Is it your dream to host an anime themed party that all of your friends will remember for years to come?

Anime is such a huge phenomenon in the world, with fans of all ages and ethnicities around the world. Whether you’re new to the anime world or a long-time fan, why not throw a party to celebrate your excitement for the genre?

It might seem overwhelming at first, especially if you’re new to being a party host. With this guide to help you, you’ll have everything you need to set up and execute the perfect anime party. Keep reading to get started!

Start With a Theme

The first thing that you’ll need to decide before starting anything else is the theme of your anime party. This decision colors all of the other choices you’ll make throughout this guide, so take some time to figure out which theme is the best for you.

For example, you could go for a generalized anime theme, with a focus on the genre as a whole. You could focus on the most popular anime around, picking out favorite moments and characters from those specific anime series.

These two themes work great when you are wanting to include as many friends as possible or are trying to get your friends into anime.

Another common route is to pick a single anime as your theme. This gives a focused theme that makes it easy to base your other party choices around. It’s the perfect choice if you’ve got a group of friends who all love the same anime series.

If you’re stuck with picking a good theme, ask your intended party guests! They’re sure to give you their opinion and they’ll feel more invested in the party because they’ve helped with the planning.

Dress Code

The next choice to make for your party is to pick out the dress code. Going with a casual dress code is always an easy choice, but if you want to amp up the anime theme, then why not ask people to dress up as their favorite anime characters?

Many people spend months on their cosplay costumes, but your guests don’t need to do anything as detailed. Sometimes it’s a lot of fun to try and come up with a cohesive cosplay design using only the items you have in your house. This way, no one feels pressured to come up with a perfect costume.

Another way to make it easy on your guests is to ask them to come up with a casual outfit based on the style of their favorite character. This gives everyone the freedom to use only the clothes they own without trying to make anything fancy. Plus, they get to delve into the mind of their favorite character and figure out what kind of casual clothes that character would wear to a party.

Otherwise, you could have everyone wear their anime themed clothing. If none of your friends have anything like that, direct them to your favorite Anime Store to find something exciting to wear.

It’s a fun way to add an extra element to your event!

Send Invitations

Now that you’ve got both the theme and the dress code figured out, it’s time to pick out the date and hour of the party. This is the last puzzle piece missing before you’re able to start sending out invitations to your guests. Make sure to pick a date that’s far away enough that you have plenty of time to get ready.

Find a suitable invitation design that fits your theme so that your guests get a taste for what’s in store. If you’re unable to find anything that works, print out your own design to make it a truly unique invitation.

Don’t forget to include the theme and the dress code on your invitations so that your guests have time to get prepared!

Selecting Music

Your music choices will stem from the theme you chose. If you went for a more generalized theme, then any of the most popular anime theme songs and character songs are great choices for your party. If you chose a specific anime as your theme, it’s best to stick to songs from that series.

Don’t be afraid to mix up the anime songs with some regular music as well. It all depends on the ambiance you want your party to have throughout the night. Sometimes guests appreciate an extra bit of variety in their music.

If you feel like you’ve run out of songs to play, take a look at background songs from anime as well. These vocal-less songs work great to play in the background when you’re starting up some party activities!

Food and Treats

No party is complete without some food and treats for your guests to enjoy. It’s good to have some typical party food such as pizza and chips, but why not add some Japanese items to your menu? It makes the entire night more interesting and exciting.

Most people who enjoy anime also enjoy the Japanese culture and this could be a great way for them to experience a connection to that culture. It brings your party to a whole new level when you offer your guests authentic treats to enjoy.

Some great Japanese food items for a party include:

• Sushi
• Tempura
• Gyoza
• Nabe
• Karaage
• Individual bento boxes
• Sashimi
• Pocky
• Edamame
• Mochi
• Japanese cheesecake

Make sure to always ask your guests if they have any allergies so that you can prepare ahead of time to give those guests alternatives.

Beverages

Your party snack table isn’t complete without beverages with which to wash it all down. Selecting between different delicious Japanese drinks will make your party feel even more authentic.

Boba tea, for instance, is a popular drink that most people fall in love with once they try it. It’s creamy and sweet, with fun bubbles of tapioca sitting at the bottom for an aesthetic design. If your guests aren’t used to Japanese cuisine, try starting them off with something like this.

