Matt Alt (Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World) is off this week fighting the Rock Lords in America, so Patrick Macias (TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion) presents a previously Patreon-only episode from 2020 featuring Dave Merrill on a Dante-esque like journey into the dark heart of late 20th century anime dork gatherings. Expect big detours into the weird old days of the Cartoon / Fantasy Organization, the late Fred “Furry” Patten, illegal videotape trading, and the making of the 2004 film Otaku Unite! Make sure your C/FO annual membership is all paid up!

Dave Merrill joined organized anime fandom in 1984. In 1986 he helped found the Atlanta chapter of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization, and the next year was appointed secretary of the national C/FO. In 1990, Dave Merrill and Lloyd Carter started the Anime-X club in Atlanta, an anime club that would last twelve years and act as the nucleus around which Anime Weekend Atlanta would form. Dave also published 12 issues of the anime fanzine Let's Anime from 1990 until 2000. In 1995, the first Anime Weekend Atlanta was held; Dave Merrill was chairman and president. This convention is the Southeast's premier Japanese animation event.

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