Japanese anime is very popular with many people, from their teens to their twenties, thirties, and beyond, and with so many great new series being released every year, there is always a new obsession waiting for many anime fans.
There are also plenty of modern anime favorites like Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, and Gintama that continue to gain new fans on a regular basis. For many fans, regardless of their favorite anime genre, investing in anime merchandise is a great way to contribute to the industry and fully enjoy their hobby.
For those looking to start collecting anime merchandise, there are several important tips to keep in mind to get the best value for money and make sure your budget goes as far as possible. Since some products are hard to find outside of Japan, it’s important to have a strategy on how to spend your money.
First of all, it is important to find as many merchandise stores as possible that ship to your country. There are probably some great stores in your home country, and these are usually a great option. The reason for this is that customs duties and shipping charges may apply to products ordered from abroad.
So your first step is to find out which stores are available in your region, as they are much more likely to offer the best prices for you personally. You can learn about these stores through recommendations from friends, online anime communities, online marketplaces like Amazon, or simply by using an internet search engine.
The next step is to figure out what kind of anime collector you want to be. Do you want to collect only figures of your favorite characters or do you want to get a complete collection so that you can have a complete set of figures from a particular series? Do you want to collect figurines or instead wearable merch like t-shirts and key chains?
Many people are dedicated collectors and will make sure that a portion of their monthly budget can go towards accumulating all the figurines and items associated with a particular series. Instead, others will prefer to spend a little money on their favorite items; in any case, deciding what kind of anime collector you want to be will help you make the best decisions.
The next thing to keep in mind is that certain items are much more expensive than others, and this may or may not matter to you depending on the size of your budget. Some of the best, and least expensive, anime collectibles include DVDs and key chains, and you’re guaranteed to get a lot of use out of these items, too.
On the other hand, some people love to collect figurines of their favorite characters, even if they serve no practical purpose. Consider what appeals to you and what makes you happiest, and then tailor your budget around it. If you want to collect figurines, consider exactly how much you can afford to spend on these items each month.
Some other options might include photos of the cast of your favorite series or posters of your favorite characters. If you think you can’t afford just your hobby, ask for the most expensive items as gifts from family and friends to round out your collection.
In conclusion, several steps that will help you start collecting anime merchandise include making sure you find the best places to shop, setting a budget, and making sure you know what kind of collector you want to be. All of these tips can help you focus and make your money go a lot further.