Best Anime Gift Ideas For Christmas 2019
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Anime is bigger than ever in 2019, which means you're probably looking for some cool anime gifts for that special person on your Christmas shopping list (especially if you're reading this). We've got some good recommendations for cool anime gift ideas, so even if you don't know an Alchemist from an Academia you can get the anime fan on your wish list perfect gift and not, y'know, a keychain, without watching anime yourself. Our list of anime gift ideas has movies, figures, and more fun ideas so you don't have to scrounge around for some awesome anime gifts for your friends and family.
Amazon is also currently running a buy 2, get 1 free sale on manga, including My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, and more. Grab a few volumes while the sale is still live if you want to that anime stocking with style!
Note that prices are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change without notice.
Studio Ghibli Blu-Rays
As far as anime gifts go, Studio Ghibli is hard to beat. Ghibli has produced some of the most beloved Japanese animated movies over the past several decades, and most of them would make an awesome, fun gift for just about anyone. You can't go wrong with anything from the larger collection of classic Hayao Miyazaki films, like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke, as well as Howl's Moving Castle and Porco Rosso.
Dragon Ball Super Broly (Blu-ray)
The first film in the Dragon Ball Super series reimagines the ultra-powerful Broly, making him a more interesting and sympathetic character. The evil Frieza wants to take advantage of the super strong Saiyan, pitting him against Goku and Vegeta, who must combine forces to defeat their new foe. It's a perfect buy for any Dragon Ball Super marathon viewing.
Your Name (Blu-ray)
Your Name released in the US in 2017, but over two years later, it’s still one of the most impactful anime films we've ever seen. It’s an emotional, heart-wrenching, and sometimes hilarious tale of two high-schoolers--a boy in Tokyo and a girl from the Japanese countryside--who are total strangers but inexplicably begin swapping bodies. If they missed out on Your Name during its initial release, it’s a must-watch for any fan of anime (or romantic dramas).
A Silent Voice (Blu-ray)
If they’ve already seen Your Name or you’re looking for another film to pair with it as a gift, A Silent Voice is an excellent option. It tells the story of a deaf teenager named Shoko and her complicated relationship with a troubled boy named Shoya, who bullied her in elementary school but eventually becomes a close friend. You’ll probably cry, but A Silent Voice is another film any anime fan should see.
Cowboy Bebop Complete Series (Blu-ray)
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most beloved anime series, following bounty hunter Spike Spiegel as he roams the galaxy looking for his next big payday. The show is packed with great action and comedy, but it's also full of heart, delivering poignant moments that will stick with you for a long time.
Fruits Basket - Season One Box Set (Blu-ray)
Fruits Basket is a truly iconic manga that tells the story of Tohru Honda, a girl who becomes involved with a mysterious family whose members turn into animals from the Chinese Zodiac when hugged. While a one-season anime released in 2001, fans of the books never got an anime that covered the entire 23-volume manga--until now. In 2019, Funimation debuted a gorgeous reboot of the Fruits Basket anime that will tell the entire story. Season one is now complete, with season two returning in 2020. Any Fruits Basket fan would be thrilled to have this limited-edition Blu-ray box set containing part one of the anime series as well as three art cards, resin replicas of the Rat and Ox figurines, an onigiri Zodiac figure, and a faux wood stand to display them.
My Hero Academia - Season One (Blu-ray)
My Hero Academia stars young Midoriya, a kid without superpowers who has always dreamed of being the greatest superhero. After he displays his courage, the world's most popular hero, All Might, takes him under his wing, and Midoriya enters the illustrious U.A. High School to train and become the hero he's always wanted to be.
Steins; Gate Elite (PS4, Switch)
Steins;Gate was a popular visual novel back when it first released on the PS3 and Vita in 2009. Thankfully, the game was recently remade with Steins;Gate Elite for the PS4 and Switch. The remake is now fully animated, using scenes from the anime adaptation as well as brand-new scenes. According to GameSpot sister site Metacritic, Steins;Gate Elite received an average of 86/100 across critic reviews.
The anime adaptation of Steins;Gate was also well received. The entire series is currently available as part of a box set on Amazon.
