culture japan

Culture Japan - Danny Choo Network

[dannychoo]

It’s been a few years since we made the last Smart Doll owner selfie collage, so it’s time for an update - and it’s looking great so far! If you want to be a part of the collage, send in your selfie to our support email address - it’s the one we use to contact you regarding shipping and wot not. It’s generally a good idea to choose your fave smartie because if you have many in your selfie, they all end up looking like pixies due to the limited real estate. Taking a selfie with your smartie close to your face means that you both get the maximum optimization of your square ;-) The larger updated version will go on the Smart Doll Hero page. No deadline for submissions, but I will render the collage when I have enough squares to fill in. You can send in the same photo you used last time if you want. It’s great to see Smart Doll owners - the photos have been helpful in recognizing you when we visit conventions outside of Japan. Speaking of which, now that most borders are open for travel, we are looking into where we should be heading to for either attending a con - or starting Smart Doll Con ;-) Recommendations welcome. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqPEr32SEwa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

Out n about with Smart Doll Imagine around Atami - a city located on the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is known for its hot springs (onsen) and scenic views of Mount Fuji and the Suruga Bay. Atami has been a popular destination for tourists for centuries as a hot spring resort town. Many of its ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) have been in operation for over a hundred years. Imagine was released yesterday, together with her back story. She is a fave of mine and represents one of the reasons why Smart Doll exists today. Imagine will be back soon - but for now, here is the story of Imagine. ———————————— I’m a word that holds immense power, Yet no weight or mass to devour. I can bring to life what’s not yet real, And make the impossible seem ideal. I can take you to places far and wide, Show you worlds that exist inside. I’m used by dreamers, artists, and poets too, To create new things that are fresh and true. ———————————— Imagine is a reminder of the boundless potential of human imagination. She represents the incredible power that resides within us all to create, innovate, and bring new things into existence. By bringing to life what does not yet exist, Imagine shows us that the impossible is not always unattainable and that the limits of what we can achieve are only constrained by the scope of our own imaginations. Moreover, Imagine reminds us that imagination is not merely a whimsical pursuit but rather a valuable tool that can be used to explore new ideas, overcome obstacles, and create a future that does not yet exist. Through the power of our imaginations, we can attract the possibilities and opportunities we desire, bringing them into our lives and making them a reality. So, whenever you feel trapped in a rut or pondering your next career or business move, take a moment to sit back, gaze at the clouds, and let your imagination run free. Remember the power of Imagine and the vast potential of your own imagination to create the future that you desire. With imagination, anything is possible. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #doll #fashion #3dprinting #fashiondoll #design #madeinjapan #japan (at Atami, Shizuoka) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqKj_diy8CW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

A few updates from Smart Doll Land in no particular order ;-) I uploaded some free Smart Doll apparel patterns to the usual “free stuff” section for the Tube Skirt, Women’s Suit, and Capri Pants that some of you requested. Why buy our stuff when you can make and sell your own?! Any more requests? I’m in the middle of digitizing the Solar Marine uniforms that some of you requested. If you are a seamstress accepting commissions to make apparel with our patterns, leave a comment so folks can find you. The free STL data for the Adventurer Bust is also available - it didn’t make the cut so it’s yours. We may revisit this in the future, but the top priority is the pear-shaped plus-sized body. Do not send the data for printing expecting it to be in the size you require - you need to spend effort in figuring out print sizes - some of the data is for prototypes, so they may be tiny/huge and require modding. Output will still vary based on your printer settings and filament/resin shrinkage sizes. If you are unsure, seek some of the 3D engineers in the community like @mikela_frost and @Ardichan_smd who offer commissioned services for data modding and printing. —— The gray Evolve frame is nearly ready and will be on the latest version which has tweaks based on the feedback form. The minor changes will be outlined in the changelog. —— The Cybershell bodies have been challenging when it comes to production. As always, it’s easy to make a couple - but not so easy to get consistent results when you need to make hundreds. We hope to have a batch in April/May, but releases won’t be as often due to the resources needed to paint them. Even with paint masks, paint tends to blur depending on the individually cast vinyl component shape - ending up with rejects that go to the chaos outlet. —— The Mecha Gauntlet can be converted into Mecha Boots it seems! Discovered with some serendipity, they look pretty decent when coupled with the Bio Mecha Boots - I’ll give you details on how to mod when released. ——- We have been able to awaken more girls from cryosleep - announcements are made on the @smartdollland account (link in bio). #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqHwJJiyIkf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