Matcha is always a classic and will bring a nice bit of warmth to your party.

If you’re having an all-adult party, bring in sake and plum wine. Put together some cocktails that work well for your theme, such as character-inspired ones.

Don’t forget to offer less exciting options for guests who don’t feel like being adventurous. Water, soda, and juice should be available for times when a guest wants a drink that is more typical for a party.

Have fun putting together your snacks and drinks table and all of your choices will be an instant hit!

Decorations

Finding the best decorations is all about personal preference, but don’t ignore your chosen theme. Putting up decorations that match your theme makes it easier to put together a cohesive design.

Turn your home into an anime extravaganza that transports your guests into their favorite stories.

Put up posters with characters and backgrounds from beautiful anime scenes. Make placement cards and mats at the dinner table with a picture of that guest’s favorite character. String streamers throughout the house in colors that match well with your theme.

It’s even possible to find balloons that depict popular anime characters and themes. They’re a perfect match for a generalized anime themed party!

If you’re lacking certain aspects of your decorations, don’t be afraid to dip into Japanese-styled decorations. For example, paper lanterns are an ambient way to provide light while still giving a Japanese flair.

Activities

Now that you have all of the visual parts of your party planned, the next step is to figure out what everyone will do during the party. No one wants their guests to get bored during the party, so having a few activities prepared is a great way to combat this problem.

Activities aren’t always a necessity but they do bring a sense of focus and entertainment that can’t be beaten!

Watching Anime

Watching anime is a fun activity on its own, but watching anime with friends is even better. It’s a good idea to get episodes that match your theme but don’t forget to get a couple of backups in case your guests want to watch something new.

This is the best way to get anime newbies into the genre, so make sure to put on your favorite scenes to share with them!

Talking about the episodes you watch is a fun exercise to keep everyone engaged in the material. These conversations also spark interesting discussions that keep everyone entertained and strengthens bonds!

Cosplay Contest

If you’ve chosen to ask your guests to dress up, why not put all that effort to good use with a costume contest? This lets your guests show off their hard work and their creative solutions to the cosplay design.

Put together a small prize for the winner so that there’s an incentive for your guests to do their best.

To keep the contest light-hearted, you could also come up with awards for silly things. For example, an award for the person who used the most colors, or the person who had the most creative footwear.

Make sure to keep the voting anonymous so that there are no hard feelings at the end of the contest.

Karaoke

Karaoke is a fun activity that gets your guests moving and interacting with each other. It’s a great way to add some Japanese flair to your anime party.

If possible, add some anime songs for your guests to sing. They get to choose if they want to try to sing an original Japanese song or not, but always provide some subtitles regardless of which language they choose to sing!

Don’t forget to add some regular songs to the list in case someone doesn’t feel like singing something out of their comfort zone. This way, all of your guests have a chance to participate.

Arts and Crafts

While not a traditional party activity, art is such a big part of anime that it works well for an anime themed party.

Gather up some paper and drawing tools and ask everyone to draw their favorite characters. Make it into a game and ask them to draw different characters without looking up a reference and see who gets the closest.

Another way to bring a spark of creativity to your party is to include crafts. Origami, for example, is a beautiful Japanese craft that is fun to do with friends.

Video Games

Many popular anime shows have made video games which are the perfect way to add some excitement to your party. Create small competitions or mini-tournaments to see who comes out on top.

The only problem with video games is the fact that only a certain amount of people can play at one time.

Take a look for board games or card games that work with your theme as well. These types of games allow more people to play at one time and doesn’t leave anyone feeling ignored.

End With Party Favors

The best way to make certain your party is memorable is to gift your guests with party favors before they leave. These favors don’t need to be anything extravagant, but a small trinket or two goes a long way to make a lasting impression. A small figurine of their favorite character is a common choice.

Plus, it gives them something to add to their collections at home which is sure to make them happy!

Throw the Best Anime Themed Party for You and Your Friends

Once everything is all set, you’ve got nothing to worry about for the rest of your party. With this guide to help, everything is laid out in a way that doesn’t leave anything up to chance. All that’s left is for you to enjoy the party to the fullest with your friends!

The best part about this guide is that it’s easy to customize and add new elements for your next anime themed party. The options are endless, so enjoy brainstorming new ways to throw the best party around!

For even more fun party inspiration, check out the rest of our blog for all the latest ideas and tips!