https://blackgirlnerds.com/5-best-shops-for-otaku-gifts/

If you’re an anime fan or have one on your shopping list, you’ll want to bookmark the five shops on this list. These five brands are full of anime-themed gifts extending beyond graphic tees and manga box sets. Companies like Etsy and BoxLunch offer inventive gift ideas that speak to the heart of anime fans. We’re not just talking Funko Pops. These five stores are packed with rare finds that’ll make your favorite otaku scream, “shut up and take my money!” 

BoxLunch: The Target of Pop Culture Fandom 

URL: https://www.boxlunch.com/

Straight out of your anime-obsessed dreams comes a retail brand designed for anyone looking for gifts suitable for the whole family. BoxLunch is a retail brand dedicated to pop culture fandom. Think: Target, except instead of Martha Stewart, the aisles are filled with Demon Slayer and Sailor Moon. With BoxLunch, shoppers can access thoughtful gift ideas designed to meet the needs of virtually every anime lover. Browse through exclusive collectibles, accessories, and rare finds in cookware, home decor, and beauty.

Make it a kawaii-themed Christmas with Pokemon ornaments. Hook your bestie up with glittery Hello Kitty wine glasses, or bless your daughter with a Hello Kitty-themed makeup palette. Gift your nephew a Naruto-themed ramen bowl so he can slurp noodles like his favorite Shonen hero.

With over 5,000 anime-related gifts, the opportunities are endless. Visit the official site or stop by one of their stores; there are over 180 around the US.

Etsy Has Exclusive Made to Order Creations

URL: https://www.etsy.com/

If you’re looking for personalized, one-of-a-kind gifts, consider doing your Christmas shopping on Etsy. It’s a one-stop shop for all kinds of high-quality custom creations. Etsy hosts a variety of online shops from crafters, artists, and designers worldwide who specialize in everything from party supplies to custom clothing. 

Each shop offers a unique experience with its own pricing, criteria, and shipping duration. You can even reach out to sellers via chat for answers to questions and concerns about your order. 

Just searching “anime” on Etsy will generate over 900,000 search results, giving you plenty of unique gifts to choose from. MoonStarCa has colorfully dressed candles inspired by anime like Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia. Aishify will hook you up with custom fragrances inspired by the scent of your favorite anime characters. TopBlade creates life-size weapon replicas to help you elevate your favorite cosplays. 

Etsy is for anyone looking for a gift that’s tailor-made personally for their favorite otaku. Not only are your premium gifts made to order, but you’ll also feel good knowing you supported a small business owner. 

Kinokuniya Is Your Plug for Rare Japanese Gems 

URL: https://united-states.kinokuniya.com/

If you’re looking for gifts that can only be found overseas, Kinokuniya is the plug. They’re an international brand that sells books, toys, magazines, and stationery straight from Japan. The global brand originally started in Tokyo and has since expanded to over 100 locations, with 12 based in the US. 

At Kinokuniya, shoppers have their pick of the litter of all things toys, books, and stationery, including manga available in both Japanese and English. Treat yourself to an anime cookbook, and give your cuisine the iconic anime aesthetic. Gift your favorite weeb a movie guide or art book straight from the scenes of anime classics like Akira. Help a junior otaku draw anime like a pro with beginner-level guides and how-to books. 

Head to the site to find locations near you, or browse their US online store. In-person shoppers get the bonus of an in-store cafe, so you can enjoy sushi and tea while you browse.    

The Crunchyroll Store Has Licensed Products Straight From Your Favorite Streaming Service 

URL: https://store.crunchyroll.com/

Every anime lover knows about Crunchyroll. They’ve been a trusted source for anime for almost two decades, giving fans access to thousands of titles and events since the early 2000s. 

In 2012, they launched the official Crunchyroll store, whose mission is to help fans live their “best anime life.” They’ve been staying true to that slogan ever since. 

The Crunchyroll Store offers officially licensed products for dozens of titles and is the official e-store for both Crunchyroll and Funimation. At The Crunchyroll Store, you’ll find over 2000 gift options for newer and older generations of anime. Treat a die-hard fan to a soundtrack on vinyl, including Evangelion Finally and the Josee, The Tiger and the Fish OST. Gift a friend a limited edition box set, like Black Clover’s season four DVD bundle, which comes with a 48-page art book. Buy your gift in advance with their pre-order option and secure popular figures, games, and decor before they sell out online. 