While the majority of Smart Doll orders are from the US, that’s not to say we don’t get orders from elsewhere - as you can see from the maps - we indeed do ;-) Apart from our dealers Fabric Friends in the US and Anime Sugoi in Germany, after making the Smart Dolls, we ship directly to customers from our Tokyo studio via courier. Because of this, we have a good understanding of where our customers reside. As with yesterday’s maps of the US, red dots represents where orders are being placed. When generating the maps, we don’t use house or apartment numbers as a security failsafe, so what you are seeing cannot be used to pinpoint anybody - unless a person in a remote area makes it known where they are. I also ensured that maps were not zoomed in enough to identify anybody (people asked so yeah). As mentioned yesterday, when vetting first-timer orders, we discover other Smart Doll owners living in the same street or apartment, and it looks like from your comments, you would like to meet other owners near you. If you are wondering where are all the owners living near you - not all of them share on social media. But for those interested in meeting others nearby without having to wave your Smart Doll around, maybe we should have some secret Mission Impossible lingo or a Fireflies emblem - although it may make our dedicated hater cult groups a bit jealous that they only get measly boycott images to play with. A few moons ago, I made some metal pin badges for humans with the CJ logo - discreet and does not scream “Smart Doll owner” and looked pretty decent - folks who knew what it was knew. Lemme look into production. As for secret society lingo - well, we have some already - Bewbians, Grop, Dollop. Groot gets by with just three words, so I think this should be enough. For example, when you are at In-N-Out Burger, you can say “Bewbians Grop Dollop” instead of “Double-double and fries, please.” Or if you are at Trader Joe’s, you can use the same phrase to ask, “Which aisle can I find Everything But The Bagel?” Next, I’ll post the maps for Mars, Saturn, Coruscant, Cybertron, Tatooine, Dagobah, Hoth, and Thundera. #smartdoll #anime #manga (at EARTH) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAO3ifSsIy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

The majority of our Smart Doll owners are in the US, so I thought it would be interesting to look at where orders are being placed. These maps are generated from our proprietary internal analytics systems. The larger circles indicate a bigger concentration of Smart Doll owners which would show up as smaller dots when zoomed in. I didn’t want to zoom in on the maps too much as to give away specific locations but can you see other owners close to you? Or do you think you can see yourself on the map? These days, when vetting first-timer orders, we notice other Smart Doll owners living on the same street and even in the same apartment! Have you bumped into any other Smart Doll owners while out n about? #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting (at United States) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp9CxbJSSid/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

#truestory #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2L4HmSwKO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

