The Anime Club gives students an opportunity to watch, learn and discover anime every Thursday from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Anime Club.
If you know someone who loves anime, then there is a place for them on Florida A&M University’s campus to fellowship. The Anime Club allows students to come together and share their interests in anime.
Anime is hand-drawn, and computer animation originating from or associated with Japan. The word anime is the Japanese term for animation, which means all forms of animated media.
President of the club, Taijah Jules, said she joined the club to share who love of the genre.
“I love anime and I wanted to meet people who like anime as well,” Jules explained. “My plans as president are to bring awareness to the anime club and get club T-shirts.”
Jules also added that her role as President of the anime club is to oversee meetings, and plan events with the other e-board members
Japanese animation began in the early 20th century, when Japanese filmmakers experimented with the animation techniques also pioneered in France, Germany, the United States and Russia. A claim for the earliest Japanese animation is Katsudō Shashin, an undated and private work by an unknown creator.
Anime differs greatly from other forms of animation by its diverse art styles, methods of animation, its production, and its process. Visually, anime is a diverse art form that contains a variety of art styles, differing from one creator, artist, and studio.
While no one art style predominates anime, they do share some similar attributes in terms of animation technique and character design.
Anime club member and computer science major Freddie Triplett said that one of his favorite aspects of the club are being around like-minded people who can suggest new anime to watch.
“After joining in my freshman year of college, I really enjoyed the people I met and the meeting and events we had thus far,” Triplett explained. “What I enjoy most about the club is the banter we have about the shows we all watch.”
Some of the most popular anime shows in the U.S. are “Dragon Ball Z”, “Cowboy Bebop”, “Naruto” and “Fairy Tale”. According to a 2017 annual report from The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), the anime industry is worth $17.7 billion.
School of Business and & Industry major Clarissa Mack noted the enjoyment members have discussing anime.
“I love the anime club, it’s so many people that are just like you, and we all have fun interacting and sharing anime memes,” Mack explained.
The anime club has a bright future. According to Jules the club plans on participating in an anime event on Florida State University’s campus called “Freecon”.
Freecon is an anime convention held in the Oglesby Union that features enthusiasts of anime, gaming, comics, music and animation television. Known as one of the largest non-sporting events on campus, the event usually attracts an average of 2,500 people.
Students are welcomed to attend meetings the anime club holds every Thursday from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the Efferson Student Union.