About Akibento
From Naruto to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Akibento curates some of the best anime merch for hardcore otakus. This subscription program delivers a monthly shipment of fan gear from the hottest shows—including t-shirts, figurines, and mugs.
With an Instagram following of over 88.5k, it’s widely apparent that Akibento is a favorite among many anime devotees. On top of that, they’re also affiliated with many influencers, such as The Anime Man, Akidearest, and Jessica Nigri.
Is this a muda muda marvelous way to collect fan merch? Or is it not worth the hype, like Sword Art Online season two? There’s only one way to find out.
Keep reading, as this Akibento box review takes an in-depth look at the brand, its products, customer ratings, promotions and more, to help you decide if they’re worth checking out.
Overview of Akibento
Much like L from Death Note and Mei Misaki from Another, not much is known of the story behind Akibento. While there’s no mention of an owner, founding date, or base of headquarters, we do know that the name is inspired by Tokyo’s electric town, Akihabara.
Famously known as anime central in Japan, this lively district is home to many collectible shops and otaku-themed cafes.
Over the years, Akibento has made a few public appearances here and there. For instance, they attended Anime Expo in Los Angeles in 2019. They also have a mascot named Akai, who reportedly loves dogs, ramen, and kendo.
In an inspiring quote left by the brand, Akibento states that they hope to bring smiles and parcels of joy to all anime fans alike: “Our mission is to bring smiles to the curious, to the epic, and to all the magnificent anime enthusiasts of our time by delivering value and creativity.”
Before we get into this Akibento box review, let’s go over some initial pros and cons:
Pros
- A monthly delivery of exciting anime merch
- More cost-effective than buying products individually
- Also provides a Snack Box that customers can opt for
- Free shipping on all plans
- International delivery (select countries)
Cons
- Limited information as to how the subscription plan works
- Limited customer reviews
How Does Akibento Work?
Let’s be honest. We’re usually Serena Tsukino at the start of season one. Troubled with bad grades and heartbreaks, she was an avid believer of retail therapy.
I’m pretty sure that Sailor Moon would’ve loved a monthly shipment of Akibento goodies. You know, as a way to cope with her hate and love relationship with Tuxedo Mask.
By signing up for a Akibento subscription plan, otakus receive a monthly delivery of fan merch from their favorite shows. From Levi plushies from Attack on Titan to the Yuri On Ice!!! Funko Pop figurine, customers don’t have to search far to get the latest collectibles.
Currently, the brand offers 3 different memberships, which vary in term duration and added bonuses. It’s worth noting that members cannot customize their own bundles, as each monthly Akibento mystery box contains a pre-selected collection of fan merch.
All crates showcase a certain theme, which can vary from universe, squad, and villain (collections that were offered in the past). With that being said, customers are invited to visit their online store, where they can buy products without the need for an account.
Akibento also has a snack subscription plan. We aren’t sure if it is still available to order, as there’s not much information posted on their website. As always, customers are encouraged to give the FAQ page a read or contact the brand for any additional information.
Moving forward, this Akibento box review will outline the details for all of their memberships down below.
Akibento 1 Month Plan Review
Acting as an excellent present for your anime-inclined friend, the 1 Month Plan offers a one-time delivery of the Akibento subscription box. This bundle includes an exclusive epic t-shirt and 6 to 8 items that can vary from mugs to figurines. Since all boxes are clouded in mystery, there’s no telling what you’ll get, but we’ll provide a peek into the possibilities:
Kill La Kill Senketsu Scarf
Best paired with Ryuko’s high school uniform, the Kill La Kill Senketsu Scarf can help add that rebellious touch. Fashioned by the leading heroine itself, this mysterious accessory is actually a sentient being.
It’s responsible for delivering that upsurge of superhero abilities to defeat the elite four. And, *ahem* Yes, he’s also the guy to blame for Ryuko’s ‘less conservative’ look.
Designed to be tucked under the collar, the Kill La Kill Senketsu Scarf is on sale for $16 instead of its $20 markup. So, here’s hoping that this will be included in next month’s shipment.
Ryuk Funko Pop Action Figure
Considered the creature of darkness in Death Note, the Ryuk Funko Pop serves as a brief reminder of the horrors of humanity. Despite the terrifying design of the original character, this adorable figurine features a miniaturized version of this hell-quaking demon. He’s also holding an apple in his left claw, as a tribute to the opening credits.
