In the vinyl department: Obitsu vs. Volks?

[Misheru]

Yes, that one is Alna. So far Volks has made two editions of her. A regular skintone (which I missed out on) and then a special "white christmas" version, which is the one I have.

Original - http://www.volks.co.jp/EN/dollfiedream/dd_alna.html
http://www.volks.co.jp/jp/hag/item_ddalna.html

Special editon - http://www.volks.co.jp/jp/hag/index.html

She does have inset eyes, but she has a much more mature face for the Dollfie Dreams.

She is part of their newest line of the "Afterschool Akihabara Girls" and if the only DD Dynamite of the group so far.

She is shown in the nekomimi thread dressed all in white/cream as Erisu. She is a fun dollieh.

[Misheru]

What is this head? Are those painted on eyes or inserted eyes?

And I don't mind blended families- my vinyl dolls happily interact with my resin ones, and Prima and Niki, my power couple, have a "mixed marriage" of vinyl and resin:

I answered about the head above, but I just had to say how cute these outfits are. )))

Yeah, we have a resin among the vinyls as well...so we are just a wonderful blended family.

[1/6andtinylover]

I do like the volks body sculpt, so who knows, one day I might give in and decide to get a MDD or a DDdy body. Because the 40cm obitsu is so...expensive........

[K2!]

Just remember, the DD2 bust and abdomen (available from Volks USA) fit the 47/55/60cm Obitsu bodies with little modification.



Hyatt has a DD2 medium bust and abdomen on a 60cm (although ya can't tell with her wardrobe) and Diamond has the DD2 large bust and abdomen on a 55cm.

[Misheru]

I knew the bust would fit with an Obitsu abdomen, but I didn't know that the whole Volks middle bit would work. Sweet.

[landwhale]

Ooooh. I want to do that too! I notice Hyatt's (She's one my favorites) knees are the more mobile kind and I like the way they look in tights. She looks like she's got real knee caps.

[SetsunaKou]

I'm almost in exactly the same opinion as K2!-sama----in the 60m department, Volks look better but Obitsu are sturdier. Volks are also a bit more realistic in proportion (the necks are wider and shorter, the thighs thicker, etc) Obitsu are more waify in appearance and look.

However, I own many of both kinds and love them all. Since most of my 1/3 dolls are anime characters, they're actually mostly the Obitsu bodies since those are super anime-like. Additionally, DD are a little shorter than 60cm Obitsu. So I make our 'shorter' girls the Volks DDs. ^^ Volks DDs have nicer ankles than Obitsu.

For the heads, I love Volks more---they have the anime head shape down pat. But mostly because I'm a HUGE anime doll fan and maker, and the Volks vinyl heads really are much more beautiful. Obitsu now, has the vinyl realistic market cornered, but Volks the anime! It's so funny that they criss cross! (Volks-more realistic body, more anime heads; Obitsu-more anime body, more realistic heads....ironic!)

The Volks also have the non-eyehole anime head which I adore and have dozens of. They make the perfect template for almost any anime character, even males, because you can 'slim' them down to become more masculine anime style! The Parabox anime heads are nice, but more cutesy than pretty.
Since I'm so picky, I buy the Volks heads for my own dolls, even though they're about $45 each, scalp them, and reroot or wig them, because they really look exactly like the characters.
My sister however, goes with the Parabox anime heads, since most of her favorite characters are the more 'cute' style anyway, and the heads are less than 1/2 price! ($18.50!) They make 'nice' heads but the Volks are definitely more beautiful, profile and head-on.


So since I'm more about aesthetics than poseability, for my own dolls, I buy Volks DD heads and for the bodies----I'm not that particular about which. Whatever is on sale or the right size, I'll use. My guys, using DD heads are all on RS 70cm bodies; some of the girls, using DD heads are on RS 58cm bodies, some are on Obitsu 60cm bodies; and some of my sis' dolls have Parabox anime heads on RS 58cm bodies; Volks DD bodies; BBB 60cm male bodies; Domuya 60cm Male body, etc.

I'll end by saying I love both types of dolls----Volks and Obitsu, for different and for similar reasons! ^^ It just depends on what you'd like to do more. For example, I've used a Volks DD body with a number of resin realistic heads (AoD, Domuya, RS, BBB, etc) and the results are always fantastic!! Volks have a realistic mature body, thicker realistic neck and legs.
The realistic resin heads usually don't look as well on the Obitsu 60cm bodies, because the necks are thinner and the legs really slender (which I love for my anime gals more than the shapely Volks!).

So, if you're going for 'realistic', Volks bodies are better. If you're going for cartoon/anime, the Obitsu bodies are better.

If you're just going for better poseability and sturdiness, the Obitsu are better and more durable, though I find their replaceable joints break sooner---probably because they pose so well and so much. The Volks rarely break for me, but are just always 'loose' and floppy resin-like poseability so maybe there's not much pressure or tension on the joints?

Either way, I think you'll like both types of dolls for their different and yet so similar, styles. ^^

[1/6andtinylover]

I love anime as well (and sucks at drawing anything other than anime style) so I would probably dive for those heads if I get a chance. Now only of they were cheaper! :q But they sort of mke up for it with the bodies being cheaper. Interesting how Obitsu has cheaper heads but more expensive bodies and vice versa with Volks. Another criss cross, huh?

So if possible, when I go to LA this summer, I want to go to Tenshi no Sumika (so long as it's near the area my family is going) and grab the type 4 head. It is so cute! But is it true that LA's Tenshi no Sumika only opens in Saturdays and Sundays?

[Biff]

I love anime as well (and sucks at drawing anything other than anime style) so I would probably dive for those heads if I get a chance. Now only of they were cheaper! :q But they sort of mke up for it with the bodies being cheaper. Interesting how Obitsu has cheaper heads but more expensive bodies and vice versa with Volks. Another criss cross, huh?

So if possible, when I go to LA this summer, I want to go to Tenshi no Sumika (so long as it's near the area my family is going) and grab the type 4 head. It is so cute! But is it true that LA's Tenshi no Sumika only opens in Saturdays and Sundays?

Also, I never noticed that but I did realize they were pretty close in price actually.

Yes, it's only open on Saturdays and Sundays. :3 They're kind of alone in a business park. Torrance btw is a decent distance from LA (not that far, but still ). While you're there, I would fit up Mitsuwa, Marukai (any of them!) or one of the used Japanese book stores (anyone who know the name? D:). Btw, I would not recommend taking public transit there from LA (shifty eyes).

Find reasons to go! XDD

[1/6andtinylover]

LOLOLOL, the whole reason why we're visiting LA is because of one of my family member's college stuff. And since my family happens to be Korean, I don't think they'd appreciate me bringing back a bunch of Japanese stuff (just look up the history between those two countries) however I can use the excuse of being a dollieh addict and "I'm paying for it!" attitude to grt away with getting a head. And possibly some anime eyes.

(And now, for whatever reason, Dollfie Dream Saber Lily looks really pretty.)