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There have been instances where people express a deep attraction towards a fictional character, sometimes jokingly, other times more seriously. As it turns out, there is a term attached to this phenomenon, and it is an actual feeling shared by a surprising number of people.
Fictophilia is an existing condition wherein a person develops romantic feelings, intense desires, and even sexual attraction towards a fictional character. It is different from mere admiration and is more similar to infatuation in the real world. While it is an odd concept to take in, it’s not hard to understand with the abundance of attractive characters in the fictional realm.
Fictophilia is most prominent in the anime community. Most guys and girls are highly attracted to anime characters and nearly worship them. In fact, the men of anime are carefully drawn and written to be ideal personas that appeal to numerous people. To know more about this intriguing spectacle, read on.
5 Things You Should Know About Fictophilia
The Realness of Fictophilia
We might equate fictophilia to having silly crushes; however, it really is more than that. It employs raw human emotion and invokes intense feelings, so much so that there have even been several attempts to marry a fictional character. There are also successful cases of this in Japan, and it is legal in other parts of the world as well.
The Warning Signs
Since fictophilia is not a popular concept, most people have little knowledge of it, hence, are unable to catch it once it happens. So, how do you know when your fictional attraction is more than just a crush? First, you go to extreme lengths to learn all you can about that character. In severe cases, you even memorize the slightest detail, such as their family history, clothes, etc. Another telltale sign is when they have taken up most, if not all, of your digital space. Their picture fills your gallery, and you have accounts dedicated to them.
Blurred Lines
Individuals with fictophilia truly have human emotions towards their fictional infatuation. This is why they often fail to draw the line between reality and fantasy, and their fictional crush’s characteristics then dictate their preferences for a human partner. Since they can’t physically be with them, they try to get as close as possible by looking for similar traits in other potential lovers.
There Is A Community
You don’t have to worry about being extremely attracted to some hot anime guys or waifus because there is someone like you with the same intense desire for possibly the same character. With fictophilia being so popular among anime fans, multitudes of communities now share this condition.
Fanfiction
While there is nothing wrong with loving a fictional character, it can get out of hand if you’re not careful. Unfortunately, there are cases wherein things got so extreme that they ruined the personal lives of the fictophilics. So, remember to manage your feelings well and channel the pent-up emotions into a healthy outlet like fanfiction. Whether you’re the reader or writer, fan fiction is an excellent avenue for those with fictophilia to express themselves and indulge their fantasies.