Of course, no Death Note collection is complete without the notebook itself. For a toy that’ll frighten L, the FBI, and the rest of the world, the Ryuk Funko Pop might make an appearance in your next Akibento anime subscription box. For the time being, it’s sold at $123.
Akibento 3 Month Plan Review
Can’t get enough of anime merch? The 3 Month Plan is designed for level 2 otakus. This monthly bundle includes all the collectibles offered in the 1-month program. With items worth over $60, it begs the question, what kind of fan gear can you get? This Akibento box review will highlight a few of their hottest picks that may appear in the next monthly crate.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Rei figurine
Commonly known as the ‘original waifu’ of all anime heroines, the Neon Genesis Rei figurine features the show’s second leading lady. Characterized as mysterious, brooding, and quiet, this Ayanami statue features her bundled up for the winter months. In this version, she’s wearing a navy blue coat, a tiny red skirt, black tights, and matching boots.
This Sega model would look great beside an angel, a constructed EVA, or the comical Shinji mug. Made to be 17 cm tall, the Neon Genesis Evangelion Rei Figurine costs $55 on Akibento’s website.
Attack on Titan Playing Cards
As you wait for the 15-meter giants to crash walls Sheena, Rose, and Maria, the Attack on Titan Playing Cards can help ease a bit of tension before the real fight.
Manufactured by Funimation studios, this set features an intricately designed deck of your favorite characters, such as Levi, Eren Yeager, Mikasa, and Armin.
For a game that involves precision, calculation, and critical thinking, the Attack on Titan Playing Cards cost $8 as a single purchase.
Akibento 6 Month Plan Review
If you live, breathe, and eat anime, the 6 Month Plan is definitely for you. This Akibento box subscription program offers a regular delivery of anime goodies, which include an exclusive t-shirt, 6 to 8 collectibles, and a mini bonus bundle as an added treat.
For those impatient to get their next shipment, we’ll provide a tasting session of what they’ve got in store.
Yuri On Ice!!! Funko Pop
Showcase your love for pork cutlet bowls with the Yuri On Ice!!! Funko Pop. This miniature toy features Yuuri Katsuki, the figure skater olympian in the series. Dressed in his Eros and Agape outfit, this model serves as a vivid reminder of his saucy performance. I’m pretty sure that Victor Nikiforov has this statue situated in his room somewhere.
Unfortunately, this toy is not on sale on the Akibento website. It did make an appearance on the February 2018 box for the theme Passion. Let’s hope that the Yuri On Ice!!! Funko Pop makes another show in a future crate.
Who Is Akibento For?
If you’re a fan of anime and manga, there’s a chance that the Akibento subscription plan may pique your interest. It’s worth noting that their collection only holds merchandise for the most popular shows, such as Attack on Titan or My Hero Academia. More niche programs, such as Black Jack and Overdrive, are less likely to be featured on their website.
Anyone can sign up for Akibento since the anime community holds a diverse range of ages. As an added note, this subscription plan is a great way to buy merchandise if you’re far from model stores or collectible shops.
Comparison: Akibento vs. Loot Anime
Akibento is seen as one of many ‘Jojos’ in the anime subscription box industry. This poses the question: how do they fare up against the competition? In this special segment, we’re comparing them to its other rival company, Loot Crate.
Down below, you’ll find a summary of similarities and differences between these two businesses—which can vary from product variation, cost, and customer perks. Let’s dive in!
Akibento:
- Offers three subscription plans for customers to choose from
- Members get a monthly delivery of fan merch such as mugs, plushies, t-shirts, and collectibles
- Small curation of mainstream anime such as Yuri on Ice!!!
- Limited customer reviews
Loot Crate for the Loot Anime box:
- Offers a wide variety of anime box subscription plans such as Anime Fury, the Crunchyroll crate, and the Junji Ito bundle
- The Loot Anime box includes apparel, collectibles, accessories, and manga
- A more extensive collection of anime titles such as Aggetsuko and Phoenix Wright
- More significant customer response, but mixed reviews
In our opinion, Loot Crate wins this category. It’s hard to look past their larger selection of anime titles and its offered subscription boxes. If Akibento expands their choice of shows, perhaps we would’ve come to another conclusion.
How Much is Akibento?
You don’t need to travel far to find the best anime merch. For the time being, we suggest that you refrain from booking that airplane ticket to Japan. This Akibento box review will provide the pricing details of their subscription plans for readers to compare.
