How to Start an Anime Club at Home
If you love anime and want a fun, low-effort way to stay connected with your friends, why not start an anime club? I used to avoid animations like the plague, but once I discovered how uniquely amazing they can be, I became obsessed. That’s when I started my anime club, and it’s honestly become a meeting I look forward to every month! I’ve strengthened existing friendships, reconnected with old friends, made new ones – all without leaving my sofa. Here’s how to start your own, plus anime recommendations, discussion prompts, and a few activity ideas to keep each session fun.
How Anime Club Works
It’s super simple. Each month, you pick an anime for everyone to watch in their own time before the meet-up. I always recommend that everyone takes notes while watching so they don’t forget things like standout moments, burning questions, or anything they’d love to bring to the discussion.
Then, on the agreed date, everyone comes together to break it all down: what people loved, what didn’t land, which characters carried, and the scenes that had everyone pausing and replaying. At the end of the session, you pick the next anime for the month, say your goodbyes, and the cycle continues.
Quick Start Guide: How to Host Your First Session
Ready to get started? Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to make hosting your first anime club session stress-free.
Step 1: Decide Who You’re Inviting
A small and comfy group is the sweet spot for your first meeting — around 4 to 8 friends. Choose a good blend of people to keep the conversations fun, spontaneous, and full of different perspectives.
- Anime-curious friends: the ones who are open to trying something new and will come in with fresh, unfiltered opinions.
- Your anime lovers: the friends who are already big fans and will happily bring the passion, the deep dives, and the “you HAVE to re-watch this” energy.
- The “anime’s rubbish” haters: those who swear they don’t like anime but are willing to give it another try, even if it’s just to prove a point. I brought along a couple myself, and they enjoyed it way more than they expected.
Step 2: Choose the Anime for Your First Month
Your first pick sets the vibe, so choose something that everyone can get into. Aim for an anime that’s easy to follow, not too long, appealing to different tastes (or the specific tastes of your group) and easy to find on major streaming platforms.
You can choose the first anime yourself or give your friends two options to vote on. I went with Solo Leveling for my first month (an amazing watch that literally everyone enjoyed), so feel free to steal that if you’re stuck!
Step 3: Send Your Invites (With All the Details)
Once everything’s set, send out your invites at least a month in advance so everyone has plenty of time to watch the anime and come prepared.
Make sure your invitation includes:
- Date, time, and address: pick a day that actually works for your group. Weekends are usually the safest bet, but if everyone lives nearby, a cheeky weekday evening can be perfect too.
- What anime you’re watching: Include the exact episodes or season, so no one accidentally overwatches.
- Where to stream it: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime, wherever it’s easiest to access.
- Any content notes: themes, trigger warnings, or heavier scenes you want people to be aware of.
- What guests should bring: notebook, pen, snacks, drinks, cosy socks… whatever fits the vibe you’re going for.
A cute Canva invite goes a long way in setting the mood and making it feel official.
Step 4: Prepare Your Space
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Keep it simple and comfy — this is a chill anime meet-up, so don’t overthink it. A relaxed space makes everyone feel at home and ready to chat, so the key is comfort over perfection.
Think about:
- Seating for everyone: chairs, cushions, poufs, whatever you’ve got.
- A TV setup everyone can see: handy if you want to do optional recaps or watch short clips together.
- Snacks and water within reach: easy munching keeps the conversation flowing, and you can also ask guests to bring a little something to share.
- Tidy space: a clean room makes a big difference. Your guests will feel much more cosy and at home.
Step 5: Run the Session
Here’s a structure that always works for me:
- Warm welcome & quick introductions: especially handy if not everyone knows each other.
- Short recap: a quick YouTube clip is perfect to refresh memories.
- Kick off with an opening question: helps ease everyone into the discussion.
- Let the conversation flow: debates, theories, favourite moments, whatever sparks the most chat.
- Wrap up with a fun quiz or mini activity: adds a little extra energy before the end.
- Pick next month’s anime: so everyone leaves already looking forward to the next session.
Anime Recommendations for Your First Session
These are some of my go-to beginner-friendly anime — fun, easy to follow, and guaranteed to spark conversation. They worked perfectly for my first few sessions, and my friends loved them too.
Solo Leveling
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Perfect for: Friends who love glow-ups, supernatural elements, and fast-paced storylines.
Why it’s a great first pick:
Solo Leveling grabs you from episode one. The story is fast-paced, there are so many exciting action moments and watching the main character evolve is genuinely addictive. It’s also very easy to follow, and perfect for both beginners and seasoned anime fans who love a good transformation story. My group watched this for our very first session, and literally everyone loved it!
Jujutsu Kaisen – Season 1
Genre: Action, Supernatural, Dark Fantasy
Perfect for: Groups that enjoy humour mixed with chaos, emotional depth, and characters you get attached to almost instantly.
