The word “otaku” is commonly defined as a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly in the anime and manga fandoms. In Japan, this word has received a negative connotation and this is exactly why Kean University’s Otaku Anime Society (OAS) is trying to diminish that reputation by giving back.

The group’s second annual video game tournament took place in the University Center (UC) Game Room on Thursday, March 26, 2015 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A suggested donation of $5 was encouraged for entry into the tournament but smaller or larger amounts were kindly accepted due to the fact that all proceeds were donated to the charitable organization Child’s Play.

Child’s Play is an organization aimed towards restoring happiness in the lives of children affected by illness. Child’s Play has established a network of over 70 children’s hospitals and raised over 43 million dollars since 2003. When visiting their website, anyone can click on a map of hospitals and view their wish list.

OAS discovered Child’s Play last semester when they did their first video game tournament. The rules for the competition were the same, with a suggested donation of $5 but some people donated as much as $20 for the cause.  President of OAS Justin George, a junior English writing major, comments on why this is an important cause for OAS, “A lot of us are avid gamers so [we] are more sympathetic to this cause. I want to give children [who aren’t as fortunate] a chance to play the same games that we do.” Last year, the Otakus raised about $50.

This year’s video game tournament revolved around a fan favorite of the video game world: Super Smash Bros. Nintendo released the first Smash Bros. in 1999 and since then has issued five sequels, contributing to the game’s popularity. “The [competition] is a lot fiercer this year because it’s Smash,” says George over the boisterous voices of the gamers’ banter.

The tournament had a turn out with over 15 people eagerly waiting to prove themselves as the king of Super Smash Bros. and claim their prize. Attendees of the tournament had the chance to win up to $60 in Barnes and Noble gift cards. Only one could prove himself or herself as the ultimate smash-fighter; the last Smash Brother standing was Michael Hubal. In second place was Mikael Peńa, and in third was James Low. Faculty advisor, Craig Anderson, says that this event is good for the club and the cause because the video game tournament will expand their horizons into different criteria.

George is devoted to ending the negative connotation that the word “otaku” has, even if the last resort is to change the group name. “We’ve evolved and moved past that term,” says George, who became president last year and has grand plans for the future. Amongst these plans is a Kean Anime Convention, which would be a small-scale version of national conventions such as Comic Con and AnimeNEXT. “We have the resources and we’re moving forward on that,” says George. This “KeAnime Con” would take over the entire University Center (UC) with an “Artist Alley” in Vaughn Ames, which would be a triumph for any campus organization to accomplish.

Unbeknownst to most, OAS is one of the oldest and largest funded groups at Kean University. OAS or Kean Anime, Anime Club, or Geek Culture Club, became officially recognized as a funded campus group in 2005, but according to George, the club had been around for about five years before it gained public recognition, marking this year as the group’s unofficial 15 year anniversary. Their meetings, which take place in the Center for Academic Success (CAS) on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., include game-playing, Anime presentations, and various hands-on activities.

For those interested in joining OAS or curious as to when the next video game tournament will be, contact oas@kean.edu.