By Emily Domayer–Do you like Sailor Moon? Did you collect Pokemon cards as a kid? If you said “yes,” then Anime Club is for you.
Morningside’s Anime Club meets Sunday afternoons from 1-5 in Room 111 in the library. The group was created last fall by seniors Megan McLaury, Jessica Sievers and Karen Hatlestad.
“They started the group because they liked anime, and there was a need for a ‘nerdy’ organization on campus,” club President Zach Torgerson said. “There are 6 or 7 people who come pretty regularly. Sometimes we have up to 15 people.”
One of the group’s favorite directors is Hayao Miyazaki, whose works include Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. Miyazaki’s works have become so popular that his creations from My Neighbor Totoro have been made into Catbus slippers, and Totoro backpacks, just to name a few.
The Anime Club’s members also enjoy Fullmetal Alchemist, a manga book series that has been turned into films and video games. The series follows the Elric brothers as they seek to use alchemy in their alternative sci-fi universe.
Anime Club is closely connected with Film Club. Karen Johnson is faculty advisor for Film Club and helped Anime Club get started. “Karen has helped a lot. She sends out mass emails to the campus community, and has helped us work with student government, “said Torgerson.
Anime Club Vice President Ashley Linn said, “We’re all very close friends.”
Torgerson added that the group enjoys discussing Japanese culture, and talking about any problems they are going through. “We are protective of each other, and we are like a family. Sometimes we eat together at the cafeteria.”
Students interested in Anime Club can contact Zach Torgerson at zlt001@morningside.edu.
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