The Anime Holiday Shopping Guide

Know an anime fan but don’t know what to get them? Here’s a handy little list of known popular titles of various genres that you can stick under the tree.

Christmas is almost upon us, and you have some last minute shopping to do for the anime fan that you know. But wait! You’re not sure what to buy, since you know little about anime. Well here’s a handy little guide of some popular movies and television series, grouped into various genres for you to determine what would appeal to the tastes of that special someone you know.

COMEDY

Azumanga Daioh:

Based on the popular 4-panel strip by Kiyohiko Azuma, Azumanga Daioh follows the real life adventures of a group of mismatched high school girls with plenty of laughs to be had. Yes, real life. No psychic powers, no giant robots, no magical girls. Just life in general, whether it’s the oddball antics of Tomo or the uber-cuteness of child genius Chiyo. And there’s also the comedy of their two teachers, the somewhat ditzy Yukari and the more serious Kurosawa. This is a cute one everyone can enjoy.

Nerima Daikon Brothers:

Childhood friends (and cousins) Hideki, Ichiro and Mako form a band, the Nerima Daikon Brothers, and dream of performing in their own concert dome to sold-out crowds. But between dodging an overzealous policewoman on to their get-rich-quick schemes and powerful people who want to take over their land, that’s easier said than done. A wacky musical comedy in the vein of The Blues Brothers with riffs on pop culture and society from the director of Excel Saga.

Sgt. Frog:

Planet Keron is planning to invade Earth, and has sent the Keroro Platoon to pave the way. But the five-frog (yes, the aliens are two feet tall and frog-like) group is split up upon arrival, and the leader, Sergeant Keroro, finds himself at the mercy of the Hinata family when they catch him and forced to do chores around the house after his people call off the invasion and abandon him. Now he must reunite the members of his squad and complete his mission by any means possible … if he can stop playing with his models first. A hilarious series in the vein of Alf full of anime and pop culture references.

THE CLASSICS

Akira:

Considered a must-see by any and all anime fans, Akira is set in a post-World War III future where biker gangs run wild in Tokyo and the government performs psychic experiments. When an escaped subject runs into hot-headed biker Tetsuo, the encounter triggers Tetsuo’s own psychic powers and he goes on a rampage to find the very first subject of the military’s experiments, the called “Akira”. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo from his own manga, the film is powerful masterpiece that is deserving of its praise and belongs on any fan’s shelf.

Vampire Hunter D:

In the far distant future, where man has all but regressed back to the frontier age, vampires once again reign supreme. When the vampire Count Lee chooses the beautiful Doris to be his next bride, the girl hires the mysterious vampire hunter known only as “D” to protect her. But D is more than he appears: he is a dhampir, the half-breed offspring of a human and a vampire, and whose connection to the vampire race may be greater than anyone suspects. Another classic, Vampire Hunter D is an incredible film that can be enjoyed by both anime and horror fans.

Gunbuster:

The daughter of a famous ship commander, Noriko dreams of becoming an ace robot pilot and going into space, despite having little talent. But she’ll get her shot when she’s chosen to become a member of the elite Top Squadron and pilot the Gunbuster, the ultimate weapon to defend Earth from invading aliens! This six-part OAV series put the then-fledgling studio Gainax on the map, providing not only great giant robot action and touching human drama, but also a very realistic take on space travel rarely seen.

The Castle of Cagliostro:

Quite possibly the best of the Lupin the 3rd movies, this Miyazaki-directed fun fest finds Lupin and company on the trail of a mysterious treasure that involves a counterfeiting ring, a runaway princess, an evil count and his goons and more. And, of course, Inspector Zenigata is right behind, determined to capture Lupin. A must-have for any anime collection and another one everyone can enjoy.

Tenchi Muyo:

When he defies his grandfather and goes sneaking around the family shrine, Tenchi Masaki accidentally releases the demon sealed there centuries before. But the “demon”, Ryoko, is really an alien space pirate, and soon more cute alien girls (princesses Ayeka and Sasami, ditzy space cop Mihoshi and child-like genius Washu) are living with Tenchi and just driving him nuts. A hilarious series full of sci-fi action and romantic hijinks.

