Alexis Rangell-Onwuegbuzia is a doctoral candidate studying contemporary Japanese film and media; they are also pursuing a graduate certificate through the Center for Comparative Media. Their research focuses on representations of Otherness in anime, particularly Black and queer representation, as well as audience engagement. Alexis’ scholarship is an active effort to bridge the gaps between academic, industry, and fan analyses of contemporary anime. They are especially interested in examining the historical influence of both Japanese and non-Japanese fans of anime. Prior entering the Ph.D. program, Alexis received a B.A. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University, where they completed a senior thesis focusing on Black representation in, and engagement with, Japanese anime produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s.