photo by Matt Nemeth
Junior animation major Katie Fahringer works on a project in West Penn’s animation lab. Fahringer has been a member of Anime Club since her freshman year and credits Japanese animation to having a significant influence on her work. 

Point Park students Leanna Brooks and Nick Vercilla are fundamental members of the campus Anime Club as the president and secretary. The group is dedicated to students with a passion for Japanese animated shows, movies and culture. 

“I guess you could kind of call it a second family, because a lot of us are really tight-knit,” Brooks said in an interview last week in Boulevard Apartments. 

The group’s Facebook page has more than 100 followers, although its weekly meetings usually have a much smaller crowd. According to Brooks, attendance for these meetings, which include episode screenings of different anime, often ranges between 10 and 20 people.

In addition to their regular screenings, Anime Club also organizes special events. Every year, members eat at a Pittsburgh-area Japanese restaurant. They also hold an on-campus marathon of films by Hayao Miyazaki, one of Japan’s most celebrated anime creators. In the past, members have also participated at “Tekko,” Pittsburgh’s annual convention for Japanese pop culture.

Junior Katie Fahringer is also an avid fan of anime, and like Brooks and Vercilla, she became a strong member of the club early on in her academic career. 

Unfortunately, Fahringer is no longer able to participate as often as she used to. But while other members are watching anime, Fahringer is creating animated work of her own. 

Fahringer is one of a small group of students in Point Park’s growing animation program. 

“My art definitely has its anime influences,” Fahringer said last week in the West Penn Hall Animation Lab. 

She describes similarities in the style of character proportions and striking eyes that anime is known for. Fahringer enjoys the work of American animated shows as well, but says they typically aren’t as serious as some anime. She is interested in creating work that explores animation’s ability to convey strong emotions — something more commonly found in Japanese works. 

One of her favorite aspects of Anime Club is that it provides an opportunity to watch a variety of shows and movies in the company of other people. Fahringer especially enjoys seeing her friends’ reactions. 

“We try to keep it quiet during the anime, but there are just moments when everyone gasps,” Fahringer said.

This semester, the group has faced some complications. A class was scheduled in the Anime Club’s room during their regular meeting time, and they were relocated to West Penn Hall. 

Brooks and Vercilla both preferred their old venue in University Center 212, and Vercilla pointed out the real perk was that the building was open until 12 a.m., leaving ample time for the group to watch episodes from several different shows and socialize with each other. 

Before the relocation, Brooks started meetings with club announcements. Members had time to get food or talk before the show started, but now there is not enough time. 

“We literally have to start the meeting and then start the anime,” Vercilla said.

Sophomore screenwriting major Alexandra Youssef, who was recently elected as the group’s Fall 2016 president, has been a member of Anime Club for two years. Youssef has vowed to try to expand club meetings. 

“I want to incorporate just more talking about anime,” Youssef said last Tuesday in Lawrence Hall Lobby, expressing the importance of member interaction. 

Youssef believes more social time will bring old and new members closer together, and proudly mentioned how alumni still show up. 

“It just goes to show how much people really like the club and how many friendships form there,” Youssef said. 

One of those alumni+ is Katie Castelli, a Point Park 2015 graduate. After discovering that there had previously been no dedicated anime group on campus, Castelli founded the club with another student early during her freshman year.  

Anime Club’s first year of operation was not without its difficulties. According to Castelli, the most challenging aspect was finding new members. Because the club was based on an interest, potential members couldn’t be found easily through major-related classes like other organizations that are tied to various school programs. 

Instead, she and other members had to rely on a combination of campus advertisements and word-of-mouth. 

“There were days where I would wear an anime t-shirt and someone would be like, ‘Man, I really like your shirt,’ and I’d be like, ‘Wait, hold on. Let’s talk a little bit,’” Castelli said last Thursday in West Penn Hall. 

Since those earlier days, it has become easier to sustain the number of members. Castelli points out how all the officers are elected for the upcoming year and that current members often spread word to their friends. 

“Part of it is just putting yourself out there,” Castelli said. 

With the end of Brook’s term on the horizon, she has begun planning to hand over leadership to younger members. Brooks says the experience has left her with a greater level of self-confidence and a group of very close friends. 

“Don’t be afraid of what you like, because you know you can find some amazing people,” Brooks said.