Large mecha-style gauntlets are found in many games and anime titles - like the Atlas Gauntlets that Vi has in League of Legends. I love the aesthetic, so I made some for our Smart Doll girls. I originally called these “Heavy Loader Gauntlets,” but the final name is “Mecha Gauntlets.” Since I last showed you the prototypes, we tweaked the fingertips to give them a more refined look, added some paneling, and made the finger positions slightly more natural. Some folks have been asking why the gauntlets have 4 fingers. Just like the amputee arms and prosthetic legs for Smart Doll, I want to ensure we are making more products that reflect limb differences - so here we are. The slush casting molds are ready, and we are now figuring out production, which involves baking, cooling, and flash cutting. The first thing we need to establish is baking time. The longer the baking time, the thicker the vinyl will be. Thickness plays an important role with this product which enables the various components to stay in place and hold their position after posing. The gauntlets can be attached to a Smart Doll arm by simply removing their hand and then sliding on the gauntlet - the inside has been cast to a thickness that will enable them to hold steady on the hand peg. Making the gauntlets with movable components doesn’t make sense for a small operation like ours, so we went with the manufacturing method that we know best which is vinyl slush casting. We made two versions of the gauntlet body - one with the cannon open and the other closed. There are two types of hands - “fist” and “relaxed.” The fingers on the relaxed version squish enough so that they can hold your non-alcoholic beer. I’m currently figuring out whether to sell the whole shebang as a bundle or as two sets for folks who prefer one over the other. If they are going to be sold as two sets, then it will likely be “closed cannon x 2 + left & right fist” and “open cannon x 2 + relaxed left & right hand.” What would your bundling preference be? Also, apart from the Black Navy version in the photos, what colors would you like to see this cast in? Lavender?! #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CprBANSyCT3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

We began working on the Solar Marine Flight Suit for Smart Doll over a year ago, and I’m delighted to say that it’s available later this morning. The design, initially created by @maruko_halu, was field-tested by our girls during various trips across Japan, resulting in some final modifications. Tailored in Gifu Japan, the suit now includes ribbed cuffs on the arms and legs, which can be rolled up for a mechanic look or for when your dolls land on a warmer planet like Tatooine. The pockets are functional and ideal for storing miniature tools and snacks. To create the battle mechanic aesthetic appearance sans the grease, we’ve used a Mura-dye on the entire garment. The flight suit can be worn in a few different combinations, such as with the top half hanging over the waist, the top half on with sleeves and legs rolled up or down, and so on. While the suit can be worn with medium-sized bewbs, it’s a tight fit and anything larger will have to peek-a-bewb. I’m pleased with the final result, which pairs well with our cyberpunk accessories too - but while I’m pleased, some folks may not due to the reasons not to buy… * The flight suit has been individually dyed by a human to create a unique item, meaning no two will ever look the same. If you’re expecting the exact same one as in the photos, you will be disappointed. * The tools pictured are not included with the suit, which I found on the second-hand market. * The flight suit has a weathered look, which may include loose threads or holes as part of the aesthetic. * If you wear the suit with the legs rolled up to the knees, the fabric may gather around the knees and affect the kneeling angle if you have an Evolve body - in which case, you can just lock back the thighs so that your girls don’t topple over. * The Solar Marine Flight Suit costs more than some human flight suits. However, if you do decide to get a human flight suit instead, your Smart Doll may just slap you and say, “Traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, farm girl. Send that back to Amazon and get me that flight suit instead!” and then slap you again. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpjA455ykEV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

While we plan a variety of field trips throughout the year, we only manage to gather the entire team once annually. However, even when not all team members are able to attend, we still go ahead with the trips, which are an important part of our work and play culture. These trips also allow us to field test our products and see how well our Smart Dolls stand up against the elements. Most recently, we headed to Aomori in Northern Japan to play in the winter wonderland. Aomori is a prefecture located in the northern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan. It is known for its natural beauty, particularly in the winter months when snow covers the landscape and creates a picturesque winter wonderland. This time we spent time around Oirase Gorge and Mount Hakkoda - some of us exploring the terrain while some went for a round of snowboarding. There was one thing I learned from this trip - our girls need more water-resistant wear - and snowboard gear too ;-) This time I took Forty and Courage - the gray skin tone looks so good in the snow! Which of these two would you like to be released next? More photos from this field trip in the “Keep calm and travel with Smart Doll” section on the Smart Doll website. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at 星野リゾート　奥入瀬渓流ホテル - Hoshino Resorts OirasekeiryuHotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpbYHJpyaLA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

