The worldwide appeal of anime has reached PNW with the launch of a new PNW Anime Club.
Salvador Cordova, assistant director for Student Life at Purdue University Northwest, serves as the club’s advisor. Cordova, who got involved out of his own love for anime, hopes to build a sense of community and belonging among students who share this interest.
Anime is a unique style of animation that originated in Japan. It has grown in popularity beyond Japan. Netflix reports that more than 100 million households around the world watched at least one anime title in 2020 alone. Globally, billions have seen anime.
Cordova said the club organizes get-togethers and events where members can bond over their shared love for anime.
“By taking a look at some of the most popular anime out there that have those themes of friendship and hard work, we see those themes line up with the things that we do in our daily lives, especially at an educational institution,” he said. “[By] watching anime and talking with other people who watch … similar shows, you kind of organically see that community come together.”
During club meetings, members typically gather to enjoy pizza, engage in discussions about the genre and watch shows together. Activities largely depend on student involvement.
“The club actually … doesn’t have officers that can really dedicate the time to … doing club activities,” said Cordova. “I can tell you about all the things that students have approached me about wanting to do, but that really has to come from the students.”
Newcomers to the Anime Club can expect to explore positive messaging and life lessons embedded within anime narratives. Cordova believes that even those unfamiliar with the genre can benefit from the club’s inclusive atmosphere.
“I think there’s a lot of lessons and good positive messaging that can really come out of anime about the importance of sometimes taking a step back and asking yourself what are the things that are really important in your life,” he said.
For students interested in joining the Anime Club, information and updates are available on MyPNW Life. Cordova hopes to hold an officer callout soon to recruit dedicated members who can contribute to the club’s activities and initiatives.
