The UNM Anime Club attracts those of a “nerdy bend.”
It provides an avenue for nerdy students to come together in a relaxed social situation, and discuss and watch anime. Michael Dunnigan founded the club in fall 2005, after a falling out with his roommate that took his friend’s support with him. He said he wanted to create a destination for others who shared his growing interest in anime.
“I envisioned it being a place for like-minded individuals to get together and get to know one another so we could experience different shows and have something in common to talk about,” he said. “I think a lot of them got what I envisioned out of it.”
Dunnigan said advertising a viewing of “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children,” in 2005 bred interest in the club, and people continued to go because, at the time, anime was hard to come by.
“I had a lot of people that were gung-ho to see the club succeed,” he said.
The club meets most Saturdays at the SUB from 4-8 p.m. and is open to everyone, not just students. Every week the club shows an anime in one room and plays games, primarily Japanese games, in an adjacent room.
Former President Justin Brough said anime is more available now, but the club retained its 63 members who come for the social atmosphere.
“Now, anime clubs are much more about the social experience, and I think the reason this one does so well is because we really get people involved with experiencing the anime together,” he said.
Current President Devon Stevens said the anime community includes individuals who are socially awkward, but the club eases their social tensions with a common interest.
“What we’d like to do is foster an environment that’s nonjudgmental, that accepts pretty much anyone that’s of a nerdy bend,” he said. “We like to think that by being more of a community we can sort of help people become more social over time. I think anime club is very good at doing that.”
In addition to viewing anime, the club has activities like anime Jeopardy and themed meetings, like last week’s nostalgia day where the organization showed old-school anime. The club shows anime from all genres including drama, fantasy, high school romance or action.
Brough said anime is appealing because the subject matter is not usually found in Western animation, because it’s geared toward younger audiences.
“The Japanese have strange stories to tell, and they’re quite innovative in making up story lines for their anime,” he said. “They can do whatever they want with the story. Some of them are a little too strange.”
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At the end of every semester, the club tries to attend an anime convention, usually AnimeCon or Anime Los Angeles.
Brough said the trips exposed club members to thousands of individuals in the larger anime community.
“We really got to know each other better,” he said. “When we go to the conventions, a lot of people dress up as the characters, and that’s the calling card to get to know other people in the community.”
Stevens said the Albuquerque anime community is on the verge of soaring in popularity, and he would like the anime club to shed more positive light on the budding community.
“There’s an old perception — and it’s not as common now — but the idea that people who are into anime are shut-ins or absolute geeks, people you don’t want to associate,” he said. “It’s not very accurate overall, and every time you can bust a stereotype, I think that’s a good project to pursue.”
