Appreciate Japanese culture – join the fan club

The room vibrates with the sound of anime music. As the clock ticks by, students wait, snacks and drinks in hand. Students usually gather in E8-G42 for lectures, but on 31 March 2025, fandom became friendship in this space, the world of anime came, offering an escape from the stress of studies and academics.

It was the last get-together of the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom

campus Anime Club, before the start of assessment week. The idea for an anime club originated in 2023 on the NWU Vanderbijlpark campus (VC). In 2024, IT student Kondwani Chindongo founded the Potchefstroom campus’ (PC) Anime Club, intending to foster a greater appreciation for Japanese culture. He took to social media to spread the word about the club and called for volunteers to form an executive team. The community grew quickly from there, with 480 members joining the WhatsApp group.

The PC club now has 431 official members, and the VC club, 286. Both clubs are on the list of officially affiliated student societies at the NWU, Ramavhona said. According to Thandazile Dladla, the project manager, the student campus council “was very supportive and active in the creation of the club and in getting it affiliated”.

Community in one place

The club regularly screens popular anime series and movies and facilitates lively discussions and debates after the screening, Dladla said. Students vote on what to watch each week on a dedicated WhatsApp group.

Dladla said that Anime fans come from all walks of life. “Anime lovers are not just men and weird, isolated people; people of different personalities love anime,” she said. “It’s an entire community in one place.” Ramavhona agreed, adding that the club provides a much-needed break for students. “We disconnect from academic pressure. This gives students time to relax and come together to discuss things they love.”

Dladla said, “Anime is a form of escaping stress,” referring to the powerful, uplifting themes of series such as Demon Slayer. “It’s about people rising above their circumstances and problems, and always coming out stronger in the end.”

The Anime Club also acts as a safe space for students in a world where not everyone understands or appreciates the genre. “Anime is not liked by a lot of people, so the club provides a place where people can openly discuss it,” Dladla said. “It’s a very fun and warm place to be. “The Anime Club is a place for making friends.”

Anime touches fans emotionally, tackling serious topics like bullying and overcoming adversity that resonate deeply with many members.

From medium to genre

Herrie Scholtz (who drew the sketch on this page), an anime fan and club member who just got his master’s degree in graphic design, said his first experience and love for anime began with SABC 2. They did not have DStv, and he had nothing else to watch after school (and sometimes even before).

He said anime has been around since the 20^th Century, when Disney released the original version of the film Snow White. Animation became a trend, and that is when anime was created. “Anime was seen as just a medium at the time; it was for experimenting. [But] anime’s success was because of the specific stories and characters; they were introduced to the world and stood the test of time.

“The more popular term is ‘manga’, the Japanese word for animation. Anime is French for animation, another fun fact. Anime is animation. The story of anime alone will capture the heart of any stranger and the characters in the stories; the writing [script] alone is complex and something to think about.”

Scholtz said many people used the anime technique and stories in their ideas. “The talent [in the industry], what they can do with pen and paper, will inspire.”

He added that there is a culture gap, and you must be aware that you are in another world, and you must be more open-minded.

• The Anime Club is open to everyone, whether seasoned anime enthusiasts or newcomers eager to explore the medium. Those interested in joining the group can click the link to the WhatsApp group. The club’s next screening date will be announced at the end of the assessment week and recess..