About the person behind the screen
Anime, games, cosplay and collecting are no longer just hobbies that I visit in my spare time. They have become part of how I relax, express myself, connect with other people and find ideas for my creative work.
I created Beyond the Screen as a personal digital room rather than a formal portfolio. Each page represents a different corner of my fandom life, and my original cat mascot guides visitors through the space.
How this room began
When many children around my age began watching television dramas, I was still happiest watching animation. I continued enjoying cartoons into my early teenage years.
After I moved overseas, a friend introduced me to Natsume’s Book of Friends. It was the first Japanese anime I seriously followed. Its gentle stories about memory, loneliness and connection showed me that animation could carry emotions that stayed with me long after an episode ended.
I usually play Honor of Kings when my friends are online. For me, the game is closely connected to talking, laughing and spending time together.
Genshin Impact feels more private. Its landscapes, characters and music create a small world where I can slow down and become absorbed in exploration. One game connects me with friends, while the other gives me space to be alone.
My main reason for cosplaying is simple: I love the character and want to bring part of them into the real world. When I am in costume, I often become more outgoing than I am in everyday life. Looking elegant, cute or handsome gives me a different kind of confidence.
Cosplay also gives me room to experiment with appearances that are harder for me to try in daily life, including short-haired and more masculine character styles. Planning the costume, makeup and final photographs becomes part of the creative transformation.
I especially enjoy collecting cotton dolls of characters I love. At home, I have two large Furina dolls representing her different sides, a Columbina doll, and a Citlali cushion.
I also collected the complete novel series of The King’s Avatar. Alongside books, I collect character badges, occasional figures and other small items from fandom stores and Pop Mart. These objects may look small, but each one holds a connection to a character, story or period of my life.
These interests help me pause when real life becomes overwhelming. I brought small Columbina and Sandrone figures with me to Australia. When I feel helpless, seeing them reminds me of the characters’ bond and the moments in their story where they protect, understand and save one another.
Stories that once moved me inside a game can return through a small object on my desk. They remind me that difficult moments can change and that hope can come from unexpected places. Fandom has also helped me meet close friends and has often influenced my writing ideas. It has become an essential part of the way I understand and support myself.
Who this room is for
Beyond the Screen is made for people who enjoy anime, games, cosplay and collecting, but it is also for anyone curious about why fictional characters and imagined worlds can matter so much in everyday life.
Contact
You can contact me through my University of Melbourne email.