Different Articulation Types

Here on this wiki, **ARTICULATION** is defined as to ***whether or not a doll can move one or more of its body parts independently of another and hold such body part in a fixed pose***. In short, **articulation** refers not only to (1) whether or not any part of a doll's body *can or cannot* move, it is also concerned with (2) *what* moves (and *where*), and (3) *what the mechanism type is* that allows such movement to be made possible.

1. **ARTICULATION**: when used as a verb, the word "articulation" can be defined as *the state of being jointed or interrelated.1*

* Example: Does any part of the doll *articulate*?
	+ Note: **articulation**, or *the ability to move*, *requires an **articulation joint/s***.

2. **ARTICULATION JOINTS and SOCKETS**: when used as a *noun*, the word articulation "**joint**" can refer to *a point where two bones of the skeleton come together usually in a way that allows motion.2* The place where these two points meet will sometimes be referred to as a **socket**.3 What the joint moves is referred to here on this wiki as the **articulation location**.

* Example: The human body contains two shoulder *joints.*
* Example: The joint is located *within the shoulder*.
* Example: The hip articulates *the leg*.

3. **ARTICULATION MECHANISM:** this term refers *to the mechanism by which articulation of a joint is made possible.*

* Example: The doll's shoulder contains a ball-jointed socket *articulation mechanism*.

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Essentially, in order for a body part ***to move,*** something within the doll must **both** ***allow** this movement and **perform*** it.

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### Playing by a Different Set of Rules: *Internal Skeletal Armature*

    This doll, shown left, has two upper arms that fully articulate *without a clear two-way joint*, such as with a shoulder or hip. This is made possible because the cloth portion of the upper arm contains *flexible internal skeletal armature* **that when bent in opposing directs,** **forms a socket**.

This same internal skeletal armature on some dolls will also run the length of the torso through to the upper thighs, making this doll fully posable (since it can bend at the hips, move its upper thighs, etc.). In these cases, *the location of the internal skeletal armature is considered the articulation location.*

Because these dolls are able to move their upper arms, torsos, and upper thighs/legs in various ranges of motion, these dolls are classified as **fully posable dolls.**

**Beware**! Some dolls may appear to have non-articulated limbs, such as the doll on the right, however, *due to the flexible internal skeletal armature, this doll on the right is also fully posable!*

*With that out of the way, let's look at the differences between articulated and non-articulated dolls.*

## *1. Articulated* vs. *Non-Articulated* Dolls

> Quick recap: **articulation** is defined here on this wiki as to ***whether or not a doll can move one or more of its body parts independently of another and hold such body part in a fixed pose.***
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* For a doll to be classified as "**articulated**," *it must have one or more* **articulated joints**.
* An **articulation joint** contains a **socket**: a socket is defined as "any of various hollows in body structures in which some other part normally lodges."3

### Some Examples of Non-Articulated Dolls

Gusseted hips allow the doll to sit; creative positioning (in this case, the body is tilted forward) allows the doll to maintain a sitting position despite not having articulated hips. This doll is a NON-ARTICULATED DOLL. Photo: GotzDollJunkie.This doll has "gusseted" hips that allow the doll to maintain a sitting position; however, the hips (and the rest of the doll body) do not actually contain articulation joints. For this reason, this doll is classified as a non-articulated doll. Photo: GotzDollJunkie.This baby doll is non-articulated. This specific doll cannot move/pose any joint independently. It is also filled with pellets and light stuffing; it cannot sit with positioning either.
### Some Examples of Articulated Dolls

This doll's neck; both shoulders, and both hips articulate.This soft-bodied doll has a jointed neck and upper shoulders. The rest of the body is non-articulated.
### Beware!

It is important at this point, to make an important distinction: some dolls may appear to be articulated dolls (with articulated joints), when in fact, *they are not articulated dolls and/or they do not have articulation joints*. The opposite may also be true: a doll may not appear articulated but in fact, but *fully posable*.

* For example, some WEICHBABY baby dolls are soft-bodied baby dolls with a padded cloth doll torsos and vinyl limbs and head/neck. You can turn the heads of these dolls and the head will maintain its pose; however, the neck and head itself do not contain an *actual* **articulation joint**. Essentially, this means the neck appears to be articulated when in fact, it is only capable of ***manual rotation** within the soft padded cloth doll torso.* *American Girl* dolls have necks capable of manual rotation only.
* Another example is of a *sculpted doll wrist*: the wrist has been sculpted for the hand to appear bent, but the wrist itself does not contain an **articulation joint**. This can also be the case with elbows, knees, and ankles.

