ANIME CLUB’S VILLAIN NIGHT: FINAL SCREENING SHOWDOWN

Mhlengi Khumalo

@into.mbiyakwakhumalo

 

The North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus Anime Club wrapped up the year with an unforgettable event, Anime Villain’s Night, held on Friday, 17 October, behind the F2 courtyard. The theme of the night was “Sometimes it’s good being bad,” and it brought together die-hard anime fans for a screening, cosplay contest, laughter, and debates that had everyone shouting.

 

The evening began with a few technical issues that briefly delayed the screening, but the executive team quickly turned things around. Popcorn prices were lowered from R20 to R10, and those who had already paid before the event were given two packets of popcorn. This set a cheerful tone for the rest of the night.

 

Conversations spiraled into passionate discussions about Black Clover, Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer, and Death Note. The audience also debated which villain had a reasonable “crash out.” Akaza from Demon Slayer won by a landslide, mainly because of his backstory revealed in the 2025 Demon Slayer movie and the little Easter eggs hidden throughout the film.

 

The audience voted on what to watch via Google Forms, choosing between Overlord (episodes 1–3), Uzumaki (episodes 1–4), and Death Parade (episodes 1–3). After an enthusiastic response, Death Parade emerged victorious and played to a thrilled crowd.

 

According to Crunchyroll, the synopsis of Death Parade reads:

“There is a place after death that’s neither heaven nor hell — a bar that serves you one chance to win. You cannot leave until the game is over, and when it is, your life may be too.”

 

Five contestants entered the cosplay competition, each bringing their own flair to the stage:

 

• Simphiwe Mandoda Selemi cosplayed Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen and won first place, as well as the “Attention to Detail” category.

 

• Onthatile Rapoo cosplayed Misa Amane from Death Note and impressed the crowd with her witty wordplay about how dark it was without Light (the main character from Death Note). She won second place and the “Creativity” category.

 

• Reece Gorrah’s Itachi from Naruto secured him third place.

 

• Lebohang Nombewu’s Shino (also from Naruto) and Lesedi Bowen’s Muzan Kibutsuji from Demon Slayer wowed the judges. Lesedi took home the “Presentation” category with his sleek Michael Jackson moonwalk.

 

All the winners received certificates, and the first-place champion also walked away with an Itadori poster. But the night didn’t end there — the Villain Debate had everyone fired up as attendees were grouped into teams of two or three to argue their sides.

 

The first debate was whether Eren Yeager was a hero or a villain. One attendee in the crowd kept shouting that “80% wasn’t enough,” which had everyone laughing. Although the team defending the “hero” side had convincing points, the “villain” team ultimately won over the audience.

 

Other heated arguments followed when the question was asked: Is One Piece overrated? Unfortunately for all One Piece fans, the verdict was yes. The team arguing that One Piece is overrated even went as far as calling it “Mid Piece.” Ouch — that’s a wound One Piece fans will be licking for a while.

 

The final debate tackled whether Boruto is a good show. Team “No” won by a landslide. While Team “Yes” presented a solid argument, Team “No” highlighted several issues in the anime, claiming it cast too many shades on the parent show, Naruto.

 

Between laughter, anime references, and friendly rivalry, the night embodied what the NWU Anime Club stands for — connection through creativity.

 

Final-year BEd student Angelique van Rooyen shared, “I loved the energy and the community. I met amazing people and laughed so much during the debates.” Onthatile Rapoo added, “The debates were so engaging — the mood was electric, and everyone enjoyed participating.”

 

To close the night, the club shared a touching video compilation titled Memories, celebrating the highlights and growth of the Anime Club during 2025.

 

The new 2025/2026 Anime Club Secretary, Razia Nakedi, reflected:

“Friday’s event was really special for us because it marked both our final anime screening for the year and a heartfelt farewell to our former chairperson as her term came to an end. It was a chance to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together this year, to appreciate her contributions to the club, and to thank all our members for playing a part in the club’s success. Even though it marked the end of a beautiful year, this was our first anime screening without our guardian, Mr Héniel Fourie — but we’re thankful for his guidance, and we take this as a step towards greater things.”

 

When asked about future events, Nakedi replied, “We definitely plan to keep hosting anime screenings and similar gatherings regularly next year, along with many new events, as they’ve become a big part of what brings our community together.”

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt