Anime is the Japanese word for Animation, taken from the English term. In Japan, it refers to any animation, but is used in America to refer stricly to Japanese Animation. The style of anime is generally easy to recognize in comparison to American animation. There are generally large eyes, more angular faces, etc.
In America, animation seems to be targeted toward younger children whereas Hollywood films are made for all audiences. However, in Japan, animation and film are interlaced. Anime is merely another art form through which stories can be conveyed. Anime spans all genres and age groups. Yes, Pokemon and Sailor Moon may look like cartoons - but they are merely targetted toward younger children. Anime stories can be about action, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, pop culture... Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes...true love - miracles! Okay - so the Princess Bride isn't exactly anime - but it's still a great movie;)

What is Manga?

Manga is the term for the Japanese comic book. Manga is created about every topic imaginable, and thus read by all sorts of people - whereas in America, it is thought of as the young man's domain. In Japan, many people buy manga magazines to read while on the way to work, etc. They are printed on phonebook-type paper and the books are hundreds of pages long, containing a few pages each for many different stories. Later, popular stories are reprinted on thicker paper in books devoted only to that story(tankubons). These are what Americans think of when they think of graphic novels, etc.

What's so great about Anime/Manga?

I personally prefer Anime/Manga to Cartoons/Comics because the artwork is often much better, more detailed and more realistic and the storylines and character development is on par with good Hollywood films. Also, while American cartoons tend to be episodic in nature(each episode is self-contained and bears no relation to the others), Anime requires a person to follow the story throughout a whole series. The stories are also made to appeal to larger or at least more varied audiences.
Anime, unlike most cartoons, requires the viewer to think as they watch. Characters have backstories that could fill a whole anime series themselves, stories have hidden plot twists, there is no true line between the "good guys" and "bad guys" as in American stories. Drama and emotional conflict drive many stories and harsh realities are thrust right in your face. People die, get treated brutally, and are faced with all sorts of emotional trauma. There is loss, passionate struggle, and even greater triumphs. Along with great stories, add in gorgeous music, detailed and breath-taking animation and the results .

Do all Anime come from Manga?

Many anime are produced from a successful manga series, however, some are not. Evangelion and Escaflowne, for example, were anime first and then manga.

What is an OVA/OAV?

OAV stands for Original Animated Video; OVA is Original Video Animation. At any rate, this is an anime that was made for video and did not air in theatres or on TV. Some OVAs follow a TV series, sometimes with the same storyline or other times a totally different one.(Fushigi Yuugi) Other OVAs are small series in and of themselves.(Bakuen Campus Guardress) Some OVAs can even later become TV Series (Nuku Nuku)

What is shoujo/shounen?

Shoujo refers to girls anime, while shounen refers to boys anime. Bi- means pretty, so bishoujo (as in Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) means pretty girl, and bishounen means cute guy (literally "pretty boy"). The 'ou' is really a long 'o' and is often written that way instead of 'oo' so that it is not pronounced wrong.

What is Hentai/Ecchi/Yaoi?

Hentai is perverted, gory, or pronographic anime. There is usually not much of a storyline to speak of. Ecchi means perverted. While Hentai has a very strong negative connotation, Ecchi is more of a slang term and is used like the word "pervert" might beused in English. Yaoi refers to anime where two males have a relationship.

What is the difference between dubs and subs? What are fansubs/fandubs?

A dub is where voices have been replaced. Subs retain the original voices and sounds and subtitles in another language as placed at the bottom of the screens. Fansubs are created by fans for fans and are usually made with a computer by placing text on the screen and copying from the LD to a master tape and then distributed. They are non-profit and used to spread awareness of a series before it has been licensed in the US. Once licensed, fansubs must stop distribution so people may buy the official tapes. Fandubs are also created by fans and voices are placed over the original voices. Often they are the result of a group of otaku having fun.

Are fansubs legal?

Technically, no. However, it is my opinion that it does not hurt the industry as long as they stop distribution when licensed in the country. Fans often buy merchandise from the series and a commerical sub is better than nth generation tapes, anwyay. Some US companies have stated that they don't mind as long as they stop distribution when licensed - it helps them see what series are popular and will be successful. Others are against them becaue of the copyright rules they break, however. For a better explanation, check out The Fansub FAQ

What is an otaku?

