Ball-jointed dolls (commonly abbreviated as BJDs) are highly articulated dolls connected with ball-and-socket joints, offering a uniquely expressive and lifelike range of motion. While dolls with movable limbs date back thousands of years, the modern resin BJD as we know it is a relatively recent phenomenon rooted in East Asian craftsmanship and expanded upon by artists and companies around the world.

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     The earliest evidence of articulated dolls can be found in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. These early dolls, often carved from ivory, wood, or clay, featured jointed limbs and were primarily used as toys or ritual objects. Centuries later, during the 18th and 19th centuries, European dollmakers in France and Germany began producing composition and bisque dolls with jointed bodies. While many dolls were made for children, there are many examples of higher quality dolls, miniatures, and specially made doll furniture created solely for collectors.

The turning point in the history of BJDs came in the late 1990s in Japan. The company Volks Inc., originally a model kit and garage kit manufacturer founded in 1972, introduced the first resin BJDs to the public with the launch of the Super Dollfie line in 1999. These dolls were created by sculptor Akihiro Enku, who envisioned them as more than just "dolls," but that they possess a soul or spirit-like quality. The Volks Tenshi-no-Sato (literally “Angel’s Home”) in Kyoto is part showroom, part shrine, and part repair clinic, reinforces a sense of reverence around how special BJDs are.

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      Super Dollfies were made of polyurethane resin. Volks first introduced three sizes: standard SD (around 60cm), MSD (Mini Super Dollfie, about 42cm), and smaller Yo-SD (around 26cm). Eventually the scale would continue to expand to include BJDs from just 7cm all the way to 85cm.

Volks’ impact on the BJD community cannot be overstated. They introduced a model of limited editions, exclusive releases, and special community events such as Doll Parties (DollPa). Volks also offered full customization services, including face painting (known as "face-ups") and body blushing.

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      As the popularity of BJDs grew, they quickly spread to South Korea, where a new wave of artists and companies redefined the aesthetic and engineering of the dolls. One of the most influential early groups was Cerberus Project, a sculpting team led by artist Choi Joo-young. Their breakout success came with the release of the sculpt El, distributed through the Korean company LUTS in the early 2000s. El became an icon of the BJD community, known for its androgynous, dreamy features that contrasted with the more mature and realistic Volks dolls.

Later, members of Cerberus Project established FairyLand, a company that brought engineering innovation to the forefront of BJD design. Founded around 2007, FairyLand continued collaborating with Choi Joo-young and quickly gained recognition for their advanced joint systems, magnetic parts, and highly posable bodies.

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     Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the BJD hobby expanded globally. Companies in South Korea such as Soom, Iplehouse, Dollmore, and Bluefairy contributed distinct aesthetics ranging from ultra-realism to fantasy. Meanwhile, Chinese companies like DollZone, Doll Chateau, and RingDoll entered the scene, offering unique silhouettes, surrealist proportions, and more affordable price points, helping the hobby reach a broader audience. In the West, independent artists began casting their own dolls. Western face-up and customization artists such as Angel Toast emerged as well.

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      The culture surrounding BJDs is arguably as important as the dolls themselves. Online forums like Den of Angels (DoA), as well as platforms like Flickr, Tumblr, and later Instagram and Discord, are key venues for collectors to share photos, trade dolls, post customizations, and tell stories through their dolls. BJDs are not only static display items but storytelling tools, encouraging creativity for all. Our NYC Doll Con team story started on DOA many (we won't say how many ;) ) years ago, but it was through local meetups that we realized the deeply held belief of how important community was to all of us. To be able not to just see and handle (and marvel at) other BJDs, but to truly connect, build friendships and share each other's passion for the hobby.

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     By the 2020s, BJDs had fully established themselves as a global artistic subculture. BJDs continued to grow, as did the types of dolls artists created, more fantasy and hybrid creature dolls featuring wings, hooves, horns, and more were released. Advances in technology led to better resin casting, 3D sculpting, and limited use of digital design. There is a growing push toward diversity and inclusivity in BJD sculpts, with more companies offering dolls in darker resin tones, different body shapes, and a broader range of gender expression. Some BJD aesthetics have even influenced fashion doll lines and designer toys. A few companies have even paired their releases with famous shows, trending people/ animated characters.

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     NYC Doll Con is incredibly happy to be able to create our own event as a way to celebrate and contribute to the BJD community. The Con is a chance to bring together collectors, artists, and fans who all share their love and creativity through the BJD hobby. We hope to support each other's work, and continue growing together. Thank you for being a part of this community!