From post-apocalyptic sci-fi to “Girls with Guns,” Film & Digital Media Professor Dr. Michael Korpi has taught classes on a variety of topics and interests. However, in the spring of 2026, Korpi will revive a subject he last taught eight years ago – anime.

Animation is an art that needs to be protected and embraced. Some stories simply can only be told through animation. It requires a perfect blend of art and sound, and anything less would be an insult to its art and story. Sometimes you have to respect an original creation for how it was made and leave it at that.

Over the past five to 10 years, I have witnessed a phenomenon: anime, the treasure I used to hold so dear to me, is beginning to spread nationwide. I have a fear that once it becomes mainstream in America, the quality of anime will decrease due to us forcing our societal norms onto the shows.

The first thing that comes to mind when the word ‘anime’ is brought up is typically ‘immature’, or ‘childish’. This is a warranted thought, because some of the first shows considered anime that western audiences are introduced to are “Yu-Gi-Oh” or “Pokémon” (the latter of which some Baylor students STILL enjoy).