Macross:

Best known as part of Robotech, Macross chronicles the adventures of the battle fortress of the same name as they battle both the alien Zentradi and their own manipulative government. Two main plots of the story involve young Hikaru Ichijyo (aka Rick Hunter) and his desire for the beautiful singer Lynn Minmay and the Zentradi learning how to live outside their gender segregated, military existence. A must for any Robotech fan to see the original version of the story and a classic for new fans to enjoy.

FOR THE HARRY POTTER FAN

Negima!:

Ten-year-old wizard Negi Springfield has just graduated from magic school in Wales and has received his post-graduation assignment: to teach English to the girls of Class 2-A at Japan’s Mahora Academy! With a rowdy class that includes a vampire, a ghost, a ninja, a swordswoman, a robot, a gun-toting mercenary, and more, keeping his magic secret won’t be easy for Negi. Especially when the hot-headed Asuna finds out right off the bat, and a bunch of situations pop up that require Negi to use his magic. Based on Love Hina creator Ken Akamatsu’s manga, the anime doesn’t quite capture the feel of the comic, but is still worth quite the few laughs. Especially if you thought Harry Potter could’ve used a few more cute girls and romantic hijinks.

Maburaho:

In a world where everyone uses magic and one’s status is based on how many times they can use it, Kazuki Shikamori doesn’t much going for him, since he can only use his magic a total of eight times. However, its discovered his DNA will produce powerful offspring, so now he’s got three different girls-sweet Yuna Miyama, rich Kuriko Kazetsubaki and swordswoman Rin Kamishiro-all after him with the aim of marrying him and bearing his children. Though considered to have the usual romantic comedy plot, Maburaho does manage to be cute in its own way and provide some laughs and interesting drama.

SUSPENSE THRILLERS

Perfect Blue:

Pop singer Mima Kirigoe shocks her fans when she announces that she’s leaving her singing group CHAM to pursue a career as an actress. As she lands a supporting role on a mystery thriller and sheds her “good girl” image (filming a rape scene and posing nude in a magazine), bizarre murders happen to those working with her and an obsessed fan seems to be stalking her. Worse, Mima is haunted by the image of the “real” Mima and is no longer able to tell fantasy from reality any more. Directed by Satoshi Kon in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock, Perfect Blue has an incredible blend of twists and turns where you never know what’s happening next or what’s going on.

Speed Grapher:

Burned out ex-war photographer Saiga is tired of life in Tokyo, where decadent lifestyles of the rich run rampant. When he goes to investigate rumors of an elite underground club, he encounters the “goddess” Kaguya, whose kiss gives him the power to kill with his camera! Helping Kaguya escape her dreary life, Saiga is pursued by the ruthless Suitengu and his army of empowered club members while trying to keep her safe and expose the corruption. Another incredible show with plenty of twists and thrills, and with the various powers present, an appeal to fans of Heroes.

Death Note:

Bored high school genius Light Yagami finds a discarded notebook that he soon discovers has the power to kill whoever’s name is written in it. He then goes to work killing off the world’s criminals to create an evil-free utopia, but soon the police become involved and bring in the world’s greatest detective L to catch the one known only as “Kira”. It soon becomes a game of cat and mouse and Light and L outsmart each other to achieve their respective goals. An intense psychological thriller in the vein of The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en.

GIANT ROBOTS

Neon Genesis Evangelion:

Shinji Ikari is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his estranged father to pilot the bio-mechanical robot known as Evangelion to defeat the mysterious Angels. With his fellow pilots Rei and Asuka, Shinji must overcome his insecurities and find the strength to keep fighting as mysteries and conspiracies rise up around him. The surprise hit that gave anime new blood, turned the giant robot genre on its ear and made Gainax a household name with more focus on human drama then on robot battles.

The Big O:

Roger Smith is a negotiator in Paradigm City, where memories are the most commodity in this “city of amnesia”. When a job gets too tough, Roger summons the Big O, a powerful megadeus capable of taking down the toughest opponents. But giant killer robots and villains like petty crook Beck and the crazed Schwarzwald are simple compared to solving the mystery that is Paradigm City itself, like the event the stripped the inhabitants of their memories forty years prior. A noir-style series with numerous references to Batman and featuring one of the coolest robots ever designed.

