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What we’re about
Meet new people while critically exploring anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture! Founded in 2006, our nonprofit club offers a friendly, inclusive space for first-timers and veterans to discuss titles they love and discover new obsessions with friends 21+ older.
Join today on Meetup + Discord!
✶ 2024 SCHEDULE ✶
- Special Events: Join us for random outings at movies, cons, and festivals!
- Member Mixers (1st Thu): Meet like-minded fans, discuss all things anime.
- Manga Circle (2nd Sun): Book-club for selected manga or specific arcs.
- Anime Circle (3rd Thu): Book-club for selected anime titles. Spoilers!
- Art Circle (Weds): Work on your creative project with friendly regulars.
- Anime Deep Dive (every other Tues): Watch a hidden gem and chat about it.
- Anime Sampler (3rd Sat every season): Discover the latest anime together!
✶ BEYOND MEETUP ✶
- Take our quiz for a solid anime recommendation
- Listen to our podcast Anime’s Game Changers
- Check our City Guide for Japan-related events, creators, and organizations
- Join for email updates on anime films, pop culture events, and our mission
- Support our nonprofit to deliver more events to Chicago-area fans
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Anime Magic Roll Call + Discord thread!Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
Going to Anime Magic? So are we, all weekend long!
RSVP to this meetup to let us know you’ll be there. Then…- Buy your badge now to avoid the line and save a buck.
- Share your plans, pics, invites, tips, + more in our Anime Magic Discord thread.
See you there! - Weekly Art Circle via DiscordLink visible for attendees
★★★ SETUP DISCORD BEFORE EVENT ★★★
Art Circle is your place to draw, color, sketch, model, and whatever other creative endeavor you're into!
Work on your creations in the video chat and let's talk art, anime, and whatever you're in the mood for!
Feel free to share what you've worked on, get some constructive criticism, and provide your own feedback for others.
- Member Mixer via DiscordLink visible for attendees
★★★ SETUP DISCORD BEFORE EVENT ★★★
Join our monthly social! Mixers are perfect for meeting fellow members, especially if you haven't been to many (or any) of our events yet.
Discord Mixers work like this:
- 6:45 Open – Test your audio/video in #stream
- 7:00 Intro – Say hello in #stream chat during announcements
- 7:15 Shuffle – 4-person rooms randomly rotate every 15-20 minutes
- 8:30 Close – Group picture and final words
We recommend using a computer with headphones. Android phones may disconnect.
- Manga Circle: Nichijou vol 1-4Link visible for attendees
"Nichijou" 「日常」 is manga series Keiichi Arawi 「あらゐけいいち」with a popular anime series that was produced by Kyoto Animation in 2011. We'll be reading the first 4 volumes of this series, just to get a taste of it, as it is longer but still pretty episodic as a whole.
This series a critically acclaimed series of mundane yet weird and over the top surreal humorous vignettes that feel almost like a comic strip, but are still presented in a "story manga" format.
Set in Gunma Prefecture, Nichijou is populated by an ensemble set of characters, featuring moments from their everyday lives which alternate between the mundane and the strange, without strong focus on a narrative.
★★★ SETUP DISCORD BEFORE EVENT ★★★
Manga Circle typically meets on second Sundays to discuss a selected work of manga and its international relevance. This event is suitable for attendees 18+ with any level of manga knowledge or experience. We recommend reading the entire selection beforehand – spoilers guaranteed!
Manga Circle typically meets on second Sundays (though this time it will be the 3rd Sunday due to my inability to attend on the second Sunday) to discuss a selected work of manga and its international relevance. This event is suitable for attendees 18+ with any level of manga knowledge or experience. We recommend reading the entire selection beforehand – spoilers guaranteed!
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Getting the Comic
Some books are available through your local public library - CPL for Chicago has a very extensive collection. Please let me know if there are issues with books being delayed.