Hmm.
I came across a flickr thread today where everyone was discussing the type two body... someone had bought a Paja, and were saying saying how type 3s were way better, and how they were going to obitsu her most probably because they couldn't bond due to her type 2 body. This got a flutter of agreement. Someone suggested they do a trade with someone for a type 3, to which the response was, 'I don't know anyone who would swap a type 2 for a type 3!'
Well. Things have changed. I would in a heartbeat, but that's just me.
That got me thinking, what happened? When I first started on the Pullip hobby, (in 2006) Type 2 dolls were pretty much the norm. Most people's first dolls were a type 2. I think because of this, collectors from my generation had gotten used to the type 2 body. I know I did. I know lots of people around in that time agreed with me, and the type 2, with all it's problems, was still seen as a better alternative to the type 3. So I was pretty surprised that people are not only not thinking that anymore, but they prefer type 3 bodies.
I think this is because as the hobby is progressing, inevitably, new collectors buy newer girls who have type 3s. Therefore, their 'norm' is the type 3. So when they buy a past pullip, they see their new (old) body, and think, 'WTF, BEEZARE'. So I mean, in the future, that'll happen to the type 4, too.
Weird though. I mean, I hate the type 3 body. I prefer type 4s to type 3s, even. And I still don't see why anyone would prefer type 3s to type 2s. I don't think the type 2 is perfect, in fact, I prefer Volks or Obitsu, but I still think the type 3 is the worst body they have made. I have a multitude of reasons why this is so:
1. They have hinged hands and feet. Because of his, the range of movement is very low. This limits the options for dynamic photos. Also because of this, and because of poor quality, the hinges can (and do) BREAK. This means you need to replace the whole arm/knee with someone else, and in my opinion is way worse than the hands falling out sometimes on a type 2 (which is easily fixable with blu-tak or teflon tape).
2. They have TINY hands and feet. On the thread, this was viewed as a positive thing. 'Those type 2s and their big feet.' Yes, I agree they can wear less shoes, but they're in proportion (more or less). The type 2 body's foot doesn't taper down into something toothpick like. :P The same goes for the hands. They may be cup shaped (like they're going to drink from a stream, or wave like the queen), which bugs me, but they're still more dynamic in movement than a type 2. This is the same issue the type 4 has, especially the foot thing. But it's an improvement.
3. No neck movement. The trade off for this is that in the type 2, the neck being able to move caused the body yo flop. But still, it allowed for better, more dynamic pictures. They can look UPWARDS and DOWNWARDS. Tilt their heads, cock them to the side. Type 3s cannot do that they can however stare straight ahead really well.
4. Hard, odd shaped weird boobs. Okay, so the type 2 had soft, odd shaped weird boobs. But if I had a choice, I'd prefer soft ones. I remember someone saying that made them feel 'weird' about the body. What like it being soft plastic is suddenly dirty? Yeesh. Sheltered.
5. Too short. Too small. Too thin. It makes them all look like teenagers. The type 4 is a lot taller and more elegant (maybe a bit too elegant), but still too thin. I felt the type 2 was just the right thickness. Same with Volks & Obitsu bodies.
At the end of the day, the issues with tummy pop and needing to unflop a type 2, and the melty neck are small consolation compared to the limitations of the type 3 body. I can always fix the type 2 problems and the aesthetic differences are a matter of opinion, but I will never be able to make a type 3 look down, point her toes towards each other, or wear most of barbie's clothes from before her model muse days. But her shoes fit. Woo.
Actually, I got my first type 4 loose body last week (off a seller) and I put it on my Holly, but while I prefer it, it's still not amazing. It'd be so much better if the feet weren't hinged. And I still feel the hands an feet are too tiny.
Well anyway, eh, I guess I am back to ranting. Must make it up tomorrow.
Well. Things have changed. I would in a heartbeat, but that's just me.
That got me thinking, what happened? When I first started on the Pullip hobby, (in 2006) Type 2 dolls were pretty much the norm. Most people's first dolls were a type 2. I think because of this, collectors from my generation had gotten used to the type 2 body. I know I did. I know lots of people around in that time agreed with me, and the type 2, with all it's problems, was still seen as a better alternative to the type 3. So I was pretty surprised that people are not only not thinking that anymore, but they prefer type 3 bodies.
I think this is because as the hobby is progressing, inevitably, new collectors buy newer girls who have type 3s. Therefore, their 'norm' is the type 3. So when they buy a past pullip, they see their new (old) body, and think, 'WTF, BEEZARE'. So I mean, in the future, that'll happen to the type 4, too.
Weird though. I mean, I hate the type 3 body. I prefer type 4s to type 3s, even. And I still don't see why anyone would prefer type 3s to type 2s. I don't think the type 2 is perfect, in fact, I prefer Volks or Obitsu, but I still think the type 3 is the worst body they have made. I have a multitude of reasons why this is so:
1. They have hinged hands and feet. Because of his, the range of movement is very low. This limits the options for dynamic photos. Also because of this, and because of poor quality, the hinges can (and do) BREAK. This means you need to replace the whole arm/knee with someone else, and in my opinion is way worse than the hands falling out sometimes on a type 2 (which is easily fixable with blu-tak or teflon tape).
2. They have TINY hands and feet. On the thread, this was viewed as a positive thing. 'Those type 2s and their big feet.' Yes, I agree they can wear less shoes, but they're in proportion (more or less). The type 2 body's foot doesn't taper down into something toothpick like. :P The same goes for the hands. They may be cup shaped (like they're going to drink from a stream, or wave like the queen), which bugs me, but they're still more dynamic in movement than a type 2. This is the same issue the type 4 has, especially the foot thing. But it's an improvement.
3. No neck movement. The trade off for this is that in the type 2, the neck being able to move caused the body yo flop. But still, it allowed for better, more dynamic pictures. They can look UPWARDS and DOWNWARDS. Tilt their heads, cock them to the side. Type 3s cannot do that they can however stare straight ahead really well.
4. Hard, odd shaped weird boobs. Okay, so the type 2 had soft, odd shaped weird boobs. But if I had a choice, I'd prefer soft ones. I remember someone saying that made them feel 'weird' about the body. What like it being soft plastic is suddenly dirty? Yeesh. Sheltered.
5. Too short. Too small. Too thin. It makes them all look like teenagers. The type 4 is a lot taller and more elegant (maybe a bit too elegant), but still too thin. I felt the type 2 was just the right thickness. Same with Volks & Obitsu bodies.
At the end of the day, the issues with tummy pop and needing to unflop a type 2, and the melty neck are small consolation compared to the limitations of the type 3 body. I can always fix the type 2 problems and the aesthetic differences are a matter of opinion, but I will never be able to make a type 3 look down, point her toes towards each other, or wear most of barbie's clothes from before her model muse days. But her shoes fit. Woo.
Actually, I got my first type 4 loose body last week (off a seller) and I put it on my Holly, but while I prefer it, it's still not amazing. It'd be so much better if the feet weren't hinged. And I still feel the hands an feet are too tiny.
Well anyway, eh, I guess I am back to ranting. Must make it up tomorrow.