(Almost) everything that happened in 2025

I have not been very active on the blog this year, even though a lot has happened during the year. Thus, the last post of the year will be a kind of recap, with a lot of photos taken during the year but not posted on the blog before. I will also look back at last year's recap post and the plans I made for this year, seeing which parts came true and which did not. Lastly, I plan my goals for the next year.

The biggest doll-collecting news of early 2025 was Timeless Tresure re-release of Seila in March. Seila being my very first and the holiest grail, you can imagine how exhilarated I was by announced re-release. However, due to several delays in production and shipping, I did not receive her until October. I did not mind, though; I was just overjoyed knowing that my grail was finally on her way! :D I will write more about her in a separate post next year in order to keep this recap brief. 

I did not take many photos during the winter, and my first proper photoshoot of the year was not until April (not counting e.g. taking photos for doll reviews). I thought My Melody was just perfect for an Easter photoshoot, since she is very Easter-coloured and well, also a bunny, haha. (Is this too on the nose??) 

I also took some non-seasonal photos to be posted beyond the Easter season (which I am finally doing now):

Being able to utilise this My Melody Re-Ment in the photoshoot made me really happy! :D

Cherry blossom season: my favourite time of the year! This time, I took photos of my Amaterasu Nendoroid. Ōkami is an extremely nostalgic game to me, and cherry blossoms and Amaterasu make such an iconic combo. I am also slowly trying to learn how to take better photos with my phone.

 Late spring, I also took photos of Selina with apple blossoms:

   

In August, I got to pre-order another grail as Timeless Treasure re-release of Nosferatu was announced. I have not received him yet, but he is apparently going to be shipped soon – I am so excited! 

A couple of years ago, when I returned to the hobby after a long hiatus, I made myself a promise to try to participate in doll meets. In October, I finally attended a meet for the first time in a very long time at Nippori. Seeing other people's dolls and creations in real life was really cool! :-)

Another season I did not want to miss was Halloween. I am actually really happy with how these photos turned out, especially the latter. Although, due to an unfortunate angle, only one "ear" of his cat-ear beanie is visible, making it look more like a black elf hat, haha. (Too bad I did not notice this until I was uploading the photos.)

Halloween was also the first time I took photos of my Kuromi. I find it funny that the first photos of My Melody were taken during Easter, and the first photos of Kuromi during Halloween, both celebrations being perfect fits for each character's colour scheme and aesthetics. Drafts of reviews for both My Melody and Kuromi are currently works in progress and will be posted probably next month. 

Practicing using phone camera again:

Kotae Expo in November was one of the highlights of my year. I attended a doll meet on Saturday and Green's doll photography workshop on Sunday. 

For Saturday, I made Tilda a new outfit inspired by details of my own coord (such as blouse with an embroidered collar):

Some photos from Saturday's meet:

It was delightful to see so many uniquely styled dolls, and I had so much fun talking with everyone! 

For Sunday, I made another outfit for Tilda, this time matching my coord even more closely:

The doll photography workshop was fantastic: Green was super knowledgeable and helpful with everything! :-) I got a lot of good advice, and we got to use this awesome set up he had brought to the expo:

The end of the year was really eventful time for my doll collection with Pullip Momori, Cassie, and Yami joining the crew. I will make separate posts for each of them later. I also bought two Miku figures and a few Re-Ments, some of which I got to make use of in these Christmas photos:

This is actually one of my all-time favourite photos so far! 

Although the next photo did not turn out as I imagined, I wanted to share it anyway, because I like the idea and the setup. Now that I know what I would do differently, I might try retaking it next year and see if I can improve it. 

The yearly tradition of photographing my dolls in front of the Christmas tree:

The last photo of the year (yay, snow!):

 

Looking back at last year's goals, I can say that this was a successful doll year. Here is some reflection on them, along with plans for next year:

 

Doll collection 

 

I managed to get two of my grails (well, one is still on the way, but anyways). It was fun to read my one-year-old speculations about possible Pullip re-releases, being half-hopeful, half-sceptical about Seila. :D Currently, I am more hopeful than sceptical about Ende's re-release, since she is the only one missing from the vampire family. Knowing how popular Natsume, Lyla, and Glen are, I am keeping fingers crossed for their re-releases as well. Unfortunately, given that both Alura and Kühn were released as exclusives, them getting re-releases is probably unlikely. 

 

These six are the only older releases I am actively searching for, although if I happen to find Shinku for a good price, I might consider getting her. Then there are some models like Alfred, whose face-up I really like, but I am not that interested in the model as a whole or in owning their stock clothes. For these models, I am hoping to find a good deal on ones with missing accessories or such. Among newer releases, I find myself interested in Claudia and Eclata. However, Eclata already seems difficult to find, but then again, she is one of those models I would not mind getting incomplete if it means a more affordable price.

 

I actually surprised myself by not getting the re-released Bloody Red Hood. She is one of my all-time favourite releases and, in my opinion, one of the most iconic Pullips. And yet I just did not feel this re-release was a necessary addition to my collection specifically. Strange. We will see if I end up regretting this decision later. 

