Collectibles you must get if you’re a true anime fan Posted Jun 17, 2022
Over the years, anime has become increasingly popular, gaining a reputation for being much loved by people worldwide. While before, it was only a niche group of people that were even aware of the world of Japanese animation, now you might even strike up conversations with people you know in real life and be surprised to find out that they are fans. Anime spans a large variety of genres, from comedy to horror. Unlike Western animation, it is not solely designed with children in mind, as some anime can contain violent or intense scenes. Its versatility is one of the many reasons it gained traction in the Western world as well, despite cultural and language barriers. Anime has helped shorten the distance between these two parts of the world and has even contributed to many fans becoming interested in Japan, its customs and its language.
When you’re an anime fan, you know that the world of collectibles is extensive. Since anime has become cooler to watch and gained more acceptance from the general public, it has also meant that the market dealing with collector’s pieces has become more extensive. If you haven’t purchased anything like that before, or if you’d like to add some more items to your collection, look at the following list to get a good idea of a gift you can give yourself.
Licensed clothing
If you’re passionate about anime, you’ll want to take your favorite characters everywhere. And what better way to do that than investing in some licensed streetwear bearing the design of the franchise you like the most. While there are many clothing pieces with anime prints out there, picking a licensed item won’t only mean you’ll get the label attached but also that the anime’s creators get revenue from the product. When you love a piece of media, you’ll want to support it, right? Many brands have worked with anime and manga creators to bring forward clothing lines, so you’re guaranteed to find something that’ll suit your tastes.
Vinyl figures
One of the most easily recognizable items that any hardcore fan must have are figures of their favorite characters. You can buy Pop vinyl figures no matter what your favorite series is. For example, if you’re a lover of the late 90s classic Cowboy Bebop. In that case, you can get a vinyl soda of Faye, which you can add to your existing collection of other characters if you’ve been amassing figurines of the Bebop crew for a while. This is a bounty you’ll want to collect.
If you’ve been obsessed with Boku no Hero Academia for years, get the exclusive Neito Monoma figure to show that you’re a true fan of the show. And, of course, if you’re a Naruto fan – like most anime fans out there- you can have your pick from a wide range of characters, including designs from Shippuden and Boruto.
Other small collectibles include mini backpacks. Made from vegan leather, embroidered and with fantastic attention paid to design details, they’ll add a splash of color to any outfit you wear. While smaller in size, they’re roomy enough to allow you to carry your essentials comfortably when you’re getting ready for the day. And if you want to add an extra touch of anime to your jackets or bags, you can choose a pin to attach to your items. Small and discreet, they’ll look great and lend themselves well to any outfit without being too in-your-face.
An online class
What better way to get yourself fully immersed in the world of anime than to learn to draw like a mangaka. If you want to learn this skill, you’ll have to armor yourself with a lot of patience because it won’t just happen overnight. You’ll need a lot of practice before you’re satisfied with your art. But joining a class can help you get on the right path. You’ll also develop your storytelling abilities. Manga and anime artists don’t just provide the visual aspect but are also master tale-tellers. So you’ll need to hone those skills as well. Look for a class that’ll teach you how to develop a story panel by panel, so you’ll be able to make your ideas a reality from now on.
Accessories
You can find a wide range of anime accessories on the market. If you’re planning to wear them yourself, you can get them in the form of necklaces, caps or rings. Many of them seek to replicate the ones worn by particular characters, so whether you’d like to reproduce a costume in cosplay or would like to wear an item daily as part of your clothing ensemble, your most challenging decision will be what to buy next and to limit yourself to only a few things.
And since you probably use your phone a lot, you’ll be happy to hear there are plenty of options to decorate your phone. Phone accessories are one of the best ways to express yourself, so what better thing to add than a little something you love. Whether as stickers or phone cases, you’ll find something you like. You can also get them personalized if you don’t see any ready-made option that suits you. You can also add stickers to other items, such as your reusable water bottle. If you’re a seasoned fanartist yourself, you can even try to paint it yourself.
Box sets
When you’re an avid fan, there’s nothing better than having your favorites together in a single collection. This is easily done by buying box-set collections of manga or anime. Coming in boxes decorated with beautiful designs, they’re not only practical items but also aesthetically pleasing ones. Look for high image and sound quality before making a purchase. If you can get your hands on one, look into the rare editions that come with bonus footage like OVAs and additional items like booklets containing detailed character profiles and cell phone stands. Since such sets were released as limited additions, they can be difficult to come by, but it’s worth giving them a shot. And if you’re a music fan, purchase the soundtrack. If you want to take it a step further, buy it in vinyl so you can jam to the tracks in style.
There are many items to get when you’re an anime fan, each cooler than the last. It can be hard deciding on just a few. However, no matter what you choose, it’s guaranteed to make you happier.