Head to The Crunchyroll Store if you’re looking for exclusive gifts from America’s favorite anime streaming service – including apparel collabs with your favorite pop stars.    

Weeb Stuff Is an Internationally Trusted Brand for All Kinds of Anime Lovers

URL: https://weebstuff.com/

If you’re looking for gifts exclusively for adults, Weeb Stuff is worth checking out. Their gifts are inclusive of all kinds of anime lifestyles, from kawaii and vaporwave to NSFW. Weeb Stuff is a trusted source for customers all over the world, with an inventory that reviewers insist can’t be found anywhere else. 

Build up your cosplay collection with their exclusive masks, props, and accessories. Elevate your home with adorable anime-themed towels, blankets, and pillows. Bring your favorite characters to life with replicas of their trademark accessories, like Deku’s diary and Inuyasha’s wolf tooth necklace.  

As if the extensive collection of anime-themed gifts wasn’t enough, the site also offers free shipping on all orders. Just mark sure you order your gift a few weeks in advance.  

Shops like Weeb Stuff and The Crunchyroll Store can help you put a smile on your favorite otaku’s face this Holiday season. With gifts available for the home, men, women, and children, you can get anime-themed gifts for just about anyone. Happy shopping!

https://nerdist.com/article/super-nintendo-world-universal-studios-hollywood-opens-february/

Here we go! The countdown to the opening of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is almost over! The themed land officially opens to the public on February 17, 2023. Which is so soon! Until now, we had only been told “early 2023.” We cannot wait to finally race an IRL version of Mario Kart on one of the best tracks ever, Bowser’s Castle. Who doesn’t want to navigate the land of Koopas, Piranha Plants, and wonders of the Mushroom Kingdom? February 17th can’t come quickly enough!  

The good news, which we saw on GameSpot, also includes more about the interactive elements of the land. You can buy Power-Up Bands to rack up coins and punch Question Mark Blocks. That’s something we’ve never considered doing in real life, but now we can’t wait to make that famous jumping motion and see what we get. Based on the video below, it looks like you can represent Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Daisy, Princess Peach, or Toad. 

The announcement also includes details about food and retail shops. At the Toadstool Cafe, you can sit on a small mushroom under tall mushroom umbrella to chow down on the themed food. If the menu is anything like the Japanese park, we can’t wait to see what the options are. And it’s a sure bet that we’ll be buying merch and gifts at the 1-Up Factory.   

There’s tons of little details that are sure to make a visit to Super Nintendo World fully immersive. You even enter through a Warp Pipe! Character meet and greets include Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. We also spotted Goombas, Thwomps, and Chain Chomps lurking in the preview video above. The Japanese park opened to rave reviews in 2021. Versions in Singapore and Orlando, Florida are also on the way. Let’s-a go!

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She is SO excited to visit Super Nintendo World! Melissa also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

The post Wahoo! Super Nintendo World Hollywood Will Open in February appeared first on Nerdist.

https://nerdist.com/article/scream-6-teaser-trailer-reveals-ghostface-in-nyc-subway-returning-heroes-jenna-ortega-jasmin-savoy-brown-and-more/

It feels like Scream 5 (or, as they prefer to call it, just Scream), just came out. But here we are, about to get a follow-up sixth film in 2023, just one year later. And now we have our very first trailer for Scream 6 (Scream VI). Ghostface is back to terrorize once again, but this time, they are out for blood in the big city. The only thing more terrifying than Ghostface masks on an empty subway is Ghostface masks on a full one. If you’ve ever been on one, you know there is literally nowhere to run. And that’s what our favorite new gang of heroes quickly find out. You can watch the new trailer right here:

As always, who is under the mask and wielding the knife is a big mystery. Will they be related to a previous killer? A previous victim? Or is this just going to be a fanboy/fangirl thing? Although, they kind of did that in the last movie. We don’t think they’ll repeat themselves. The bigger question the Scream 6 trailer poses is where in NYC can one change into a Ghostface outfit in private? It’s true no one would even blink if someone wearing the mask fled down the steps… But getting access to a public toilet is nearly impossible.

