A part of office life is having to share seasonal moments and events with co-workers including birthdays, anniversaries, Easter and Christmas. This probably entails buying gifts on certain occasions, including Secret Santa. Secret Santa is “a Western Christmas tradition in which members of a group or community are randomly assigned a person to whom they give a gift”.
Once you’ve drawn names and set the rules including setting a price limit the search begins. You’ve got to do some research into who you’re buying the gift for and if your recipient happens to be an Anime fan then I’ve got the perfect list for you.
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An office novelty mug is a reliable secret santa gift when on a budget. The best thing about this mug isn’t just the iconic Goku Kaioken pose but that Goku powers up when hot water is added. There are few other gifts that leave as memorable impression on fellow co-workers as a mug that speaks to the heart.
2. Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy on Blu-Ray
“Who watches anything on Blu-Ray nowadays?”. Look, it’s the thought that counts and if you tell them this is one of the biggest manga franchises then they’ll appreciate the amount of thought you put into their present. Between this and the first manga edition you can’t go wrong with giving someone a taste of the iconic series that defined the mecha subgenre in manga and space opera.
3. Goku Spirit Bomb Night Lamp
Having your own Spirit Bomb in your bedroom should be on most Dragonball Z fans’ wish lists. If the person in question tends to stay up late working or even for their kids to keep the bedtime monsters away at night then who better to be the light in the darkness than one of the greatest super heroes in shonen manga.
This is the symbol for the Konohagakure or more known as “Hidden Leaf Village” based in the Land of Fire in the Naruto series. Residing deep within a forest, it has birthed some of the strongest ninjas to ever grace the world of shinobi. I wouldn’t be certain the recipient would actually use this wonderful wallet over their own. But they will rather impressed with such a rare find.
A lot of anime fans watch subbed versions of their favourite shows religiously so have probably picked up a few words here and there. Help them get to the next step with a learning japanese guide using manga visuals.
Everyone needs socks! And these are perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli movies whether it’s Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies or Howling Castle. And while you’re at it why not throw in a coffee mug? And in case you didn’t know, they’re back in business after the co-founder announced his retirement a few years back.
7. Akatsuki Costume Robe with Konoha Bandeau Headband
Akatsuki is the main mercenary organisation in the Naruto series controlled by antagonists with the intention of world domination. Nagato’s Akatsuki was filled with S-class ninjas that were increasingly hired to fight in wars and perform assassinations during times of peace. In the midst of all this the organisation was obtaining money, monopolising the mercenary market and collecting the tailed beasts hoping to eventually put all of the shinobi villages out of business and dissolve them strategically.
Some would say Akatsuki is one of the coolest gangs in town with its roster of badass characters with incredible ninjutsu abilities. If I remember correctly, a couple kids were wearing these when practicing their naruto running technique for the Area 51 raid. It’s a great cosplay/fancy dress outfit to have in the wardrobe especially if they liek to attend Comic Con and other geek conventions.
It is becoming more common nowadays to see people on the Tube reading manga on their phones. At the time of writing, I saw a guy yesterday doing it. Before a series gets turned into colorful anime series, this is where it all starts. If you grew up on Japanese comics then you’ve probably doodled anime eyes, Saiyan hairstyles, muscular body proportions in your notebooks. This would be a great gift for fans looking for a worthwhile creative hobby to do on the side. Or if they are already talented in drawing you can provide the tools to perfect their craft.
Sporting the iconic blue, orange colours and Roshi’s dojo emblem. This Dragon Ball Z hoodie is a bold statement but makes a clean cut outfit even to those without the knowledge to recognise its significance.
A cool notebook to make your daily to-do list is a great gift to receive from a co-worker whilst be well within budget. The design is based on what is considered one of the greatest anime films ever — Akira. The pill is the logo on the back of the main protagonist’s jacket representing his biker gang — The Capsules. The film is seen as the starting point of the japanese cyberpunk subculture and the breakthrough hit that paved the way for anime in the markets outside of Japan.
11. 12 Piece Japanese Ramen Bowl Set
Naruto’s regular visits to Ramen Ichiraku’s dining establishment inspired many fans’ curiosity into the traditional Japanese cuisine - Ramen noodles. Giving an anime fan this alongside a cooking guide to how to make the stuff will allow them to immerse themselves further into the universe of ninjas and japanese culture in general.
Hopefully you found this list inspiring and can impress your Secret Santa candidate with an anime related gift. Cheers!
