Sunday 5 February 2017

Interview with RaccoonDoll

New month means new interview! This time, I had the honor of working with Sang Yoon Choi on this interview, who is the owner and main artist of RaccoonDoll! Also, he previously worked with Iplehouse.

As always, the interview is in both English and Spanish, and all photos are used with permission. There are also some release news between the answers! Without further ado... let's start!

Hello! Thank you so much for doing the interview! Will you introduce yourself to the readers?
First, I’m really honored that I can introduce myself through the interview of this blog. I’m Sang Yoon Choi and live in Seoul, Korea. I’m father of two lovely daughters and boss of RaccoonDoll. I design and make all dolls of our company. RaccoonDoll is a company that specializes in mature mini BJDs. Our dolls are showing a beautiful and realistic face and body. Our company's motto is making every customer satisfied and happy with our dolls. Of course, I am happy when I make dolls as well.
¡Hola! ¡Muchas gracias por realizer esta entrevista! ¿Te presentarías para los lectores?
Primero quiero decirles que es un honor poder presentarme a través de esta entrevista. Soy Sang Yoon Choi y vivo en Seoul, Korea. Soy padre de dos hermosas hijas y jefe de RacoonDoll. Yo diseño y hago todas las muñecas de nuestra tienda. RaccoonDoll se especializa en BJDs mini maduras. Nuestras muñecas tienen cuerpos y rostros hermosos y realistas. El objetivo de nuestra tienda es que cada cliente esté satisfecho y feliz con nuestras muñecas. Por supuesto, yo también soy feliz cuando hago las muñecas.




How did you first discovered BJDs?
I majored sculpture in University. I liked modelling the beautiful body and face of humans. I was a student who liked Rodin and Camille Claudel. That is when I was charmed by BJDs when one of my friends brought it to me. It looked beautiful and I was captivated by a desire to make one of it. Therefore I made dolls as my hobby when I was in college and presented it to others. That really made me happy. Seeing friends who like dolls that I made as a hobby, I thought making dolls is my destiny.
¿Cómo conociste las BJDs?
Me gradué en escultura en la Universidad. Me gusta modelar hermosos cuerpos y rostros humanos. Yo era un estudiante al que le encantaba Rodin y Camille Claudel. Ahí fue cuando quedé encantado con las BJDs cuando un amigo me trajo una. Se veía hermosa y quedé cautivado por el deseo de hacer una. Por lo tanto, cuando estaba en la universidad hacía muñecas como hobby y se las regalaba a otros. Eso realmente me hacía feliz. Ver amigos a los que les gustaban las muñecas que hacía por hobby… pensé que hacerlas era mi destino.


It is known you worked for other companies before making your own. How did you started?
Upon graduating college, I had an opportunity to interview at a company called Iplehouse and started producing BJDs there. As someone who loves making realistic dolls, work at Iplehouse was amazing. I developed over 40 characters including Rex, Asa, Leonard, Mari, and Bianca. Out of them, Asa was the first character that I created so she holds a special place in my heart. Rex was also a character that I created after I became the team leader, so I especially put a lot of effort into him. Like that, I spent over 6 years at Iplehouse. I became so close with all the employees there that they now feel like family. Even now, I really miss everyone. One day, I would love to meet them again and work with them. Creating many characters and dolls at Iplehouse, I learned to love what I do.
Has trabajado para otras compañías antes de crear la tuya propia. ¿Cómo comenzaste?
Cuando me gradué de la universidad, tuve la oportunidad de una entrevista en una tienda llamada Iplehouse, y comencé a producir BJDs ahí. Como alguien que adora hacer muñecas realistas, trabajar en Iplehouse era increíble. Hice más de 40 personajes, incluyendo Rex, Asa, Leonard, Mari y Bianca. De todos ellos, Asa fue el primer personaje que creé, así que tiene un lugar especial en mi corazón. Rex fue un personaje que creé luego de convertirme en líder de equipo, así que especialmente puse mucho esfuerzo en él. Así, trabajé más de 6 años en Iplehouse. Me volví muy cercano con todos los empleados que ahora son como familia. Cada tanto los extraño mucho. Algún día me gustaría volver a encontrarlos y trabajar con ellos. Al crear tantos personajes y muñecas en Iplehouse, aprendí a amar mi trabajo.




And after that, how did you started RaccoonDoll?
RaccoonDoll was founded in August 2015 to create more free BJDs. I thought the existing mature BJDs were too big and heavy. So I thought I should make smaller mature BJDs. So I quit Iplehouse and opened a little workroom and made it with a happy heart. I tried to put more of myself than those I made at Iplehouse, and RaccoonDoll's first BJDs were finally out in the world.
Después de eso ¿cómo comenzaste con RaccoonDoll?
RacoonDoll fue fundada en Agosto del 2015 para crear BJDs de forma más libre. Creo que las BJDs adultas son demasiado grandes y pesadas. Así que pensé que debería hacerlas más pequeñas. Dejé Iplehouse y abrí un pequeño taller de trabajo que hice con el corazón feliz. Intenté poner más de mí que en aquellas muñecas que hice para Iplehouse, y finalmente, las primeras muñecas de RacoonDoll fueron mostradas al mundo.