- 1 Month subscription plan: $42 per shipment
- 3 Month subscription plan: $41.50 per shipment
- 6 Month subscription plan: $41 per shipment
Akibento Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Like most obscure anime, there’s not much buzz attributed to Akibento. While there are no reviews posted for its subscription page, we did find comments for its online store. In total, there are over 620 testimonials written for its top-selling products and past anime boxes.
From what we’ve gathered so far, it seems that fans are loving the quality of Akibento merch. This mainly ranges from bundles, apparel to collectibles.
“The button is adorable. The door holder is very cool. Stickers, hat and chains are super cute. This was the very first box and by far the best. I love theme based boxes because it gives me something to look for,” one customer wrote for the Akibento 2019 Silly Box.
The Kill La Kill Senketsu Scarf won the upvote of one particular reviewer, as it proved to be high-quality given its price. “The scarf was nice and thin, not too thick and was easy to work with for my first official cosplay. There was lots of extra fabric to wrap the scarf around and make it look accurate. Overall, a really great product.”
Amazon holds a total of 62 reviews for their anime subscription box. According to the poll, 60% of customers found the bundle well worth the money. This helped bump up the vote to 4/5 stars in the end.
“I loved everything that came in the box. This is an awesome subscription and well worth it if you like anything anime,” one Amazon reviewer wrote.
Independent blogs, such as My Subscription Addiction, also gave their full recommendations to the Akibento subscription box. In terms of the 2018 ‘Academy’ crate, the author seemed to be quite happy with the variety of the collection.
“My favorite thing about this box was all of the licensed merchandise. I do with more of the bigger value items…Getting the items via the box costs an average of $6.59 per product, which is at least less than the online value I found for the Funko Pop figurine,” reads My Subscription Addiction’s review.
Despite the number of glowing testimonials, this Akibento box review uncovered a few complaints online. Some Amazon customers weren’t happy with the selection of their fan merch, as it offered products from shows they’ve never seen before. Others weren’t impressed by the variety of the items included.
“Very disappointed. Only 3 items were from anime and the rest were Akibento merch with their logos. If you want an anime box with actual items, this is not a box for you,” one Amazon user wrote.
To be quite honest, it’s hard to put a final grade for this subscription service due to the lack of veritable reviews online. With that being said, we can confidently say that Akibento is a credible and trustworthy company to sign up for.
Is Akibento Worth It?
Anime is an expensive hobby. From My Hero Academia to Kill la Kill, there’s a good amount of merch attributed to each fandom. For hardcore otakus, it’s easy to spend over $500 expanding their collection.
And if you’re nowhere near Akihabara or a big-name city, it’s quite hard to find affordable collectibles. Fortunately, Akibento serves as a cost-effective way to buy anime-related paraphernalia.
Despite its exciting program, Akibento needs a bit of improvement in terms of its selection. Compared to brands like Loot Crate, their collection is quite limited. But, for those willing to look past this small detail, this Akibento box review generally recommends checking this company out.
Akibento Promotions & Discounts
This Akibento box review found out that customers can use promo code: ANIME to get $3 off their first month. When shopping through their online store, buyers can get $10 off their next order by signing up for the referral program.
So far, we haven’t come across any other promotions or discount codes that customers can use on their website. We suggest keeping an eye on Akibento’s social media for any updates.
Sign Up For Akibento
Looking to get a few Akibento anime loot boxes of your own? We’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to sign up for a subscription plan:
- On the landing page, select your chosen plan
- Input your email and password
- Fill out the checkout boxes to make an account
FAQ
How do I cancel my Akibento subscription?
Fortunately, members can cancel their Akibento subscription at any time. To do this, you must contact the brand’s customer service team to fulfill a request.
What is Akibento’s Shipping Policy?
This Akibento box review is happy to report that they offer free shipping on all of its subscription plans. They’re also available in several countries, such as Canada, the United States, and Sweden.
In terms of wait time, Akibento anime crates are usually delivered between the 15th and 20th of each month. And psst, there’s no need to wait outside your post box, since the brand will issue a tracking number via a confirmation email.
What is Akibento’s Return Policy?
Akibento doesn’t offer many details on its return policy. If your order is damaged or missing, customers can request a refund or replacement within 30 days. For more information on this, we suggest contacting the brand directly.
How to Contact Akibento
For inquiries unrelated to this Akibento box review, you can contact the company through:
- Email: support@akibento.com
- Mailing address:
304 North Townsend St
Unit G
Santa Ana, CA 92703
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