Community Connect: Chennai's Anime community comes of age

What looked like a casual fan gathering was, in reality, a glimpse into one of Chennai’s fastest-growing subcultures. At a recent Chennai Anime Club (CAC) meetup, conversations flowed from favourite characters to intense story arc debates, revealing a fandom that has steadily expanded across the city.

A third place in the cityA few days later, in a quiet corner of a Chennai park, members gathered again — seated on the grass, conversations drifting from plot twists to college deadlines and workplace stress. Newcomers hovered at the edges before being drawn into discussions. The club was founded in August 2018 to create an offline social space for anime lovers. “Cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru already had active clubs that met regularly and participated in events,” shares KS Meghana from the organising team. “We wanted to build a similar experience in Chennai, allowing anyone, regardless of background, to celebrate anime together. We envisioned creating a social space for anime lovers, because there wasn’t really one here.”

Erum Mehak, attending her first meetup, shares, “I had been watching anime alone up until now. I didn’t realise there were so many others here who like anime. It’s much easier to talk here because everyone is into the same things. Nobody says, ‘That’s childish.’” “Online fandom is fun, but meeting people in person makes it feel real. You actually build friendships here,” says Jayden Alex.

From screens to shared storiesFor many, anime began as a solitary interest before evolving into something more meaningful. “My first-ever anime was Naruto , and after that I was hooked. It opened the door to an entirely different world,” said Feena, an IT professional.

“I watched my very first anime with a group of friends, and the emotions felt much more intense. The vibe was completely different. If I had watched it alone, it would have probably felt very depressing,” says Varshini, a software developer.

Growing beyond the screenThe growth has been especially noticeable in recent years. Abhijit, Asia Culture Club Secretary for the Chennai chapter, informs, “Anime culture in Chennai is something that is growing. It has grown a lot since COVID.” Recalling early CAC movie meetups, he added, “Anime is just the entry point. Then, you discover the culture behind it,” referring to Japanese language sessions, cuisine experiences and cultural events. Despite lingering misconceptions, members continue to push back. “A lot of people still see anime as just cartoons, and there’s quite a bit of stigma around it. We try to educate people as much as we can,” says Meghana and Saravana, CAC admins.

Among the diverse crowd is Blessing A Manikandan, an entrepreneur who found the community during a difficult phase. “The people in the community have been incredibly accepting,” he states.