Be still, our hearts (and be even stiller, our wallets, because we may be about to drop a lot of money) – Animate, Japan’s largest retailer of anime, manga, and video games, will be making its return to Hong Kong! Animate reopening in town will come as welcome news to local anime and manga fans whose travels to Japan will typically include pitstops to Animate branches across the country to load up on new merch releases.
A recent post shared on September 12 on the Animate Hong Kong Facebook page appears to confirm the upcoming store opening – the message announced active staff recruitment and called upon interested candidates to apply. Other than that, the Facebook page remains cryptic, with only a ‘coming soon’ post teasing further news.
Animate used to operate a Hong Kong retail branch in Mong Kok, in addition to an Animate Cafe – known as Youme Cafe – but both were shuttered in 2020. Five years later, anime fans can look forward to the return of Japan’s leading anime, manga, and games merch and goods retailer, also in Mong Kok, though the details surrounding the opening date and exact location are still murky. In Japan, Animate operates more than 100 retail stores, and internationally, the brand has a number of outlets in mainland China, Thailand, Taiwan, and the US. Its nine-floor flagship store in the Ikebukuro district in Tokyo was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the ‘largest anime store’ in the world.
Considering the huge popularity of Japanese anime and manga content among Hong Kong audiences – there’s currently an Attack on Titan exhibition happening in Kai Tak, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle is still screening in cinemas, and let’s not forget the large-scale Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong that happens every summer – the return of Animate to Hong Kong could not have come at a better time. Now to start saving up so we can splurge on whatever merch Animate will bring to our shores…
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