Angel
Angel is the second release as part of BBI’s Dark Desires series of 1/6 scale dolls. These dolls are exclusively from distributor Merit International, and available through retailers such as UniToyZone.
Each Dark Desires doll has its own back story and personality. The back of the package tells a little about Angel:
“Angel lives in the shadows and has chosen a lifestyle that is individual and diverse. Those who celebrate the dark recesses of the human psyche do so un-ashamedly and revel in their own subculture, with their own graphic art, literature, music and fashion. Angel lives among them as a free thinker with a deep interest in magic mysticism and numerous other topics that are often considered taboo. Angel longs to live in a world with no prejudices… her Dark Desire is that, with help from others, she will find it.”
Now, I am not a Goth, and I can’t speak for them, but this description sounds very… encyclopedic. It is as if someone was writing about a culture long after it was gone. There are many different kinds of “Goth”, and the kind you find hanging out in front of Hot Topic at the mall is very different than the kind you find hanging out over a bridge in Harajuku. Angel seems to be somewhere in between….
The figure has the usual exquisite attention to detail. There is more articulation than you will know what to do with – double jointed knees and elbows, multiple joints in the torso, and even swivel joints on the upper thighs.
The outfit is a decadent mix of lace and fabric. The multi-layered dress evokes the spirit of a Victorian maid – if that maid listened to Cradle of Filth. Angel sports chains around her body, a neck choker, rings on her fingers, and bows in strategic locations. She has cloth sleeves, and fishnet stockings. The shoes are one solid piece; you can’t take them off the feet.
Angel’s face is as white as a blizzard, but the rest of her exposed skin is normal tone. Her eyes are two different colors, and her hair is perfectly blond – she seems very…. Scandinavian? The way she is packaged is not flattering, with a clear band compressing her hair. Once you break her out though, she begins to shine.
One of the more interesting touches to this doll is the choice of hand positions. Her left hand has a neutral pose, but her right hand is making the V symbol. In Japan, people tend to make the V sign when they get their pictures taken, especially the Goths in Harajuku. It’s a nice touch, and shows that BBI / Merit know the subject matter they are covering (if it was in fact intentional).
Harajuku Gothic Geish giving the V sign
Also included in the package is a small tray featuring various accessories including a headpiece, staff, amulets, and necklaces. I couldn’t find a use for most of them, so I left them in the package. The headpiece adds a lot to the look of the figure, but there is no visible way to attach it to the head. No elastic, Velcro or snaps. Am I supposed to tie it? After a few frustrating minutes trying to tie the hat on my doll, I just decided to let it just rest on the head. Sure, I could have called one of my daughters in to help, but I don’t know if I would have ever lived that one down.
While the doll is really great, I have a few small criticisms.
- The packaged accessories are kind of useless. The staff can’t be held, and the small amulets are impossible to attach. No instructions are given for their usage. Are they supposed to be attached to the figure, or to you?
- Twistie ties. There were 12 ties that you have to cut to remove this figure from the backing card. That’s a bit much.
- The text on the packaging may discourage actual goths who may want to buy this product. As individuals, they would probably hate to be categorized and quantified in this way.
Angel is a quality doll – with great attention to detail and fantastic articulation – she is sure to please any 1/6 scale collector, doll collector, or fans of gothic culture.