 

Nonetheless, I am currently very happy with my collection, and I believe that next year the focus will be more in customization. Last year, I planned to get new wigs and chips for Albireo and ReonHardt. I did find them suitable wigs, but they were both currently sold out, so I am waiting to see if they get restocked or if I need to find alternatives. I actually managed to get them new chips, although I have not changed them yet. I am going to do that once I also have the wigs ready. 

 

Anette (Meg) also got new chips and is currently waiting for her new wig to arrive. Once I get to changing them, she might also get the new obitsu I bought earlier this year. This is the first obitsu I own, so I am excited about all the new posing possibilities for photos and to see if I think rebodying is worth it. If so, some of my older dolls may also get obitsus. 

 

I also got new chips for Vivian (Classical Alice Sepia), but she too is waiting to get a new wig first; I have not found one with the right colour and style yet. I have plans to customize Cassie as well, but that might be postponed, as I want to prioritize other dolls and also photograph her with stock Callie first. I am also dreaming of making my first full custom doll, but due to the discontinuation of MIO kits I do not think that is going to happen anytime soon.

Sewing et cetera

I am happy with this year's sewing projects as well – it seems that doll meets are good for me also this way; wanting to finish a new project before a meet is a great motivator, haha. I am especially happy that I tried new techniques like embroidery. Next year, I want to expand my skills even further. For example, I recently got back into needle felting after a very long time, and I am already thinking what I can felt for my dolls. Maybe mittens? My collection is urgently missing winter clothes. In addition to those, I want to make more clothes for my Taeyangs and Isuls, who have been seriously neglected (so far, I have only made them scarves, hats, and other small accessories). 

 

I am also planning to try to sew clothes in different styles: Each of my dolls has their own aesthetics, hobbies, and lifestyles, and I want their "wardrobes" to concretely reflect that. For example, Anette being into upcycling, customizing clothes, and crafting in general, I would like to make her clothes with unique embroidery. This will not be an easy or quick task: it will take time to study different styles, think about my dolls' characters more thoroughly, find suitable materials, and maybe also learn new techniques. Creating clothes in styles I am not used to also means stepping out of my comfort zone. However, I feel that details like this will add a new layer of storytelling to my photos.

 

 

Photography 

I am also really happy with the progress I made in photography this year. One of my goals was to use props in a more diverse way, and looking back at photos I took this year, many of them do feature props of some sort. I am glad that I have managed to collect some basic prop essentials, like doll-sized furniture; I feel they make photographing indoors so much more interesting and fun. Next year I want to, in addition to collecting Re-Ments, craft some distinctive props myself and, more importantly, make a Pullip-sized roombox. 

 

Another goal was to incorporate more fantasy themes into my photos. I have not done this as much in practice as I have in planning new projects and seeking inspiration from e.g. books and games. Still, I do feel I have managed to attain a certain whimsical, storybook-like atmosphere in some of my photos, which I think aligns with that fantasy theme goal. I have also experimented more, avoiding relying too heavily on familiar angles and compositions and other habitual approaches. (I feel like playing Infinity Nikki has actually helped with this: in addition to obvious outfit inspiration, I have had fun with the in-game camera, playing with angles, lighting, and so on without actually having to put any physical effort, haha.) I think the next step toward more lively, whimsical and fantasy-like photos is utilising fishing line more in my setups. That is something I will focus on next year.

 

 

Other plans 

My other doll-related plans for this year included updating the blog theme and writing doll profiles. I have neglected those, but when it comes to blog's appearance, I am happy with my decision to switch to writing only in English: although I have published only one post in English-only before this recap, I already feel that changing language has helped creating a more polished look for the blog theme and menus. On a related note, I am having a bit of identity crisis with my current nickname and URL. I changed it earlier this year, and while I like it more than the previous one, it still feels a bit like a placeholder. I hope to find a nickname that better captures my aesthetics and sources of inspiration. This will probably require some further introspection regarding my style, like looking for recurring themes in my photos and such. I think it would also help with a new blog theme, having something to build around. 

I have also finally managed to name several of my dolls, which is already progress to their profiles! :D I am currently stuck on word building, specifically with deciding if I want my characters to be part of the same world and if not, how to divide them. My dolls have already many established relationships (who is related to who, who get along well, who do not, etc.) and splitting them up would disrupt that network, but then again, having only one world is somewhat limiting – what if I want both a realistic world and a fantasy world? Perhaps I should not worry about that too much for now; if my photos diverge from a later established "canon", I can treat them as crossover episodes or taking place in alternative universe, haha. 

That's all for now! Here is short summary of my most important goals for 2026, in no particular order:

1. Finish writing doll reviews currently in drafts and be more active on this blog in general. (That includes reading and commenting on your blogs more actively...)
2. Attend doll meets again.
3. Make lots of doll clothes and explore different styles.
4. Try new things in photography. 
5. Continue customizing dolls and developing their characters. 

My dolls and I wish you a happy New Year! See you next year!

Isul Black Mao Review

This is another post that has been waiting in my drafts for quite some time. I actually got my Isul Black Mao two years ago, shortly after the model's release. This release is one of the few that immediately felt like a must-have addition to my collection. Even after two years, I am still amazed by all the delicate details of the face-up and the high quality of the stock clothes. More about those later in the post, but firstly, photos of the box (as usual):

A lot of cats and other fitting details on the box

The flap of the box

On the back of the box, there is information about the creators of the doll, Kanihoru and Mitsubachi.

