Looking at the scene now, in relationship to how young Rob looks, the doll looks similar to how I imagine a child might look like in Fjorda. The doll blinks it's eyes (as if it's alive). So when the scene cuts from Rob describing how his dad destroys the doll, to the scene with the broken doll in the trash - it's horrifying because it looks like a mutilated child - who is gasping for breath. Things to consider:
1. Can you make the doll look less realistic and more toy-like? For example, many children's dolls do not have developed breasts. Maybe the skin texture is more porcelain or wood-like (which I think the original was).
2. If the doll's joints were more doll like -(gaps where the shoulders and elbows articulate) you could maybe show the limbs "akimbo" and see the thread/band that connects the elbow or shoulder joint. So the doll parts in the dust bin look less like a mutilated child and more like a broken toy.
3. Some dolls cry. With your current animation, you could change the script from how life like the doll breathed, to how life-like it's eye's blinked and cried. I notice the doll in the story blinking, but not the rise/fall of it's chest. Add tears to the animation, and in the trash can scene replace the gasping face with a tear-stained crying face and it might be just as moving, and less creepy.
Hope this feedback helps!!
Thank you for that thorough and inspiring input!
I will see what I can do. The joints are beyond me, but the breasts and the skin should be within reach somehow. Tears are always a hazzle, but there are assets for them, so it should be possible.
Won't be this month though, as I'm working hard with the Stream release.