Gundam (any series):

Possibly Japan’s biggest franchise, Gundam deals with the concept of man’s colonizing space and waging war with mass-produced robots, most notably the special type of “mobile suit” known as the Gundam. And often piloting that robot is a talented young man who must grow up fast and learn what war is the hard way. Whether it’s the original Mobile Suit Gundam series and its sequels or the “alternate” versions such as G Gundam, Gundam Wing or the recent Gundam Seed, the series is well known for both its engaging drama and true focus on the reality of war as it is for its titular robot.

SCI-FI ACTION

Cowboy Bebop:

In the not-too-distant future, Spike Spiegel and his partner Jet Black travel the solar system as bounty hunters, catching criminals for the price on their heads. But nabbing crooks is easy compared to dealing with new crew members like the vixenous Faye Valentine and wacky computer hacker Ed (who’s a girl, by the way). Then of course there’s Spike’s past as a member of the Red Dragon syndicate, his vendetta with former friend Vicious and search for missing girlfriend Julia. Considered possibly the best anime of all, Cowboy Bebop is a straight-forward tale with plenty of action, space battles, and the occasional conspiracy thrown in. And don’t forget that cool, jazzy soundtrack.

Irresponsible Captain Tylor:

Justy Ueki Tylor just wanted an easy life, so he joins the military. But circumstances and a sudden war with the Raigon Empire land Tylor in command of the Soyokaze, the dumping ground for the military’s misfits. Parties on both sides would love to get rid of Tylor, but as he pulls off one victory after another, one can’t help but wonder if he’s really lucky or some kind of mad genius. Best described as Star Trek meets M*A*S*H, this wacky series has plenty of laughs, action and drama to satisfy any fan.

Vandread:

In distant future, the all-male planet of Tarak and the all-female planet of Mejele are at war with each other. But when a group of female space pirates and their three male prisoners are suddenly transported to the other side of the galaxy, they must put aside their differences and work together to fight a mysterious and powerful new enemy. Especially since the only weapon capable of doing so is the Vandread, a powerful mecha created from the combination of the male Vanguard robot and the female Dread space fighters. Another wacky series that turns the “boy-meets-girls” concept on its ear as no one, especially main character Hibiki, knows what they’re doing in terms of the opposite sex. Followed by Vandread: The Second Stage, which completed the series and answered all the questions in a nice, neat little package.

Ghost in the Shell:

In the near future of 2032, just about everyone has cybernetic implants and is literally wired to the “net. But that means that hackers can now get into people”s brains and cause all sorts of new havoc. Enter Section 9, lead by the cyborg Major Makoto Kusanagi, whose job it is to deal with these threats. Whether it’s the movie or the two Stand Alone Complex TV series, this in an incredible title that combines sci-fi action with plenty of philosophical debate on human nature.

FANTASY

The Vision of Escaflowne:

Schoolgirl Hitomi finds herself transported to the world of Gaia, which is being conquered by the Zaibach Empire. Using her clairvoyant abilities, she joins young Prince Van as he pilots the robot armor Escaflowne to defeat the Zaibach and free his kingdom. Not an easy task when one of the Zaibach leaders is Van’s own brother! An excellent combination of action and romance with some of the most interesting characters in anime.

Slayers:

Sorceress Lina Inverse travels the land in search of adventure and new magic. Accompanied by the good-natured but dim-witted swordsman Gourry Gabriev (and later the brooding chimera Zelgadis Greywords and justice-minded princess Amelia), she battles demons, evil wizards, dark lords and the occasional bandit gang. And causes a little havoc along the way. The adventures of this Dungeons and Dragons-style comedy are too numerous to list, but it’s a nice little romp with plenty of action and spell-slinging.

Record of Lodoss War:

Based on a series of novels and role-playing games, Lodoss War follows the adventures of Parn, the son of a disgraced knight, as he sets out to restore his family’s honor. But as he’s joined by comrades such as the elf Deedlit, childhood friend and priest Etoh, wizard Slayn, thief Woodchuck and fighter Ghim, he’s drawn into much greater adventure to save the world. Basically, a must-have for any anime fan, especially one who’s a fan of Lord of the Rings.

