Manga & Anime Recommendations

Cat + Gamer by Wataru Nadatari

Riko, a office worker with an obsession for video games, finds her quiet life upended when she takes in a stray cat! One day, a stray cat is found in the office parking lot, and before Riko knows it, the cat has moved in with her! Having no experience with pets, Riko uses lessons drawn from video games to guide her in cat care, while her cute companion tries to understand her behavior through a cat's worldview. 

Weathering With You by Makoto Shinkai

The summer of freshman year of high school. A boy named Hodaka runs away from his island home and goes to Tokyo, where he spends every day alone. Then, in a corner of the bustling city he meets a girl named Hina. But he soon finds out that she possesses a mysterious power. 

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

Kokoro is a junior high school student-but after years of bullying, she's become so anxious that she no longer goes to school. One day, she's pulled through her full-length mirror into a castle in another dimension by a girl in a wolf mask. The mysterious girl tells Kokoro and six other kids that they will compete in a scavenger hunt. If one of them finds a key that unlocks a secret room, that person will get one wish granted.

My Isekai Life by Shinkoshoto

Whether at the office or at home, corporate drone Yuji Sano works all the time. So when his home PC flashes a message about him being summoned to another world, Yuji restarts his machine... only to find that he's inadvertently accepted the summons! Now in a fantasy world far removed from paperwork and computers, Yuji has just one thing on his mind: waking up from what he thinks is a dream and getting back to the mountain of work he left behind!

Insomniacs After School by Makoto Ojiro

Unable to sleep at night, Ganta Nakami is cranky in class and unpopular with his classmates. He discovers that the school observatory, once used by the now-defunct astronomy club, may be the perfect place for a nap-but he's not alone. Fellow insomniac Isaki Magari is willing to share the observatory with Nakami, and a friendship between the two begins as they bond over the most unlikely of things.

The Hunters Guild: Red Hood by Yuki Kawaguchi

In a world where fairy tales are fact and humans live in fear of werewolves, witches, and monsters, only the Hunters Guild can keep the monsters at bay. These red-hooded fighters are anything but little, and only those able to pay a king's ransom can afford their services. In an isolated hamlet lives a boy named Velou who wants nothing more than to protect his beloved neighbors. But even the town's mayor-its most skilled huntsman-is unable to handle the situation on his own anymore.  

Log Horizon - Cert 12

One day, while playing the online game Elder Tales, 30,000 players suddenly find themselves trapped in another world. There, eight-year veteran gamer Shiroe also gets left behind. The trapped players are still alive, but they remain in combat with the monsters. The players don't understand what has happened to them, and they flee to Akiba, the largest city in Tokyo, where they are thrown into chaos. Once proud of his loner lifestyle, Shiroe forms a guild called Log Horizon with his old friend Naotsugu, female assassin Akatsuki and others. 

Tsukimichi: Moonlight Fantasy -  Cert 12

Makoto Misumi was just an average teenager who suddenly was summoned to another world as a "hero." But the goddess of this world called him ugly and took his hero status away from him, then sent him to the ends of the world. He meets dragons, spiders, orcs, dwarves, and many other non-human races in the wastelands. Makoto manages to show promise in the use of magic and fighting, which he wouldn't have been able to do in his former world. He has numerous encounters, but will he be able to survive this new world? 

Radiant - Cert PG

Seth dreams of being a great sorcerer. He wants to be powerful and defeat the Némésis, monsters that come down from the sky. But his eagerness constantly gets him into trouble. He can’t seem to avoid angering the villagers and even his guardian, Alma. One day, an enormous Némésis really attacks the village! Determined to save the world, Seth embarks on a journey in search for the “Radiant,” the legendary lair of the Némésis. Making new friends, fighting tough enemies, and confronting hardships, Seth’s adventure begins! 

My Happy Marriage -Cert 12

Miyo Saimori is the eldest daughter of the noble Saimori family, but as the un-Gifted daughter of her father's despised first wife, she's treated like a servant by her stepmother and half-sister. When escape comes in the form of being offered in marriage to the infamously cold Kiyoka Kudou, Miyo barely has enough left in her to hope, assuming that because she lacks Spirit-Sight she'll be rejected and die on the streets as her parents intended. But contrary to everyone's expectations, Miyo is not universally loathed, and her betrothal offers her the most precious chance of all: to learn to stop hating herself. 

