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Collecting physical copies of anime is becoming more popular as streaming services continue to raise prices and platforms can discontinue a series’ availability. That said, for many fans, collecting anime is a serious hobby that comes at a high price, with particular series capable of draining savings accounts.
Certain titles are costly due to the sheer number of episodes, while others have limited releases and collector’s editions that fetch a high price tag. While there are numerous anime that reach prices most would gawk at, few stand out more than others due to their expansive fan base, rewarding narratives, or unforgettable adventures.
Nana
Nana follows two young women who share the same name, and their chance meeting on the same train bound for Tokyo. Nana Komatsu searches for love and stability, while Nana Osaki pursues a career as the vocalist of a punk band. The series is renowned for its authentic exploration of life's messiness and the challenges of navigating adulthood.
While there are affordable copies of the series available, hardcore fans wanting to own the collector’s edition of Nana will have to pay a hefty price. The limited edition of the series costs well over $500, making it a difficult series for fans to get their hands on.
Cardcaptor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura centers on the titular character, Sakura Kinomoto, an elementary school student who accidentally released magical Clow Cards from a mysterious book. Tasked with recovering them before they can cause chaos, she becomes a Cardcaptor who is guided by a guardian creature known as Cerberus and joined by friends along the way.
The price of owning the full series of Cardcaptor Sakura can cost over $500, particularly when combining multiple box sets and films. Fans who want the series can find that certain listings exceed well over $1000 to own the complete set.
Maison Ikkoku
Maison Ikkoku follows Yuusaku Godai, a directionless college student living in a chaotic boarding house, and Kyoko Otonashi, the newly widowed manager who moves in above him. The series follows their slow, often awkward interactions alongside the daily lives of other residents over the course of several years.
The cost of owning Maison Ikkoku can exceed well over $800. With limited and premium editions available, paired with a demand largely driven by dedicated collectors, the series stands out as a costly romantic drama to own.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Legend of the Galactic Heroes follows a 150-year war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance, centering on two rival geniuses, Reinhard von Lohengramm from the Empire and Yang Wen-li from the Alliance. The series is known for its depth, epic space battles, and exploration of opposing political ideologies.
Owning the complete collection of Legend of the Galactic Heroes can exceed $1,000 due to both its scale and limited release. Paired with a niche audience, the series becomes one of the most expensive anime to own on DVD or Blu-Ray.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows the multigenerational story of the Joestar family, whose members repeatedly confront supernatural threats across different eras and continents. Each part of the series introduces new protagonists, antagonists, and Stand abilities, keeping the series fresh and unpredictable.
Owning JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure comes with a significant investment for fans determined to own the physical copies of the series. As a long-running series with collector’s editions and limited releases, owning the series could cost well over $1,000.
One Piece
One Piece centers around Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of Straw Hat Pirates as they travel the Grand Line in search of the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. With the dream of becoming the King of the Pirates, Luffy and his crew take on formidable adversaries and the World Government along the way.
One Piece is one of the longest anime series, with well over 1,000 episodes. Owning the complete collection of the series as physical media can cost well over $1,000, and that’s not counting the limited or collector’s editions of the series.
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon follows Usagi Tsukino, an ordinary schoolgirl whose life changes after she is chosen to defend Earth as a Sailor Guardian and search for the legendary Silver Crystal. Alongside her team, Usagi must learn to navigate relationships, school, and her duties as leader of the Sailor Guardians.
The cost of owning Sailor Moon varies widely depending on format and edition. While modern releases offer affordable copies, collecting the original anime, limited editions, or collector’s editions of the series can range from $500 to over $1,000, with some editions surpassing $3,000.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion follows Shinji Ikari, a reluctant pilot of a giant bio-mechanical weapon, as he and other pilots defend Earth from mysterious beings known as Angels. The series is most known for its deconstruction of the mecha genre and is widely praised for its depth and exploration of heavy themes.
As an incredibly popular series, there are plenty of editions and limited releases, making it an expensive series for hardcore fans to get their hands on.
The complete collection of Neon Genesis Evangelion, including its films, often surpasses $1,000, with some rare or deluxe editions reaching past $6,000. As an incredibly popular series, there are plenty of editions and limited releases, making it an expensive series for hardcore fans to get their hands on.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball centers on Son Goku, following his adventures from childhood to adulthood as he takes part in tournaments, quests to search for the Dragon Balls, and faces increasingly powerful threats as the series unfolds. Best known for its epic battles, iconic transformations, and legendary rivalries, Dragon Ball stands out as one of the most influential anime.
As a series with multiple sequels and spin-offs, owning Dragon Ball can come with a heavy price tag. Complete collections spanning the franchise often cost more than $2,000, with rare or collectible editions selling for well over $10,000 online.
Gundam
Gundam is a sprawling franchise spanning decades, multiple timelines, and countless series, making it difficult for newcomers to know where to start. However, for dedicated fans, the franchise is known for its intense mecha battles and complex characters and narratives that explore war, politics, and personal struggles.
Owning a complete Gundam collection is an expensive undertaking. Even low-end complete collections cost well over $2,000. For collector’s editions, limited-run copies, and premium box sets, costs can reach $10,000 or more.
English (US) ·