How many people work at Raccoon? Do you have a workspace?
RaccoonDoll is a team that made up of makeup artists, photographers, costume designers and sculptors. The workroom is private, and cannot be opened. However, it is an ordinary space consisting of a few dizzying desks, studio and workplace. We are always agonizing to make beautiful dolls. Everyone is a person with a strong personality, so sometimes we have difficulty in matching our different opinions. But the idea we have is same. We want to show people beautiful BJDs. We think ourselves as Avengers and now we are working hard together.
¿Cuantas personas trabajan en Racoon? ¿Tienen un espacio de trabajo?
RaccoonDoll es un equipo hecho de artistas de maquillaje, fotógrafos, diseñadores de ropa y escultores. El espacio de trabajo es privado y no podemos mostrarlo. Sin embargo, es un espacio ordinario con varios escritorios, un estudio y mesa de trabajo. Siempre estamos luchando por hacer hermosas muñecas. Todos tienen una personalidad fuerte, así que a veces tenemos dificultades en aunar nuestras opiniones encontradas. Pero la idea es siempre la misma: queremos mostrarles a las personas hermosas BJDs. Sobre nosotros, nos ideamos como los Avengers, y ahora estamos trabajando duro juntos.




RaccoonDoll mini girls draw a lot of attention, and have a very unique design. Do you have any design/motto in mind?
RaccoonDoll mini girls are generally made with photo references of real actors/actresses or singers. Therefore, they would seem real. You can find the famous people who resemble the photos of RaccoonDoll mini girls. That will be fun. We are always finding more beautiful bodies and faces. We always consider how to make them nice BJDs. I hope customers are happy with RaccoonDoll's dolls. That is what I consider most importantly about when I'm designing the dolls.
Las muñecas mini de RaccoonDoll llaman mucho la atención y tienen un diseño único. ¿Tienen alguna idea u objetivo en mente?
Las chicas mini de RaccoonDoll están a menudo hechas con referencias de fotos de actores, actrices y cantantes reales. Por lo tanto, se ven reales. Pueden buscar los famosos a los que nuestras muñecas se parecen. Eso será divertido. Siempre estamos encontrando más cuerpos y rostros hermosos. Siempre pensamos como convertirlos en hermosas BJDs. Espero que los clientes sean felices con las muñecas de RaccoonDoll. Esto es lo que considero más importante cuando diseño las muñecas.


Recently you started a new line of dolls. Are you considering adding more lines/sizes to RaccoonDoll? Currently, RaccoonDoll sells two types of dolls, female dolls and baby dolls. The BEBE line was produced based on the images of my two daughters. I wanted to express their figures and preserve them as dolls. I wanted to work for my enjoyment rather than for money. That is the reason why I release the BEBE line although a bunch of customers requested the release of male dolls. But I am in progress of producing male dolls and they are scheduled to be release in March or April. I am aware of that I made my customers wait for them for a long time, but I guarantee that they will meet splendid male dolls. You might want to wait for it. The other sized one will be released after the boy doll comes out. But it's not certain. I think it will be a big one. Hace poco comenzaron una nueva línea de muñecas. ¿Han considerado agregar más líneas/tamaños en RaccoonDoll?
Actualmente RaccoonDoll tiene dos tipos de muñecas: mujeres mini, y baby. La línea BEBE fue producida basándome en las fotos de mis dos hijas. Quería expresar sus figuras y preservarlas como muñecas. Quería trabajar para mi placer personal más que por dinero. Esa es la razón por la que hicimos la línea BEBE aunque una gran cantidad de clientes pidió que hiciéramos muñecos hombres. Pero estoy progresando produciendo muñecos hombres, y están estimados para ser lanzados en Marzo o Abril. Estoy consciente de que hice que mis clientes esperaran mucho por ellos, pero garantizo que encontrarán espléndidos muñecos hombres. Quizás quieran esperarlos. El otro tamaño será lanzado luego del muñeco hombre, pero no es seguro. Quizás sea alguno grande.