Dragon Ball: A Visual History
The upcoming Dragon Ball: A Visual History book compiles the beautiful artwork of Akira Toriyama's most popular series. It features commentary from Toriyama and rarely seen sketches.
Dragon Ball Manga - Complete Box Set
The entire Dragon Ball manga is collected in this complete box set, featuring all 16 volumes of the series that inspired the wildly popular show. The manga follows Goku, a strange kid with a tail, as he searches for seven artifacts known as the Dragon Balls, which are said to grant the wish of anyone who finds them all. If you were wondering were Goku's saga behind, this is a fantastic buy.
Dragon Ball Z Manga - Complete Box Set
For those willing to go into full otaku mode, this box set compiles the rest of the Dragon Ball manga, which covers the events of the Dragon Ball Z anime. From Raditz to Majin Buu, this collection has it all. Goku and friends protect Earth (and the rest of the universe) from a barrage of bad guys, each more powerful than the last.
Cowboy Bebop - Spike Spiegel Figuarts Figure
This Spike Spiegel figure is one of the newest releases from the Figuarts line, featuring interchangeable faces, hands, and accessories. It includes his handgun, in addition to a smoking face for Spike's quieter moments. It's a fine piece of anime merchandise and a perfect tribute to one the most iconic anime characters of all time.
Dragon Ball Super Broly - Figuarts Figures
Some of the best anime figures come from Bandai's Figuarts series, and this year, we saw the release of some coll renditions of Goku, Vegeta, and Gogeta from Dragon Ball Super Broly. These figures come with interchangeable faces and hair, in addition to the new designs from the Broly movie. That means Gogeta has pieces for both his black and blue hair, Goku has his differently-colored gi, and Vegeta has his darker suit as well as both his red and blue hair.
My Hero Academia Action Figures
McFarlane Toys has taken the reins on the My Hero Academia series, featuring characters such as Midoriya, All-Might, and Bakugo. Each character has interchangeable parts, allowing you to change up their hands and, in Midoriya's case, their face.
Uno - One Piece Edition
This package includes the classic card game Uno, adorned with various characters, one of the most popular and longest-running anime series out there right now. It doesn't get much better than this.
Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
There aren't many anime video games that capture the look and feel of their respective show, but Dragon Ball FighterZ does so with the utmost grace and blazing fast action. The game earned an impressive 9/10 in GameSpot’s Dragon Ball FighterZ review. Critic Peter Brown wrote, "FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there's no question that it's been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball's most dedicated fans, and no doubt those same qualities will win people over who've never given the series a chance."
See our Dragon Ball FighterZ review.
Jump Force (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Jump Force is the ultimate anime-crossover fighting game, with characters from more than a dozen different series clashing in tag-team battles. GameSpot scored it a 7/10 in our Jump Force review, praising its action, character customization, and how it captures the feel of all of the characters.
See our Jump Force review.
Danganronpa Trilogy (PS4)
Each game in the Danganronpa visual novel series follows a new group of students who are put into a harrowing situation, where the only way to escape a nightmare version of their school is to kill their fellow classmates. You'll explore a school, talk to students, and investigate murders as well as participate in trials to determine who's guilty.
Crunchyroll Premium Digital Gift Card
Crunchyroll is essentially the Netflix of anime, and Premium gives you access to a huge library of ad-free anime, manga, and drama for as long as you're subscribed. Most of the selection is in Japanese with English subtitles, featuring series that can't be found anywhere else, such as Polar Bear Cafe and Fist of the North Star.
Funimation Gift Card
Funimation's gift cards can be used in its online store on various Blu-rays, merchandise, and more, including a Funimation Now subscription. Funimation Now provides access to a library of English-dubbed series, though some do feature an option to watch in the original Japanese with subtitles.
Rightstuf Anime Gift Card
Rightstuf’s gift cards can be used on the anime retailer's website, which features a huge selection of products, ranging from Blu-rays and manga to figures, collectibles, and clothing. The gift certificate can be purchased in $10, $25, $50, and $100 options.
Still have some names left on your shopping list? Check out our sister sites for tech gift ideas, foodie gift ideas, entertainment gift ideas, and fashion and beauty gift ideas this holiday season.