Evolve is the new skeletal frame for Smart Doll - its concept is evolution – constantly being upgraded based on learnings from previous versions. While the product design is based on my own requirements, Smart Doll became a platform for not only myself, but also for other creators to enjoy. While it was not possible with the previous frame, now that we have a frame that can evolve much faster than before, it now makes sense to create a medium for Smart Doll owners with the new frame to voice their opinions and be involved in the design process. Evolve is already shipping, and we have created an Evolve Feedback Form for folks to leave feedback. The form can be found on the Smart Doll online store under the “support” menu. To shape the future of Smart Doll evolution, we want to know what you like to help us consider features we want to keep, what you dislike to help improve the product, and what other features you would like us to consider. We value brutal feedback the most, as it helps us improve the product design. Just to reiterate - we are not looking for just yays - we need the nays too ;-) As a token of our appreciation, we will select some of the best feedback and send exclusive goodies only available through the feedback form. Furthermore, we will reach out to folks who leave constructive actionable feedback and ask if they are willing to volunteer as beta testers to receive test prototypes for future products. Each Smart Doll is handmade, which means that each one has their own unique look, sound, and feel. This individuality sets them apart from mass-produced products, allowing you to appreciate and enjoy their distinct personalities. Furthermore, because each Smart Doll is unique, you can leave feedback for each one you purchase as your experience will differ depending on the craftwo/man who made your Smart Doll. Plus, the more times you leave feedback, the greater your chance of winning some exclusive goodies! And yes - it will be possible to win multiple times ;-) Photos are a glimpse into just some of the development since Gen 4. The final spine in Gen 5 is completely different. #smartdoll #3dprinting #anime #manga (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpZMLL0yaaG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

As some of you already know, Future is the semi-real version of Mirai - so they both get to celebrate their birthday today in Japan (March 3rd). "With Smart Doll, the future is in your hands" is a slogan in Smart Doll Land that is also printed on the default sports bra set. Mirai (pronounced mee-rai) means "Future" in Japanese. When I launched Smart Doll in 2014, there was only Mirai, so folks who picked up a Smart Doll were literally holding the future (Mirai) in their hands. But there is another meaning to this slogan. From the beginning, Smart Doll has been a platform for us to experiment with new ideas that would eventually benefit our product line in the future. The latest advancement is the new Smart Doll skeletal frame, which features an auditory and haptic sensory experience. That frame is known as Evolve and launches today. Future is also released today in all 3 human skin tones. Folks who decide to buy the new Smart Doll can experience the evolution and a glimpse into the future of articulated fashion doll design that we will continue to build upon. However! Smart Dolls are not designed to be everything to everybody. To avoid the risk of ending up with buyer's remorse and a pricey paperweight, I strongly recommend reading the "What is Evolve" article or perhaps wait to hear the yays and nays from early adopters ;-) If you plan to make a “Smart Doll Evolve vs another-brand” video or post (they usually get the most views if you do it early), even if you think Evolve is the bees knees (like I do), ensure to let folks know the cons of choosing Smart Doll. See you in the future ;-) #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan And before I forget - this morning’s release will be delayed by a wee bit. Shipping may take longer than usual but still within the promised 15 days to ship out. (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpTgz4BSpY_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

From tomorrow 9AM-ish JST, all frontline Smart Dolls will be shipped housing the new Evolve skeletal frame. A post on the top page of the Smart Doll online store “Box Contents & Upon Arrival” outlines what you should expect in the box and the main things you should note when handling your Evolve Smart Doll. Note that the sports bra, support stand, and head cap included with your Smart Doll will be randomly selected in color - we don’t offer options for you to choose from. We will use up the remaining human tone head caps for orders before transitioning to a random color cyborg head cap which has slightly improved grip for the wigs. Body parts are designed to be more difficult to remove, minimizing the risk of them falling off when traveling. In general, the ninjutsu skill of WPP (Wriggle back n forth while Pushing or Pulling) will minimize human stress when removing or attaching limbs. Smart Doll can now better perform the “Confused Smart Doll” pose due to the slightly wider range of motion for the neck base. This pose can be used to check whether the head is attached properly - there should be no visible gap between the neck and head. Always hold the base of the neck with one hand while attaching the head. Arms need to be reset after you pose them touching their shoulders. Instead of overselling and making customers wait for eons while we assemble, which would place undue stress on the team, I’ve decided to let items sell out and make them available again when ready. Evolve provides an auditory and haptic feedback experience in posing and articulation that is new to most folks for a fashion doll of this scale. I anticipate this new experience will reduce Smart Doll demand, which is great news! We’re a small team and don’t want to bite off more than we can chew. Because of the handmade nature of our products, we can only produce a limited number of Smart Dolls each month. Therefore, less demand will allow us to continue striking a balance between work and play. Here is to the future ;-) #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpRNZdpScqd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