The side of the box

The box opened

Still in the box...

His face up is so pretty :o

Black Mao has eyeliner similar to other Maos, but with a bolder wing. His eyeshadow has grey tones (with a hint of petrol blue?) and a muted orangish brown matching the shade of his matte lips. The eyebrows are light and have individually drawn hairs, creating a natural and delicate look. The painted-on eyelid creases are shaded with matching greyish brown colour, while the eyelids have a pretty dark brown gradient. (His eyeliner, eyeshadow, and eyebrows actually remind me a lot of Kuhn's, whose face up I also really like!) 

 

My favourite parts of the face up are the use of shimmering gold on his painted-on eyelids and the mole above his left eyebrow. I wish details like this were more common in Pullip designs – I think moles, freckles, or alike add realism and personality to a doll design. :-)

The face-up

 

Eyes closed

 

His eyes have cat-like pupils, and their colour changes from silver-grey to dark brown depending on the lighting (see, for example, the following photo and the one two photos back for comparison). The chips even appear to have a hint of green shine in certain lighting? Anyway, the eyes have this really cool shiny and colour-changing effect, which I unfortunately could not fully capture with photos.  

His wig is actually two-coloured: the lowest row of wefts on the back and the sides of the wig are light grey. The secondary colour is most visible on the back of his head, although it remains quite subtle even there. It can be seen slightly from the front as well, which is a nice touch. Overall, the wig is good quality: the wig cap is not showing, there are no loose strands of hair, and the texture feels silky.

 

A close-up of the eye chips

 

I am impressed by the number of clothes and accessories that come with the doll (and by how detailed they are)! There is a suit jacket, trousers with belt and chain, dress shirt, tie, pair of boots, harness, turtleneck shirt, T-shirt, scarf, face mask, pendant, stand, collector card, and, of course, a pair of cat ears.

 

All clothes and accessories

The harness is fastened with a tiny side-release buckle at the front and is made of textured pleather. Pleather as material is always a bit concerning due to its known tendency to deteriorate, but to me the material used here feels less stiff than what I have previously encountered on Pullip stock outfits, so it is possible that this one will not start to flake as usual, but time will tell. For now, I am just going to admire the details.

 

The outfit he has in the box (+ boots)

The suit jacket cannot be closed, but it has small buttons and embroided fake buttonholes. Thanks to good pattern design, the jacket sits well, and it even has pocket flaps (although no real pockets).

 

The suit jacket

The dress shirt has small beads on the front as fake buttons and is actually closed with velcro. His tie is fastened with a small hook on the back and has a tiny tie pin on the front. 

The dress shirt

 

I am really impressed with his trousers: there has been a lot of attention to detail and functionality. Firstly, the belt is functional and removable, as is the chain. Secondly, the trousers have seams, belt loops, and pleats just like actual human-sized trousers, and there are real side seam pockets and also faux pockets on the back. Not sure how useful functioning pockets on doll clothes truly are, but I think they show that the producer is willing to go the extra mile to include thoughtful details that the collectors would appreciate. Additionally, it is fun to know that if you wanted to pose a doll with hands in pockets for a photo, you could. :-D

Note the details and functioning pockets!

 

I am also really happy with his boots. They fit well and securely, which is not something to be taken for granted (sometimes I feel that most Pullip releases have shoes that are too big). Furthermore, like the trousers, the boots are very detailed. They have intricate texturing, including the seams and even creasing around the ball of the foot, and the soles are translucent, mimicking certain types of real boots.

 

Boots with an amazing level of details for stock shoes

The cat theme continues in the print of his T-shirt

The cat ears are made of fluffy black fabric, and one ear has a chain accessory on it. I guess cat ears are an essential part of a cat-themed outfit, but I am not sure how much I am going to use them, as I do not think they add that much to the whole look. The ears have a somewhat costume-like look, and I am not sure if this is intentional. They are a bit shapeless and do not look that clearly like cat ears. Additionally, the hair clips used to attach them are somewhat difficult to hide completely. Everything else being so detailed and realistic, I feel like the ears stand out a bit from the overall look (and not necessarily in a good way), but then again, if the point is him being dressed up as a cat and not being an actual catboy, the costume-like look makes sense. 

 

His other accessories include a face mask and a scarf. The mask's inner side is white probably because black fabrics are known to be prone to staining plastic. The scarf has a visible stitch pattern that works really nicely in this scale. Its texture gives the feeling of a real miniature scarf – an actual scarf turned small – and not just any small piece of fabric. I am very pleased with this sort of details!

The cat ears, the face mask, and the scarf

 

Both his T-shirt and long-sleeved turtleneck feel like nice quality, and I am happy with how many clothes he has (much like previous Mao releases). In addition, all his clothes can be easily mixed with one's existing Isul wardrobe, as they are somewhat basic – in a good way! (I think it is refreshing for a release to have well-made everyday clothes instead of a set of statement pieces for a very specific aesthetic or setting, although there is a time and place for everything.) I feel like Black Mao's stock outfits are almost an entire capsule wardrobe on their own, haha. 

