Private Project

Love Doll Maintenance

An ethnographic inquiry into the pros and cons of having a partner made of silicone.

Love Doll Maintenance lets us peek into the everyday life of a man/doll couple in Tokyo. The protagonist talks candidly about his love for Keito, who is a doll. As the film progresses, it turns out that doll love is not an uncomplicated affair. Counter to common assumptions, the reality of living with a doll turns out to be full of unglamorous chores and little problems that need to be solved.

This film is part of a research project that explores the human potential to feel and express affection for non-humans. Love Doll Maintenance is a candid snapshot that lets us glimpse what love and affection may look like in a world where desire is increasingly and globally decoupled from human others.

This research was designed within a PhD program, but was completed independently. The film complements the book-length ethnography Impossibly Cute Boys: The Healing Power of Shota Comics in Japan (Andersson 2024).

  • Karl Andersson
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 19, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Independent researcher
Director Biography - Karl Andersson

Karl Andersson is an anthropologist and filmmaker. His debut film Unreal Boys has been screened at numerous ethnographic film festivals, and won the award for Best Student Film at the Society for Visual Anthropology Film and Media Festival 2021.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As an anthropologist, I conduct original research that increases our understanding of ourselves.