As we get older, we've all learned that it's natural to let go of certain things. As you mature, you talk differently, think differently and act differently. It's just the way things are.

But there are those who find it hard to let go of certain things of their past, and decide to hold onto them for a little while longer. And there's one group on campus that wants you to know that that's okay.

The Anime Club at Fanshawe College is the outlet that fans turn to express their love for the ever-popular Japanese culture.

Since the club's launch during the 2007/08 school year, it's seen steady membership and now hovers between 40 and 60 members.

You may be asking yourself, out of all the clubs that you can create through the Fanshawe Student Union (and you can create any club you want for free through the FSU), why would anyone start an anime club? Luke Richard is the former president of the club and the predecessor to the current Prez, Graham Mennie. He said it was a no-brainer. “I helped create the club in order to help people who would usually feel that society thought their interests were ‘odd.' Many anime fans are also interested in video games, manga and some trading card games, so I wanted the club to be able to bring all those people together in a place where they can feel safe about their interests, and to just have fun.”

It's hard to mimic a foreign culture thousands of miles away from its origin, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. Richard added that the club tries hard to be a hub of anime here at Fanshawe. “We are a club of people who simply love anime. We watch anime, discuss anime and manga, and delve into many Japanese cultures,” he explained. “We like to play video games and the occasional trading card game as well. We also like to plan trips to anime conventions, such as Anime North in Toronto in May.”

Now, we wouldn't include an article about anime in our Geek Pride issue for no reason. The meaning of the word geek is what it is because of its association to what many consider “odd”, or non-mainstream things. There is a little bit of geek in all of us, and that's okay. But Richard said there's still a negative perception that people have toward adult anime fans. “I think that there is a stigma with society in our culture that believes that anime is ‘just a cartoon,' and cartoons are for kids, so people our age shouldn't be watching them,” he said. “I am comfortable with who I am about it, so I just be myself, or just keep quiet about it. I won't go around shouting, ‘I love anime!', but if it came up in conversation, I would certainly tell the truth.”

So what's so special about anime? We've all seen it — whether it was Sailor Moon, Pokémon or Dragon Ball Z, if you were a typical TV-watching kid, you've seen an episode or two.

Richard explained why there are still a few adults who, like him, still watch anime. “I think that anime allows you to think outside the box, with what they can create to have in an anime. It is very easy to have, say, an anime about space with giant monsters, while humanity fights for survival in the stars,” he said. “I know there are other things that do that exact same thing, but anime just has a certain grip to it that fans just keep coming back for. There are also a lot of cultural references that are different from ours, which makes things interesting, on top of everything else. Anime just has that fun-loving feel to it ... It has an extra flavour to it.”

There's a little bit of geek in all of us. For some, it's Harry Potter, for others, it's fantasy sports, and for a surprising many here at Fanshawe College, it's anime. If you're an anime enthusiast and inclined to share your knowledge with others of the same interest, consider joining the Anime Club. The group meets once a week, and it's free to join.

If you have any questions, email fanshaweanimeclub@gmail.com.