 

Even his pendant – a coin featuring Queen Elizabeth II – is detailed enough to have readable text on it.

In summary, this doll has an amazing level of detail in both his face up and stock clothes. Everything feels well-made, and I appreciate how a sense of realism is achieved not just with the details, but also with the use of different materials and textures (e.g. stitch pattern on the scarf, pleather in the belt and harness, and jersey shirts). I feel like it all has been carefully designed to look right in this scale. Attention to detail and showcasing artists' recognizable styles and aesthetics are exactly what I expect from Creator's Label series. I love Mitsubachi's designs, and I am glad to have Black Mao in my collection as well.

 

 

Year 2024 and the plans for the future

Tämä vuosi – kuten blogin yhdestä ainoasta uudesta postauksesta voi huomata – on ollut nukkeilun kannalta hyvin hiljainen. Pyrin suhtautumaan tähän itsemyötätuntoisesti ja muistamaan, että hiljaisemmat vaiheet saattavat kuulua harrastamiseen, eivätkä nämä tee harrastuksesta vähemmän tärkeää tai arvokasta. Nukkeilen vapaaehtoisesti ja omaksi ilokseni, joten en ole vastuussa aktiivisuudestani kenellekään. Olen myös muistuttanut itseäni siitä, ettei ole olemassa vain yhtä oikeaa tapaa nukkeilla, vaan harrastamisen muodot voivat ja saavatkin vaihdella eri harrastajien ja tilanteiden välillä. Tänä vuonna harrastamiseni on sisältänyt pääasiassa nukkejen katselua ja tulevien projektien suunnittelua. 

This year – as you can tell from the single new post on the blog – has been very quiet for my doll hobby. I try to deal with this with self-compassion, reminding myself that quieter phases can be inherent to a hobby and do not make the hobby any less valuable or important. This is something I do voluntarily and for my own enjoyment, so I am not answerable for my level of activity. I have also reminded myself that there is not just one correct way to enjoy a doll hobby, but its forms can vary between hobbyists and situations. This year, my hobby has mainly consisted of admiring my dolls and planning future projects.

Hiljaisuudesta huolimatta tein vuoden aikana muutamia uusia hankintoja ja syksyllä Callie liittyi kokoelmaani. Huomasin kahden vuoden takaisessa postauksessani harkinneeni Cassien hankintaa ja muistelen, että olin silloinkin kahden vaiheilla, kumman näistä nukeista valitsisin. Pidän Cassien kulmakarvoista hieman enemmän, mutta en enää muista, oliko se syy, miksi alunperin suunnittelin Cassien hankkimista, vai liittyikö valintaan jotain muuta. Nyt joka tapauksessa päädyin Callieen, sillä pidin tämän vaatteista enemmän kuin Cassien. Nyt Cassiekin on tosin alkanut kiinnostaa uudelleen, sillä ihastuin Callien face-upiin täysin. Cassien hankinnassa houkutteleekin ensisijaisesti mahdollisuus hyödyntää face-upia ja kustomoida toinen nukeista uudella peruukilla ja chipeillä selvästi erinäköiseksi (vaikka kaksosten kuvaaminen voisi aluksi olla hauskaa).

Despite the inactivity, I made a few new purchases throughout the year, and in the fall, Callie joined my collection. I noticed I had considered getting Cassie in a post from two years ago, and I remember being indecisive about which of these dolls to choose then. I like Cassie's eyebrows a bit more, but I cannot remember if that was the reason I initially planned to get Cassie or if there was something else that influenced my decision. Anyhow, I ended up choosing Callie now, as I liked her clothes more than Cassie's. However, now Cassie has started to interest me again, as I completely fell in love with Callie's face-up. I am tempted to get Cassie particularly for the sake of opportunities to utilise the face-up while creating a distinctly different look with a new wig and chips (although photographing twins could be fun at first).

Aivan loppuvuodesta hankin myös NieR Chanin ja My Melody x HENNAKOn. Huomasin, että olen maininnut molemmat jo vuoden 2022 postauksessa tulevia hankintoja suunnitellessani. :D Figuurikokoelmani puolestaan kasvoi vuoden aikana yhdeksällä prize-figuurilla (joista suurin osa on Mikuja), yhdellä Nendoroidilla ja yhdellä Pop Up Paradella. Lisäksi hankin muutamia Re-Ment-huonekaluja nukeilleni.

At the very end of the year, I also got NieR Chan and My Melody x HENNAKO. I noticed that I had already mentioned both in a post from 2022 when planning future purchases. :D Meanwhile, my figure collection grew by nine prize figures (most of which are Mikus), one Nendoroid, and one Pop Up Parade. Additionally, I got a few pieces of Re-Ment furniture for my dolls.

