Our curation method
Algorithms show you what's popular. Databases show you what exists. Neither tells you why a handful of records, games, or films belong on the same shelf. That judgment is the only part worth reading — so here is exactly how we make it.
What we are
CurationFig is an editorial curation site. We write the argument that binds a list together; we surface real metadata — titles, years, covers, genres — from open, attributed sources (MusicBrainz CC0, RAWG, TMDB); and we hand you a tool to build your own list when ours doesn't fit the mood you're in. The writing is ours. The data is attributed. The choice is yours.
The three rules we curate by
Argument over aggregate
A work earns a spot because it proves a list's point, not because a platform ranked it. We would rather include a quieter, lesser-known entry that argues well than a famous one that merely restates the obvious.
Feeling over stats
We organize by mood and intent — lonely Tuesday, golden-hour drive, midnight dread — because a feeling rarely stays in one medium. Numbers (ratings, release year, popularity) are context, never the criteria.
Restraint over volume
We would rather hand you twelve picks that cohere than two hundred that don't. Every list is built to be finished, not scrolled past. If something doesn't serve the mood, it doesn't make the cut.
How we pick — by medium
Music
We listen for texture and intent: a record's tempo, its quiet, the room it builds. Metadata comes from MusicBrainz (CC0). We prioritize the version that argues for the list's mood — a confessional vocal, a drone that fills a quiet room — over the chart position. Covers are sourced from the Cover Art Archive.
Games
We pick for the experience a system creates, not the metacritic it earned. A farming loop that becomes a refuge, a soulslike that respects your intelligence, a narrative game that changes you — these are curation, not leaderboards. Genre and platform data come from RAWG (attribution required).
Film & TV
We curate for the feeling and the form, never the plot twist. Slow cinema earns its place next to a tense noir because both trust the viewer. We avoid spoilers by design — the point is the atmosphere, and a ruined ending is a ruined mood. Metadata comes from TMDB.
Our editorial philosophy
We believe a recommendation is only as good as the reason behind it. So every list states its thesis in plain language, every entry carries a short note on why it belongs, and every style we use (noir, cozy, lo-fi, soulslike…) comes with a plain-English definition — because the vocabulary of taste should be legible, not gatekept. We are not here to be the authority. We are here to be a good companion for the night you're actually having.
Data sources & transparency
Real metadata is attributed to open sources and used under their licenses: MusicBrainz (CC0), Cover Art Archive, RAWG, and TMDB (this product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB). All editorial writing, selection logic, and the "why this belongs" notes are original to CurationFig and are the part no API can generate.
Cover images & copyright
We display cover and key art only to identify a work and aid browsing. Rights belong to their respective owners and are used here for identification / commentary under fair-use principles, not as endorsed artwork:
- Podcasts — show artwork is served from the Apple iTunes Search API, used as permitted for displaying podcast identity.
- Animation & Comics (manga) — key art is sourced from AniList and remains the property of the original studios, publishers, and creators.
- Books, Western comics & graphic novels — where no licensable cover API is reachable, we render a simple text placeholder (title on a brand background) that carries no third-party imagery and creates no copyright exposure.
If you are a rights holder and would like a specific image removed or credited differently, contact us via the form on the contact page.
What we are not
- Not a streaming service — no playback, no login wall.
- Not a wiki — we don't mirror everything; we choose.
- Not affiliate-driven — no paid placement, no "buy now" arbitrage.
- Not a review aggregator — we curate, we don't score.
Contact
Corrections, takedown requests, or curation suggestions: editorial@curationfig.com. We read every note and fix attribution errors promptly.