by Jayden Leggett, Editor

That time of year is almost upon us yet again. You know, that one that involves buying the presents that you insist on putting off until the very last minute? The one that you ridiculously panic about because you haven’t a clue what to buy your loved ones? Well, that’s where I step in – provided the loved one in question happens to be a geek and/or has an interest in anime. And the best part? Australian residents can purchase them all directly from the Hanabee website! Hence, without further ado, my I present to you my picks for my top five anime titles released by Hanabee in Australia this year:

Girls & Panzer: Complete OVA Series [Blu-ray]
Don’t let the title fool you. Yes, this is an anime about a bunch of girls, but while they do go to a school in which their major discipline is Tankery (which I can only guess is the study and practical application of tanks), this is definitely not a show about a bunch of ladies blowing sh*t up in tanks. Rather, Girls Und Panzer instead focuses on the adventures of the girls of Oorai. Whether it be shopping for skimpy bathing suits, camping by a lake (in skimpy bathing suits), or going for a cruise aboard the school’s ship (and enjoying a hot soak with no bathing suits), you can be sure that these girls are going to be as cutesy and adorable as possible. If your geek is into shows featuring scantily clad schoolgirls that are strangely reminiscent of soft-core hentai, then Girls Und Panzer: Complete OVA Series should fit the bill nicely.
http://hanabee.myshopify.com/products/girls-und-panzer-ova-dvd

Amnesia: Complete [Blu-ray]
Is your beloved geek more of a thinker? If so, you should definitely consider getting them a copy of Amnesia. As the title suggests, the plot revolves around a girl waking up on the first of August with absolutely no memory prior to this date. Also? She now has a spirit named Orion stuck in her body with her. You see, clumsy Orion bumped into her whilst exploring her world, and is responsible for her amnesia. In order for Orion to be free, they must correctly regain the Heroine’s missing memories. Unfortunately, with so many events replaying themselves differently, and so many friends and co-workers giving different versions of past events, the huge question of “Who can I trust?” quickly comes into play. Amnesia is a perfect gift for armchair sleuths and mystery lovers alike.
http://hanabee.myshopify.com/products/amnesia

Majestic Prince: Collection 1 [Blu-ray]
Giant robots? Check. Epic space battles? Check. A rag-tag team of teenagers who hold the fate of the world in their hands? That’s a big check. Majestic Prince follows the exploits of Team Rabbits, a group of kids who have been genetically modified so that they can pilot gigantic robotic battle suits in order to fight the evil alien force known as the Wulgaru. To say that this team has a lot to prove is an understatement, which helps to make this anime even more endearing, because who doesn’t love an underdog story? Featuring jaw-dropping battle sequences with superb animation, Majestic Prince comes highly recommended by yours truly.
http://hanabee.myshopify.com/products/majestic-prince-part-1

Medaka Box Complete Collection [Blu-ray]
Perhaps you’re after something a little more light-hearted and offbeat? Medaka Box: Season One should fit the bill nicely. The newly appointed Student Council President for Hakinowa Academy, Medaka Kurokami, has set up a suggestion box that her fellow students are encouraged to submit their problems to. With the help of her friend Zenkichi, Medaka takes it upon herself to be responsible for resolving all of the issues that are drawn from the box. Quirky characters, bizarre anime humor, over the top fight sequences and a leading lady who is super smart, super athletic and has ridiculously enormous breasts (oh, the Japanese!), Medaka Box: Season One is guaranteed to impress… or confuse. Either way, it’s pretty darn entertaining!
http://hanabee.myshopify.com/products/medaka-box-season-1

Accel World Set 1 [Blu-ray]
My personal top pick of the bunch, Accel World is a special beast indeed. Set in a future where technology is literally a way of life, everybody owns a Neurolinker: a special device that enables its user to enter a virtual reality world where just about anything is possible. For unpopular nerd Harayuki Arita, this is his ultimate escape from his mundane and often cruel reality. Or so he thought, until the most popular girl in the school introduces him to a secret digital realm known as the Accel World, in which Harayuki must quickly learn to become an excellent fighter, lest he be banished from this amazing game world forever. Slick combat action and a main character that you can really sympathise with help make this anime series unlike anything I have ever seen so far. Grab a copy for your special geek… and grab an extra one for yourself while you’re at it! You won’t be sorry you did.
http://hanabee.myshopify.com/products/accel-world-part-1-bd

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