Tuleva vuosi saattaa olla melko kiinnostava nukkehankintojen kannalta, sillä odotan innolla, mitä nukkeja Groove päättää julkaista uudelleen. Ensimmäisenä uudelleenjulkaistu Elisabeth antaa toivoa siitä, että voisin vihdoin saada lisättyä graalini Nosferatun kokoelmaani. Jos koko sarja julkaistaan uudelleen, harkitsen myös Enden hankkimista. Toinen itseäni kiinnostava Dal-uudelleenjulkaisu olisi Lyla. Pullip Monochrome Alicen julkaisu peruuntumisestaankin huolimatta osoittaa, etteivät erikoisjulkaisut ole poissuljettuja, joten jään myös seuraamaan, tulisivatko Creator's Label -graalini Glen ja Natsume uudelleen myyntiin. Toivon hartaasti Seilaa uudelleen myyntiin, mutta en tiedä, kuinka todennäköistä on saada uusi uudelleenjulkaisu näin lyhyen ajan sisällä, kun edellisestä on vasta muutama vuosi. Hinnoista päätellen ostajia kyllä löytyisi. 

The upcoming year might be quite interesting in terms of doll purchases, as I am looking forward to seeing which dolls Groove decides to re-release. The re-release of Elisabeth gives hope that I might finally be able to add my grail, Nosferatu, to my collection. If the entire series is re-released, I might also consider getting Ende. Another Dal re-release that interests me would be Lyla. Even though the release of Pullip Monochrome Alice was canceled, it shows that special releases are not off the table, so I will stay tuned to see if my Creator's Label grails, Glen and Natsume, are re-released. I am desperately hoping for Seila to come back on sale, but I am not sure how likely it is to get a new re-release so soon, as it has only been a few years since the last one. Judging by the prices, though, it seems there would be buyers.

Olin viime ja edellisen vuoden postauksissa suunnitellut MIO-kittien hankintaa ja full customien tekoa. MIO-kittien valmistuksen lopettaminen tosin laski huomattavasti innostustani full customien tekemiseen, joten nämä suunnitelmat jäävät toistaiseksi taka-alalle. Keskittynenkin ensi vuonna vain peruukkien ja silmien vaihtamiseen, ellei tilanne muutu. Tavoitteenani olisi saada vihdoin Albireolle ja ReonHardtille uudet peruukit ja mahdollisesti uudet silmät (tämä vielä harkinnan alla). 

In my posts from last year and the year before, I had planned to get MIO kits and make full customs. However, the discontinuation of MIO kit production significantly reduced my enthusiasm for making full customs, so these plans are set aside for the time being. Next year, I will probably focus only on changing wigs and eyes, unless the situation changes. My goal is to finally get new wigs for Albireo and ReonHardt, and possibly new eyes (this is still under consideration).

Olen aina ihaillut kuvia, joissa nukkejen ympäristö on sisustettu yksityiskohtaisesti, joten valokuvauksessa ensi vuoden tavoitteenani on hyödyntää proppeja monipuolisemmin. Haluaisin myös kokeilla tuoda kuviini enemmän fantasiateemoja sekä hankkia kuviollisia papereita ja pahveja taustoiksi. Ikuisuusprojektinani on edelleen saada blogin ulkoasu päivitettyä ja nukkejen profiilit kirjoitettua. Olen tähän liittyen harkinnut blogin päivittämistä jatkossa vain englanniksi. Alun perin halusin kirjoittaa suomeksi, sillä koin tarvitsevani tässä harjoitusta. Tällä hetkellä kirjoitan kuitenkin muita tekstejä suomeksi ja nyt englanti on kielistä se, jolla kirjoittaminen vaatisi enemmän harjoitusta. Vain yhden kielen käyttäminen blogissa myös siistisi ja selkiyttäisi tekstejä ja blogin sivuja. Lisäksi postauksien kirjoittamisessa olisi vähemmän vaivaa, mikä helpottaisi blogin aktiivisempaa päivittämistä. 

I have always admired photos where the dolls' environment is decorated in detail, so my next year's goal for photography is to use props with more diversity. I would also like to experiment with incorporating more fantasy themes into my photos and get patterned papers and cardboards for backgrounds. My still ongoing project is to get the blog’s appearance updated and the doll profiles written. Regarding this, I have been considering writing the blog only in English in the future. Initially, I wanted to write in Finnish because I felt I needed practice in it. However, I currently write other texts in Finnish, and now English is the language in which writing would require more practice. Using just one language in the blog would also refine and clarify the texts and blog pages. Additionally, writing posts would require less effort, making it easier to update the blog more actively.
 

 

Meg ehti toivottaa jo Instagramissa hyvät joulut kaikille seuraajille. Toivotan vielä itse kaikille lukijoille onnellista uutta vuotta. :-) Ensi vuoteen!

Meg already wished merry Christmas to all followers on Instagram. In addition, I myself wish all readers a happy new year. :-) Until next year!

