Dominic Piacentini
A&E Senior Staff Writer
Wooster students are fortunate to have groups relevant to almost any of their diverse interests. One such group is the College of Wooster Anime club, or COWA. Anime, recognized by many as cartoons with big eyes, spiky hair, and emoticon-style animation, has been gradually gaining attention in the U.S. It certainly fills a considerable amount of TV slots on American cable. While some shows like “Dragon Ball Z” and “Pokémon” have become a part of mainstream American pop culture, an incredibly wide range of genres of anime for all ages is becoming more culturally prevalent. Concerning anime’s growing popularity, Kristen Scuderi ’13 says, “I think our culture is changing, but our media isn’t keeping up. As we become a global hodgepodge of peoples and cultures, there is an appeal to the foreign and exotic.”
Although cartoons in the U.S. are often either entirely innocent shows intended for children or vulgar adult programs like “South Park,” anime covers more diverse material. Storylines and content vary from show to show, and can have very different audiences. While certain series may be intended for pre-teen girls, many may also be designed for single men in their twenties. COWA watches shows from across this wide spectrum of anime. They like to include series from multiple genres and age affiliations. Often the club watches two contrasting styles at the same time to keep the year’s viewing diverse. They begin by surveying what members want to watch at the beginning of the year, and do their best to watch as much as possible throughout the semester. Most often, COWA watches episodes subtitled, unless there is a really good dub, because the show stays more true to the original content.
So besides variety, what is so special about anime? Melissa Hackett ’15 says story and plot are important, and “if it makes me cry, it succeeded!” Dung Nguyen ’14 loves to see manga adapted for anime — especially action manga when the fighting sequences can be seen cohesively. For Scuderi, “the empathetic, complex nature of characters and the blurred line between wholly good and wholly bad” is what makes anime so special.
This year, COWA is taking initiative to expand its role in the Wooster community. Not only do they have anime viewings twice a week (Mondays and Fridays), but they also hold special events for any students Wooster. They have video game nights open to any game or console people might have, and they often incorporate games influenced by or adapted from anime. Recently, they took a trip to the Cleveland Institute of Art to watch “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” In the spring semester, COWA will travel to Columbus for Ohayocon — the largest anime convention in Ohio — held every January. This Saturday, COWA will be hosting a karaoke night in Douglass basement at 9:00 p.m. There will also be dancing, Korean pop (K-pop) and Japanese (J-pop) music, and cosplay. Anyone is invited to come to the event, and can come dressed as any character or figure from pop culture.
Whether you’re an anime enthusiast or just ready to try something new, everyone is welcome at COWA. The club’s interests and activities are very diverse, with an open and friendly environment. Those interested are encouraged to contact either Melissa Hackett ’15 or Kristen Scuderi ’13 for more information.