Anime brings students together to enjoy both new and old Japanese cartoons

Many students who are part of the Northern Iowa Anime Association fondly remember the days when shows like "Pokémon" were popular and use their meeting times to wax nostalgic about the shows that shaped their childhoods.

The Northern Iowa Anime Association is a club on campus where students with an interest in Japanese cartoons, or "anime," come together to watch and talk about their favorite anime shows.

Sarah Pearce, a senior chemistry and physics double major, explains how she became interested in anime.  

"I started watching (anime) on Toonami on TV in middle school," said Pearce. "I then got more into it in high school and when I came here, I knew there was an anime club so I decided to come."

Chance Frerichs, senior communication major and president of the club, says he became interested in anime by "watching ‘Pokémon' and ‘Digimon' and stuff."

Frerichs became president in June last year after the former president stepped down.  Since Frerichs took over as president, he says he has seen a growth in the number of people attending meetings.

"Usually around 25 to 30 people show up on a regular basis now," he said.

During its meetings, the club watches various anime shows on a projector screen. Every meeting has a theme associated with it which corresponds to the anime shows the club members decide to watch. After watching the theme-based anime, they switch to an anime series they watch every meeting.

Sarah Pearce also encouraged students to check out the club, saying, "There are all different kinds of anime for all different sorts of tastes. Whatever you want to watch, you can find in anime. It's interesting for everyone."

Meetings for the Northern Iowa Anime Association are on Saturdays at 4 p.m. in Seerley room 115. To find out more about the club, search them on Facebook.