Pullip Hatsune Miku LOL Review

 

Tämä postaus on ollut luonnoksissani pitkään. Hankin Miku LOL-version jo viime vuoden maaliskuussa, mutta en ole saanut tätä postausta viimeisteltyä. Blogi tosin on ollut tänä vuonna muutenkin hiljainen, mutta arvostelun kirjoittaminen tuntui työläältä jo silloin, kun päivitin tätä blogia aktiivisemmin. Työläyteen on osaltaan vaikuttanut nuken mukana tulleiden vaatteiden paljous, minkä takia kirjoitettavaa on riittänyt. Toisaalta julkaisu itsessäänkin herättää paljon ajatuksia. Miku LOL tuntui olevan hyvin suosittu malli nukkeiluharrastukseni alkuaikoina, minkä takia julkaisuun liittyy paljon nostalgiaa. Ehkä voisin pitää tätä mallia jopa yhtenä Pullip-sarjan klassikoista, jos tällaisia pitäisi nimetä. :-)

Alun perin harkitsin ostavani tämän LOL -lots of laugh- -kappaleen musiikkivideoon perustuvan version sijaan Pullip Hatsune Mikun. Päädyin kuitenkin LOL-versioon ensinnäkin julkaisuissa käytettyjen materiaalien vuoksi, sillä toisen Mikun vaatteissa käytetty keinonahka on tunnetusti kehnosti kestävä materiaali. Pidän ns. tavallisen Mikun kynsilakasta ja olkapään 01-yksityiskohdasta, jotka puuttuvat LOL-versiolta, mutta en antanut näille yhtä suurta painoarvoa kuin käyttökelpoisille stock-vaatteille. Lisäksi pidän tavallisen Mikun hieman voimakkaammasta meikistä, mutta koska erot eivät ole suurensuuria ja LOL-version hillitympi ilme sopinee kuva-aiheisiini joka tapauksessa paremmin, valitsin LOL-version. LOL-version onnistuin myös saamaan hieman tavallista Mikua edullisemmin.

 

This post has been in my drafts for a long time. I got Miku LOL version as early as March of last year, but I have not managed to finish this post. The blog has been quiet this year anyway, but writing this review already felt demanding back when I was updating the blog more actively. The difficulty partly stems from the large number of pieces of clothing that this release includes, which has given me plenty to write about. On the other hand, this release itself evokes a lot of thoughts. Miku LOL seemed to be a very popular model during the time I started collecting these dolls, which makes this release feel quite nostalgic. I might even consider this model one of the Pullip classics, if I had to name some. :-)

Originally, I considered buying Pullip Hatsune Miku instead of this version based on the LOL -lots of laugh- music video. However, I ended up choosing the LOL version primarily because of the materials used in the releases as the pleather used in other Miku's outfit ages infamously poorly. I like the so-called regular Miku's nail polish and the "01" detail on her shoulder, which are both missing from the LOL version, but I did not give them as much weight as I did to the practicality of the stock clothes. I also like the slightly heavier makeup of the regular Miku, but since the differences are not that significant and the more muted makeup of the LOL version probably suits my typical photos better anyway, I chose the LOL version. I also managed to get the LOL version at a slightly lower price than the regular Miku. 

 

Alkuun kuvia paketista:

First, photos of the box:

 

Miku LOL-version laatikko on yksi suosikeistani, sillä sen värimaailma sopii hyvin nuken sävyihin ja lähdemateriaali näkyy laatikon yksityiskohdissa (esim. taustan pupuissa). Pakkauksen erikoisuutena on, että nukke on asetettu laatikkoon poikkeavasti jalat koukussa, jotta pupuhattu saataisiin mahtumaan.

The box of Miku LOL version is one of my favourites as its colour scheme complements the doll's tones, and the source material is featured in the box's details (e.g. the bunnies in the background). The packaging is unusual in the sense that the doll is positioned unconventionally, with her legs bent, to fit the bunny hat in the box.

 

Nuken mukana tulee molemmat lähdemateriaalissa nähtävät asut: unimaailman pupuasu sekä toinen, koulupukumainen asu. Vaatteiden lisäksi nuken mukana tulee pehmoeläin, aitouskortti ja jalusta. 

The doll comes with both outfits seen in the source-material: the bunny costume of the dream world and another, school uniform-like outfit. In addition to the clothes, the doll comes with a stuffed animal, the authenticity card, and the stand. 

 

Nuken meikki on hillitty. Luomissa, poskissa sekä huulissa on hennon vaaleanpunaista väriä ja silmien alapuolella vaaleanruskeaa varjostusta. Silmien siipirajaukset ja turkoosit kulmakarvat tekevät meikistä kuitenkin tunnistettavan. Chipit ovat yksinkertaiset, mikä mielestäni toimii tässä hyvin. Kulmakarvojen väri sopii hyvin yhteen chipien ja peruukin kanssa, mutta rajoittanee joissain määrin mahdollisuuksia kustomoida nukkea luontevasti. Tämä ei tosin haittaa minua, sillä oma Mikuni pysyy stockina.

The doll's makeup is muted. The eyelids, cheeks and lips have a faint pink colour and there is light brown shading under the eyes. However, the winged eyeliner and turquoise eyebrows make the makeup recognizable. The eye chips are simple as well, which works well here in my opinion. The colour of the eyebrows complements the chips and the wig, but it may somewhat limit the options to customize the doll in a natural manner. This does not bother me, though, as my Miku will remain stock.

