A Maker's Obsession Breaks New Ground, Catwoman Doll Released After Two Years

When you hear the word "doll," what comes to mind? Is it a traditional French doll? Is it Barbie? As you may know, dolls have been a beloved plaything worldwide for many generations. But in Japan, the doll is evolving in a unique way.

On May 24, Arcadia will release its doll Angel Philia Catwoman. After about two years of planning and production, it's a long-awaited release. The finished product is already being praised among fans before it has even gone on sale. We talked to someone thoroughly involved in the doll's production, Arcadia’s vice president, Toshihisa Yanagisawa, regarding what he is particular about in his dolls.

The Catwoman Production Process

TOM: First of all, please tell us about the process of making the CATWOMAN doll, from planning to production.
Yanagisawa: It all started at my previous job at a hobby maker. I attended America's Comic Con and met a representative from DC Comics who suggested we make a collaborative product. At the time, The Dark Knight Rises was about to be released, so we tentatively decided to collaborate on a Catwoman doll. In the production materials I received from DC Comics, it said that goggles should be used instead of cat ears. But because this was happening before the release of the film, everything had to be "top secret." I remember them stressing that point to me several times.

TOM: I see. It sounds like the initial planning stage was completed relatively quickly. Why did it take about two years to get to the finished product?
Yanagisawa: I can't go into detail about it, but due to various circumstances we had to stop developing the doll. After that, I moved from my previous job to Arcadia, and when I heard that the Catwoman doll project was still up in the air, I went directly to DC Comics and asked to develop it for our Angel Philia brand. They agreed and the doll finally became a reality.

The Characteristics of Angel Philia Catwoman

TOM: So that's how it finally came together! I'm very excited to have the doll in front of me now. There's something so captivating about her.
Yanagisawa: Thank you. We call the style "semi-real." It features a slightly smaller head than most dolls, which makes it closer to normal human proportions. I think this doll design tends to give an impression of realism for most people. When we first talked with the factory about the design, they were surprised and wondered if it was OK to make a doll with a head so small.

TOM: Since you were making a doll with more human proportions, did you use Anne Hathaway, the actress who played Catwoman in the film, as reference?
Yanagisawa: The answer to that would be, "no." There are certain collaborations that only this doll brand can do. Personally, I think that this Catwoman is not just a character doll, but a collaboration doll. I want people to not only judge whether or not it looks like Catwoman the character, but enjoy it as a synergy that brings out the best of both the doll and the partner content.

TOM: So you want to maintain the characteristic Arcadia doll style while collaborating with the content providers.
Yanagisawa: That's right. However, while that is our goal, that of course does not mean we will disregard the content of our collaborative partners. On the contrary, I am very particular about that in the development process. The Catwoman figure has goggles and the leather suit as two of her characteristic accessories. We made the goggles ourselves from start to finish and chose the artificial leather that would best compliment the silhouette of the doll. The gloves and boots are both hand-made by artisans, so we can attest to their quality as well. However, because we made the clothes to match the doll's figure, it can take some time to actually put them on.

TOM: It's apparent that the beautiful silhouette of this figure is only made possible by scrupulous attention to detail. However, it seems like such particularities can be reflected in the cost. Is that the case with this doll?
Yanagisawa: It is true that the price ended up being relatively high compared to your average hobby item. But if we're going to be a hobby maker, if we're going to make tangible things, I want the things that I make to surprise people. The prototype modelers and the makeup artists that we work with feel the same way. I think that the customers who understand this know there is a certain value in our products that goes beyond price.

Arcadia Dolls: They Aren’t Sisters or Daughters but Rather “Girlfriends”

TOM: Over the course of this interview, I've found myself wanting one more and more!
Yanagisawa: I'm glad to hear you say that.

TOM: Compared to other makers, Arcadia dolls are more graphic, or rather they have more sensual and sexy elements. That is, of course, what you're going for, is it not?
Yanagisawa: It is. But it does really depend on the concept of the product. Usually, dolls are considered to be one's "little sister" or "daughter" by those who buy them. But our Angel Philia brand is clearly focused on making dolls that are more like "girlfriends." We think about what it is that makes women so fascinating and pack those elements into our dolls. That's why with Angel Philia we've made dolls with more curvy bodies and darker skin tones, focused on getting the eyelashes just right––a point that is often overlooked in character dolls––and developed original display stands that can support the flexible pose of the doll. The reason we are particular about our dolls being 48 to 50 cm in height is that if they are any smaller we would not be able to use real, quality materials to make the clothing and accessories. The smaller a doll is, the thicker the cloth is in comparison, and any patterns will look too big, making everything seem a little odd. We're always taking these things into consideration when we choose our materials, so when the clothes are put on they have a genuine texture and wrinkle in a natural way. This is how we can make our "girlfriends" on display seem so realistic.

TOM: That attention to detail is certainly the kind of passion one would show to their "girlfriend!"
Yanagisawa: Well I'm a doll fan myself (laughs). I take photos of dolls almost every day as a hobby, and I feel like their expressions change day to day. Sometimes there are days when their expressions really match the feeling, and other times they just won’t show me the right face. I also set up the dolls to try out various poses each day, but I feel that there’s a lot that we can still do as a maker. Whether domestic or abroad, I’ll be happy if I can help just one more person enjoy doll culture. I hope we can release even better products to the world and make that a reality!!

So what did you think? I hope you gained a new understanding of just how passionate Arcadia is about their dolls.

We plan to begin featuring many Angel Philia brand dolls, beginning with Angel Philia Catwoman, very soon on the TOM Premium Shop. If any readers are interested, be sure to stay tuned for the latest developments!

Angel Philia Catwoman Product Page
Arcadia Official Page
Angel Philia

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.