OMAKASE (Viewster)

Moved.The old site now redirects to midnightpulp.com. Viewster shut down its OMAKASE anime box and streaming bundle in spring 2016; the last box shipped in March 2016.

What's in the box: When it operated, each box held a surprise selection of anime and Japanese pop culture merchandise, bundled with access to Viewster's streaming service.

OMAKASE is no longer operating: Viewster ended its anime box and streaming bundle in spring 2016, and the last box shipped in March 2016. The old viewster.com address now redirects to Midnight Pulp, a separate Cineverse streaming site focused on cult, horror, martial arts and other genre films. Midnight Pulp does not offer an anime subscription box or anything that continues OMAKASE. When it ran, OMAKASE was a monthly mystery box for anime and Japanese pop culture fans in the US. The name comes from the Japanese phrase for leaving the choice to the chef, and the box worked the same way: subscribers got an assortment of anime merchandise picked for them, bundled with access to Viewster's streaming service. The draw was the surprise and the pairing of physical goods with online viewing. The service closed years ago, so there is nothing to sign up for. Treat any page or seller claiming to offer new OMAKASE boxes with caution. If you want something similar, look at anime boxes that are active now and check that they have shipped recently before you subscribe. Collectors may still find past OMAKASE items on resale markets, but what is available and its condition will vary.