 

Peruukki on hieman kiiltävä ja sen verkko näkyy päälaelta, mutta muuten olin positiivisesti yllättynyt peruukin laadusta – olen kuullut tästä nimenomaisesta peruukista kielteisiä kommentteja, minkä takia olin varautunut pettymään. Toisaalta nukkea on toistaiseksi kuvattu verrattain vähän, joten aika näyttää, miten peruukki käyttäytyy jatkossa. Takaraivon hiukset on leikattu lyhyiksi, mikä muistuttaa joidenkin Mikun designien niskahiuksia. Edestä hiukset on leikattu tavalliseksi otsatukaksi, joten mikäli hiusten haluaa näyttävän malliltaan, vaatii se hieman asettelua ja kärsivällisyyttä. 

Saparot pysyvät kasassa langalla ja kumilenkeillä, jotka tässä jäävät näkyviksi, mutta peittyvät pupuasussa hatun alle ja koulupukumaisessa asussa erikseen kiinnitettävien hiusdonitsien alle. Huomasin muuten, että mainoskuvien prototyyppi-Mikulla on lähdemateriaalille uskollisesti kerrostetut saparot, mutta todellisuudessa peruukin saparoissa ei tätä kerrostusta ole. Tämä ei varsinaisesti haittaa, mutta on kiinnostavaa huomata eroavaisuuksia prototyyppien ja lopullisten julkaisujen välillä ja miettiä, mitä syitä muokkauksille on ollut. (Arvaukseni on, että kerrostettu kampaus on ollut joko hankala toteuttaa tai sitten saparot olisivat kerrostettuina näyttäneet liian ohuilta.)

 

The wig is slightly shiny, and its net is visible on top of the head, but otherwise I am pleasantly surprised by its quality – I have heard some complaints about this particular wig, so I was prepared to be disappointed. On the other hand, the doll has been photographed relatively little so far, so time will tell how the wig holds up in the future. The hair at the back of the head is cut short, which resembles the hair on the neck of some Miku designs. The front hair is cut into regular bangs, so if one wants the hair to look like the model's, it requires some styling and patience.

The pigtails are held together with thread and rubber bands, which are visible here, but hidden under the hat in the bunny costume and under the separate attachable scrunchies in the school uniform-like outfit. I happened to notice that the prototype Miku in the promo photos has layered pigtails, true to the source material, but this layering is missing from the actual wig's pigtails. This does not particularly bother me, but it is interesting to spot differences between the prototype and the final product and think of the reasons behind the changes. (My guess is that either the layered haircut was difficult to execute, or the pigtails would have looked too thin if layered.)

 

Mikun pupuasuun kuuluu pupuhattu, toppi, merimieskauluksellinen paita, hame, hanskat, sukat, kengät ja mamelukit. Nukke oli laatikossa puettu tähän asuun hanskoja ja kenkiä lukuun ottamatta.

Miku's bunny costume consists of a bunny hat, a top, a shirt with a sailor collar, a skirt, gloves, socks, shoes, and bloomers. The doll was dressed in this outfit in the box, apart from the gloves and shoes.

 

Hattu on hahmouskollisesti yksityiskohtainen ja tuntuu laadukkaalta: se on pehmoinen ja sopivasti täytetty, korvassa on aidot rusetit, silmät ovat kirjaillut ja isoa rusettia leuan alla reunustaa pitsi. Hatun korvissa on rautalangat, jotta korvia voi väännellä mieleiseensä asentoon. Hatun kiinnitys on hoidettu pienellä hakasella, joka jää rusetin alle piiloon. Mielestäni tässä on onnistuttu hyvin kolmiulotteisuudessa, materiaalivalinnoissa ja käytännöllisyydessä. Ainoa huomautettava asia on, että hatun painon vuoksi nuken tasapainottaminen on välillä hieman haasteellista. 

The hat is detailed, faithful to the character, and feels high-quality: it is soft and appropriately stuffed, there are real bows on the ear, the eyes are embroidered and the large bow under the chin trimmed with lace. The ears have wires inside them, allowing the ears to be posed. The hat is secured with a small hook, which is hidden under the bow. I think the three-dimensionality, choice of materials, and practicality have been executed well here. The only minor issue is that due to the weight of the hat, balancing the doll can sometimes be a bit challenging.

 

Nuken hanskat on toteutettu Pullipin käsien muodon takia lapasina. Olin aiemmin kuullut muilta keräilijöiltä hanskojen olevan hankalan tiukat, mutta itselläni ei ollut näiden kanssa ongelmia. Voi olla, että Mikullani on joitain muita yksilöitä paremmin ommellut hanskat – jopa hyvin pieni ero saumassa voi olla merkittävä tässä mittakaavassa – tai sitten olen vain harjaantunut Lauran hanskojen takia. :D Sen sijaan nuken kengät ovat hyvin tiukat sukkien kanssa, ja niitä pukiessa saa olla varovainen ja hätäilemätön. Sukat ovat hieman runsaat paitsi kenkien kokoon, myös lähdemateriaaliin nähden: joustavammalla ja ohuemmalla kankaalla sukista olisi voitu tehdä tyköistuvammat, mutta tämä on hyvin pieni vika, sillä hieman reilummat sukat näyttävät kyllä itsessään söpöiltä.

