Who here is an anime fan?
Okay, yes – it’s me.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been watching anime in Malaysia. I actually own a few anime merchandises. Even when I was a kid, you’d often find me parked in front of a television or laptop screen, flanked on both sides by my brothers, watching overpowered animated characters duke it out in an epic showdown that ends up being won through the power of friendship.
But I know I’m hardly the only anime fan around. Between the anime clubs in universities, anime stores throughout Malaysia, and widespread popularity of local conventions like Comic Fiesta (which rake in average attendances of up to 60,000 people per year, including me-), I think it’s a safe bet to say that Malaysia has no shortage of anime fans.
And for a said anime fan? I think I speak for most of us when I say there are few greater joys (other than watching the anime or reading the manga itself, that is than stockpiling anime merch in Malaysia to absolutely fill your bedroom with the faces of all your waifus and husbandos.
So for my fellow fans? This one’s for you. For all your anime needs and to find to best anime shop in Malaysia, both physical and online, behold:
Here’s a list of the Top 5 Anime Stores to buy anime merchandise in Malaysia!
AF-Hobby
Nendoroids, Figmas, Trading and Prize Figures galore – if you’re in the market for an anime figurine in Malaysia, AF-Hobby is your stop.
With a physical store located in Ampang, Selangor, AF-Hobby provides a wide anime smorgasbord for any merch-seeking fan – with shelves full to bursting with figurine boxes and walls plastered in posters of upcoming products. Their impressive collection of figurines range from complex Gundams to detailed scaled figures to cute and quirky Nendoroids, making it almost impossible not to find your favourite anime characters somehow nestled amidst the products.
And if you’re unsure whether to go out during these trying times? Not to worry – AF-Hobby also has its own website for you to order products online; with a streamlined display that categorizes all available products into neat tabs at the top of the webpage.
Even better, once hovered over with a cursor each tab will drop down further into an alphabetical listing of franchises. So whether you’re a fan of My Hero Academia, or Fullmetal Alchemist, or Naruto Shippuden? You’ll be able to easily find your desired product amongst the stores’ large selection or even peruse all the products they have for your favourite anime franchises.
Aside from figures, A-F Hobby also offers various other types of products for the general anime fan. These include plushies, dakimakuras (cough, cough-), and even display cases for you to charmingly display your purchases. As well as including your favourite anime dolls in Malaysia.
AF-Hobby’s physical store is open Mondays through Sundays except for Wednesdays, with opening hours that range from 12 PM to 10 PM.
LittleAKIBA
Anyone here looking for some anime TCGs? If so, littleAKIBA has got you covered – in spades.
With a large selection of card-related wares that span from whole TCG card decks to specific card singles to even anime-themed cardholders and sleeves, littleAKIBA is a merch store that is perfect for the anime trading card fan. Their website is simply teeming with a variety of different card games for your perusal and order; with up to 50% discount bargains on several products available on the upper left tab.
Even looking past littleAKIBA’s impressive collection of card-related products, you’ll be able to find other merchandise that resonates with any and all types of anime fan. Wandering through the aisles of its physical store in Subang Jaya, with a distinctive anime storefront that helps easily distinguish it from its neighbour stores, you’ll find shelves after shelves stocked full of various anime merchandise in Malaysia; from Nendoroids to figurines to anime-themed shirts.
littleAKIBA is open on all days of the week except for Tuesdays and Thursdays and accepts patrons from 1 PM to 7 PM. Though in-store appearances have fallen under stricter regulations, as long as you abide by said conditions, you’re still free to drop by and pick out your favourite cards and merchandise – or maybe order it from their online store!
Oh! Gatcha
If you’re curious as to what my own go-to anime merchandise store in Malaysia is…well, here it is!
Situated on the second floor of IOI Mall in Puchong, Oh! Gatcha is a small outlet easily identifiable from its bright yellow storefront – and, of course, the striking preponderance of anime figurines they have peering out from their entrance display.
As someone who has personally visited the store a…few times, I can say with some confidence that Oh! Gatcha is a relatively small, but no less impressive, haven for the anime fan. Nestled inside it’s distinctive yellow walls are all kinds of merchandise from a great variety of franchises; from Fate figurines to Demon Slayer Nendoroids to adorable plush anime toys in Malaysia.
Also, as its name probably suggests, tucked against the walls of the outlet are an array of Gatchapon capsule machines for you to roll and test your luck. These feature some of the cutest capsule toy products from Japan, like the popular Sumikko Gurashi series or even a Hasamari Inu bursting through the walls.
And if you’d rather not travel to the physical store, or can’t find a product on its shelves, or are itching to call dibs on a figurine or merch object that was recently announced? Oh! Gatcha also has a website for you to peruse their current stock or even pre-order future products.
Oh! Gatcha has it’s doors open from Monday to Sunday, between the hours of 10 AM to 10 PM. So if you’re an anime fan around the Puchong area, why not drop by Oh! Gatcha for a little shopping spree?
Hobility
With outlets in Bangsar, Sungei Wang Plaza in KL, and 1 Utama in Petaling Jaya, Hobility is a fairly widespread anime merchandise store in Malaysia, here to cater to fans throughout the country.
Commonly fronted by their winged, headphone-clad skeleton mascot, Hobility is often replete with various products that can satisfy your anime-loving needs. Their merch stock includes, but is hardly limited to, selections of prize figures, Nendoroids, Gashapon capsules, plushes and nesoberi, and the like.
And if you’re in the market for even more things like candy toys, figmas, dakimakuras (ahem, ahem-), and plastic model kits? Hobility offers all of that too – among even further options.
