THEM Anime Reviews

THEM was founded in 1993 by Arizona State University Honors College students as a school club for fans of science fiction and fantasy.[7][8][2] It became an anime review website, named THEM Online, in 1996,[9] and Carlos Ross, who later became one of the editors in chief of the website, became a writer in 1999.[8] In June 2000, the current domain name of the website, was registered.[10] At the time, the site was using ASU servers, which were later changed.[11][1]

In the first six years of the site, from 1996 to 2002, only one guest review was accepted and all "submissions from non-THEM members" were not accepted.[1] At the time, Ross's wife, Christi, was the web designer and assistant reviewing editor, joined by fellow reviewers Raphael See, Jason Bustard, Jacob Churosh, Eric Gaede, J Austin Wilde, Sam Wu, Rachel Korthals, and many others.[12] In June 2002, the ASU-hosted site was last used, with a transition over to a new site for reviews,[13][14] which is still used to this day. In the following year, those who were not part of THEM began contributing content while Pete Harcoff worked on the web design, which allowed the site to continue.[1][8] The same year, in September, the new, and current look, of THEM's website premiered.[15] As late as 2004, THEM still defined itself as "a science-fiction/fantasy society" based at ASU.[16]

In October 2006, Ross retired from being editor-in-chief of the site, with the duty taken up by Stig Høgset.[17] Years later, in 2018, Ross, an editor-in-chief emiritus of the site, stated that THEM was still an "internet safe space," and that LGBTQ issues would not be tagged with "audience appropriateness" notes like they were in the 1990s.[9] He also said that LGBTQ people are a central and vital part of the site itself. As of 2020, the website has over 1500 full-length reviews, and currently has staff of reviewers from across the globe.[3]

THEM Anime Reviews, which is recommended and used by various commentators,[18][19][20] regularly does anime reviews, which are listed on their website in various forms.[4] It also has a list of editorials,[5] and forums,[6] the latter which it hosts as a place to encourage discussion. In the past, they have even hosted awards for anime they found specifically notable or enjoyed.[21] Currently, Enoch Lau, Melissa Sternenberg, Robert Nelson, Stig Høgset, and Tim Jones, are some of the reviews on the site.[22]

• Official website