In this latest installment, the description for the Scream 6 trailer shares, our survivors of the most recent Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start. (And really, we can’t blame them, we wouldn’t want to stay there either). Neve Campbell/Sidney Prescott will not be around this time. However, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega (currently ruling as Wednesday Addams), will return as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding also return as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin from the previous film.

My next stop, New York. #Scream6 pic.twitter.com/hKYzRvgkMt

— Scream (@ScreamMovies) December 14, 2022

Although we are absent one Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox is bringing the infamous Gale Weathers back, although just how much she’s going to be in it is a mystery. We don’t yet see her in the Scream 6 trailer. And, in perhaps the biggest delight for fans, Hayden Panettiere is bringing back Kirby from the fourth film for Scream 6. Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to direct Scream 6, with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick penning the script. And, hopefully, we could even see Scream 7 going into production right on the heels of part six. For now, we can’t wait to learn more about Scream 6 and the big city mysteries it holds.

Scream 6 will release on March 10, 2023. 

The post First SCREAM 6 Trailer Combos Horror of Ghostface and NYC Subway at Rush Hour appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/an-ode-to-deep-stone-crypt/

It was November 2020. After an excruciating long season with Arrivals that had been constantly foreshadowing the coming Darkness and the only end-game activity that hadn’t been run into the ground was the Prophecy Dungeon (and it was certainly reaching that point after several months), I, and the rest of the community, were chomping at the bit for a new raid.

Even since Vault of Glass, raids represent the pinnacle of Destiny content. During these 6-person activities, players are put through the paces through both mechanics and thumb skill. Even the ones deemed “lesser” for whatever reason are still iconic parts of the franchise. The yearly interval between major raid releases make it a whole occasion: a weekend to a weekend of cultivating several different loadouts for several different scenarios, trying to find a balance of survivability and lethality that only really matters during the first few raid clears and the highest elective difficulty content.

The last raid, Garden of Salvation was a visual spectacle, but it was a raid that history would view with mixed feelings. With a finicky tether mechanic juxtaposed against one a visually stunning set piece, Garden paled in comparison to the masterpiece that was Last Wish. Furthermore, the challenges were particularly pain inducing and while everyone was thankful to have a deterministic quest to get the raid exotics, the multi-part puzzle that immediately disrupted any sort of rhythm found between encounters was the bane of many groups, and the loot was middling at best.

Deep Stone Crypt had to leave an impression, especially considering that it was launching alongside the first of the “Darkness” sub-classes which would irrevocably change the sandbox and the Destiny Content Vault, which among other things was vaulting five different raids (although they can keep Spire of Stars in the Vault as far as I am concerned). And two years later, with an even 50 completions under my belt and a couple more planned during this season, I think it has left quite an impression for a wide variety of reasons.

As someone who has fervently been engrossed with Exo lore since the original launch, I was already enamored with the idea of visiting the facility that developed the technology to implant human consciousness into a robotic body. The days leading up to launch, we were tantalized by tidbits in lost sectors, heavy implications that the Vex, a long-standing enemy of humanity, were a part of the process.

So when launch day came and my fireteam of 6 set out to find the facility, there was a joy in the air. In order to even reach the famed Crypt, we had to navigate a barren tundra with only a few lights leading to small outputs on Sparrow. As Fallen flanked at each and every node, it was a haphazard march as we contended against Void-Shield Captains and the mass-produced Brigs, but eventually we found the path and made out to the nominal location.

The interior of the Deep Stone Crypt had been the most-hard sci-fi we’d seen in a minute. Much more pristine than any other environments from the Golden Age, the sleek aesthetic immediately confirmed that I was going to like it.

We pieced together how to use the Scanner and Operator Augments that the Fallen were carrying and slowly managed to percussive-ly bypass the security to get into the Crypt proper. There, we were greeted by a giant statue of Darkness incarnate which confirmed several long-standing theories. As we ventured down into the Replication chamber, we were greeted by Atraks and an old, constantly reviving thorn in the side that was Taniks.

While half the fireteam went to a suborbital space station, the other two members and I stayed down and thus one of the most brutal encounters I have ever endured in Destiny commenced. With content mode capping our power, we struggle for hours trying to find the right balance of survival and damage, as the time to damage Atraks was incredibly short. Even when we pieced together all of the mechanic in a messy slog, the familiar refrain of “Guardian Down” rang a little too often and our attempt at a day 1 clear was stopped there.