Trying out an additional new semi-real eye design - and while I’m at it, I would like to introduce another new girl with an even longer name. Introducing “Not Everything to Everyone.” In a world where we’re often expected to be everything to everyone, it’s easy to burn out trying to meet everyone’s expectations. But the truth is, we can never please everyone because each person wants something different. Not Everything to Everyone serves as a reminder that living a life solely to please others leads to dissatisfaction and unhappiness, both in ourselves and in those we aim to please. Instead, she encourages us to embrace our authentic selves and surround ourselves with people who appreciate us for who we truly are. You’ll find that when you let go of the need to please others, you’ll attract the people who appreciate and value you just as you are. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpMZkEJSu_S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

The release date of the new skeletal frame for Smart Doll is this Friday March 3rd on Mirai's birthday. From 9am-ish JST, all Smart Dolls listed under "Frontline" will be shipped housing the Evolve Frame. Until then, they are all unavailable. "Frontline" are characters to whom we prioritize availability regardless of sales performance. Other characters will be gradually awakened from cryosleep based on previous sales. Previously we strived to keep close to 50 Smart Doll characters available at once, but that strategy is not sustainable anymore. We will let characters sell out and prioritize who gets restocked based on sales. Smart Dolls for official retailers Fabric Friends and Anime Sugoi will ship with the previous frame, and we plan to switch them to Evolve in April. Many folks have been asking whether the price of Smart Doll would increase. The answer is "No" (for now) which was already answered in the "What is Evolve" article. However, it looks like many folks (who didn't read the article) were expecting a price hike, so I will gladly meet the expectation if folks continue to ask ;-) I also published the Changelog on the Smart Doll online store, outlining the continuous improvements to the Evolve skeletal frame. Evolve employs a versioning system commonly used in software development known as Semantic Versioning, which I adopted due to my background in software development. This versioning system and changelog will provide transparency into our product development. The remaining product bodies that house the previous frame will be sold in the chaos section, but only for folks who purchased Option Heads. We keep some of the previous frames for customer replacements and sell the rest in the chaos section. The chaos section is not just for outlet but also for product quality items. We plan to sell Evolve frames standalone, but it won't be for a while as the girls in cryosleep are getting restless - we want to look after them first. Photos in this post were taken early last year in Kumamoto Japan. Nexus manages mold engineering and injection molding for us. The black bear is Kumamon - the mascot of the Kumamoto prefecture. #smartdoll (at Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpKKfjISu2B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