## 2. *Articulation Joints* and *Articulation Locations*

> Quick recap: **articulation** occurs *within* an **articulation joint**, *where* these joints are located within the body is referred to as an **articulation location**.
> *Every place a doll can move is referred to as an **articulation location**; within each of these "locations," you will find an **articulation joint/s**.* Doll bodies (oftentimes modeled after the human body) can contain numerous possible "joints;" ***each joint will move a specific part of the doll body.***
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* For example, a *shoulder joint* will move the upper arm of a doll, and an *elbow joint* will allow movement of the lower arm. Without those specific joints, those parts of the body cannot move.

The following is a list of possible **articulation joints**:

#### **1. ARTICULATION JOINT: NECK moves the HEAD**

* It can be difficult to tell if a doll neck is truly jointed. Some necks *appear* articulated (such as with WEICHBABY and *American Girl*-style necks), but in actuality, the head is only capable of *manually rotation* within the doll's cloth doll torso. Also, a neck may appear FIXED (i.e. as in all one, *non-jointed* piece), but the head itself may contain the *articulation mechanism*. In some cases, the only way to be confident a doll neck is actually articulated is to examine the neck in person.

#### **2. ARTICULATION JOINT: SHOULDERS move the ENTIRE ARM**

**3. ARTICULATION JOINT: ARMS move the UPPER and/or LOWER ARM**

#### **4. ARTICULATION JOINT: HIPS move the LEGS**

**5. ARTICULATION JOINT: THIGH moves the UPPER LEG.**

#### **6. ARTICULATION JOINT: WAIST separates and articulates the TORSO**

* The waist contains an *articulation mechanism* that allows the upper and lower doll torsos to articulate independently of one another.

#### **7. ARTICULATION JOINT: KNEE moves the LOWER LEG**

* The knee cap contains an *articulation mechanism* that allows the lower leg (i.e. *below* the knee) to move independently from the upper leg.

#### **8. ARTICULATION JOINT: WRIST moves the HAND**

* The wrist is jointed and allows the hand to articulate.

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Remember: Some dolls are sculpted to have curved wrists. The doll *Gotz Girl* is a good *physical* example of this.

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#### **9. ARTICULATION JOINT: ELBOW moves the FOREARM**

* The lower arm will articulate independently from the upper arm.

#### **10. ARTICULATION JOINT: ANKLE moves the FOOT**

* The ankle contains an *articulation mechanism* that articulates *the foot* from *the lower leg*.

Wow! That's a lot of possible joints!

## *3. Articulation Definitions*

The following definitions will help you visualize what can move on a doll. These terms are not official but are meant to help serve as a guide for understanding.

1. **NON-ARTICULATED (0 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: **No part of a doll can move/pose independently anywhere on the doll's body**.
2. **PARTIAL ARTICULATION (1-3 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: **Either shoulders or hips will articulate** = if only hips articulate, doll will sit/stand without help; if only shoulders articulate, doll cannot sit/stand unaided. Head may articulate; be fixed; or rotate only. Ex. Most **breastplate dolls** will fit within this category.
3. **MULTI-ARTICULATED (4-5 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: Doll can sit/stand unaided; **both** shoulders and hips will move/pose; head may articulate or rotate only. Ex. Most AG-style body types will fit within this category.
4. **FULLY ARTICULATED (6+ JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: Doll can sit/stand unaided; both shoulders and hips articulate; neck articulates. Additional body parts will articulate: waist; both elbows; both wrists; both knees; both ankles will move/pose if articulated. Dolls within this category are mostly vinyl however, a few types of cloth dolls will fully articulate. Ex. Happy Kidz and Nane Roskothen dolls (fully-articulated cloth doll) will fit within this *type*.

## 4. *Articulation Mechanisms*

> Quick recap: What makes a joint ***able*** to articulate (i.e. move and hold a fixed pose) is referred to as an **articulation mechanism**.
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As discussed, *a joint connects two things*; this is where an internal articulation mechanism will be located. There are a variety of different articulation mechanisms used by Götz.

1. TENSION CORD and CUP
2. TENSION CORD and HOOK
3. INTERNAL SKELETAL ARMATURE
4. FLANGE & SOCKET CONNECTIONS

References

1. “Articulation.” *Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary*, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/articulation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2020.
2. “Joint.” *Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary*, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joint. Accessed 5 Jul. 2020.
3. “Socket.” *Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary*, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socket. Accessed 5 Jul. 2020.