Maboroshi - Cert 12

Third-year middle school student Masamune, who lives in a town where time has stopped because a sudden explosion at a steelworks factory has sealed off all exits to the town. In order to hopefully one day return to normal, the residents of the town are forbidden from changing, and they live out their gloomy everyday lives. Masamune's enigmatic classmate Atsumi leads him one day to the fifth blast furnace of the steelworks factory, and there they meet a girl who is wild like a wolf and who cannot talk. The meeting of Masamune and these two girls upsets the balance of the world. 

Blue Period - Cert 12

Yatora Yaguchi is a fairly popular student who excels in school, but often deals with inner emptiness and frustrations. One day he became fascinated by a painting at his high school's art club so deeply that it inspired him to try his hand at painting. Later he was inspired by a friend Ryuji and subsequently joining the art club, becoming more deeply involved, and attempts to apply for the Tokyo University of the Arts as his choice of college. 

Cool Japan Guide by Abby Denson

Visit the land of manga, cosplay, hot springs and sushi! This book takes you on a fascinating exploration of Japanese popular culture from a manga lover's perspective.  Cool Japan Guide introduces you to: The exciting world of Japanese food--from bento to sushi and everything in between The otaku (geek) culture of Japan, including a manga market in Tokyo where famous artists display and sell their original artwork  

Otaku Food! by Danielle Baghernejad

With our increasing hunger for Japanese pop culture, comes an appetite to match. And with dishes from pop culture icons like One Piece and Naruto, manga and anime can finally be enjoyed in the comfort of your very own kitchen. Whether you’re enjoying Japanese ramen from Naruto or fried rice from Food Wars, readers and foodies can learn about Japanese cooking basics and some new series to enjoy.

Tokyo Geek's Guide                              by Gianni Simone

A comprehensive run-down on each major Tokyo district where geeks congregate, shop, play and hangout--from hi-tech Akihabara and trendy Harajuku to newer and lesser-known haunts like chic Shimo-Kita and working-class Ikebukuro. Dozens of iconic shops, restaurants, cafes and clubs in each area are described in loving detail with precise directions how to get to each location. 

A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide by Evangeline Neo

For fans of Japanese manga and anime, a trip to Tokyo is an absolute must! In this captivating Tokyo travel guide, manga artist and author Evangeline Neo travels to the Japanese capital with her mascots Kopi the dog and Matcha the cat in tow, bringing you to all the otaku sights this city has to offer. 

BTS: K-Pop Kings by Helen Brown

With their talent, dedication, clever choreography, and catchy blend of pop, hip-hop and R&B, this must-have fan book offers an extensive look at what makes the Bangtan Boys so memorable. Packed with fascinating facts and sensational secrets around how the band got together and their rise to fame, to their first number one and beyond, this book takes fans up close and personal with RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V, Jin and Jungkook. 

Blackpink: K-Pop's No.1 Girl Group by Adrian Besley12

This is your comprehensive guide to the K-pop girl group taking the world by storm. Get to know Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa, the four mega-talented ladies who sing, dance and rap, and look fierce doing it - it's no wonder they're the hottest thing in pop right now. Learn all about their trainee days, their debut and their ongoing quest for global domination, as well as their own individual stories and personalities, in this indispensable guide for any Blackpink fan. 

World's Best Origami For Kids         by Rob Ives

World s Best Origami for Kids shows you how creative you can be with just a few sheets of paper and how to fold! This simple guide has fun and seriously brilliant designs to keep you entertained. Learn how to make all sorts of Amazing Animals, Vehicles, Gifts and Dinosaurs and bring paper into 3D life. 

Cosplay Crash Course                          by Mina Mistiqarts Petrovic

Learn tips and tricks from a cosplay expert! This book includes everything you need to know to make your cosplay look authentic.

30+ step-by-step projects

Instructions for creating cosplay wigs, makeup, headpieces, props and more

Bonus tips on taking photos for cosplay