The title of this post is a question that I’m confronted with fairly often. Why do hardcore fans spend so much money buying anime collectibles, such as figures, plushies, and trading cards, when such things are relatively expensive, take up space, and all they do is “sit around and collect dust?”…
It’s been said that for material things, anime collectibles in this case, we never love the thing for what it really is – we love it for what it represents. So for figures, we don’t love the PVC material that’s been molded into a certain shape with certain colors, even though that’s what the figure is. Instead, we only love it as a representation of a character we love.
I know this sounds like a pretty obvious reason for why people buy anime or any other collectibles, but let’s go further. Collecting anime goods is quite unlike other collections that people get into, such as cars, stamps, and baseball cards. Anime collectibles entail a lot more personal involvement with the buyer and the item. People may like cars or stamps for whatever reason, but each individual car and stamp does not represent much more than a car or a stamp, while an anime figure comprises the personality and feelings of a character, at least in the minds of the fans. While people may love the hobby of car or stamp collecting in general and have a few favorites, I think it’s usually the anime fans who feel the most intimacy with the item they buy because it represents a person to them rather than an object.
For baseball cards, even though they represent real people, most collectors do not know the players personally though they may know about them and admire certain qualities they possess. But people who buy and love their anime trading cards, even though they represent fictional people, know and appreciate the characters’ personalities, inner feelings, fears, flaws, insecurities, likes, dislikes, etc., which are things we can often only guess at for real people unless we spend a good amount of time with them. So it’s almost like anime fans know the character as well as they know their friends and family, so that creates a stronger bond between them and the item.
Putting aside the great character development and intimacy that a lot of anime series have, another reason character collectibles are popular buys among fans is because they’re the only tangible forms that anime characters can have. Unlike movie actors or other popular “real people,” anime characters are strictly visual, either on the video screen or on paper, so they don’t have a physical existence in the world. Products like figures and plushies are the only means of giving fans a realistic, tangible, representation of fictional characters whom they love.
Collecting anime goods is often looked down upon because it’s likened to children buying toys and stuffed animals of their favorite cartoon shows; basically, people think it’s childish to indulge in stuff like that, and at least the children play with their toys, while the anime collectibles serve no purpose but to be looked at. But this is pretty hypocritical considering all the time and money average people spend on useless paraphernalia to display in and fancy up their homes. At least with anime collectibles, there’s that aforementioned feeling of intimacy going on between the collector and the characters that the items represent.
Well, on a final note, the reason I personally buy anime collectibles is simply because they make me happy. With each figure, poster, keychain, etc., that I buy, I’m buying a bit of happiness and contentment for myself. Since I’ve been relatively poor, I only buy the items I really want. Sure, the anime products I buy take up space and collect dust, but being surrounded by representations of things I love makes everyday more pleasant =) A lot of people are very materialistic, yet they don’t know what particular things really satisfy them. Even though anime goods don’t have a practical value that the average person can perceive, they provide plenty of spiritual contentment which, in the long run, can make life more comforting =)
(Konata vector used in this post is credited to Yamaro)
I completly agree with you. My anime collection is really small(an Ichigo plushie, Pokemon figurines, a Yotsuba figurine, a Monoka plushie) but I really feel close to them because they have a value to me as an anime fan. I remember taking my Monoka plushie to school for a project and only my anime friends really understood the meaning behind Monoka while the rest just wondered why I wasted money to buy it.
I personally buy anime collectibles because they make me happy…
and make my wallet very sad… :P
Well-written post but there is one flaw – you assumed that cars and stamps, used in your examples, have no feelings attached to them for the buyer/collector. There are. But like the way people do not understand why you like anime collectibles, it is the same with you and them.
In short it is a passion like any other, but the biggest difference is how each character represents the idealization (ie. the ideal) of what we want to have around or look up to when we buy these figures/collectibles and put them on display. People might not understand until they actually watch the anime, and even then, they may dispute what you think on that particular character.
@Panther
Thanks for your input =) But I didn’t mean that cars and stamps don’t have any feelings attached to them for the buyer; only that the feelings are usually not as intimate because cars and stamps are not meant to represent anything beyond the objects that they are, while anime collectibles are meant to represent “people” (albeit, fictional ones). But of course, some collectors view their cars or stamp collections with as much passion as they would a real person, so I guess it’s all relative =P
I really don’t know why I buy figures and other merchandise. I suppose I just like it, and think they look cool.
I apologize if this sounds rude, but I am of the opinion that this post isn’t really much more then an attempt to rationalize figure collecting. I understand that figure collecting is often seen as odd by most the world, but there really is no need to over analyze the act in order to justify the hobby to others. We collect figures simply because we either like the process of collecting, or we like how the figure looks, we need no further explanation beyond that.
@Snark
I agree that an absolute, singular explanation for collecting things isn’t necessary, since it depends on the person, but I wanted to make an attempt =P Since many people who are not collectors themselves don’t understand the feelings of those who are, I wanted to try and give some logical reasons for the hobby as best as I could, even if I don’t have to justify it to others.
