Sex Dolls Return

The sex doll business in Japan is doing very well--some enterprising collectors are renting their dolls by the hour. Some dolls, like Cantomoko, get to travel with their owners, and accumulate large travel photo-collections.

The US market for sex dolls is showing signs of expanding as well. Since the original Abyss Creations Real Dolls, newer competitors have entered the market. Recently at the Erotica-LA Convention, a new sex doll manufacturer, "My Party Doll of Southern California", displayed two prototypes of their new doll "Leeloo."

Though the sale of sex toys is banned in the southern US states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas, business is booming in most of the country. My Party Doll believes its new dolls are going to be a new success. "I've personally tested every doll on the market," professional sex doll consultant Alex Goldman told AFP. "These girls are a world of difference. She's the bounciest doll I've ever been with."

The dolls are named "Leeloo" for Milla Jovovich's character in the film "Fifth Element". The prototypes are hand sculpted from medical grade silicone, the same material used in breast implants, and built on top of a metal skeleton.

"Leeloo isn't like those old blow up dolls, she's so durable you can jack up your car with her," said Goldman.

Leeloo's designer, Yves Becker, spent two years sculpting a companion of which he could be proud. "The feet were really difficult," Becker told. "But I spent most of the time on the breasts because it's so difficult to calculate gravity."

Visitors to the display were pleased with Becker's accomplishment. "Wow, I wish I had one of these 25 years ago," said Jim Arthur, a sex toy merchandiser. "I would have just kept her in the spare bedroom."

The designers are banking on their product's durability to nudge it past competitors. "Leeloo could last 30 years," said Goldman. "But of course it depends how carried away you get with her." Becker cautioned that Leeloo is designed with the same flexibility limitations as a human.

The marketing demographic for Leeloo will be broad, according to Becker and Goldman. Artificial sex companions, they believe, appeal to a wide swath of consumers.

"It's not just that lonely guy that can't get a pretty girl," said Goldman. "We've had requests from professionals, blue collar workers, married couples looking for more excitement in their bedroom, even female clients who want to have Leeloo as a sort of super Barbie."

Though Becker, a French citizen, expects most of his trade to be within the United States, he sees growth potential in Japan and Australia, but not in Europe. "You see, in Europe, sex is just easier, and taxes, well, they're more difficult," said Becker.

Source.

If Becker is correct that the market for sex dolls is expanding from lonely losers to professionals, skilled workers, and married couples, you can expect the market for sex dolls to rise into the billions of dollars US annually.

For an earlier Al Fin article on sex dolls complete with several links to more historical background and interesting anecdotes, go here.