I was recently browsing through the website of an online retailer selling sex dolls and came across a ‘FF10 Lulu sex toys Doll’. Initially, I was a bit taken aback, as I have always connected ‘Final Fantasy’ video games, with its eclectic and eccentric characters, to a sense of nostalgia and childhood innocence.
As I perused the product description and images of the doll, I couldn’t help but be amazed at its intricate design.There was a level of detail that I had never seen before, right down to the intricate beading of her long black hair and realistically designed facial features. But despite the artistry involved, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease, for a number of reasons.
Obviously, there was the element of ‘objectification’ to consider. There was something about this doll being labelled and presented as ‘FF10 Lulu’, as if it were a real person, as if it were an actual character from the game that I grew up playing and watching. Secondly, there was the materialization of an idea, which was originally just a harmless fantasy, into an ‘object’ – something tangible that could be bought and used.
Despite the unease I felt, I was still curious. What was it like to have something this lifelike? I read up on it some more, and came across a number of reviews. People were mostly praising the quality of the product, though there were a few that aired their concerns due to the ‘creepy’ factor. I had to agree. This level of realism was a bit unsettling, bordering on the surreal.
But there were some who had genuine experiences to share. One of them, surprisingly, was a long time fan of the game, who was enchanted by the feeling of having a replica of one of his favorite characters. This person didn’t find it creepy at all, but instead found the doll to be a comforting companion in their moments of loneliness.
It made me think about how we attach feelings to objects or characters, using them as a way to replace the human contact that we crave. While I can definitely understand the sentiment, I can’t help but feel a bit of apprehension at the idea of inanimate objects being ‘molded’ to satisfy our desires.
Intrigued and still a little bewildered, I went ahead and read about the construction of these dolls. I found out that the dolls are made from Advanced Materials Engineering (AME) and silicon skin, Penis Rings and are designed to replicate the proportions of an adult female. Furthermore, they are made with individually omologated parts, in an attempt to make it as lifelike as possible.
The fact that companies are now making dolls based on actual characters from media properties is another concerning factor. Lulu, in particular, is the poster girl of a major videogame franchise, so it’s a bit unsettling, in my opinion, for her image to be used in this matter.
Overall, the idea of ‘Final Fantasy 10 Lulu Sex Dolls’ seems more like an odd experiment than something humanly acceptable. It takes it a bit too far, in my opinion. I can’t help but wonder how society, in the future, will look upon the idea of a silicon companion in our world.