The Evolve skeletal frame is the latest advancement for Smart Doll that improves the body's durability, aesthetic appearance, and posing abilities through a series of gears that create an auditory and haptic sensory experience. This improvement not only enhances the overall experience of Smart Dolls but also benefits creators such as photographers, artists, apparel and accessory designers, videographers, stop-motion animators, and individuals who enjoy traveling with their Smart Dolls, like myself ;-) However, Smart Doll was not designed for everybody in mind. I published an extensive "before you buy" post on the Smart Doll online store that I ask folks to read before making a purchase decision - hopefully, it will help avoid buyer's remorse. Some of these photos are from the post - the body comparisons show Evolve in Cocoa and the previous frame in Tea. The post also outlines the release timeframe. Folks anticipating greater articulation in Smart Doll will be disappointed as the product prioritizes a balance between articulation, durability, ease of posing, and aesthetics. Other brands that specifically emphasize articulation may provide a wider range of motion. Evolve was not created to revolutionize articulation capabilities but rather to address areas for improvement in the previous design. Personally, I think that Smart Doll is the bee's knees and the best thing since sliced Bantha Poodoo - but that's just me because Smart Doll has always been built to my requirements. However, not everybody has my requirements meaning that Smart Doll may not be your best choice when deciding on a fashion doll. If you do plan on getting a Smart Doll, keep your expectations super low, as you are likely to be disappointed - unless you and I have the same taste for design and quality ;-) But do me a favor - If you do end up liking Evolve - don't tell folks how awesome it is - instead, remind them why they would want to avoid it ;-) Danny #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpB4nMVS4VI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

Updates! Gray Zombie with darker lips (as you didn't like the bright-red-lips-after-a-cuppa-brain-chowder), Prowess, Vision, and Courage. The initial batches of gray will come with the current Gen 2 frame. Lavender Bio Mecha Boots and Combat Gloves. February will be a relatively slow month for releases as we focus on the injection molding and assembly of the 5th Gen Evolve frame. While the design of the frame has been optimized as much as possible, the assembly still requires a human to hand-make and tune each frame - like tuning a violin (kinda). Even though frame components are injection molded, the geometric dimensions vary ever so slightly, so to balance the haptic feedback, articulation, posture strength, and sound level of the clicks, we created oversized springboard structures that we tune down to fit each gear - if you pull out the joints, they may look worn-in but are actually tuned down to fit their injection molded counterpart. We do similar tuning for the current Gen 2 frame, which is why joint pegs look sanded down. Hold off from buying a Smart Doll if Evolve sounds like something that may tickle your fancy. If not, get a current Smart Doll or another brand that uses the conventional clamping force frame design. As the name suggests, the Evolve design will continue to improve based on learnings of the previous version. If you get the first release, the subsequent Smart Doll you get may already have evolved in design. I will publish a change log to keep track of what's new. While most manufacturers usually tell you that their new product is the bee's knees - I recommend keeping your expectations rock bottom - Evolve is a completely new concept for a vinyl doll, and I think many of you will hate it - which is why I can't wait to release it - I love making stuff folks don't want ;-) All Smart Doll headcaps will soon be unified to be Cyborg Orange which has a slightly better grip for the wigs. Some folks will hate this, which will hopefully further reduce sales ;-) Support stands will also be the orange Clickety Click version by default. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoeDfJpSZBf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dannychoo]

Are you #TeamAnime or #TeamSemiReal? If you prefer the anime aesthetic, would these semi-real anime-style eyes tickle your fancy? Or does the nose-breathing aspect of a semi-real still put you off? I used to prefer the anime aesthetic (because that's all we made up until 2019), but I lean toward the semi-real style these days. That's not to say there won't be more anime styles as you have seen over the past few days - and yes - there are new anime sculpts and characters in the works - some of which you may have seen as 3D prints in the Timeline section on the Smart Doll online store. I've read how some folks think anime characters look like bugs (understandable) - I've also seen how some dislike the semi-real style because it reminds them too much of...humans (also understandable ;-). If you are in either camp, what aspect puts you off the opposite style and why? I've seen folks who preferred the anime aesthetic go on to buy a semi-real, but I have yet to see folks going the other way - or am I not looking hard enough? If you are #TeamAnime, is there an anime-style character that you would consider as a semi-real? Same question to folks who prefer the semi-real aesthetic. The most recent semi-real to anime conversion was North (Relentless), which worked out quite well and became one of our most popular anime styles. Oh - we have already electroplated the paint masks for a semi-real Oceana - we just need to do the usual etching/soldering tweaks. #tokyo #smartdoll #anime #manga #3dprinting #japan (at Mirai Store Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoWjG1ayD76/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=