a little baby faced compared to how they look in game, but I'm still mostly happy. I'll almost 99% be getting 9S. If Volks had gone with a more stylized face I would not be getting him, because that's just not how they look in game. I'm looking forward to finally owning a DD/vinyl doll.

First off: dollz r perdy yey new dollz. End of story.

 

Secondly: I like what we've seen of 2B and 9S so far. I am REALLY enthused by 2B, but not by her price. I can't wait to see their photo spread and I think if we can give 2B some non-round animetics, play with the acorn shape, she will be STUNNING.

 

They seem to have struck a delightful balance between Squenix's original design, and their common aesthetic. Met in the middle and I think it's lovely.

 

Thank you, Singer Yuna, for the side-by-side comparison. That was enlightening!

These dolls are supposed to appeal to Nier fans, and not just DD fans who happen to show up at Nier events like the concert. If they were given a totally anime stylized head I don’t believe they would appeal to Nier fans at all. They would come off as anime characters cosplaying as characters from the game, and people into Nier would say “Pass.”

 

Re: Cauldroness’ comment about this being a smart move.

 

I agree this is a much smarter way to go than say, releasing their own line of mass produced injection molded plastic dolls to compete with SmD Cortex. They’ve gone and made something other companies don’t do, which kind of preserves the feeling of exclusivity Volks has. They are also doing this with a globally popular SE product, which gives it a potentially enormous reach. They aren’t just making a splash, they are looking towards making a big splash.

I would like to clarify on what I believe AlienShroom is saying. If I'm wrong please do correct me.

 

I have a foot set in both worlds as I own both resin and vinyl dolls and while I love them both I see them in different ways. To me, my vinyl dolls are a super upscale, customizable and poseable version of my figurines and my Frame Arms girls. My resin dolls I see as art dolls as the likes of Koisukihime and Yoshida dolls. In short, they are all animals but different creatures to me.

The reception to the hybrid vinyl with SD features Dollfie Icon were widely positive but I don't expect that everyone who collect resin dolls to want to own one (even if they do love how they look!) sheerly because of the different properties of resin vs. vinyl. The main reasoning behind it is that to them they love the weight and feel of resin. It denotes quality to them and vinyl can't quite satisfy the traits that they have come to associate and expect from good old quality resin. I stand by my admiration for Volks because the results of 2B and 9S have exceeded my expectations (scratch that, I was mindblown actually lol) but I would understand that it would be jarring for people who have come to expect for Dollfie Dream products to fit the aesthetic they recognize as Dollfie Dream. Hence the desire for a distinction of some sorts. With this release Volks has deviated from the norm and it has us all speculating whether these kind of releases are to become a standard for some future Dollfie Dreams releases. If I had only collected resin dolls and it they had ever introduced a beautiful Yoshida style Volks SD doll and in the last moment they announced that it'll be produced in vinyl it would be disconcerting to me too. I will admire it but there will be a knee jerk reaction and possibly will wonder if future releases will be like this so I completely understand where AlienShroom is coming from.

Again, this is pure speculation, but it seems that they're also testing the waters for a market for these type of hybrid dolls but in the end Volks will do what Volks will do. Maybe there will be a new line, maybe not. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

( I apologize to the mods and everyone for the OT-ness of this post. I'll get off the stand now. lllorz )

does volks provide an option to store pickup for international buyers...?

does volks provide an option to store pickup for international buyers...?

 

If I remember correctly the only people who can do in-store pick-up are those who order directly at a store, which would mean you need a Japanese address in order to do so.

 

Please someone correct me if I'm remembering information incorrectly.

Personally, I cringe to think of how expensive the Nier dolls would be in SD form. The SD line tends to be pricier than vinyl, I guess just because the resin itself is more expensive, so with all these accessories, if they were SDs the price would probably be at least $300 more for the exact same set.

 

i agree, i think they would have been a lot more money if they were SD... so i am happy that 2B is part of the DD line, so she can cost me a bit less money

 

- - -

 

i think that volks has always made anime characters for their DDs, so many of the dolls have anime features. i think they do this so that the dolls look like the characters in their original creative forms.

 

i don't know a lot about persona, but i do know that all of the artwork i have seen of rise... looks a lot like her DD version. so i feel like 2B looks a lot like 2B in the game, and i think that is volks' goal?

 

i don't know if DD is supposed to be an anime style doll company. i always felt like that was the characters they chose to make, so that is why the dolls look that way. but then there is rise, kosmos, and even their own character of alna looks different from the other dolls (in my opinion )

 

when i saw 2B, i felt that they made her look like 2B... and i was expecting her to resemble her video game form before i saw her, and she does. however i do feel like her larger eyes fit more with the DD typical aesthetics. so i think they added their own style to her.

 

i am sorry that people are upset or don't like her. i am sure it must have been disappointing to wait so long for her to be announced, and then she was not what you thought she would be in your head. however, as i said, i do think she looks very much like her actual character... so i don't feel like her design is unreasonable or anything.

 

i felt this disappointment when they released sailor moon. she is anime styled, but she looks nothing like sailor moon to me. i feel with some modding and maybe new face... she could. i was extremely sad and let down. so i am empathizing with anyone who is not happy with how 2B looks. i understand how it feels to wait and have something not be what you hoped.

 

i also feel like some of the responses here have been very aggressive, and if people are going to continue to talk about volks, DD, and SD... there should be less of that.

 

- - -

 

i can't decide if i want 2 2B or just 1. i've never had twin or duplicate dolls before. it would be nice to have 1 be in her canon outfit, and 1 be a casual girl though when i saw her face, i just couldn't stop imagining her in all of my pretty outfits

i can't decide if i want 2 2B or just 1. i've never had twin or duplicate dolls before. it would be nice to have 1 be in her canon outfit, and 1 be a casual girl though when i saw her face, i just couldn't stop imagining her in all of my pretty outfits

 

Agreed! While I am not planning to get two of the same doll for this purpose (...just both of them), one of the big selling points is that I can see puting her in casual outfits. 2B has such an attitude, I am already thinking of all the punk-ish outfits I want her to wear.

 

And 9S. . . . both of them are so great! These two are definitely going to change clothes a lot.

Whats putting a SD face on a DD got to do with anything you had to say? You buying this doll wont make a impact because you already invest in both. People who only collect DD will be the movers and shakers on this decision. Its not a matter of being into SD, into Volks, into DD, into the history. It just is what it is... putting a SD head on a DD is something that makes some of us raise questions.

I only collect DDs. The problem here is that DDs are NOT anime per se, they’re vynil dolls replicating the character. Some better than others. NieR is a realistic game, not anime, and I would never buy a 2B with an anime looking face. Volks did an astonishing work with that nose.

 

Please drop it as Kushina says.

 

Best DD faceplate IMO since Rise Kujikawa (my opinion)

But they slayed that 2Bae sculpt giving that realistic feel like the character in-game.

Got the pamphlet in the mail today. All the images seem to have been uploaded already but there was also an order form included. Not sure what of this has been made known:

 

Order period: October 20th to December 2nd

Option to pay 10,000 yen plus tax deposit or full amount upfront

Items will be shipped in Autumn 2019, if they get a large amount of orders the shipments will be split in two.

 

So basically works the same as previous orders.

If this is true, I will pre-order.

I can't afford to pay a doll upfront this year.