>>A lot of people are very materialistic, yet they don’t know what particular things really satisfy them.
Your statement that I quoted is very well stated. I think anime and manga-related “things” mean a lot to the people who collect them. Although I don’t collect figurines, I do put up a lot of anime posters on my wall for that “surrounded by what I love” feeling. And I also have a Bleach – Byakuya Kuchiki coffee mug. There’s nothing like having beautiful Byakuya to stare at with your morning coffee. ;)
Personally, I don’t buy anime collectibles because I don’t have the chance and the time to do so xD but if I could I would buy some figurines…
It’s true that we don’t buy anime collectibles for their material but for what they represent but that’s not always the case. There has to be some people that may be unaware of anime’s existence (I pity you freaks -.-) but they still buy some random anime collectibles just because they admire the art of making them. For example, a random person buys a figurine of Ichigo just because he admires the way its creators made it such an amazing piece of art. Can you catch my drift? ;p
As far as cars and stamps go, you insist that the difference between them and anime collectibles is that they don’t have feeling in them. Of course they don’t!!! How does a car have a personality? It’s just a means of transport! And stamps, same goes for them! They are just like card-postals in tiny version… One you collects cars is most of the times, obsessed with cars and thinks that having them is cool (I don’t say that it isn’t). Stamp collectors just admire how many variations of them exist. You can tour around the world just by looking at them. Stamps are just like fliers. They show locations or people. One would collect them just to boast for having them… Of course, that’s the case even for some anime figurines collectors.
By the way, it’s quite irrelevant but I just came up with it: When someone has a room full of cars or something else (except anime-related stuff) we call him a collector. But when someone has a room full of anime figurines we call him a freaking, disgusting, filthy or whatever else OTAKU!!! Isn’t that unfair?
Whoa! That’s the longest comment I’ve ever written and it gives me the creeps so I’d better stop somewhere here.
Anyways I didn’t mean to argue with you I just wanted to point out my aspect of things. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us and keep up your excellent work ;p
Can’t say I agree with the entirety of what you wrote, but this:
“Products like figures and plushies are the only means of giving fans a realistic, tangible, representation of fictional characters whom they love.”
This is good. I threw away all of my collectibles (except for DVDs) last year, but this is the direction I’ve been thinking in. If you’re fan enough to spend fifty dollars or more on a plastic statue, the escapism that makes you want to embody your favorite show is likely high.
Alright, heres my 2 cents…this is coming from somebody who tends to collect more than just anime goodies.
I’ve always believed/noticed that people collect different things for different reasons. You have collectors like most anime collectors (like you stated above). Then theres others who collect for the thrill of it, giving them a sense of accomplishment and that they have done something with their life and they have something to prove it. Others who collect items because of their value (like most baseball card and stamp collectors). Theres also the collectors who like to collect items for their nostalgia value, as they want a piece of the past that can no longer be. Theres the DVD, book, or CD collectors, their reasons are simple though, they just want a wide variety to choose from thats readily available when they want it. Then some people do it just to show off and have something to brag about. Then some collectors reasons can be a mix of the different reasons that I have stated.
As for my anime collection, theres a few things I have actually bought because it features I character I truly adore. But much of my collection I tend to collect for other reasons, like just simply the joy of owning a piece of the series as a whole, as a way to showcase my love for it. I also enjoy it because of the sense of accomplishment, especially after getting my hands on a rare/hard to find item like my Magic Knight Rayearth Hikaru doll or my Sailor Moon S SNES game. I collect my anime DVDs and manga for these very same reasons, along with the liking of the idea of having my own personal library to enjoy whenever I like. I will also admit I have a habit of bragging about my collection, especially my Sailor Moon merchandise which is worth a fortune now.
Theres also one other method of collecting I tend to follow. Not sure how many people go this route, but I buy items of practical use of something I like. When it comes to Hello Kitty goods I do this like a CD Player, band aids, pillowcases, shirts, keychains, a rug, towels, etc. The reason for this being a way for making ordinary items in life seem more fun and I like how its a simple way to express yourself, a way to standout among the crowds of people that all appear the same. Some people don’t like this idea because they will stand out, but I don’t mind, I always like daring to be different. Plus, seeing HK always puts a smile on my face and puts me in a good mood. Everytime I look at the time on my HK watch is an excellent example of this.
I personally don’t get why anime collectors are looked down upon so much though. We just happen to get the shaft so easily just because anime looks so childish I suppose. Yet everybody collects something of something. Theres those who collect figures of cats, shot glasses, spoons from all 50 states, pinball machines, Betty Boop collectables, Barbie dolls, etc. Ah well, overal collecting all comes down to a psychological thing for some reasons i’ve said already….
Well, theres my 2 cents of collections/collectors (Man, I just think too much sometimes. ><)