Finding the right gift for an anime fan may seem simple, based on the abundance of anime merch available in stores. But finding the right gift for an anime fan—the thing that will really light them up this holiday season—could take a bit more thought.
Whether you’re hunting for a book that goes behind the scenes of popular anime or a video game that will engage someone for hours of play, check out the K-Comics Beat Anime Gift Guide for your 2025 holiday shopping list.
Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities
Author: Stefan Riekeles
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Price: $45
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo, Thames & Hudson
Anime Architecture provides a detailed look at the various mega-structures showcased in a handful of popular anime films such as Akira, Patlabor, Metropolis, and others. First giving a cursory introduction into the animation process, then diving headlong into different backgrounds from these movies, the book shows first scans of what the original cel paintings looked like, including what they were produced on, paper size, and what cut of the film the images are from, as well as who painted them and what they looked like in the finished product.
Riekeles then provides commentary on how the images are structured around the story, information related to Japanese society, or perhaps a behind the scenes anecdote on the process the production team went through to finish the background. There are even layouts and storyboards laced throughout. This is a perfect gift for the anime fan that loves those really cool, extremely detailed societies that are wrought with dangers at every corner, and yet we all secretly wish we could live within—or at least visit. Or, you know, if you’re just a production nerd. — Derrick Crow
The Anime Chef Cookbook
Author: Nadine Estero
Publisher: Rock Point
Price: $24.99
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo, Rock Point
Pop culture cookbooks may seem trite, but Nadine Estero put together 75 iconic Japanese dishes from beloved anime like Food Wars, My Hero Academia, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and a personal favorite, Your Name, to create this fun and approachable set of recipes. The illustrations are gorgeous, the additional information about how each food is presented in its associated title adds to the immersion, and the food is absolutely delicious. — Samantha Puc
Anime SteelBooks
Producer: Crunchyroll
Price: $34.98-$199.98
Purchase: Crunchyroll
Streaming options these days are abundant for anime fans, but not everything is on your favorite service. Physical media still offers the best option for anyone wanting to watch their favorites. Anime fans love having a physical object, so why not gift a well-designed one? You probably can’t strike out with a SteelBook edition of your otaku’s favorite anime series or film. SteelBooks look great on your self or next to your favorite figure. So why not help your favorite otaku make their homes a little more aesthetically pleasing? — D. Morris
The Art of Link Click: Moments
Author: Li Haoling
Publisher: Aloha Comics
Price: $39.99 (Standard), $49.99 (Deluxe)
Purchase: Aloha Comics (Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition), Bookshop
If you enjoyed To Be Hero X this year, you should check out Link Click, a time traveling mystery series by some of the same artists. If you enjoy Link Click, why not check out this art book, which collects concept art as well as thoughts from the creators themselves? English-language information about Chinese donghua is tough to come by, so this book is quite a rare treasure for folks looking to learn more about a modern classic. — Adam Wescott
CLAMP Official Artbook: Color Kuro & Color Shiro
CLAMP Official Artbook: Color Kuro
Publisher: Yen Press
Price: $55
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo, Yen Press
CLAMP Official Artbook: Color Shiro
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Price: $55
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo
The mangaka group CLAMP has produced hit after hit in their decades of activity: from Chobits to XXXHolic to Cardcaptor Sakura, their work is known for imaginative concepts and beautiful, beautiful artwork. Now, that artwork has been collected into two books from the two US publishers that have been publishing their work in English. Get Color Shiro from Kodansha and Color Kuro from Yen Press for the full experience! — Masha Zhdanova
Crunchyroll Premium Membership
Price: $79.99-$149.99 billed annually
Purchase: Crunchyroll
Surprise the anime fan in your life with the gift of a free subscription to Crunchyroll Premium! If they’re already a subscriber, offer to pick up the tab for their renewal when it comes, or offer to upgrade their membership to a higher tier for more perks. — K-Comics Beat Staff
Drawing Fantastic Female Fighters
Authors: Hisashi Kagawa, Yoshihiko Umakoshi
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Price: $19.99
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo, Tuttle Publishing
I can take or leave most “how to draw manga/anime” books. But Drawing Fantastic Female Fighters is written and drawn by two phenomenal talents of the anime industry: Fresh Pretty Cure! designer Hisashi Kagawa and Ojamajo Doremi designer Yoshihiko Umakoshi. Whether you’re a fan of these two artists or just someone who loves magical girls, this is a great pick. — Adam Wescott
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Exclusive Collection
Producer: Crunchyroll
Price: $19.99-$64.99
Purchase: Crunchyroll
Let’s be real; who doesn’t love Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End? It’s a quiet, contemplative journey through distant lands and time, as much as a series with action-packed moments and high-stakes fights. Frieren has captured hearts with its jaw-dropping animation quality and lovable cast, and now you can carry a piece of the series with you!
The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Exclusive Collection includes hoodies, t-shirts, tote bags, playing cards, and—you heard right—dad hats! Whichever item speaks to your fashion style or pastime, there’s something for you in this lovely, exclusive collection. Be sure to check out the Crunchyroll Store! — Merve Giray
Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set
Publisher: Yen Press
Price: $240
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo, Yen Press
The complete classic shojo manga in one lovely carrying case, with brand-new covers and lenticular cards that change from human to animal just like the Sohma family! Perfect for the long-time and brand-new Fruits Basket fans in your life. — Masha Zhdanova
Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
Developers: Too Kyo Games, Media.Vision
Publisher: Aniplex
Price: $59.99
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC
This visual novel from Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka offers hours of gameplay and so many possible endings that the replayability feels almost infinite. Choices have consequences—serious ones—and tactical RPG battles are as satisfying as they are complex. There’s also plenty of free time to bond with allies and level up relationships, creating an immersive play experience with plenty of character-led content to obsess about. — Samantha Puc
Manga: A New History of Japanese Comics
Author: Eike Exner
Publisher: Yale University Press
Price: $37.50
Purchase: Bookshop, Indigo, Yale University Press
Despite the popularity of manga abroad, there’s still a lot that international fans don’t know about where the medium began or how it evolved. Enter Eike Exner. As with his previous book, Comics and the Origins of Manga, Manga: A New History of Japanese Comics explodes myths that have long been taken for granted by manga readers. If you’re looking for a clear, unvarnished, English-language record of the medium’s history, this is the place to start. — Adam Wescott
Nasu: Summer in Andalusia Blu-ray
Production: Madhouse
Distribution: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Purchase: MediaOCD
Nasu: Summer in Andalusia is one of AnimEigo’s most exciting releases since the company resumed licensing in 2024. Director and animator Kitaro Kosaka adapts a story by genius manga artist Iou Kuroda about a bicycle race. The film’s a bit short at just under an hour, but it’s an excellent and unappreciated work that your gift recipient almost certainly hasn’t seen. Also, the name is no joke: there really are eggplants (nasu) in this movie. — Adam Wescott
Sea of Stars
Developer/Publisher: Sabotage Studio
Price: $34.99
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Purchase: Digital via platform links, physical via iam8bit
Sea of Stars is a stunning, turn-based RPG that offers co-op mode with up to three players, and a free DLC released earlier this year introduces an entirely new story to explore. It employs classic anime tropes (the main characters represent the sun and the moon) to great effect, creating an emotional playthrough experience that’s impossible not to love. — Samantha Puc
Don’t miss our 2025 Webtoons Gift Guide, and be sure to check out The Beat‘s 2025 Gift Guide.