Aside from its physical outlets, Hobility also has its own website for you to pre-order future products, peruse new arrivals, or even just take a gander at their current available stock of items. Each type of product is organized neatly into named categories on the webpage, providing a streamlined buyer experience for those interested in purchasing merchandise.
Each Hobility outlet has different opening hours, which can be identified via their website here. While their Sungei Wang Plaza Outlet is currently temporarily closed, the other two Hobility outlets – in 1 Utama and Bangsar – are still open for those who want to visit and take a gander at their products. And if not? You can always visit their website, an anime shop in KL, to order some quality anime merchandise in Malaysia.
Shirotoys
Boasting an extensive array of figurines, Nendoroids, and other such anime collectables, Shirotoys prides itself as one of the best anime figure shops in Malaysia – and certainly lives up to that title.
Based in Puchong, Shirotoys is an online anime retailer that features a wide variety of figurines on its website; ranging from a highly-detailed mecha Mazinkaiser to a dynamic, Excalibur-toting Saber to a frankly adorable Pocket Maquette boxset of the Demon Slayer cast. Aside from scale figures, Shirotoys also has a wide selection of Goodsmile Nendoroids, figmas, acrylic display cases, and even board games – just in case things were getting a bit too dull for you during the quarantine.
What’s more, their website also allows for pre-orders on upcoming merch drops in the anime scene. So whether this means a grinning Nendoroid Satoru Gojo or a figurine of Mamako Oosuki in (of course) a bunny suit, Shirotoys gives you the opportunity to make dibs on all the future merch you’ve been hyped and waiting for.
As an online anime figure shop that sells anime figures in Malaysia, Shirotoys is always open and therefore always ready to receive your orders. So if you’re hankering for some quality anime figurines, you can drop by their website and find yourself some merch!
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It’s pretty evident that Malaysia isn’t lacking in its amount of choice anime stores. So whether it’s in-store pickups or online deliveries or preorders before official merch drops, you can be sure to get bountiful selections of your favourite waifus and husbandos – all from your local anime shops in Malaysia!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Anime is a Japanese animation either drawn by hand or generated by computer technology. Anime also refers to a style of Japanese comic book and video cartoon animation. Usually, the characters in anime are illustrated in exaggerated ways: either the characters are too handsome, kawaii, or possess more powers. Nevertheless, now, anime is becoming popular, and many people love it!
Even though anime is part of cartoons, anime and cartoons are not only aired for the special target audience, which is the kids. No. Anime and even cartoons are created for all. In Japan, anime gains its popularity from people that are in their 40’s, 50’s, and beyond. This shows that anime fans can also come from various groups such as teenagers and even adults. So, this anime is not only just for kids!
Anime and cartoons are both presented in the form of visual media. One of the aspects that differentiate anime and cartoons is that the topics or themes in anime are usually related to human emotion are more violent and sometimes have sensual themes. Whereas the topics in cartoons are usually made to make people laugh and have a fun time. Besides that, the clear difference is the country of origin. Anime is produced and originated in Japan, meanwhile, The USA produced and introduced the cartoons.
Yes, it is. The popularity of anime makes many people sell anime merchandise to their fans. You can visit and buy your favorite anime merchandise at these physical stores such as Fantasy Toys (Lowyat Plaza), Mechadioz – Omocha and Design, Toyzable, Planet M-78, Gamers Arena, Anime House/Suncomics, and Litt Tak Hobby Centre (there are many than that). These mentioned physical stores are in Kuala Lumpur.
Yes, it is considered as a hobby because it has relation to your passion. Collecting anime merchandise such as anime T-shirts, or anime figures has now become one of the hobbies favored by various people from different countries and ages. Usually, the purchase of anime merchandise is inspired due to the passion that they want to have their favored anime character in their hand and want to buy the merchandise physically and then put it on display.
What comes to your mind if you think about anime merchandise? The figures? For your information, anime merchandise is not only limited to anime figures. The merchandise could be posters that have your favorite anime characters, cosplay items that resemble your favorite anime, cute or eccentric accessories, CDs and DVDs of your favorite anime, and body pillows. These are all counted as anime merchandise.
Usually, the demand and soaring trend of particular anime merchandise do rely on how trendy or famous it is that anime in that year. In 2022, you can see that Spy x Family, Bleach, Kotaro Lives Alone, My Dress-Up Darling, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, Dance Dance Danseur, Dr. Stone: Ryusui, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners are among the anime that gains popularity among anime watchers in 2022. Therefore, a lot of merchandise for these anime are created for their fans!
Certain anime and its merchandise are evergreen and still gain popularity among new anime lovers and existing otakus. Here are several most merchandiseable anime of all time:
· The Pokemon
· Naruto
· The Fate Media
· Dragon Ball
· Sailor Moon
· Beyblade
· Digimon
· Pretty Cure
· Yu Gi Oh!
Yes, definitely! Attention, dear Attack On Titan fans! This website https://attackontitanshop.com/ offers the anime character figures such as the famous Levi Ackermann, Mikasa, Eren Yaeger and many more; T-shirts that have high-quality of printed pictures of your favourite Attack On Titan characters; shoes with the logo of Attack On Titan; hoodies; phone cases!
Anime merchandise costs a lot of money or is known as expensive because perhaps, the biggest issue is the shipping fees. That anime merchandise from Japan needs to be transported to buyers across the world. Since Japan is an island nation, it is a lot harder and more expensive to get goods exported from the country.
