Everything You Need to Know: Animate Manila.

Animate Manila opened its doors at One Ayala in Makati City last Friday, October 16th. What’s in store at this new pop-culture haven? Here’s everything you need to know.

History of Animate Store:


Photo: Animate Japan.

Animate is a major Japanese retail chain owned by Movic and stands as one of the world's largest specialty stores for anime, manga, and video game media. Since opening its massive flagship store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, in March 1983, Animate has grown into a global destination for pop-culture enthusiasts.


What to Expect Inside the Store:
What to Expect at the Store? The store offers an extensive selection of official merchandise, including:
  • Character Goods: Acrylic stands, keychains, character pins/badges, plushies, and clear files.
  • Figures & Collectibles: High-detail scale figures and Nendoroids.
  • Media & Music: Blu-rays/DVDs, soundtrack CDs, character song singles, and drama CDs.

Pop-Culture Iconography. 
Photo: "Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku" - © Norishiro-chan • Sakana Uozumi/Coamix • Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku Production Committee.

Animate’s real-world locations are so iconic that they frequently appear in anime series like Kagami Yoshimizu’s "Lucky Star" and Norishiro-chan and Sakana Uozumi's "Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku", grounding these stories in authentic Japanese daily life and urban culture.


Photo: Meito Anizawa - © Kazuhiko Shimamoto/Studio Hijiri. "Lucky Star" - © Kagami Yoshimizu/Kadokawa Shoten • Kyoto Animation. 

In "Lucky Star", viewers even meet Meito Anizawa, the official mascot and hyper-energetic manager of Animate. Created by manga artist Kazuhiko Shimamoto, Anizawa serves as the hot-blooded protagonist of his own media projects and a frequent crossover character across various franchises.


The Animate Cafe Experience.
Another staple of the franchise is the Animate Cafe, a themed pop-up cafe chain that collaborates with popular anime, manga, VTuber, and video game titles for limited runs.

These cafes serve specialty themed menu items and drinks, which often come with exclusive freebies like character coasters or trading cards. Visitors can also purchase limited-edition, event-exclusive merch unavailable elsewhere, all while immersed in temporary themed decor, standees, and custom video displays.

Animate Store Experience.
With the opening of Animate Manila, Philippine fans finally have a dedicated home for all things anime, bringing the ultimate Japanese pop-culture experience straight to local fans.

Visit Animate Manila, located on the 3rd floor of One Ayala in Makati City, Philippines. Follow them on their social media pages on Facebook at fb.com/animate.manila and X at x.com/animate_manila. Happy anime shopping.




Photo by: Geoffrey Sobrevilla.





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