However, with the debris from a different reality orbital station opening up more of Braytech facilities, we were granted access to the Lament: a chainsaw sword that would prove instrumental to taking out Atraks once contest mode was over. 

The fireteam reconvened with our new arsenal, we felled Atraks, ejected technological ghosts out of the airlock, and proceeded to stop a nuclear catastrophe in what is my favorite puzzle encounter to date before slowly whittling away at Taniks. While we didn’t manage to earn the emblem, we did manage to earn our first raid jacket, something I proudly wear during the winter months.

During the first half of Beyond Light, Deep Stone Crypt was a perennial fixture in our routine. One of the few raids that we enjoyed enough to do three times a week, and one where we eventually got good enough to do so easily. Deep Stone Crypt was an action-oriented raid that had us changing loadouts every encounter while juggling the different augments.

While Garden of Salvation emphasized that everyone had to participate in mechanics, Deep Stone Crypt emphasized that everyone had to have specific roles to help progress the encounters. While some were less pressing than others, the fact remains that all six had to be ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

The dynamic nature of each encounter kept engagement up over each and every run. The frantic relay race of security where Xenophage hammered against batter packs, the high-octane skirmish against Atraks where our swords cleaved the health bar, and the final slaying of Taniks where to my delight Anarchy and double special weapons were the meta for the longest time, but truly the encounter that solidified the raid’s place in my pantheon of the great was the Descent and the moments leading up to it.

Bungie devs have gone on the record multiple times that after high intensity encounters, they make it a point to include a cool off where fireteams are able to reset and relax. The stealthy gorgon maze in Vault of Glass after the Templar. The wall of Hive Pistons/Dicks after Golgoroth. The server appreciation in Wrath of the Machine. The Ascendant Platforming in Last Wish, the Windmills in Garden of Salvation, all of these lovely moment staples of the Destiny experience. And yet, the moment of reset in Deep Stone Crypt is truly something else.

After slogging through the misery of Atraks, you navigate through the space station and reach an airlock. At which point, one of the most soothing tracks in all of media plays as an evil AI monologues at you. You can see Fallen Ketches and Skiffs rotating in an out, as you get a clear view of Europa. Clovis Bray curtly declaring, “I have no reason to believe you anything but ‘the wrong hands’” as you jump in a muted environment before entering a different substation. And now that you and your friends have caught their breath, you’re immediately thrust into chaos.

Colloquially known in my friend group as “Jazz,” the Descent is a hectic puzzle encounter where your fireteam had to limit the number of nuclear cores that spawn, identify which nuclear trash cans can deposit the ones that do spawn, all while a suppressor goes around different to disrupt Taniks so that the live nukes don’t explode. As the chaos continues, augments are swapped back and forth, as the substation begins a high velocity crashing landing on Europa and pretty much the best can do is that there’s not excessive radiation when it does make impact. After six rounds of frantic movement, the coda is a mad dash to the singular safe room which still barely offers enough protection.

The “Of All Trades” Challenge injects even more chaos into the mix as every Guardian rotate through each of the augments and “Short Circuit” create a funny little carrier mini game and protect the guardian as someone has to bounce back and forth and deposit all of the Nuclear Cores taking them from the carriers. 

It’s an encounter of pure joy, where you to go all out in combat as enemies pour in from various of corridors and even if it is a fixed length, it’s still the best 10 minutes where you’re able to crack jokes between callouts.

And finally, Deep Stone marked a return of raid weapon that felt raid worthy. With unique perks like Reconstruction and Recombination, the weapons were standouts that held their place in the meta until the Witch Queen even with the introduction of origin perks. And now that the weapons have been refreshed during Season of the Seraph and are now craftable, we’re able to perfectly construct weapons with a specific intensity.

Two years later, I’m ecstatic to be able to return to Deep Stone Crypt with new vigor and renewed interest. While Last Wish is still probably the best overall raid Bungie has produced (if simply by the virtue of having four bosses and two additional encounters), Deep Stone Crypt holds a special place in my heart for its design, aesthetic, and the memories formed.

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The post An Ode to ‘Deep Stone Crypt’ appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.