CTRL-A is the University of Waterloo's official anime club. It was at one time the largest club of its kind in Canada. Its membership consists of youths, students, and adults from the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario.

Origins

The Name

The name CTRL-A (pronounced "control eh") traces itself back to a keystroke on the old computer systems of UW's computer labs that was used to start a new session. It was adopted in 1993 as a humorous acronym (not quite a backronym) to represent "(The) Club That Really Likes Anime." The rate at which computer software changed since that time ( See: Moore's Law ) has made it so that few new members get the joke.

Founding Members

In the winter term of 1991, then UW staff member, Mark Tilden held an impromptu showing of Castle in the Sky for the campus film society. That showing convinced UW undergrad David de Jong to get Mr. Tilden to put together a larger show when he returned to campus in the fall term. That show turned out to be unexpectedly popular, and David de Jong, along with fellow student Bret Hoeffler set about organizing a club under the University of Waterloo Federation of Students in the spring term of 1992.

Emiko

CTRL-A's mascot was designed in 1995 by Ian Kim, then a student at UW. The character he designed was given the name "Emiko" after a contest to name her was run by the club. While giving the club permission to use the character, Ian used her as the protagonist in his online comic entitled Emiko's Genesis (later retitled Genesis Chronicles). That comic was popular for a time, but was eventually abandoned after a number of reboot attempts.

Emiko is still used by the club, and has been featured on T-shirts and sweatshirts sold over the years. After Ian left UW, Dan Kim (no relation) contributed additional artwork for use by the club.

Club Operation

Membership

Membership is purchased for the term at $8 CAD, $7 CAD for frosh, (as of Winter term 2005) and that gives a member:

a shiny membership card,

subsequently-free access to all four two-day shows in the term,

discounted pizza and pop prices (so long as the concession is being run in that term),

a moderate discount on anime rentals at Gemini Jetpack (the local anime store),

the ability to vote at club meetings and stand for the club executive.

and information regarding anime events in and around campus.

External links

CTRL-A Official Website

Ian Kim's website

Federation of Students Club Listing for CTRL-A