<p>According to <a href="http://otakuinabottle.blogspot.ie/2012/03/fred-patten-interview.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">interviews with co-founder Fred Patten</a>, the <em>Cartoon/Fantasy Organization</em> (C/FO) was the first anime/manga fanclub set up in 1977. Based in Los Angeles, the group started expanding into several spin-off groups in the 80s, including another major group in New York:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZMW3x.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZMW3x.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1980s C/FO New York meeting.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Most ways of accessing anime &amp; manga were limited back then. You either had to know someone over in Japan, or visit one of very few Japanese bookshops. Nearly none of which having English translations.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HrUA6.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HrUA6.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="http://www.fanboy.com/2011/02/what-was-it-like-to-be-an-80s-anime-fan-in-nyc.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(src)</a></p>

<p>Whilst there may have been some small gatherings of friends before the C/FO, it was the first group to be open to the general public.</p>

<p>Many of the early members of the C/FO became prominent figures in the emergence of furry fandom.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, due to political in-fighting the splinter groups gradually ceased to exist, leaving only the original L.A. branch active. Their <a href="http://c_fo.tripod.com/">current website</a> was last updated in 2013.</p>

<p>Even today, Los Angeles is one of the most important places in english-speaking territory for anime, hosting one of the largest conventions - <a href="http://www.anime-expo.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anime Expo</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-02T11:55:03.993Z
For those interested, you can read more about this on [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime_and_manga_fandom)
Peter Raeves
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-02T11:39:05.620Z
2015-08-02T11:39:05.620Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>When anime and manga first came over to English-speaking areas, I presume it was treated more like traditional national comics were, and that manga fans were still primarily comic fans - rather than there being a distinction like today.</p>

<p>What was the first public group that had an <em>anime/manga</em> fandom that was <strong>distinct</strong> from western comic fandom?</p>

<anime-history>
What was the first English-speaking anime fangroup?
# What was the first English-speaking anime fangroup?
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-08-02
When anime and manga first came over to English-speaking areas, I presume it was treated more like traditional national comics were, and that manga fans were still primarily comic fans - rather than there being a distinction like today.

What was the first public group that had an *anime/manga* fandom that was **distinct** from western comic fandom?
**Tags:** anime-history
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_0 on 2015-08-02. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
According to [interviews with co-founder Fred Patten](http://otakuinabottle.blogspot.ie/2012/03/fred-patten-interview.html), the *Cartoon/Fantasy Organization* (C/FO) was the first anime/manga fanclub set up in 1977. Based in Los Angeles, the group started expanding into several spin-off groups in the 80s, including another major group in New York:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZMW3x.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ZMW3x.jpg)

> 1980s C/FO New York meeting.

Most ways of accessing anime & manga were limited back then. You either had to know someone over in Japan, or visit one of very few Japanese bookshops. Nearly none of which having English translations.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/HrUA6.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/HrUA6.jpg)
[(src)](http://www.fanboy.com/2011/02/what-was-it-like-to-be-an-80s-anime-fan-in-nyc.html)

Whilst there may have been some small gatherings of friends before the C/FO, it was the first group to be open to the general public.

Many of the early members of the C/FO became prominent figures in the emergence of furry fandom.

Unfortunately, due to political in-fighting the splinter groups gradually ceased to exist, leaving only the original L.A. branch active. Their [current website](http://c_fo.tripod.com/) was last updated in 2013.

Even today, Los Angeles is one of the most important places in english-speaking territory for anime, hosting one of the largest conventions - [Anime Expo](http://www.anime-expo.org/)
> **Comments:**
> **username_1** (2015-08-02): For those interested, you can read more about this on [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime_and_manga_fandom)  
---
