More information on the new Lammily Boy Doll

While I was writing my last post, I was reading through my emails from Lammily to get my facts right as I went along. I'd just published the post when I found an email entitled "Why it took 6 months to design Boy Lammily. See why in this behind the scenes look..."  

The contents of this email were so interesting to me that I thought I'd share them with you all, as many of you probably have not received the email yourself, as the email contains lots of info' I'm just going to copy it here:

"Our very first step was to get in touch with Dr. Matthew Reed, University of Michigan, because we knew we needed a physical reference for the boy doll that was based on average body proportions and BMI (Body Mass Index).

Dr. Reed uses 3D scans of human bodies in simulations that produce data, which play a hand in increasing safety in military vehicles. We knew that if anybody could help us with our doll’s proportions, it was Dr. Reed.

So, we asked him for a 3D scan of the average 19-year-old man, and were delighted when he sent us the 3D model below."

"Marco Romero, who boasts over 17 years of experience in 3D modeling, used the rendered body above as a foundation for the doll and added the aesthetic details, giving the body more character.

Andrew Dormody, the 3D modeler who helped design the very first Lammily doll, segmented this updated body so that the doll could move around and pose. Next he gave Boy Lammily his clothes, starting with his swim trunks!"

"Thomas DesJardins, who also contributed to the first Lammily doll’s design and who has worked for Disney Animation Studios, created the head and face of Boy Lammily."

"After dozens of revisions to the 3D model after each step, Boy Lammily was brought to life in a series of 3D renderings formed by Tim Jones, whose past work is accredited to works such as the Lord of the Rings series video games and Coca-Cola commercials."

"Each facet of the design process was revisited and reworked many times over, translating into over 6 months of work to make Boy Lammily as endearing, friendly, fun and relatable as the very first Lammily dolls." 

"With the help of some of the most trusted hands and minds of the 3D modeling and animation industries, this is how Boy Lammily came to be! "

                            

Something else I'd like to show you, which was uploaded to the Lammily Blog on 10th March 2016, is an image entitled "Lammily vs Ken" illustrated by a side by side comparison photograph so you can see the difference in body shape, size, height etc..

Out of the two I think I prefer Lammily Boy's shape, I've never quite got on with Ken's and find most male doll's bodies are weirdly proportioned, with either overly muscular chests and skinny little legs so they tend to be shaped more like a gorilla than a human! 

Having said that, Ken's not so bad and has been getting much more "Human" in recent years. 

As for Lammily, I like the idea that he's a little shorter, a little tubbier and isn't ashamed to show off his chest by wandering around in his grundies all day, of course he'd have been absolutely perfect if he'd come with a pair of "Walter White tiny whiteys"!!

Lammily Boy Doll & Photographer Update

lammily.tilt.com

As I am on the mailing list, I received an email in March from Nickolay over at lammily.com announcing that there was now a Crowdfunding campaign to try and get backers for a proposed Male Lammily doll, intrigued I couldn't resist going over and taking a look.

lammily.tilt.com

He's based on the average size of a 19 year old (American?) man, has rooted hair and articulation at the wrists and ankles.

lammily.com

The first edition comes wearing a check shirt, shorts and a pair of loafers, illustrated box and story pamphlet and like "Traveller Lammily" gives you the option to name him when you use the passport option on site.

lammily.tilt.com

As with all Crowdfunding campaigns there were a number of rewards offered to backers based on the amount of their donations. 

lammily.com

Four days to the end of the Crowdfunding campaign, I received an email which offered another Backer's reward to the existing ones... The opportunity to be one of the first to receive the boy doll in a bundle with the new (not quite really for release) Photographer doll for a $45.00.

lammily.tilt.com

As you know, I'd already preordered my Photographer doll for $25.00 and was patiently waiting for production to finish and shipping to begin, but when I spotted this reward, I thought "Nagdabbit" and so I decided to see if there was any way I could change my Photography girl order to one of the bundle options, cue email dialogue with Nickolay...

lammily.tilt.com

I asked him if it was possible to buy the boy doll as an add on to my existing order; he suggested that I order the bundle via the Crowdfunding page, let him know I've done so and he'll cancel my existing preorder for Photographer, the only drawback with this option being that as the male doll wasn't expected to be available for shipping until sometime after 1st November 2016, so I would have to wait until then to receive my Photographer doll.