El Hazard: The Magnificent World:

When young Makoto, along with childhood friend Nanami, self-proclaimed nemesis Jinnai and teacher Mr. Fujisawa, finds himself transported to the world of El Hazard, he gets caught up in the middle of a war with the Bugrom Empire. Especially when he learns he’s a dead ringer for the missing princess Fatora and must impersonate her to keep the peace and help summon the Priestesses of Muldoon to activate the ultimate weapon, the Eye of God. But Jinnai has teamed up with the Bugrom to satisfy his own dreams of conquest, and even has the dreaded demon god Ifurita on his side. And there are other forces manipulating things from behind the scenes… An incredible, action-packed and humorous tale from the creators of Tenchi Muyo.

Fullmetal Alchemist:

In an attempt to resurrect their dead mother, young Edward and Alphonse Elric perform forbidden alchemy and pay the ultimate price. Becoming State Alchemists, Ed and Al search for the Philosopher’s Stone in an attempt to restore Al, who lost his body and had his soul attached to a suit of armor, to his original state. But they soon get caught up in conspiracies, war and revenge as others are also after the Stone and aren’t above doing whatever it means to achieve their goals. Intense drama, incredible action, realistic views of war and some occasional silly hijinks make for an incredible, fan-favorite series.

HORROR

Hellsing:

When vampires and other supernatural nasties pop up and cause trouble in England, the Hellsing Organization steps in to deal with it. And they have the best weapon to do it: Alucard, a powerful vampire who reveals in blowing away vamps with his special pair of sidearms. And between the bad guys and rival organization Iscariot, he’ll have his work cut out for him. Take your pick between the TV series or the more recent and faithful-to-the-manga OAV version.

Boogiepop Phantom:

Bizarre events occur at a local high school and its students are caught in the crossfire. At the center is the being known as Boogiepop, an urban legend who is either battling the supernatural events or behind some of them herself. Confusing at times, but provides a weird twist of events that may compel you to watch again and again to get it.

Kakurenbo:

A group of children don fox masks and enter an old abandoned city to play a game of hide and seek where ghosts are said to snatch away anyone wh plays. Young Hikora plays the game to find his missing sister, but must try to survive himself before he and the other players suffer the same fate. Short at only 25 minutes, this is chilling little film with plenty of suspense and thrills. Perfect to watch on Halloween.

ROMANCE

Ai Yori Aoshi:

College student Kaoru gets the surprise of his life when he’s reunited with his childhood sweetheart Aoi, who wants to marry him as per the arrangement set up by their families. But to marry Aoi, Karou would have to return to his abusive family, who he abandoned for his freedom. They manage to find a way to be together, but must hide their engagement to avoid scandal. Not easy when the boarding house they live in has a bunch of cute tenants. A different sort of romantic comedy where, for once, the main character isn’t so wishy-washy about who he likes, he just can’t say.

His and Her Circumstances:

Yukina and Soichiro are the two smartest people in their class. You’d think they’d be rivals, but instead they end up falling in love. But relationships are never easy, as others try to break them up, whether it be teachers trying to “save” their GPAs or rivals for their respective effections. A cute little story with some wacky moments thrown in for good measure.

Maison Ikkoku:

College-hopeful Yusaku has fallen for Kyoko, the new manager of the Maison Ikkoku boarding house. But between his studies, nosy and meddling neighbors, misunderstandings, a handsome tennis coach rival and the recently widowed Kyoko still mourning her late husband, trying to win her affection won’t be easy. A rather realistic, down-to-earth story from the mind of Rumiko Takahashi.

Oh My Goddess/Ah! My Goddess:

While trying to order take-out, young Keiichi instead gets the Goddess Relief Helpline. When the goddess Belldandy shows up to grant him a wish, Keiichi, thinking it a joke, wishes for a girl like Belldandy to stay with him forever. It turns out to be real, and Keiichi now has a goddess for a girlfriend, and soon has to put up with her sisters, snooty rivals, demons and wackiness from his own friends. A cute story in either the old OAV version or the recent pair of TV series.

