Section 9 focuses on anime

by Lisa Laufik
For The Post

Japanese animation is not just about cartoons - it is an art form. Just ask any member of Section 9, Ohio University's anime club.

And as interest in anime grows, so does its place at Ohio University. Section 9 is part of the International Student Union, and during winter 1996, OU senior Derek Chen helped found the club. It was named Section 9 in reference to a famous organization in the anime film Ghost in Shell.

"The club was (started) to help spread Japanese anime on campus," Chen said. "I had a real interest in Japanese animation."

The growing interest in anime is evidenced by the diversity of the OU club. Members are males and females, international and U.S. students, from local high schools and from the university; and all share an interest in Japanese anime culture.

"We are into the Japanese pop culture anime," said OU junior Daniel O'Donnell."We are interested in Mange, Japanese comics, J-pop,the American word for the music that tends to be in anime films. But the main focus is on anime."

Anime is not just "the stereotypical half-naked woman running around," O'Donnell said. "That is a narrow aspect of a small portion of anime. There is much more to it."

For example, Graveyard of the Fireflies is a historical anime film about the aftermath of the atomic bombings, O'Donnell said.

"It's a medium, not just a genre," Chen said. "There is comedy, fantasy, romance, science fiction, historical drama, psychological thrillers, mysteries and action anime films."

Anime is becoming more accessible to audiences, O'Donnell said. For example, Princess Mononoke played at the Athena last year and the Cartoon Network is mainstreaming some anime programs. Section 9 is working to make anime more accessible on OU's campus.

The club has been building a library since 1996. The library is open to anyone on campus. Anime films may be rented from the ISU office in Baker Center or at the home of the librarian, OU senior Jason Googash.

Googash said watching anime films is a good way to see how they differ from American animation.

"It is such a versatile art form, and there is no equivalence in American culture," O'Donnell said. "The artistic expression found in anime can't be found anywhere else."

Chen said he encourages new members to come to a viewing of a film to see what the organization is all about.

"There is something in it for everyone," he said. "Just give it a try. What you see on TV is the tip of the iceberg."