Over the past couple of years, blind boxes have become a big trend all over the internet. From stores selling out of the beloved Sonny Angels in a matter of minutes to the Labubu fiasco, we’ve all seen our fair share of this craze. I’ve personally also fallen victim to these adorable little collectibles, spending an embarrassing amount of money on them just for a little serotonin boost.
With my fair share of trinkets lining every nook and cranny of my dorm, I thought it would be fun to assign majors to these little creatures. If you’ve ever wanted to get into collecting but felt overwhelmed by the selection, maybe use this as a little inspiration.
Humanities: SMISKI
Smiski figures, most recognized for their green glow-in-the-dark hue, first became popular in 2020, about 5 years after their original release. Since then, many different series of the little guys have appeared, featuring them doing yoga or working on a construction site. They have definitely gotten their fair share of involvement and experience.
Similarly, humanities is a major created to be exploratory. Instead of locking in on one major right off the bat, the humanities allow the student to try combining many areas of study! I think this matches the Smiskis very well, as both humanities and they love to explore and try out new things, not just be confined to one subject or event!
Studio Art: SKULLPANDA COllectibles
Skullpanda collectibles are one of Pop Mart’s best-selling blind boxes. They were created by a Chinese artist named Xiong Miao, who originally wanted the toys to have a gothic edge while still containing emotional depth. Skullpandas are complex, intricate figures, often drawing inspiration from various art styles and trends.
Studio art perfectly matches the sophisticated design of these figurines. They’re both very creative, and while everyone can see how beautiful they are, studio art majors may better understand the background of the design. It follows their interest in studying by combining different traditional arts to create a blind box that most people know and love.
Anthropology: SONNY ANGEls
A familiar and beloved classic, Sonny Angels helped spark the blind-box and collectible obsession. Even though their design is essentially just naked angel babies wearing hats, they’re so much more to the people who blow half a paycheck on their new series or dress up as them for Halloween. They were created as good luck charms, like cherubs depicted in church murals.
Anthropology is perfect for these little guys. Tell me why they’re wearing little hats, or why I’m obsessed and feel like I need a million to be fulfilled. I didn’t just pick anthropology to match these little guys because they’re human-like, but because of the mystery behind them. I feel like they randomly became popular overnight and started an insane trend in Gen Z. Any anthropology major want to collect a couple and tell me why?
English: MOFUSAND CATS
Mofusand is next. The Mofusand blind boxes started as a character series created by Japanese illustrator Junko Noji, also known as Juno. The cute, cat characters are dressed up in costumes, most famously as other animals such as sharks or bunnies. They can even come in big plush keychains or traditional plastic figures.
I just had to give the cute cats to English majors. I can so picture them reading a book, studying, or writing, surrounded by these cute little guys (maybe I’m doing that right now)! I also often associate cats with whimsy and comforting vibes, which is what English majors provide me with as well. I think they’re the perfect match.
International Affairs: TOKIDOKI horses
Since debuting in 2005, the tokidoki brand has been popular for much longer than the others I have mentioned in this article. Featuring many characters, such as “Unicornos” and “Cactus Friends,” they combine a street-art style with vibrant colors to create unique characters.
The reason why I chose international affairs to pair with tokidokis is that Simone Legno, the creator, purposefully combined Italian, American, and Japanese art styles to create the brand. This is literally international relations at work, combining to make one bigger brand. Once I heard and learned about the background of tokidokis, it was a no-brainer for me.
Psychology: hirono figures
Hirono, another best-seller from Pop Mart but in a different way. Unlike many of the cheerful and colorful blind boxes that Pop Mart is usually known for, Hironos tend to be more grayscale and notably have a sad or frowning face.
Hironos were created by the Chinese artist Xuan Yilang, also known as Lang, who wanted the figures to appear melancholy to reflect the psychological struggles he faced. This includes some self-doubt and feelings of loneliness. The background behind these little guys makes it clear that psychology majors are the perfect fit.
Elementary Education: MIKKO characters
Mikko, a popular Japanese artist, began creating blind boxes featuring her characters. Unlike other companies, these recognizable characters have names such as Latte, the brown bear, or Mousse, the white cat. She partnered with many well-known companies, including Miniso, to create and display her blind boxes.
Known for the pastel and retro art style, I think Mikko would be a good fit for elementary education. I can picture the figures as classroom décor, as tools to help with learning, or even as toys, given their durability. I know that if I had seen some of these collectibles in my teacher’s classroom as a kid, I would have been ecstatic!
Now, of course, this is all for inspiration for those who want to start collecting but don’t know where to start. If you’re a psychology major and really like Smiskis, go for it! I just thought it would be fun to help introduce some people to the crazy world of blind box collecting by associating popular brands with majors. Hopefully I’ve convinced you.
Or, if you’ve been a collector all along and wanted to see what blind box you got, hopefully you were happy with my selection. Maybe it’s time to go out and get another one after this read. Happy collecting!
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