Shopping for the anime-curious? Need a quick, but special, gift for your friend who finds the whole âanimeâ thing confusing and intriguing? Maybe sheâs seen half an episode of Cowboy Bebop and thought it was pretty sick. Or he lets out a little âsquee…!â when he sees your plush collection.
There are some tried and true entry points for the prototaku, friend, and weâd be happy to share them with you. The best gifts are the ones recipients wouldnât normally buy. So, check out our gift guide for the anime newb below:
Cowboy Bebop Box Set
Nobody doesnât like space opera/infinite jazz breakdown Cowboy Bebop. Itâs true. Even the most anime-ambivalent of us can get down with a little sci-fi bounty hunter action. Clocking out at a light 26 episodes, itâs not an intimidating thing to take on. Also, the big band soundtrack is gold. (Amazon, $12.57)
The Art of Spirited Away
Spirited Away is is just as good at age 7 as it is at 26. Thatâs because itâs accessible, refined and gorgeous. Director Hayao Miyazaki doesnât skimp on details: Spirited Awayâs spirit bath house is intricate in architecture, full of bizarre creature and set in a stunningly strange other world. The Art of Miyazakiâs Spirited Away includes sketches, commentary and storyboards from the world-class anime, which, to those outside the fandom, could grace a coffee table or give them a lead-in to Miyazakiâs corpus of work. (Amazon, $22.99)
Octopus Sushi Plush
So cute. So cute. I have one of these. It brings me joy every god damn day. Is it a cat? Is it a sushi? Is it both? Many of my friends have asked these questions. I wonât call this a conversation-starter, but it sure looks like it fell right out of an anime. (Amazon, $14.99)
Revolutionary Girl Utena Box Set
In 1997, Revolutionary Girl Utena broke ground in the magical girl anime genre. Itâs about a chivalrous girl who wants more than anything to be a prince. The anime features gender-bending, lady love and awesome fight scenes. In 2016, Revolutionary Girl Utena is, objectively, a little silly and over-earnest. The art book inside the box set, also, is stunning. A friend actually bought this for me last year and I was pretty floored. (Amazon, $42.35)
NausicaÀ of the Valley of the Wind, Volumes 1-4 ($36)
NausicaĂ€ is hardcore. Sheâs a princess and a fighter whoâs inherited a kingdom in a post-apocalyptic world, overrun by a toxic jungle. Behemoth insects destroy everything in their path. Itâs on NausicaĂ€ to strike a compromise between human settlements, the bugs and the scientific realities of living a chemically hostile environment. The graphics novels are a great buy for anyone passionate about the environment, and especially for people who love strong female protagonists. (Amazon, $74.99)
