At Fauquier High School, the anime club offers students a welcoming place to celebrate a shared love of Japanese animation, comics and culture. Sponsored by the Latin teacher, Kathleen Fowler, the club has been running since 2004 and is now led by senior and club president, Eli Rose. Together, they’ve helped the group have fun with weekly activities that have a mix of creativity, culture and fun.

“We do a variety of things,” Fowler explained. “In the past we’ve done cosplay, showcases, games, debates, watched anime and even created our own plot lines for hypothetical manga and anime.” Other popular activities include “Pitch me an anime,” with members having five minutes to convince the other to watch their favorite series, and manga exchanges, where students trade and discuss Japanese comic books.

The club also ties anime into cultural learning. For holidays such as Valentine’s Day or Children’s Day, members watch anime episodes that highlight Japanese traditions. This gives students a chance to dive deeper into cultural themes while still enjoying the entertainment they love.

For many students the club is seen as more than just a hobby space, “it’s a community.” Fowler said she has seen freshmen walk into their first meeting and immediately feel at home. “The 9th graders this year came and said, ‘My people!’” Fowler expressed. Fowler also states “They’ve been able to find friends and share their love of something that not everybody considers typical for teenagers even though it is.” Anime club can be found after school on Fridays in room 602 and has about 20 members. Meetings are known to be a safe place for students to share their love for anime and students don’t have to attend every week, “anyone is welcome to drop in whenever they can.”

Fowler explains, “The group also has extra excitement with the contest and prizes. In the past years, donations from former members’ families have supplied prizes and sometimes officers will bring in food or small items for winners.” Beyond these activities, Fowler’s goal is to focus on growing the club’s members. “We’re a little small this year compared to years past, so I’d like to get more students interested in coming,” Fowler said.

With the anime club’s variety of games, cultural lessons and shared love, the club continues to thrive as a safe space where students can connect through a love of anime and Japanese culture.