Animation students find a place to belong

By Janice Theissen

thie0017@algonquincollege.com

Like many students newly immersed in the college setting, Yu-Wei Koo wanted somewhere to belong. Instead of catching up to other cliques on campus, he decided to start his own with the Anime club.

The computer sciences students was introduced to the world of anime through his cousin.

“I wanted to have something to do other than school. It’s great for socializing,” he said.

His favourite part of anime shows are the story lines, science- fiction and fantasy are his favourite genres.

“Most of the fantasy in the story lines requires the use of imagination and all of it is impossible in reality. It lets you imagine a completely different world.”

There are about five regulars. No one is under any obligation to come, but the club is always looking for more members.

A typical meeting features episodes or a movie of any anime genre.

 “We all make comments as the shows go on. It’s very different compared to watching passively at home. A group atmosphere makes it more exciting,” said Koo.

 There isn’t really lot of attention placed on the club through the SA. He wants to develop more events and activities.

“It’s more of a social atmosphere than watching it by yourself and that’s the point of the club,” he said.

Koo is not the only one who thinks the club enhances the anime experience.

Matthew Gaetano has been interested in anime for seven years and said there’s nothing like the club anywhere else.  

"I’ve been to many colleges before and in high school; they didn’t have anything like this,” said Gaetano.

Gaetano, in computer systems technology, is a timid person but said the club boosts his confidence.

“During high school I played Magic [card game] and avoided the gym. I didn’t like how the school supported sports above everything else,” he said. “ This is the first time I’ve had a chance to meet other people, to be artistic, to be in a group.”

The story lines can travel through videogames back to television series to movies and back to video games making them extremely complicated to follow, according to Gaetano.

He said he likes to discuss theories behind the art work, style, why the author or writer did certain things and the differences between works, especially at the meetings.

The group setting is at very inclusive place.

“It’s at your own pace and at another’s pace. It takes time to open up and this [club] brings out ideas and questions about anime we all have,” he said. “You really have to experience a variety of genres, styles and story lines to really be able to tell if you like it. If you have nothing better to do on a Wednesday night I’d suggest you come out.”

Another advocate of the anime club is Kyle Hummerston, who used to watch anime as a child on the popular kids channel YTV.

“Anime is different than anything else on TV. I pretty much like them all,” said Hummerston.

Hummerston who’s in business administration as well also feels the club helps him with his confidence.

“I get to meet more people who are interested in anime. I’m pretty shy so it helps me meet people with the same interests, he said.

 His favourite characters are ones that are the underdogs.

“I relate to the suffering-hero character because usually they’re the ones that work the hardest. They’re not given all the power once they start out and work the best they can with what they’ve got,” said Hummerston.

A lot of the anime series are built around friendship, teamwork and tenacity, and “it kind of rubs off onto the group,” he said.

The anime club offers a forum -type setting where people can chat and discuss the anime films.

 “There’s a lot more input and you find out a lot more that you’d pick up on your own. It’s easier to get a grip on what’s going on. Fourteen heads are better than one,” he said.