Discussions of BJDs in other media occasionally popped up on DOA, and while in most cases, the BJDs seem to be some of a background element, a small number have them in a starring role. I can't vouch for the quality of all of these-I've only watched or read some of them, and the issue of translation can be a big problem when it comes to such a niche topic. But maybe you just want to stare at things without any clue as to what's being said. I'm not judging.
Manga
Manga! For those of us who want something quieter and slower paced than anime. Or just enjoy some very pretty pictures. When available, I've linked to online sources for checking out digital library copies, or, in the case of works without easily available English translation, fan translations or uploads of the now out of print translation. Please note that these may go down at any time. Such is the nature of these things.
Rozen Maiden - With an old school lolita fashion look and official dolls made by Volks (that go for a pretty penny now), how could I not list this one first? Dollmaker makes a bunch of sentient dolls, sets them up to play the Alice Game to determine who gets to be a Real Girl. Actual people get dragged into the whole mess and it gets...complicated. I myself am still reading through this at the time of this writing (July 2026) and I highly recommend it.
Rozen Main results on Archive.org
Seven Seas Collector's Editions
Shounen Dolls - A girl descended from a line of dollmakers embarks on her quest to prove herself worthy of her heritage...with the help of a pair of boy BJDs that she can talk to.
Fan-translated scans on Archive.org
Doll Ojii - 40-year old businessman gets sucked into the world of collecting BJDs. ONE OF US! ONE OF US!
Interceptor Doll Hoihoi-san - Technically not about BJDs, but boy can I see the influences. Cute clothes! Posting about your doll! Collecting-specific magazines! (Way more common back in the day. If you're like me and remember hobby magazines, that's a nostalgia pang you're feeling. And back pain.) While it was available in english for a time, it appears to have fallen out of print.
Lovers Doll - Guy buys BJD rumored to be the 'blood doll', which moves and talks and may also drink blood (natch) at auction. Said BJD, is unsurprisingly, alive and magic. Yaoi ensues. 18+.
Anime
Anime: for when you want something animated and quite possibly with a killer soundtrack. Or something that can give you good reaction images. No links provided with these; with streaming rights being what they are, trying to chase down who has the rights to which show this< month can be a headache.
Rozen Maiden - an interesting case, as it has a 2004 version and its second season, Träumend, as well as the special Ouvertüre, and it has a 2013 adaptation that followed the current manga of the time. The 2004 version also notably goes off in a different direction than the manga, with different events and new characters.
Ghost in the Shell: Innocence - A sequel to the original Ghost in the Shell film, while the robots in the film aren't exactly modern BJDs, they were inspired by the artist Hans Belmer (see: The Doll, at the Art Institute of Chicago) who did (NSFW) art involving ball-jointed dolls in the 1930s. Sex robots, nicknamed dolls, are linked to a series of violent deaths, leading to an investigation of what's going on and who may be behind it. Prepare yourself for philosphy.
Misc
Stuff that doesn't quite fit in other categories.
amazarashi - “Deserving of Life” featuring NieR: Automata - A music video for NieR: Automata that's basically...all about BJDs being destroyed. Along with other dolls, but the BJDs get the real focus as the subjects of inanimate object gorn here.