What are Vinyl BJDs and Where to Buy Them?

Since there are so many different types of BJDs, being new to this world might be overwhelming.

However, don’t worry! I’ve been there as well and that’s the reason I’ve decided to share all the information there is about BJDs in my blog.

And in this article, I’ll tell you more about vinyl BJDs in particular, where you can get them, and how vinyl dolls differ from resin ones.

Let’s begin!

What is a Vinyl BJD?

Vinyl dolls are one of the popular types of BJDs. But what are vinyl ball-jointed dolls and what features does they have?

To begin with, some of the most popular vinyl BJDs come from Japan and therefore are stylized more after anime and less realistic compared to typical resin BJDs. But the bodies of vinyl dolls aren’t that different from regular BJDs. They are on the same scale as full-size BJDs with similar proportions.

The most common types of vinyl dolls are Dollfie Dream from Volks, Obitsu, and Smart Doll.

The current body of the Dollfie Dream body has an internal skeleton of hard plastic, while the very first version of the same doll had a strung body type with the classic ball and socket joints.

And just like the current Dollfie Dream, Obitsu has the same body structure as well.

On the technical side, vinyl dolls are easier to manufacture, because they are machine-made and injection molded in soft vinyl. That’s why vinyl dolls are lightweight and can sometimes be less expensive than other Japanese dolls. The exception is vinyl dolls with complex skeleton structures or those who are collaborations dolls which can justify a higher price in some cases.

In general, injection-molded manufacturing requires intensive set-up costs and allows a higher volume of production at once.

Vinyl vs Resin BJDs

Understanding the differences between vinyl and resin BJDs is really important before you commit to purchasing one.

Before we move on to the differences, I’d like to note that similar to resin BJDs, vinyl dolls come in different sizes as well. You can find some dolls as small as 22cm all the way up to 60cm.

There are a number of differences between vinyl and resin BJDs. One of the most significant differences is obviously that compared to resin, vinyl dolls are lighter and more sturdy. Now, what does it mean for you? It means that if you drop a vinyl doll, they won’t break. Although they are more resilient I still recommend that you take great care of your dollies.

Vinyl dolls also feel different than resin BJDs. But it’s not necessarily a good or bad thing as it entirely depends on your preferences. And while vinyl dolls don’t chip or crack, you have to be careful about staining them. Compared to resin, stains on vinyl dolls are harder to remove.

Plus, because vinyl dolls are lightweight, you can easily carry them around. This is especially convenient when you’re going to doll meets or conventions and want to tote one around.

Moreover, the faces of vinyl dolls are stylized after anime and aren’t realistic as resin doll faces are.

Some people say that vinyl dolls are less expensive than resin ones. However, oftentimes this isn’t really the case. Vinyl dolls can be as expensive as resin dolls, or even more. You’ll find manufacturers who sell just the basic vinyl bodies without heads, which are more expensive than many resin dolls with heads.

Another great difference between vinyl and resin BJDs lies in their pose-ability. Unlike resin, vinyl dolls have an internal skeleton that holds poses perfectly. To be more precise, you can pose your vinyl doll in any way you’d like and it will stay put until the next time you repose them.

And due to their high pose-ability, vinyl dolls make excellent drawing and photography subjects.

So if you’re looking for a model to photograph (or draw), a vinyl doll won’t disappoint you.

Where Can You Buy a Vinyl BJD?

When it comes to buying a vinyl BJD it comes down to which vinyl doll you want to purchase – Obitsu, Dollfie Dream, or Smart Doll.

If you want to purchase an Obitsu doll, then Obitsu’s official website is the best place to shop. On the other hand, if you’re looking to buy a Dollfie Dream, Volks is the official retailer that has a great choice of these dolls. And the official manufacturer of Smart Doll is SmartDoll.

Another official company that sells Vinyl dolls is Parabox.

But there are also reliable distributors that sell vinyl BJDs, such as Junky Spot, that sells Obitsu dolls, and Fabric Friends that sells Smart Dolls.

Do you like vinyl?

Personally I love my vinyl BJDs that I own. I do find myself picking them up a lot more than my resin dollies at time. They are fun to customize and make cute desk buddies.

Do you own any vinyl dolls? Tell us in the comments section down below!