How do you organize the design/development process?
The production of dolls starts from searching and collecting photos and images of beautiful faces. With that collection we have discussion with team member and determine the main image. After deciding the image, costumes, photos and makeup are selected based on that. We produced dolls with those carefully selected images, but sometimes there are disagreement of opinions among our artists. I think that good dolls are created after those conflicts are well coordinated. We believe that our customers are delighted only when we produce our dolls with delight.
¿Cómo organizan el proceso de diseñar y desarrollar?
La producción de muñecas comienza con buscar y coleccionar fotos de rostros bonitos. Con esa colección, tenemos una discusión con los miembros del equipo y determinamos la foto principal. Luego de determinar la imagen, la ropa, fotos y maquillaje se seleccionan basados en ello. Producimos las muñecas con las fotos seleccionadas, pero a veces hay desacuerdos de opiniones entre nuestros artistas. Creo que buenas muñecas son creadas cuando esos conflictos se coordinan bien. Creemos que nuestros clientes están encantados cuando nosotros estamos encantados con las muñecas.


Recasts are an issue and the BJD hobby is suffering because of them. What is your stance on the matter?
Recasts make a lot of artists and companies sad. Please do not purchase recasts. A lot of companies and artists who want to create beautiful dolls are suffering.
Los recast son un problema y el hobby está sufriendo mucho por ello. ¿Cuál es su opinión al respecto?
Los recasts hacen que muchas tiendas y artistas estén tristes. Por favor, no los compren. Muchas compañías y artistas que quieren crear hermosas muñecas están sufriendo




Finally, is there anything more you’ll like to share with us?
I am honored to have an interview of this blog. It’s been so pleasant while doing an interview as I found so nice blog where I could introduce my dolls like this. I sincerely hope that many people will visit this blog in the future.
Finalmente ¿hay algo más que quisieras compartir con nosotros?
Es un honor tener una entrevista en este blog. Ha sido un placer trabajar en la entrevista, dado que encontré un blog tan lindo donde pudiera introducir mis muñecas de esta forma. Sinceramente espero que más gente visite este blog en el futuro.


Thank you for doing the interview! :D
Nice to meet you and please look forward to the incoming RaccoonDoll. I am a person who truly loves BJD and I will make a beautiful doll. I hope you all to be happy.
¡Gracias por hacer la entrevista! :D
Un placer conocerlos, y por favor, esperen a las próximas RaccoonDoll. Soy una persona que realmente ama las BJDs y haré más muñecas hermosas. Espero que estén todos felices.




And well, this was all for today!! I personally love the BEBE line, they are so cute!! Anyways, as always, do not repost the interview but feel free to share the link! You can find RaccoonDoll on the following links:

19 comments :

  1. Their dolls are amazing, didn't know they had a BEBE line, I'm in love!!

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    1. The BEBE line is adorable, I know!! :D

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  2. Oh, I'm so glad Sang Yoon gave you an interview! He has more people on staff than I thought. Obviously his business has grown since he started it. I do wish he had given a longer list of the Iplehouse sculpts he created; these are the ones I already knew. But I am very excited to know the male dolls will be released so soon. Guess I'd better start saving my money!

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    1. Happy you liked the interview!! I wish I knew more about his Iplehouse sculpts too!
      Thanks for reading, and good luck with the savings!

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  3. Hermosas muñecas, muy buena la entrevista. Me gustó muchisimo

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    1. ¡Gracias, me alegro que gustara! Sus muñecas son preciosas :D

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  4. Thanks for this interview Musume! I've been curious about this company for a while as they're relatively still new and unknown. Their Bebe line is so adorable. I saw them before Christmas and was very tempted! I love their mature Mini girls as well. I was considering getting one at some point but I'm still procrastinating! They also look like they pose really well too from the videos I have seen on Youtube for these dolls.

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    1. Happy you liked the interview!! You should definitely get one, I've seen Bustamante119's reviews on these girls, and dang they can pose!

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  5. Glad you liked the interview!
    But come to the dark side, er... mini size side xD Although I understand, it is so much easier to find mature sculpts in SD, and nice clothing/shoes/stuff for bigger dolls!

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  6. Thank you for doing this interview! I enjoyed it and Sang Yoon Choi feels like a humble artist. His comment about being Avengers as a group, really gives a picture of the making of BJD's. It can be a tough adventure but at the same time a fun one.
    I love the BEBE line and the clothes they make. So much cute and beautiful things! :)

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    1. Happy you liked this!! The BEBE line is perfect, I know!

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  7. Another fun interview! I loved reading about the work space! :D

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  8. Laetitia is a total knockout. Thank you so much for all the work you do to share these interviews with us, I always love reading them and getting introduced to new artists. <3

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    1. Thank you!!! Your words means a lot to me!!
      Hope you will like this year interviews :D

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  9. Hi Musume,
    Hadn't seen these dolls before, love the Bebes, they are a perfect size for me and they are so cute. :) Your interviews are always interesting to read and they have introduced me to many companies I may not have otherwise seen. Thank you.
    Hugs,
    X

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    1. You make me feel like such an enable! But I'm glad to help people know more companies and artists! Happy you liked the interview!

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  10. Wow, Asa is one of my favorite IH sculpts! I'd better keep an eye on this company!

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    1. Asa is a gorgeous sculpt!! And this company does amazing dolls too!

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