Pullip - Design

Design

The Pullip has a unique eye mechanism that allows the eyes to move back and forth and wink, using levers on the back of the head. Pullips released after 2008 can keep their eyes closed. Pullips are highly articulated and can be personalized or customized. They are about 12 inches tall with oversized heads (on the 1/3 scale.) The body is about 9 inches tall (1:6 scale), the size of many fashion dolls such as Barbie and Jenny.

The articulated Pullip body has gone through several changes. Early dolls had Marmit-type bodies with visible screws, the "Type 1" body. The first three dolls (Moon, Street, and Wind) have necks that can snap easily, though this was fixed with later releases. Another common problem is vertical splitting between the two halves of the legs. These Type 1 Pullips are the only type with rooted hair, all later models would wear wigs.

Starting in January 2004 with the release of Venus, Pullip had a new body. The "Type 2" body had no visible screws, a soft torso, and joints that could be pulled apart. This body had more realistic proportions, and to date is the most poseable body. Disadvantages of this body include the limbs can fall off or pull apart too easily, the soft torso 'pops' out of the hip joint, and the plastic of the body has a tendency to melt under certain environmental conditions, mostly high heat and humidity.

With the release of Lan Ake and Lan Ai in 2005, a newer body was created. The "Type 3" has less articulation, a smaller more childlike form, and hinged wrist and ankle joints. While sturdier than its predecessors, this body is the least poseable. A common problem with this body type is cracking at the wrist.

January 2009, with the release of Neo Noir, brought another body type. The "Type 4" is more poseable than the Type 3, and uses a peg-and-hole joint for the wrist to prevent wrist cracking. Common problems with the Type 4 body are loose-fitting pegs for the joints at the wrist and at the knee, causing limbs to easily slip apart. The vertical leg split common to Type 1 bodies has also been known to occur at the knees of Type 4.