Well of course I jumped at the chance, yeah I'll have to wait a while longer for my new girl doll, but this way I'd get the two new dolls for $5.00 less than I would have paid, plus I'd be one of the first to own the boy doll on his release!

lammily email

The Crowdfunding campaign was set up with the goal being to raise $70,000 to enable Nickolay to bring his latest creation to life. When the campaign ended 2,500 backers had surpassed that amount by raising a total of $101,358!

Here's another photo' of him in his grundies, just because...

lammily.com

For those of you who missed the Crowdfunding and want to preorder yourself a Boy Lammily for your collection or for the small person in your life, you can find him here:

lammily.com

Since the Crowdfunding campaign ended Lammily have sent several emails which give buyers, backers, etc. the opportunity to have an even greater input into the design of this doll - not the overall design, but the theme which he'll follow such as his name, hobby and personality traits which will be included in the artwork for his packaging and also in his storybook pamphlet.

lammily email

The winning theme which will be used to illustrate his story was "Being in touch with nature" so not only this boy Lammily a more natural shaped guy but he's also got a touch of the Hippies going on...
As you can see from the above chart there were quite a few options

lammily email

A second vote was announced this one was to narrow down the subject field for his hobby... As the votes reflected "Working with animals in need", so the  chances are his story and artwork is going to be full of heart tugging images, but for now I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

lammily.com

Before I go, I guess I should mention that Photographer Lammily is now available for purchase directly from lammily.com.

Lammily email

 As the preorder date has passed, these dolls ship without a production delay, so you can get your beautiful new girl as soon as shipping to your Country allows.

Lammily email

You can find the order page by clicking this link:

Hugs,

Announcement from Lammily Dolls

Today I received an email from Lammily announcing that their new doll - "Photographer"  is now available for pre-order.

Isn't she gorgeous ?

She comes in the outfit shown here, complete with her own camera to record all her travels with..

Judging by these preview photographs her body is made using the same moulds used for their original girls: 

 She stands at eleven inches tall and is also articulated at the elbows, hands, knees, and feet.

The clothing packs sold for the first edition dolls will also fit this little beauty - sadly no new ones have been added to the shop yet but as they contain multiple items it's easy to mix and match them with the clothing each doll comes with.

If you're interested you can check them out here: Fashion Packs...

I'm loving everything about this girl, right down to her box, which, like her predecessors, is covered in  watercolour images of her World travels.

Official release date is March 2016 - pre-orders will be processed and dispatched the same month. 

The dolls cost $26.00. When you pre-order one of these lovelies your payment details are stored but not charged until your doll is ready for dispatch, thereby securing your doll for you and assuring you will definitely be receiving one once the are ready for sale.

The Pre-Order page for "Photographer" can be accessed here: Lammily Photographer

Another item Lammily have just launched is called "Period Party" it costs $10.00 and consists of useful information to explain menstruation to small girls.

The pack consists of  an educational leaflet in easy to understand language, a calendar and sticky dots so you can keep track of your cycles, a pair of yellow polka dot girl -pants for your Lammily doll and a reusable sheet of miniature "Panty Liners" to protect your dolls new grundies during her period!

I have to say I think this is an awesome idea, young girls shouldn't feel weird or ashamed when they start their periods and using the medium of play to normalize the idea that it's going to happen to them, that they may not start at the same time as their friends, that it is a perfectly natural part of life and nothing to be ashamed of; can only be a good thing.

While I don't advocate it being used as a way to inform your child without any input from a female relative to discuss new feelings and bodily changes with, I feel it would work so well alongside those "difficult" parental talks we all have to have at some time.

I think it's such a shame that for some reason our culture is we females are made to feel we can't talk about certain things out in the open without feelings of shame or that it is somehow taboo to do so.

When my Niece began her periods she phoned everyone in the family and told them with pride "Today I became a woman" - this conversation freaked the hell out of my Dad though, who ran to get "Grandma" while he went for a sit down to get over it! 

But this is what her cultural heritage dictates, in the African Village her Mother is from you share this with everyone as your passage into Womanhood is something to be celebrated not covered up... Of course in England and in Wales we do things differently, hence my poor Welsh Dad's freakout!

I thought it was pretty awesome and congratulated her thoroughly but then for years I've been refusing the brown paper bag shop keepers seem to think the box of tampons I've just bought need to be covered up in. 

I walk out the shop brandishing them without shame and chuckle at the amount of other customers who either flinch or go red and advert their faces when they see what I'm holding... It's old hat to me though as I started my periods when I was 10 years old.

Well enough talk for now,  I'm off to pre-order me a new girl now from the Lammily store, later guys!

Hugs,