That or just charge a very small amount and print to order. Even let’s say 5 bucks. That doesn’t price anyone out, including kids, but it’d keep the douchebags from using bots and grabbing hundreds or thousands of them. Not saying it’d stop it completely but I doubt someone would drop 5 grand at once to get ahold of 1,000 Van Gogh Pikas. Or most people wouldn’t anyway.
Will the artists physically touch and sign each of these inserted cards, or will the signature be digitally recorded and then printed onto each card? If it’s the latter, this won’t solve anything. Signature collectors want cards directly signed by the artists. It’s about more than just wanting someone’s name on your card.
If it’s the former, it’ll only bring more attention to this. Now little Timmy can pull an autograph card, but so can every little Timmy. And they also can all pull all the same autographed cards, from the latest modern set. This won’t decrease the amount of people that currently want autographed cards from anything 1996-2024. And there are a lot of cards waiting to be signed.
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This analogy assumes the artists should’ve foreseen such chaos on autographs, which is more reason they would want to avoid it altogether. It’s also asking them to satisfy demand by being even more involved in the very situations they now want to avoid, which is rather callous. They’re not a printing facility, they’re one person
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Not my point at all. I’m not saying anyone could have anticipated it. I’m saying after 4+ years of this craziness, Pokemon company should print some signed cards and put them in packs/products, that’s the mistake.
Both ways are fine. But the important one is having actual ink-signed cards which would satisfy the demand for autographed/sketched cards. There are 2 ways to do this - signature on the actual card, or artists sign a “sticker” that is then placed on cards at the factory. Both are very common in sports cards for many years.
With sports, athletes are the primary content so it makes sense. TPC only sells merchandise for Pokémon content, not the artists they contracted. The last distributed artist-signed cards iirc were the 20th Anniversary Festa Pikachu & Mew prize cards by Arita in 2016, but this was long before increasing reports of harassment and reselling shed light on social media. I seriously doubt, being aware of this, that TPC Japan wants to attach this sentiment with their brand let alone on future merchandise
Let’s be real, the vast majority of this ‘market’ are people trying to find any way to make money. They wouldn’t recognize the artist if you removed the illustration credit.
No self-respecting collector would or should pay for a signed card that is addressed to someone else, Pikachu or whatever other crap these wankers ask to make it out to.
A lot of e4 members have purchased cards addressed to someone else. For many people, it’s their only way to obtain a signed card. Going to artist events can be prohibitively expensive, and the countries that artists visit through these events are limited.
I think your opinion is a little abrasive and insensitive to people’s life circumstances. People should collect what they like.
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There is a direct link between buying these cards and the artists being harassed. So if you really respect the artist so much as to want a signature, why would you fund the actions of those who have no respect for the artist?
Commission original artwork from them if you appreciate their work so much.
Most people going to signings aren’t harassing the artists. As @Dyl said, buying second hand is the only way most people can own a signed card. Buying one of those cards isn’t inherently supporting the bad actors. If anything those bad actors, which are a minority, are abusing the good will that is the majority of an event.
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I did highlight that I’m referring to cards that already have personalization to someone else/Pikachu/Charizard. If you’re going there for yourself, yeah you’re not harassing the artists but also you probably will not be putting up the cards for sale - especially not in hours/days/weeks/months.
So the ones that do go up for sale in that quick turnaround are more likely than not only in it for the money and have no respect for the artist. By buying from them, you are enabling their behaviour because it is rewarding it.
And maybe more controversially, you don’t need to own a signed card. As I said, if it means so much to you either commission the artist or pay someone to get a card signed for and dedicated to you. Otherwise, how can you turn a blind eye to how the signature was likely acquired?
“With sports, athletes are the primary content”
Correct. Not saying autos / sketches need to be as prevalent for Pokemon, but there is clear demand from a lot of collectors for signed cards. Pokemon Co. putting autographed/sketched cards in packs makes them more money, more money for artists, and satisfied collectors. What’s the downside?
I think koala already touched on it.
TPC is not in the business of promoting their artists.
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I’m tired of this thread. I feel like we have the same conversation every 3 months about this and everyone maintains the same opinions.
This thread is great resource for Pokémon company to look at if our SEO ranked this high on their searches, but other than that… idk
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None of us “need” to own Pokémon cards either. They don’t feed or house us, this is all for our own enjoyment. But by that logic we shouldn’t own anything.
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I think they’re more so alluding to the “participation trophy” mindset of the hobby. Where everyone thinks they are entitled or deserving of something, but that’s just society in general.
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I read it more like, if your goal is to not support the instant resellers then you can either get the autograph/commission yourself or be content with not owning the autograph.
I’m not going to judge what other people do but that’s kinda where I’m at myself
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Kagemaru Himeno
(event only August 14 2024)
Japan Artist Agency - Aloha! Himemaru’s Art Event
"Himemaru will have prepared hand-drawn artwork for attendees, to be completed in time for the event. The art pieces are Himemaru’s original works, and will be unveiled to the recipient at the event. These art pieces will be for sale and will include a brief one-on-one timeframe to meet her.
…
All pieces are Himemaru originals. Attendees don’t need to bring any materials, and personal items won’t be accepted at this event."
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So non-personal items are good to go! 
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