The doll's gloves are made as mittens due to the shape of Pullip's hands. I had previously heard from other collectors that the gloves could be troublesomely tight, but I did not have any issues with them. It could be that my Miku's gloves have been sewn better than some other dolls' – even a small difference in the seam can be significant at this scale – or maybe I have just got good due to Laura's gloves. :D On the contrary, the doll's shoes are very tight with socks, and one must be careful and take their time when putting them on. The socks are slightly loose, both in terms of shoe size and the source material: with a more stretchy and thinner fabric, the socks could have been made more well-fitted, but this is a very minor flaw, as the slightly looser socks look kind of cute.

Pupuasun häntä on toteutettu kiinnittämällä se toppiin. Irrotettavan topin alla on merimieskauluksellinen paita, joka yhdessä hameen kanssa sopii myös arkisempiin asukokonaisuuksiin. Vaikka tässä julkaisussa hahmouskollisuus merkitsee minulle eniten, arvostan myös tällaista muunneltavuutta. 

The bunny costume's tail is attached to the top. Under the removable top, there is a sailor-collared shirt, which, along with the skirt, also works well for more casual outfits. While trueness to the character matters most to me in this release, I also appreciate this kind of versatility.

Mikun toiseen asukokonaisuuteen kuuluu merimieskauluksellinen pitkä paita, kaksikerroksinen vekkihame, sukat, pehmopupu ja hiusdonitsit. Paidan merimieskaulus on kekseliäästi toteutettu tarrakiinnityksellä (kuten myös toisessa asukokonaisuudessa). Otan tästä kyllä häikäilemättä mallia, jos ikinä ompelen merimieskauluksellisia paitoja nukeilleni. :D Paita on koristeltu pitsillä, helmillä, jotka toimivat hihan nappeina, sekä koristenauhoilla. Sukat ovat venyvää kangasta ja istuvat hyvin. Asun toteutus on siisti, materiaalivalinnoiltaan toimiva ja hahmouskollinen. 

Miku's second outfit consists of a sailor-collared long shirt, a double-layered pleated skirt, socks, a plush bunny, and hair scrunchies. The sailor collar on the shirt is cleverly designed with velcro (as well as in the other outfit). I will definitely copy this if I ever sew sailor-collared shirts for my dolls. :D The shirt is decorated with lace, beads that act as buttons on the sleeves, and decorative ribbons. The socks are made of stretchy fabric and fit well. The outfit's execution is neat, the material choices are practical, and it is true to the character.

Pupupehmon jalat ja kädet ovat liikkuvat, joten pehmoa voi kuvatessa asetella eri asentoihin. Suun toteutus näyttää ainakin tällä yksilöllä hieman kummalliselta, sillä erillisestä kangaspalasta tehdyt hampaat ovat vähän vinossa, mutta pehmo on muuten mukavan yksityiskohtainen. 

The bunny plush has movable legs and arms, so it can be positioned in different poses for photos. The mouth's design looks a bit odd at least on this one, as the teeth made from a separate piece of fabric are slightly crooked, but overall, the plush is nicely detailed.

 

 

Miku LOL-versio on julkaistu vuoden 2011 Doll Carnival -tapahtuman yhteydessä ja se on kokoelmani vanhin julkaisu. (Kokoelmani toiseksi vanhin julkaisu, Nella, on julkaistu kuukautta myöhemmin.) Olen useampaan otteeseen nähnyt Miku LOLia käytettävän esimerkkinä, kun vertaillaan vanhojen ja uusien Pullip-julkaisujen hinta-laatusuhdetta. Esimerkiksi monilla viimeaikaisilla julkaisuilla, joilla on ollut kaksi asukokonaisuutta, tämä toinen asu on myyty erikseen (esim. Sugar Sugar Rune -julkaisut). En ota tähän keskusteluun kantaa tässä postauksessa, mutta totean, että olen kaiken kaikkiaan tyytyväinen päätökseeni hankkia tämä julkaisu. 

Julkaisussa on käytetty monipuolisesti erilaisia materiaaleja ja tekniikoita, ja vaatteiden kankaat ja ompelujälki yleisesti ottaen tekevät julkaisusta laadukkaan oloisen. Yksityiskohtiin ja hahmouskollisuuteen on myös kiinnitetty huomiota. Miku on minulle tärkeä hahmo, joten olen iloinen, että nyt omistan figuurien lisäksi Mikun myös Pullipina. Odotan innolla tilaisuutta toteuttaa muiden Mikun designien asuja nukkekoossa ja ottaa muiden kappaleiden musiikkivideoista inspiroituneita kuvia nukesta. ^^

 

The Miku LOL version was released as part of the 2011 Doll Carnival event, and it is the oldest release in my collection. (The second oldest release in my collection, Nella, was released a month later.) I have frequently seen Miku LOL used as an example when comparing the price-quality ratio of older and newer Pullip releases. For instance, many recent releases that have two outfits have had the second outfit sold separately (e.g., the Sugar Sugar Rune releases). I will not take part in this discussion in this post, but I will say that I am overall very happy with my decision to add this release to my collection. 

A variety of materials and techniques have been skillfully utilized, and the fabrics and stitching of the clothes give the release a high-quality feel. Attention has also been paid to details and faithfulness to the character. Miku is an important character to me, so I am delighted to have her not just as figures but now also as a Pullip doll. I am excited to create doll-sized versions of other Miku designs' outfits and take photos inspired by other music videos. ^^