MARTIAL ARTS

Ranma 1/2:

While traveling through China, martial artist Ranma Saotome picks up a curse that turns him into a hot, red-headed girl whenever he’s splashed with cold water. Add in frequent rivals (some with their own curses), multiple fiancees and bizarre martial arts challenges (Martial Arts Tea Ceremony, anybody? No, seriously), and you’ll see why things aren’t easy for this guy. The classic series that introduced many to anime and also to a little lady named Rumiko Takahashi.

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie:

The evil organization Shadowlaw is out to conquer the world, and they’re using brainwashed street fighters to do it! Interpol agent Chun Li and Air Force captain Guile have teamed up to stop Bison, the powerful leader of Shadowlaw, but it may all fall down to the hands of the wandering warrior known as Ryu. Based on the hit video game, a much better version than that farce that starred Jean-Claude Van Damme.

SWORD-SWINGING ACTION

Afro Samurai:

Afro Samurai is the Number Two warrior in the world, the only one who can challenge Justice, the Number One warrior and the man who killed Afro’s father. But getting Justice won’t be easy, as others challenge Afro for the status of Number Two and the Brotherhood of the Empty 7 have their own plans for the headbands. An intense, action-packed series that features the voice talents of Samuel L. Jackson as Afro and his sidekick Ninja Ninja, Ron Perlman as Justice and Kelly Hu as the sexy Okiku.

Ninja Scroll:

Swordsman-for-hire Jubei Kibagami finds himself caught up in a plot to take over Japan after he saves ninja girl Kagero from an attack. Teaming up with her and the monk Dakuan (who poisoned Jubei to ensure his cooperation), they fight the Eight Devils of Kimon to stop their plot, and their leader is someone very familiar to Jubei. An excellent film with plenty of action and drama and even more intrigue.

Rurouni Kenshin:

Once he was the Battosai, the deadliest assassin of the Meiji Revolution. Now he is simply the wanderer Kenshin Himura, who uses a reverse-blade sword (so he never kills again) to help others and make up for all the lives he took. He’s joined by friends Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko, and together they fight corrupt officials, renegade swordsman and, most especially, faces from Kenshin’s own past. An excellent historical piece with plenty of swordplay, but it’s the humorous moments with Kenshin and company that really bring it home.

Samurai Champloo:

Just as they’re about to be executed, Mugen, a rowdy vagrant, and Jin, a stoic ronin, are rescued by the cute bumbling waitress Fuu. In return, they must help her find the “Samurai who Smells of Sunflowers”. Join them as they travel the countryside and encounter bandits, assassins, crooked officials and evil swordsmen. A fun, action-packed not-so-accurate historical drama (there’s beat-boxing samurai, people, seriously) from the director of Cowboy Bebop.

GUNSLINGING ACTION

Trigun:

On the distant planet Gunsmoke, Vash the Stampede is the most wanted man alive, a ruthless killer worth $$60,000,000,000. But Vash is really just a goofball who refuses to kill and only desired “love and peace”. Together with insurance agents Meryl and Millie and the gun-toting priest Wolfwood, Vash hunts for the mysterious Knives while being pursued by bounty hunters and the nefarious Gung-Ho Guns. A western with a sci-fi twist full of humor and action with a little drama thrown in.

Burst Angel:

In a future Tokyo where crime and sinister experiments run rampant, the mercenary team of Sei, Jo, Meg and Amy do various jobs for the Bai Lan group. And a poor kid named Kyohei is often dragged along for the ride. But things aren’t always what they seem, as there seems to be something more sinister going on with all the mysterious robots and mutations running around. An action-packed series with hot girls, slick robot battles and plenty of guns.

Black Lagoon:

When salaryman Rock is kidnaped by the mercenary group known as Lagoon Company, he ends up joining them when his bosses just toss him aside. But between the various jobs that include fights with other groups and the brutal tactics of Lagoon Company member Revy, maybe it wasn’t such a great idea, after all. An action-packed series that makes some interesting use out of some very real life weaponry.

SUPERHERO ACTION

Guyver:

While walking through the woods, high school student Sho Fukamachi stumbles across a mysterious device that bonds to him as a powerful suit of armor called the Guyver. Now Sho must defend his friends and family from Chronos, a clandestine organization with access to the alien technology that created the Guyver and has plans to “evolve” mankind through the use of their genetic monsters, the Zoanoids. Sort of a sleeper hit that got a recent television remake, but full of action and Spider-Man-style drama.