Why it’s a great first pick:
Season 1 of JJK is the perfect blend of comedy, intense moments, and memorable characters. It’s super easy to get into, even for people who have never watched anime before. Plus, it naturally sets you up for Season 2 as your next club pick — my group did this back-to-back and loved comparing how the tone shifts.
Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Perfect for: Friends who enjoy emotional storytelling, heartfelt sibling dynamics, and a clear, easy-to-follow plot.
Why it’s a great first pick:
Demon Slayer is engaging from the very beginning. The characters are lovable, the story pulls you in quickly, and it balances action with touching emotional moments. It’s ideal for mixed groups because it clicks with people who like fast-paced stories and those who prefer something more heartfelt.
Death Note
Genre: Thriller, Psychological, Mystery
Perfect for: Friends who love drama, moral debates, and “what would YOU do?” conversations.
Why it’s a great first pick:
Death Note is gripping from the first episode. The mind games, the tension, the shifting power dynamics — it keeps everyone locked in. It also sparks amazing discussions about right vs. wrong, justice, ego, and how far someone would go if no one could stop them. It’s one of the easiest anime to get non-anime-watchers hooked.
Discussion Questions That Spark Conversation
To help the conversation flow (and avoid those “so… what did everyone think?” awkward silences), here are 20 tried-and-tested discussion prompts that always get my friends talking.
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- Who was your favourite/least favourite character, and why?
- Which character surprised you the most as the story went on?
- Which character do you wish we saw more of?
- What part of the story grabbed your attention the most?
- Was there anything that didn’t make sense or left you confused?
- What moment would you rewrite if you could?
- Which scene made you pause, rewind, or sit up straight?
- What message or theme stood out to you the most?
- Did any character’s journey feel relatable or personal to you?
- What moral dilemma or decision would you have handled differently?
- Did any moments make you reflect or change your perspective?
- What do you think the show was really trying to say?
- Who would you marry, no hesitation?
- Who would you absolutely never be friends with — and who would be your bestie?
- Which character has the best drip?
- Whose special ability would you steal in a heartbeat?
- What scene lives rent-free in your mind?
- Who do you think will have the biggest glow-up next season?
- Who is definitely dying next?
- What mystery do you think will finally be revealed?
Fun Anime Club Activity Ideas (For When You Want to Spice Things Up)
Most anime club sessions can stay simple with chat, snacks and good vibes, but every now and then it’s fun to elevate the night with a little activity. It naturally extends the session, takes the pressure off constant discussion, and creates easy bonding moments. You don’t need to do this every month — save it for special occasions or whenever you want the night to feel a bit more special. Here are some activity ideas you’ll definitely want to try:
- Quiz + Mini Prize: A quick quiz is a fun way to test who was actually paying attention. I love using Kahoot so everyone can play on their phones, and a small prize like chocolates, stickers or a mini figurine keeps things fun and competitive.
- Sip & Paint (Anime Edition): Grab some drinks and challenge everyone to paint or colour their favourite character or scene. At the end, everyone guesses who created what, which is arguably the best part.
- Clay Character Challenge: Give everyone some air-dry clay and a time limit to sculpt their favourite character. The results make for amazing photos and you can even vote on categories like “Most Accurate,” “Most Creative” or “Most Likely To Give Someone A Fright!”
- Themed Photoshoot: Set up a quick photo corner with fun props inspired by the anime of the month. Encourage everyone to dress as their favourite character and take cute pictures that serve as great memories.
Final Thoughts
Starting an anime club is such an easy way to bring your friends together. It gives you a reason to catch up, something meaningful to talk about and a cosy little tradition everyone can look forward to each month. I had no idea how much it would strengthen my friendships until I started mine, and now it’s genuinely something I’m so glad I began. Whether you keep it super simple or add in a few fun activities, the magic is always in the connection you build along the way.
Don’t stress about doing it perfectly. Pick a show, set a date, send the invite and let the vibes do the rest. Your friends will (hopefully) love having something consistent, fun, low-pressure and very affordable to look forward to, especially when going out is so expensive these days.
Here’s to good shows, good conversations and even better company. 💕
Kyra xx
FAQs
Q: Do I need to be an anime expert to host a club?
A: Not at all! You don’t need any deep knowledge. Your job is simply to create a fun space — the learning and exploring will happen naturally with your group.
Q: What if someone doesn’t finish the anime in time?
A: My rule is that you should only attend if you’ve watched most of it, otherwise you can’t really add to the conversation. This keeps everyone motivated to watch as much as possible.
Q: How long should each meeting last?
A: Around 1.5–2 hours is perfect. Enough time for juicy discussion without everyone feeling drained.
