Anime Products: Games, Cards and More!

It seems like people all over the world can't get enough of anime! With the rise in popularity of anime cartoons, books and TV series, many people are trying to get their hands on as many anime products as possible.
 
Luckily, there are dozens of anime products on the market to fulfill your anime needs!
 

Anime Comic Books

Many anime television series evolved from comic books. Comic books, which are called "manga" in Japan, are extremely popular. In fact, 30 percent to 40 percent of all books published in Japan are manga. Unlike Western comic books, which tend to focus on superheroes, manga can cover a variety of themes, including:
  • business
  • comedy
  • drama
  • history
  • romance
  • science-fiction
  • sex
  • sports.
If you have a favorite anime TV series, check to see if it has a corresponding comic book. Even if your favorite anime series didn't originate from a comic book, it's likely that you'll find one to peak your interest.

Anime Toys

Many popular anime characters are now available as toys. You can find anime action figures and stuffed animals in many of the larger stores, as well as online.
 
In addition to action figures and stuffed animals, the following anime toys are available:
  • anime coloring books

  • anime stickers

  • anime trading cards (Pokémon trading cards, especially ones featuring the character Pikachu, are some of the more popular trading cars.)

  • anime trading figures
  • character costumes

  • plastic anime swords.
Anime toys are a great way to bring favorite anime characters off the screen or page and into your home!

Anime Video Games

Many anime lovers aren't satisfied simply watching their beloved anime characters: They want to actually become an anime character! Anime video games can let you do just that.
 
Some of the more popular anime video games on the market include:
  • "Astro Boy"
  • "Bleach: Shattered Blade"
  • "Cowboy Bebop"
  • "Dragon Ball Z" (available in various versions)
  • "Yu-Gi-Oh!" (available in various versions).
Remember, however, that some anime video games can be played only on certain platforms. For instance, some anime video games may be suitable only for Game Boy®, while others might be compatible only with Xbox 360® or PlayStation®.

Anime DVDs

If you love anime series but can't seem to locate them on your television, why not invest in a few anime DVDs? Some of the classic anime series are no longer in production and are no longer aired on television. Luckily, however, many of these series are available in DVD format. Some of them are even sold in box sets.
 
Try adding some of these popular anime TV series and movies to your DVD collection:
  • "Akira"
  • "Blood: The Last Vampire"
  • "Cowboy Bebop"
  • "Ghost in the Shell"
  • "Grave of the Fireflies"
  • "My Neighbor Totoro"
  • "Ninja Scroll"
  • "Perfect Blue"
  • "Princess Mononoke"
  • "Spirited Away."
Other popular anime DVDs include "Pokémon" and "Speed Racer."
 
Resources
 
Fauth, Jurgen (n.d.). Top 10 Anime DVDs. Retrieved January 8, 2008, from the About.com Web site: http://worldfilm.about.com/od/foreignfilm/tp/anime.htm.