Chris Jones is like many ninth graders at Meridian High School. He works hard in class, gets mostly A’s and B’s, and counts science among his favorite subjects while finding math the toughest. But after school, Chris does something that sets him apart—he runs his own YouTube channel, producing anime commentary for viewers around the world.

The channel is called Nekora Anime, a name Chris created by blending two words—“neck” and “aura”—into something he thought sounded cool. His videos range from theories to video essays to character analyses of popular series like One Piece, Attack on Titan, and One Punch Man. Each one takes hours of preparation. “First, I brainstorm for about an hour,” he explained. “Then I pick the best idea, write a script, record it, edit it, and finally post it.”

It’s a meticulous process, made more difficult by the limits of his equipment. Chris records with a simple headset and edits on an old laptop. What might take another creator two hours can take him five or six. “I keep adding images and sound effects,” he said. “It takes time, but I want it to look right.” His videos, usually six to eight minutes long, have earned him around 65 subscribers. They aren’t confined to Southern Illinois, either—his audience comes from all over.

Chris has always been drawn to YouTube. He experimented with making videos as early as 2023, but it was only in the last seven months that he committed to building his channel. Posting once every four days, he has already created a body of work that reflects not just his interests, but his way of thinking. “I like the genre of commentary where you talk without showing your face,” he said. “And I really like anime, so I put the two together.”

For Chris, anime isn’t just entertainment—it’s philosophy. He enjoys exploring what the characters reveal about life, purpose, and struggle. He points to Luffy, the main character of One Piece, as a personal example. “His dream is to be King of the Pirates,” Chris explained. “That’s what he thinks the meaning of life is—to achieve everything he strives for, even when the odds are stacked against him.”

That connection between story and meaning is part of why Chris wants to study philosophy in college. He has already begun weaving philosophical ideas into his commentary, prompting viewers to think about anime on a deeper level. In this way, his channel is more than a hobby—it’s a bridge to others who share his interests. “I’m trying to influence people to watch the shows I enjoy and educate them about how the characters work and how the plots move,” he said.

Chris’s path to YouTube wasn’t entirely easy. For a period, he had nothing to record with and had to pause his work. But when he returned to it, he did so with more focus and determination. Now, even with limited tools, he is committed to the grind, building content piece by piece. On his wish list is a proper PC setup, along with a high-quality microphone. For now, though, he makes do with what he has, proving that creativity often thrives in constraint.

At school, Chris is like any other teenager. He takes classes like Videography and Business Math, which connect to his YouTube work in unexpected ways. He isn’t involved in sports or clubs, but his channel gives him a different outlet—one where he can showcase his dedication, discipline, and curiosity. His family provides grounding support, too. Chris has three brothers: one older, who has Down syndrome and lives at home, and two younger, Kaden and Chase, who are in fifth and seventh grade at Meridian. Together, they are part of a household that has been deeply tied to the community for generations.

Chris knows he’s just getting started. “I’d probably still make videos even if I major in philosophy,” he said. “I’d just do them more professionally, at a better pace.” His long-term vision is to keep refining his content, to create sharper edits, and to reach more people.

For now, the routine is simple: brainstorm, script, record, edit, post. Repeat. Every four days, he uploads another reflection, another analysis, another attempt to share his passion. Each video is a small connection—to anime, to philosophy, to strangers across the globe who click and listen.

And for Chris Jones, a ninth grader from Meridian with a headset, an old laptop, and a lot of determination, those connections mean everything.