I went to Kalamazoo Comic-Con today, excited to check the anime dealers, see some cosplay, and network with some local artists. Talking to the artists, I was a little disappointed. You see, every artist I spoke to had a QR code linking to their socials, but only one had a physical card I could take with me.
I’m not anti-QR code. They’re convenient compared to expecting somebody to go to reallylongwebsitename/subheading manually. But they can’t replace a physical takeaway, only supplement it.
Here’s the thing. QR codes shift the burden to the customer. I have to:
- Want to learn more
- Take out my phone
- Open the camera app
- Point it at your QR code until it focuses
- Tap the link
- Bookmark the page
Realistically? I’m probably going to forget I ever scanned it. Maybe I never interact with your art again. Maybe I do bookmark it, but never open it, because who checks their bookmarks anymore?
Compare that to a small print or a business card with your best work on it. I stick that in my pocket. Later, I take it out and think, “Oh yeah! This artist was amazing. I should message them about a commission.” It’s a tactile reminder. It sparks joy. It makes the connection real.
And that got me thinking.
Physical still matters. Especially when it comes to what you love.
QR codes vs business cards might feel minor, but the bigger conversation is one anime and manga fans already know well: Streaming vs physical media.
Don’t get me wrong. I love streaming anime. It’s convenient, inexpensive (at least on a per-month basis, over time it adds up), and gives you access to a wide variety of anime. Manga subscription services are similarly great. All the manga you can read, right on your phone or tablet, and you can even read it in the dark. Subscription services are fantastic for trying a new series with zero risk.
But when it comes to the series I obsess over, the ones that resonate deeply in my heart, streaming just isn’t enough.
Why?
Because streaming isn’t stable. It’s rented, not owned. And it’s already starting to show its cracks.
- Your favorite shows are on multiple platforms, and they all want $15+ a month.
- Your favorite series just… disappears.
- A line, scene, episode, or even entire series is pulled for “content concerns” and you have no way to see it.
- A niche movie vanishes because the platform deems the cost / benefit of hosting just doesn’t work out.
And just like that, something you care about becomes inaccessible, or essentially “held hostage” in exchange for payment in perpetuity.
But when you own the physical copy, whether it’s a Blu-ray set or a tankoubon volume, that can’t happen. It’s yours. No algorithm can delete it. No boardroom decision can edit it. No subscription fee can hold it hostage. You paid for it, you own it.
Additionally, to evoke a little Marie Kondo, my collection sparks joy. I love seeing my favorite series on a shelf. I like picking up a book I’ve read a hundred times and flipping through it, or reading the back of the DVD case from a show I’ve already watched a dozen times. It’s a small celebration of something that moved me. A reminder that it mattered.
I can spend just a moment with the item, letting the feels flood back into me. That’s priceless.
I’m not anti-streaming, just pro-obsession
Streaming and subscription services have changed the game in so many positive ways. But for the stories that matter, the ones that live in your heart, the ones you are obsessed with, streaming just isn’t enough. They deserve more than a disappearing tab. They deserve a permanent place on your shelf. A permanent place in your life.
Accept no substitutes. If you love it, it’s gotta be physical.