ANIME: A GROWING SOCIAL CULTURE AT NWU

Amilcar Xayiya

@melkardascribe

 

Once viewed as a niche hobby confined to the bedroom screens of anime enthusiasts, anime is evolving into a vibrant social culture at the North West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus.

 

No longer something that students just watch, anime has become a social experience driven by communities like the NWU Potch Anime Club and their consistent events such as screenings, trivia nights and game nights.

 

However, beyond the social aspect, anime’s true impact lies in the powerful and relatable stories at their core. According to NWU Potch Anime Club chairperson Ganeef Lottering, “Anime resonates with its fans because it does not treat its young audience like kids, but rather the genre tends to talk about real issues like grief, depression, being an outsider and chasing impossible dreams.”

 

Adding to this, anime club member and NWU second-year BCom student Collen Maphutse emphasised that anime goes far beyond just entertainment but is rather a lifestyle and culture that brings varied perspectives together. Reflecting on his own experience, Maphutse explained how anime influenced his perspective on everyday life, noting that it has helped him better understand how people from different backgrounds communicate and view the world and that anime can help teach tolerance and open-mindedness. Explaining, he added, “If you find something unappealing, that’s your opinion, but other people live differently, and that’s okay.” In this way anime becomes more than storytelling but also a lens through which students understand diversity and human behaviour.

 

Even though anime themes can be personal, the NWU Potch Anime Club has played a key role in making anime more and more a shared experience, with Lottering stating, “We’re turning anime into something we do together where nobody calls you childish for cosplaying, crying at Demon Slayer or arguing for 2 hours about power scaling.” With the club sharing reactions, inside jokes and collective emotional moments, it creates a sense of belonging that goes beyond the screen and helps students forge real-life social bonds.

 

For those unfamiliar with anime, Lottering suggests starting simple and letting your interests guide you. For example, crime and thriller fans might enjoy Death Note, a series often recommended as an entry point. “You don’t need to become an anime fan,” Lottering noted. “You just need to experience one good story. That’s how it starts.”

 

When Collen Maphuse was asked if there was one anime he could watch for the first time or recommend for newcomers to anime, he instantly, without hesitation, exclaimed, “Attack on Titan! The first 5 episodes were enough to get me hooked.”

 

The NWU Potch Anime Club is making anime not just watched but also discussed, debated and lived. Most importantly, though, it is fostering an environment that helps students connect and understand different perspectives as well as find meaning beyond entertainment.  

 

 

Edited by Isabel Burgers