The ball jointed dolls of Japanese company ShinyDOLL are known for their amazing poseability. The dolls also have a distinctive appearance. The newest additions to ShinyDOLL are the Fragille Line girls. Their creator, Doi Shin, made the new 1/4 (MSD) size dolls in record time, but without sacrificing quality. BJDcollectasy interviewed Shin and learned more about both ShinyDOLL and the new Fragille girls.
Q. How did you become interested in making dolls?
My first BJD was VOLKS’ superdollfie 13.
I planned to photograph them with varieties of poses, but they had low pose-ability. So, I customized my (Volks) dolls to give them higher pose-ability. People saw the poseability, and started asking me to customize their dolls. I did around 50 dolls. While customizing them, I could imagine the best doll body with highest poseability.
Then I started doll production.
Q.Which doll was your first doll?
Thaasa. The name of the first head was CONONE, developed with the first body.
Q. When did ShinyDoll open?
I started development of first doll (Thaasa) on July 2003. I started sales of the first doll (Thaasa) on January 2004.
I set ” Shin’s Pathway” as individual-company name in law 2004
I used “Sampomichi-koubou” as domestic brand name.
I first visted DOA September as “Sampomichi-koubou” on September 2005.
After a while, I used “ShinyDOLL” as international brand name. I changed the legal name from “Shin’s Pathway” to “Shinydoll” in 2006, so now ShinyDOLL is individual-company-name and brand name.
Q. Did you study art or any subject which you apply to your doll making?
I did not take a special art class, but just ordicall classes, which all students take. I was good at wood carving when I was student.
My experiences which help doll making now are….
-I am a mechanical engineer- good for joint designing.
-I am chemical engineer – good for casting.
-I am production engineer – good for controlling the manufacture processes.
-I am good at at making things – good for carving, assembling and others.
-I have a experience with the lathe – good for joint production.
-My mother ran a boutique when I was young – I am familiar with ladies fashions. I sometimes sew dressses by myself.
-I was plastic model enthusiast when I was in elementary school – good for parts designing. and painting.
-I have experience in advanced ceramics firing – good for porcelain doll production.
-I am good at hair cutting – good for setting and modifying wigs.
Q.How do you think your dolls differ from other bjds?
I know face sculpt is the most important part for doll, but I think comfortably posable body would enhance the love to the doll. Yes, STABLE POSEABILITY is apparent difference from otherBJDs. I pursue elegant body line, range of motion, stability of pose simultaneously.
The face sculpt is rather realistic. I always try to make the eye with real expression. Eye hole is most important part of my heads. By all of these, my dolls might be real existence for owners.
Q. Your newest doll line is called Fragille and there are three heads currently available for the body; Hikali, Shioli, and Suzune. Where did the name ‘Fragille’ come from?
The name “Fragille” came two French words of “Fragile” and “Fille”.
So I am pronouncing it as “frajiye”.
Q. What ideas did you have when started to design the Fragille doll?
One of my customers, who gave up 56cm dolls, asked me to make MSD sized on Den of Angels.
Q. I have never seen a doll artist first carve the doll parts like you did the Fragille body. Is this how you designed all your dolls?
Basically I start BJD production from divided parts. As I pursue elegant body line, range of motion, stability of pose at the same time, as I wrote above, body sculpt and function should compromise for certain level, but I still want the best of both, So, body sculpting and joint designs have to go parallel. sculpt, function, sculpt, function…..
For this method, starting from parts is best, I thought. Ordinary sculptor might sculpt all the body first. But from my opinion, it’s too much advance of sculpt from function. I want to install highest functions, into real human style.
Q. How long did it take to create the doll?
Thaasa took one and a half years,
Pricco took two years,
but, Fragille took only two months.
It’s because, I was used to BJD making. Other reason is that I chose “block of RESIN” and “polyester clay” as main material. They do not need so much time to harden. So, I could do several steps a day. If I chose “pulp clay with stone powder”, it needs much time to dry, allowing only one step a day.
Q. You are now taking pre-orders. Are you limiting the number of dolls that will be sold by pre-order?
Yes. For 1st production/lot, the number is limited.
18 sets of HIKALI flesh
9 sets of SHIOLI flesh
9 sets of SUZUNE flesh
That’s because, one silicone mold can produce only 40. In the 2nd lot of later, I might produce more again.
It’s not decided yet which heads or which colors will be produced.
Q. Will the Fragille line dolls be available in white resin in the future? Will an elf doll be released?
I am a little bit planning of making white ones in the 2nd lot. These is a possibility that I will make elf head.
Photos above: First 2 photos, posing the prototype Fragille body during construction.
ShinyDOLL site (in English)
ShinyDOLL site (in Japanese)
jpopdolls site (US dealer)
NemuiDoll site (UK dealer)
indollgence site (Australian dealer)
More information on the making of the dolls can be found in Doi Shin’s Fragille Diary.
Suzune head