Anime Ascendant

An anime club help site that offers advice and support

Category Archives: Support


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COVID-19: Can Anime Clubs Survive?

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COVID-19: Can Anime Clubs Survive? + Alternatives to Meeting in Person

With the coronavirus epidemic, also known as COVID-19, canceling building openings and gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus, do anime clubs have a chance to survive?

Yes, they can. To take a step in the direction of the times when anime and manga fans made friends online–“OMG, so retro,” may be your thought process–then, yes, anime clubs can survive by going back to the internet.

Ways to keep a club going without meeting in person:

The essence of running events online isn’t different from running events for in-person events. 

  • Book a venue or space. Book a space online. If it’s a Google Hangout or YouTube Live, make sure you have a Google account and create a Hangout or YouTube Live event (literally search how to do these). If it’s a Skype, Facetime, or conference call event, make sure you have an account with the respective apps or get a conference call number and code. If it’s a webinar or Netflix Party app event, make sure you have an account on that platform or app.
  • Make sure the event title, date, location, and time(s) are correct and booked. This isn’t different from in-person events. Just make sure the event title is short.
  • Create physical flyers, posters, and marketing materials. Create digital flyers, posters, and marketing materials. You can make a digital flyer that can go on Instagram or social media through Canva.com.
  • Distribute physical marketing materials. Send digital marketing materials on social media and through email. Also post these on your websites if you can.
  • Follow up with people who are in the club by phone, email, and texts. This isn’t much different from in-person events since cold marketing or sending out marketing materials don’t work the most to get folks to events. It’s more important at this time to follow up with possible attendees.
  • Order supplies and food for the event. Make sure your computer or phone is set up for the online event. This means making sure your laptop has a camera, its microphone and speakers work, and any clamps, tripods, headphones, and gear are nearby.

The important part about being a club is being connected.

That means reaching out to the club leadership and members to check in. If a friend is nearby, call them, text them, connect with them and make sure the COVID zombie apocalypse hasn’t taken them.

Have some ideas? Write it below!


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How Do I Keep My Anime Club From Falling Apart?

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How Do I Keep My Anime Club From Falling Apart?

I’m trying to make my club better. We’re halfway through the year and our club is basically tearing apart. It was going well at the beginning of the year but now it’s getting boring (and people are leaving).

Besides, “What do I do?”, the real question here is, “How do I keep my club from falling apart halfway through the year?”

Why It Happens

Usually when that happens, it’s because there isn’t structure (consistent and interesting screenings or officer presence) or there aren’t any new ideas coming through the regular meetings (same thing every week in and out).
One other thing: usually when a group falls apart, it may be because there is someone or something that is really negative. People don’t want to feel any negativity since they’re using your group as an escape from it. Pinpoint that negative piece and take it out, even if it is an officer, because that negativity will drive members away for at least 2 or 3 years.

What to Do

After the Officer Meeting: Once you’ve figured out what’s making your group so boring, negative, or complacent and you’ve talked it over with your officers, send out an email saying that things have changed and why. Apologize for the hiccup and show how you’re changing–and how they can become active members to make your anime club the best club at your school. An example of this type of communication is Domino’s, who used study groups to make new and better pizzas, and sent out flyers and emails apologizing and saying how they’ve changed. Now Domino’s is on the same playing field as Pizza Hut and Little Caesar’s.
Activities: Change how a meeting is run like putting a loyal member in charge of a regular meeting or do mini activities like scavenger hunts, guest speakers, and parties. Check out “Fundraising Ideas Inspired by Japanese School Festivals” and “The Ultimate Anime Club Meeting Ideas and Activities List“.
Marketing: The way to get people to return is to also look at your marketing. Are you guys putting up flyers and talking to friends? Are you emailing folks about your meetings and events? I would sit down with your president and the other officers and see how you can get people interested in the club and/or anime again.
If you don’t think these will work or it’s too late for them to work, still do them and come up with a game plan for next year to prevent this from happening. Planning ahead will fix many hiccups along the way.
Hope this helps!
Do you have some other ideas for solving this problem? Leave a comment!


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Small Sponsorship for Clubs

smallsponsorship_header Anime Ascendant offers small sponsorships for anime, manga, and Japanese culture clubs with events. Please complete and email the Anime Ascendant Small Sponsorship Application Form along with the necessary documents to contact@animeascendant.com.

Criteria for Application:

-Sponsorship is only for events outside of regular meetings. This can be a party, mixer, screening, fundraiser, or volunteer event.

-Before applying, the applicant club must link Anime Ascendant on the club website.

-For libraries, please send information on the process of donations to a library-affiliated club.

-Applications must be emailed with necessary documents at least 4 weeks before the event, including the day of the event as 1 day. If the documents are missing or the form is only partially completed, the application will be disapproved.

-Event(s) must promote Japanese culture, not just Japanese animation or manga.

This sponsorship only supports club events.

The sponsorship can be used for:

Decorations (streamers, table cloths, flowers, etc.)

Entertainment (guest speakers, DJs, performers, etc.)

Equipment (amplified sound equipment, megaphones, walkie talkies, etc.)

Food (drinks, food, serving utensils, eating utensils, cups, food warmers, etc.)

Prizes (anime, manga, Japanese cultural items, books, etc.)

Marketing (fliers, handouts, banners, posters, etc.)

Other (anything that doesn’t fall into a category above)

Steps in Applying for a Sponsorship

1) Submit this form via email at least 4 weeks before the event, counting the day of the event as 1 day.

2) Once the application has been reviewed, your club/organization president will be contacted. This contact will ask for details about the events and other sponsors.

3) If your sponsorship is approved, your president will be contacted about how to sponsor your club/organization.

The club/organization must place the Anime Ascendant logo on all marketing materials. If the Anime Ascendant logo or link is not placed on the club/organization’s website, all sponsorships will be invalid.