I, COLLECTOR?
Lately, I’ve been indulging in a new hobby, which is to watch anime and manga fans showcasing their rich collections and how they store them. It’s both satisfying and thrilling to follow these curators as they take me section by section through the whole exhibitions that they organized with so much thought and love. It must have taken them years to build up such large collections, and multiple layout changes to figure out the best way to display their prized possessions. As a person who also reorganizes my room and bookshelves a lot, this is like finding people akin to me. However, there’s another reason why I’ve come to enjoy those videos so much.
I was never into collecting before. Although I love having cute decorating items, I usually opt for repurposing what was already in my house (like perfume bottles, glassware, mugs…) instead of buying new things. I also didn’t care much for branded or franchised products, so you wouldn’t see me purchasing things that had logos or based on famous characters, unless I really, really liked the items.
But recently, my shopping behavior has made a turn. Ever since I watched an anime called Jujutsu Kaisen, I can’t keep my head cool anymore. There are so many interesting merch to buy. Figurines, acrylic stands, posters, glass paintings, keychains, phone charms… I just want to surround myself in the comfort of those tangible collectibles.
I think a big part of my needs comes from the darkness of the anime. JJK follows a group of exorcists in their battles against evil curses trying to plague humankind. But it’s not a simple world where good is good and bad is bad. Villains sometimes feel like karma human sowed themselves, and cruel fates keep falling upon bright people who want to make a difference. Jujutsu Kaisen is not a story to warm your heart. It’s more likely to leave you empty, a hole you’re hoping to fill by collecting more and more merchandise.
I say this not as a complaint about the anime or about excessive consumerism. I love JJK’s storytelling, as well as the stuff I buy as a fan. Looking at them makes me happy. These little things seem to tell an alternative tale where a storybook ending exists for my beloved characters. In them, time freezes, forever stopping at the beautiful moments of life, completely avoiding heartbreaks and misfortune.
This is the thing I least expected in films. Usually, I enjoy tragedy and rarely wish for a different ending for a character. I think Jujutsu Kaisen is quite special in that way. It keeps me thinking about possibilities. Had one thing happened differently, the situation could have turned for the better.
I don’t know if other fans share my feelings. Maybe they collect for different reasons. But either way, I believe Jujutsu Kaisen has awaken something in me, an urge to collect that has long been sleeping.
