UlasanAnime.com – Crafting a holiday shopping guide, especially for anime and related merchandise, presents its own unique set of challenges. This year, much like in previous ones, online gift-giving and charitable donations are the primary methods. While supporting causes like Penny-Arcade’s Child’s Play is a regular practice, personal gift exchanges with friends and family also take place. The difficulty lies in finding a suitable present that aligns with the occasion, the recipient, and the budget.
Instead of getting bogged down by the pressure of finding the perfect gift, the author opts to share a couple of ideas and approaches.
Secret Santas are a popular tradition, particularly in North America and Europe, that has gained traction online in recent years. While it can be seen as a product of consumer culture, it offers a fun online experience. Some friends engage in Secret Santa to manage their holiday spending more effectively. Instead of exchanging small gifts with everyone, a gift chain allows for the purchase of a nicer item for one designated recipient. In online communities, it often becomes the only feasible method of gift exchange due to the complexities of shipping and diverse financial situations among members.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, Secret Santa involves participants drawing names to buy gifts for a specific person. Online implementations often utilize custom software. This software allows individuals to securely sign up, providing their names and addresses anonymously. After a designated sign-up period, participants confirm their involvement. The software then automatically generates a Secret Santa chain, assigning each person a recipient. Advanced versions can incorporate preferences such as shipping location (domestic or international), gender matching, and desired gift cost, all within the established group of participants. An administrator might oversee the process, keeping participants updated, but the system can maintain the secrecy of personal information from the admin until issues like a participant failing to send a gift arise. Naturally, a Secret Santa must know the recipient’s address to deliver the gift, which is an inherent part of the game.
The author finds this practice enjoyable, having received and observed others receiving a wide variety of items over the years, even the occasional unexpected Simoun DVD. The core sentiment is to share and give, which is considered a positive aspect.
The second aspect the author wishes to share is related to the idea of gift-giving, particularly within the realm of anime and Japanese pop culture, moving towards a more specific gift guide.
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This section is dedicated to providing a shopping guide, albeit a somewhat specialized one.
For the mainstream seiyuu-pop fan who doesn’t import much: Nana Mizuki’s album, “Great Activity,” is highly recommended. It’s suggested to be one of the best-selling seiyuu albums in recent memory. If the intended recipient doesn’t already own it, it’s presented as an excellent gift option.
For the seiyuu-pop fan who imports excessively: The “Claymore Character Songs Image Album” is suggested. While perhaps not something one would openly admit to buying or listening to, its appeal as a gift lies in its niche nature. The album features a roster of well-known voice actresses, including Houko Kuwashima, making it a potentially interesting, albeit unconventional, present.
For the Yoko Kanno enthusiast: AKINO’s album “Lost in Time” is recommended. The author notes that a dedicated Yoko Kanno fan likely already possesses most of the songs through soundtracks. However, the album’s cover art featuring AKINO is highlighted as visually appealing. Additionally, the CD includes two exclusive tracks that might not justify the purchase price for the fan themselves but make for a thoughtful gift. The author also humorously suggests borrowing it from the recipient afterward.
For the avid anime soundtrack collector: The “Heroic Age – Original Soundtrack 1” and “2” are recommended. The author praises Naoki Sato’s work on these soundtracks, particularly the orchestral elements, and finds the vocal tracks to be quite good, regardless of whether the recipient has seen the anime.
For the old-school anime pop fan: Halko Momoi’s “Kappa Densha Cover Best” is suggested. Although an older release, it’s recommended for its sentimental value. The author, while not a dedicated Momoi fan, appreciates the selection of remarkable songs and the quality of their delivery, not just in Momoi’s vocals (which can be polarizing) but also in the musical arrangements.
For those who enjoy epic live concerts: The “Animelo 2007 – Generation A” DVD is presented as one of the best anison show DVDs of the year. For fans who enjoy energetic performances, it’s a strong contender. The author also points out that the previous year’s “Animelo Summer Live 2006 OUTRIDE” DVDs are available at half the price, offering a more budget-friendly option for those who appreciate the artists featured, such as Momoi and Chiaki Ishikawa.
For the old-school hardcore anime connoisseur: The “Escaflowne Remastered Box” is a potential gift. The author acknowledges its high price and the absence of English subtitles. However, for a seasoned fan who has likely watched the series multiple times, subtitles may not be essential. The suggestion is humorously made that if the recipient is truly old-school, they might even be inclined to create their own subtitles.
For the well-traveled, novice otaku: A tour from Pop Japan Travel is suggested. This Los Angeles-based travel agency specializes in anime and Japanese culture tours. While it might be too late for immediate travel, options like the Sapporo Snow Festival, gothloli tours, and trips to Otome Road are mentioned as possibilities for future travel plans.
For the figure collector’s significant other: An A. Oryzae plush from the anime “Moyashimon” is recommended. If this specific plush is difficult to find, the first volume special edition, which includes a talking version of the character, is suggested as an alternative. “Moyashimon” is described as a Noitamina series that brings bacteria and microscopic fungi to life from biology textbooks.
For the yuri enthusiast: The author revisits the recommendation of “Simoun” for its affordability. Additionally, “Candy Boy,” a series available for free viewing on Niconico, is mentioned as a potential purchase. The 8-minute feature is available on a DVD that also includes a CD.
Finally, for the tame anime fan who does not import: The “Kamichu boxset” from Rightstuf is recommended. The author emphasizes its availability and expresses a personal bias, calling it a rare gem that many people overlook. This recommendation comes from the former DVD distribution branch of Geneon Entertainment.
The author concludes by stating that this is the extent of the gift guide for now and hopes it proves helpful.