Karas: The Prophecy/The Revelation:

The balance between the human and spirit worlds are in jeopardy as the villainous Eko plans to cleanse Tokyo of humanity through use of mechanized monsters called Mikura. Enter the Karas, the guardian crow of the city, who fights the Mikura and defends both human and spirit alike. But Eko himself is a former Karas, still with access to his powers and knowing all the weaknesses. An awesome pair of films with an incredible story and amazing CGI effects.

Tekkaman Blade:

Remember the show “Teknoman” that was on TV a few years back? Here’s the original version, uncut and uncensored. Earth is being invaded by the mysterious Radam, and nothing seems to stop them. Nothing except the mysterious D-Boy, who transforms into the powerful Tekkaman Blade to fight the invaders. But D-Boy has both a grudge and a connection to the Radam, who have their own Tekkamen. Recently released as a trio of special collections, this is old school anime that helped spread the craze, even in its messed, Americanized version.

FOR THE GIRLS

Paradise Kiss:

Yukari finds herself swept out of her boring, study-filled life and into the world of fashion when four art school students recruit her to be their model for an upcoming fashion show. Join Yukari as she discovers her real ambitions and is drawn into the arms of the handsome but bossy George. An intriguing series full of dreams and romance, with the ending song provided by Franz Ferdinand!

The Wallflower:

To live rent-free in a huge mansion, all pretty boys Kyohei, Ranmaru, Yuki and Takenaga have to do is turn their landlady’s niece into a classy Japanese lady. Easier said than done, seeing as Sunako is a creepy goth girl who’d rather watch horror movies than wear a pretty dress. It’s a battle of wills in what could be the ultimate make-over in this different series from the director of Excel Saga.

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

My Neighbor Totoro:

Sisters Satsuki and Mei move to the country with their dad to be closer to their mother in the hospital. One day, they make a new friend in the form of Totoro, a magical creature who takes them on an adventure of discovery full of wonderful creatures and wonderment. A cute, compelling story from Hayao Miyazaki that even adults can enjoy.

Kiki’s Delivery Service:

Kiki leaves her small village at the age of 13 to complete her training to become a full witch. With her cat Jiji (voiced in the dub by the late Phil Hartman), she sets up a delivery service and soon makes a number of new friends. But what will she do when her powers start to fade when she needs them the most? Another one from the great Miyazaki, a cute coming-of-age story everyone can enjoy.

RE-IMAGINED ENTERTAINMENT

Samurai 7:

A sci-fi retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s classic film, The Seven Samurai. It follows the same plot, where a poor village hires a small band of samurai to defend them from bandits who steal their rice and their women. Only now the bandits are giant robots, and a conspiracy involving the Emperor and the deceptive new villain Ukyo are thrown into the mix for an incredible new take on the greatest samurai film ever made.

Gankutsuou:

Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale of revenge, The Count of Monte Cristo, is given new life in this sci-fi re-imagining. The focus is on young Albert, who meets the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo and finds in him a new friend and confidant as his life and the lives of those around suddenly collapse. All the time unaware that he’s but a pawn in the Count’s carefully laid out plan of revenge against those who wronged him. An incredible series that draws you in and can enjoy even without being familiar with Dumas’ original work.

JUST PLAIN WACKY

FLCL:

Young Naota is bored with day-to-day life in his sleepy little town. In comes Haruko, who whacks him on the head with her guitar while driving by on her vesper. Now weird robots are popping out of Naota’s head, some sort of conspiracy is going on, and Haruko’s either an alien or just plain insane. Probably the craziest series from Gainax, spoofing all sorts of genres for some wacked out fun.

Excel Saga:

Excel is the loyal agent of Lord Ilpalazzo, who seeks to conquer the city of F. But between dying repeatedly, killing her own manga creator, and attempting to eat her dog/emergency food source, that’s easier said than done for Excel. A crazy series that makes little sense, and that’s probably why so many like it.

That enough for you? There’s plenty more out there, but these are just a few titles you can consider giving. And there’s plenty to choose from, so you’ll be ready for next year, as well. Good luck and Happy Holidays!