How Anime Can Change Lives: Interview With Chris Wanamaker

There isn’t a slightest doubt in my mind the impact anime had on my childhood. It gave me some of my earliest interactions with the concepts of justice, morality, friendship, and sacrifice. While I may argue that the golden years of anime are far behind us, it is undeniable how many of the same concepts I came across in my younger days also influenced others. Here’s what the President of the DC Anime Club had to say about this unique and inspiring type of animation. Age: 36Occupation: Anime Instructor by day. Custodian by night.Pokemon or Digimon, and why? Digimon, for its darker take on the kids teaming up with monsters concept. Black Nerd Problems: Please tell us a bit about yourself! Chris Wanamaker: I was born and raised in South East Washington, DC. Let’s get to the good stuff. I have been watching anime since I was seven. Since there was an Erols Video Store. The first anime I ever watched was Space Pirate Captain Harlock, which was dubbed by the late Carol Macek. I have run three anime clubs (currently running/founder/President of DC Anime Club) and staffed at three anime conventions (Katsucon, Otakon, and Anime USA as either an Anime Club Liason or live programming assistant head). I used to travel from one library to the next, hosting screenings of Japanese Animation which I called the Anime Library tour. I was later crowned the #1 Anime Fan in America, America’s Greatest Otaku by the show of the same name created by Tokyopop.

Things have not been the same since the…