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So, Halloween is over, and for us non-Colonials the next holiday season is Christmas, slowly lumbering into view.

With this in mind, I recently asked my friend what her daughter was currently in to, having rather unusually not seen them in person since Easter, with a view to planning festive purchases. Aside from stuff I already knew about, the new thing is "all things Anime or Kawaii." The genesis/focus of this appears to be an app called Gotcha Studio.

Not being terribly au fait with the topic, apart from the sure and certain knowledge that anime is a broad and catch all term that would cover things that certainly aren't suitable for a 7 year old girl, does anyone have any suggestions as to properties that might have merchandise appropriate aside from the obvious big hitters like Hello Kitty and Pokémon?

You may need to do more digging.
Allot of Anime has merchandise...but if it's not suitable or correct or what the person likes...it's kinda defunct.
I personally haven't heard of Gotcha studio though.

The safe things you could try is drawing books. How to draw manga. How to draw anime etc.

Otherwise ask around on Facebook anime groups or anime forums. They might be more useful since they are more focused on that area

Ok, so looking up Gacha Studio, it appears to be an aníme themed dress up game. So with that in mind, I would suggest more traditionally girly series like Sailor Moon, Hamtaro etc. If she's a reader, maybe pick up a volume or two of manga. If she likes the dress up app, perhaps she's into dolls? Maybe a character themed doll or plush would be enjoyed.

Yeah, it's Gacha studio,not Gotcha. Blame her mum's overly aggressive spell check for that one!

Sailor Moon I've heard of, and I'll take a look at Hamtaro. That certainly sounds like it might work.

Sadly she's not so much of a reader. She reads very well, at one point massively ahead of her age, but, thanks to school prescribed reading by fixed dates for homework, reading for pleasure has somewhat lost its appeal.

You are right in that someone saying they like anime is a bit like saying they like western films - its such a whole medium/industry that spans everything from child friendly to distinctly adult.

I would say that the best thing is to keep digging and get a better idea from her what she's really into and what she's got already - its no shame in doing a bit of digging so that you can make the right choice with a gift (esp if you've not been around or in contact for a while). Whilst the focus of giving gifts is the act of giving; many of us like to give something that we know holds value to the recipient beyond it just being a gift (otherwise you might as well just give money).


The only thing I can say as a "reasonably" solid choice would be to look up some of the Studio Ghibli films - they are by and large all family friendly (Grave of the Fireflies is probably the most extreme exception to this) and a fairly solid choice (think of them like the Disney of the Anime world - that is Disney of the Lionking era)

I'd second the Ghibli suggestion

From Studio Ghibli, check out the following:

Kiki's Delivery Service: Young witch sets out on her own with talking cat familiar, very appropriate for the age range.

My Neighbor Totoro: Two young sisters move to a new home in the country side and find a bunch of magical animals/creatures.

The Cat Returns: Girl saves cat from being hit by a truck and finds out that there is a magical cat world and that the cat she saved was the cat prince. They want to reward her for her act of kindness and insanity ensues.

Ponyo: Story to this one is odd, sea spirit wants to be human, bunch of weird stuff happens when they make friends with a child.

Arrietty: Basically a retelling of the Borrowers.

Those five are the most child appropriate I think. Do not get Grave of the Fire Flies for her, that film is legit the most depressing film I think I have ever seen but is simultaneously one of the most powerful and well made I have ever seen, and is 100% not appropriate for young children. I would avoid Princess Mononoke also, great film but when she is a bit older. If she is very mature for a 7 year old Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Howls Moving Castle are all other great Ghibli films are are not adult but more appropriate for slightly older audiences.

There a new Sailor Moon series that was released in the past couple of years but not sure whether you can buy it dubbed yet or not.

Chi's Sweet Home is an excellent manga series you could buy her, they sell the compilations on Amazon, are fairly simple reads and should appeal easily to a 7 year old. It's about a kitten named Chi and her basically figuring the world out with her family. There is an anime series of it but it's like 5 minute shorts and I don't think you can buy them dubbed.

If I think of anything else I'll post. My daughter is 6 coming up on 7 in a few months and these are some of the things she likes in the realm of anime.

 vonjankmon wrote:
Do not get Grave of the Fire Flies for her, that film is legit the most depressing film I think I have ever seen but is simultaneously one of the most powerful and well made I have ever seen, and is 100% not appropriate for young children.

Agreed, I would say one has to first survive Plague Dogs and Watership Down before even attempting Grave of the Fireflies (at least sticking within the realms of emotionally driven animation). I've got Grave on DVD and its one of those films I will never regret watching (nor buying) but one that I likely won't see more than once a decade.

Ghibli is always quality and has something for people of just about any age.

I generally dislike anime as a rule, but il watch anything by ghibli.

 Azreal13 wrote:
"all things Anime or Kawaii."

I would say any of Naoko Yamada's directorial work could be useful here, either the work itself or merchandise related to it. That would be the K-On series (two seasons plus a movie), Tamako Market (plus the followup movie Tamako Love Story), and A Silent Voice/The Shape of Voice (another movie but maybe not that optimal for a seven year old). The links should provide you with info so you can decide on your own if it's a good fit and it should provide you with enough keywords to search for toys, soundtracks (those are all really great) and other stuff. Here's a really good video on her career if you want an overview without needing to actually watch all of it (of course with spoilers): Naoko Yamada — At The Entrance To The Universe

Saw this thread and though ah I might be able to help being an old anime/ manga fan but then as it’s for a seven yr old the likes of itchi the killer / vampire hunter D / ninja scrolls scrolls doesn’t really have a place in this one so il promptly leave this thread and just wish you luck.

Start with Studio Ghibli. They make well made, "entry level" films that everyone can enjoy, that aren't plagued by moe / ecchi / harem / whatever that seems common in most anime nowadays.

Mamoru Hosada is also a good director. I thought Wolf Children was great.