Otaku is the Japanese word for fan. It generally has a tone of obsessed fan and can refer to a fan of anything - cars, movie stars, etc. In America it is used to refer to fans of Anime. It has a kind of bad connotation(being socially inept, untidy, a nerd...), so I wouldn't use it to refer to anyone else unless they call themselves one first:o) So why do we call ourselves otaku if it's so bad, then? It's a way to stand up against the majority who don't like us and also just to poke fun at ourselves;p

Who is CLAMP?

CLAMP is a group of four female artists who create manga and anime. They have created Magic Knight Rayearth, Tokyo Babylon, Clamp School Campus Detectives, Card Captor Sakura, and X/1999 among others. They're known for beautiful artwork and the giant gorgeous eyes.

Who is GAINAX?

GAINAX is a production company that created Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water, Wings of Honneamise, His and Her Circumstances(Kare Kano), and what they are proably most well known for - Evangelion. They were originally a group of fanboys like us and made animation in their backyard with some crude materials. Somehow, they got noticed and got funded for a full length motion picture which resulted in Wings of Honneamise - and the rest is history:)

Who is Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghilbi?

Miyazaki is a famous anime director - often equated to America's Walt Disney. Studio Ghilbi is his production company. Some of his works include: My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Detective Conan, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind, and Princess Mononoke. Totoro is like Mickey - it was his first major work and the loveable forest spirit is used as a mascot for Ghilbi in the same way as Mickey is the mascot for Disney.

What are Seiyuu?

Seiyuu are voice actors. It's serious business in Japan (unlike America where they think any movie star can do voice overs for animation). The voice actors are trained in technique and work for various companies and such. Check out Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database if you're interested in who voices your favorite characters!:o)

Why are their names backwards?

In Japanese (and Chinese), family names are written first. My Chinese name, for example is Chao Ewen. In English I write it Ewen Chao.

What does "fill in Japanese word here" mean?

Well, I can't tell you what everything means, not being fluent;) But I can tell you what some words I may use in my pages and what a few other commonly used words which I've picked up mean:o)
Kawaii - cute
Kire - beautiful
Baka - dumb, idiot, stupid
Watashi/Boku/Ore - I, me.
Anata - You
wa - particle used to indicate subject of the sentence.
no - like an 's. Used to show possession, etc. does not matter whether for is Noun no Adj. or Adj no Noun. For Example : 'Suzaku no Miko' means the Maiden of Suzaku or Suzaku's Priestess, etc:)
Ohayo - Good Morning
Konnichiwa - Good Day
Konban wa - Good Evening
Sayonara - Goodbye
Hajimemashite - Nice to meet you. (I believe it is just used for first time meetings)
Ja ne - See you Later. Bye.
Arigatou - Thank you. (Variations - Arigatou Gozaimasu or Domo Arigatou)
Gomen - Sorry (also, gomen nasai)
Doushiyo? - What am I going to do? (Miki of Marmalade Boy seems to say this one a lot;))
Sugoi!/Suteki!- Amazing! Great! Wow!
So desu - I see.
Hayaku - Hurry up
Chotto matte - Wait a second
Na ni? - What?
Honto? - really?
Daijoubu - okay. (can be posed as a question - Are you okay? Is everything alright?)
Hai - Yes
Iie - No
Tomodachi - Friend
Moshi Moshi - Hello(on the phone), also to get someone's attention.
Henshin - Transformation
Kodomo - Child
Koi, Ai - Love
Aishiteru - I love you.
Ittedekimasu - I'm leaving.(Said as people leave the house for work, school, etc.)
Ganbatte! - Good luck! Give it your best! (formal - Ganbatte kudasai)
For more, check out 100 Most Essential Words in Anime.

What's with all these -chan's and -kun's at the end of names?(Honorifics)
These are added as signs of respect towards others.
-chan is used usually between female friends
-kun is used for boys or for someone of lesser rank than you
-san is used for other people - equiv. to Mr., Mrs., Miss
-sama means something like Lord or Lady
-senpai means upperclassman
Also, people often call others by their family names (last names) to be formal. If ones first name is used or endings are dropped, it indicates some degree of closeness.

What do bloodtypes mean?

In asian countries, they believe your bloodtype determines what kind of person you are. You are expected to know what your bloodtype is - it's like knowing your zodiac sign, etc. Most Japanese are type A.
A - introverted, calm, serious, loyal
B - outgoing, curious, optomistic
AB - sensitive, discriminating
O - peaceful, benevolent, emotional, moody

This page last updated August 14, 2000.

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