Guides
Deep dives into helpful knowledge
Chicago’s Anime Clubs
AnimeChicago Our shameless plug to join our nonprofit — with over 3,000 Meetup members and access to our Discord community.…
Special Interest Communities in Chicagoland
Chicago Cosplay and Photography Meet-Ups Volunteer-run events and hub for cosplayers and photographers to gather, network, and collaborate. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cosmeetupchicago/ Gunpla…
Japanese Culture, Arts, & Industry here in Chicagoland
Japanese Arts Foundation at the Japanese Culture Center Nonprofit programs and educational opportunities to share Japanese art equitably and accessibly.…
Japanese-inspired Entertainment in Chicago
Anime Mondays at Logan Arcade Presenting all things anime and animation every last Monday of the month, starting at 7pm.…
Our Favorite Spots for Japanese Cuisine + Nightlife
Mitsuwa Food Court Ramen, curry, soba, crepes, matcha ice cream… Mitsuwa has you covered for whatever you’re craving. https://mitsuwa.com/ch/ Konbini &…
Local Shops for Sourcing Cosplay
Chicago Costume Company Outfitting Chicagoan in simple to elaborate costumes since 1976. Its two locations are a good choice for…
Local Businesses for Merch, Goods, Snacks, and More!
Mitsuwa Marketplace Japanese goodies galore at this supermarket, bakery, gift stores, food court, Kinokuniya bookstore, and more! mitsuwa.com/ch/ Tensuke Market…
Local Creators
AnimeChicago Members @Yamcans Kat Janda-DuWaldt, known as “@Yamcans” online, is an artist by night, and a dentist (yes, really) by…
Gift Shopping: Selecting perfect presents for anime fans
So, there’s a special anime fan in your life. Great! Now, what do you get them for the holidays? That…
Screen Time: The Watching Habits of Anime Fans
Eyes Peeled As diverse as the genres are that embody the anime landscape, so too are the viewing patterns of…
Developing Tastes: The Evolution of an Anime Fan (Part 3)
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been going through the ever-changing tastes of an anime fan. Part 2, released last…
Developing Tastes: The Evolution of an Anime Fan (Part 2)
Finding your anime tastes is quite the journey for any fan. Last week, I discussed the very beginnings of an…
Developing Tastes: The Evolution of an Anime Fan (Part 1)
Finding your tastes in anime is an evolutionary process that develops over the course of many years and is the…
What to do at ACen? AnimeChicago Members Pick Their Favorites
Anime Central (better known as ACen) is little over a week away, so I decided to gauge people’s excitement. I…
What Kind of Anime Personality Are You?
If there is a greater window into the Japanese psyche than anime, I have yet to find it. Anime has…
Hey You! Stream that Anime! A Guide to Legal Streaming Services
How we used to watch anime There’s never been a better time to watch anime than right now. Fans of…
Con Food Strategy Guide
With convention season getting into top gear, we at AnimeChicago would like to offer some advice on one of the…
A Brief History of Anime and Manga: From Zen Cartoons to Sailor Moon
As caveat, we will be exploring anime and manga from a Western perspective and this small summary is by no…
What are AnimeChicago’s Favorite Anime?
When you first join the AnimeChicago Meetup page, one of the questions you answer is, quite simply, “What is your…
Kyodai Hero: An Ultraman Introduction for New Viewers
We’ll continue the exploration of the monsters (in my prior article on Daikaiju Eiga), heroes, and robots that make up…
Daikaiju Eiga 101: An Introduction to Early Godzilla and Toho Sci-fi
Disclaimer: The following films are difficult to find and may be out of print. So you’ve watched a bunch of…
Journey to Japan: Addressing the Challenges and Joys of Group Travel
AnimeChicago hit a huge milestone this year – we visited Japan! Nine members signed on for a 10-day excursion in…
Do’s and Don’ts of Learning to Read Japanese
Reading is probably the hardest part of learning Japanese, so I thought I’d share some strategies that helped me improve…
How to Keep Warm, Japanese-Style
The seasons are finally starting to change in Chicago, and warmer weather is on its way. But as those of…
Writing the Unwritten Rules
In light of the upcoming convention season, AnimeChicago has been speaking more about the safety and comfort of our members…
Alternative Manga Panel Guide
“…in terms of popularity and sales, manga in America can be divided into Naruto and everything else. Aren’t most comics…
Convention Safety
After hearing reports about the man who brutally held his ex-girlfriend he met at a con captive for two months,…
Good Anime Stores in Chicago?
The short answer is “no.” You can view our directory of local retailers which may appeal to anime fans, but…
Dance Machines
Whether you’ve played a few rounds at a friends house or play regularly at an arcade, there’s nothing worse than…
Anime Central Primer
Whether you’re a seasoned con-goer or just a one-day attendee from last year, many of have already experienced the convention…
The Anime Dabbler
I can still remember the day my childhood friend called me on the telephone during the summer before my sophomore…
Gift Shopping: Valentine’s Day
Ahhh…otaku in love! What a delightful experience of having two souls with infatuations of giant robots and traveling samurai to…