A little Dictionary of Anime terms

Anime Dictionary

This is just a quick little collection of terms that you'll see in use on a lot of anime fanpages. These are all the ones that I saw as being unusual but if you see a word or a term that you'd like me to define for you just drop me a note.

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Anime

Japanese cartoons. The main difference between American cartoons and Japanese cartoons are the diversity of subject matter. Most (not all) American cartoons are aimed primarily towards children. Most Japanese cartoons are higher in animiation quality and many are aimed towards teen-agers and adults.

Blood Types

On many fanpages you'll find references to a characters's blood type. Several books were written in Japan at the turn of the century claiming that your blood type ruled the kind of person you are. (A's being nervous, introverted, honest, loyal, B's being outgoing, optimistic, adventurous; AB's being proud, diplomatic, discriminating and O's being workaholic, insecure, emotional) The closest cultural equivelent to Ketsuekis (the japanese word for these blood type meanings) is a person's zodiac sign.

-chan

A cute suffix on a name. A term of enderment. Used most often on the names of the very young. Often girl characters have this attatched to their name to imply cuteness and a familiarity with the subject. I.E. Calling a girl named Mina, Mina-chan is like calling a girl named Susan, Sue, Susie or Susan-sweetie. Sometimes girls will add this to a boys name to imply a close intimateness.

Dojinshi

Fan-made comic, usually based around an established Anime or Manga. These can be quite well made and sometimes come very close to professional quality. Unfortunately quite a few are also pornographic.

Dub (dubbed)

Dubbed anime strips the Japansese voices off (and sometimes the sound effects and music too) and replaces them with English (or any other language). The pros to this is it tends to be more palatable to a wider audience and its a little easier to appreciate the animation. The con is that unless the voice actors are good (and sometimes even if they are), a lot can be lost in the translation. And often dubbed voices are performed very woodenly or over the top.

Ecchi

A Japanese word meaning perverted or perverse. Though not actually any different in meaning from Hentai, fans usually use it to refer to "soft-core" anime porn. (i.e. if someone tells you to buy this wonderful video, but warns you its a little ecchi, that means its not suitable for family viewing.)

Fandub

Very similar to a Fansub, but instead of being subitled, these fans actually dub their own voices (or that of voice actors) over the original Japanese voices. Fandubs are *much* rarer. The same pros and cons apply to this as Fansubs with the additonal con (or pro) of being in English (often spoken by amature actors).

Fan Fiction

Unofficial Short stories and fiction written by fans about their favorite anime or manga.

Fan Service

This usually refers to segments of animation (pans, close-ups, special camera angles) that focus in on attractive bits of (usually feminine) anime stars. These are usually gratuitious T&A shots. The most famous Fan Service trick is the "panty shot" where a comely young girl's will flip up just for a moment to allow a glimpse of her panties.

Fansub

This is anime where the fans have taken it upon themselves to translate, subtitle and distribute an anime title. On the one hand this is illegal and if they make any money its essentially stealing it out of the creator's pockets. On the other hand, these dedicated fans usually don't charge money and often make available titles that aren't available otherwise.

Hentai

A Japanese word meaning perveted or perverse, but much harsher than ecchi. Though not actually any different in meaning from ecchi, fans usually use it refers to "hard-core" anime porn. (i.e. if someone tells you to buy this wonderful video, but warns you its a little hentai, that means it is defintely not suitable for family viewing.)

Japanimation

-Japanese cartoons, see anime.

Kawaii

A Japanese word meaning impossibly cute and adorable.

-kun

A suffix used by a socially superior male to a socially inferior male. It is a term of familiarity and often boys who grew up together use it. It might be most similar to a guy called "Robert" being called "Bob" or "Bobby" by his friends.

Manga

Japanese Comic books. Like anime these comics cover a wide range of subjects aimed at all ages.

Mecha

A term used in anime for science fiction type robots and mechanized armor. Giant robots and power suits are a staple in anime.

Otaku

Obsessed fan/geek in Japanese. While very derogative in Japanese many anime fans wear the title with pride, refering to themselves that way to prove how dedicated they are to they're hobby/obsession.

OVA (OAV)

Respectively Original Video Animation and Orignal Animation Video. These are animation features (from episode to movie length) that have not been shown on TV or in the theaters but are usually higher in animation quality than TV animation.

-san

A suffix that has a very similar meaning to sir or ma'am. Often a fan will tack it onto the end of a creator or other fans name to imply deep respect and awe of a person. It is a generic term that can be applied to males or females. It is also used when adults are talking to a younger woman of about High School or College age, where as "-kun" is with young men.

Seinen

This another classification of anime/manga, but it can also be either shoujo or shounen as well as being Seinen. Seinen anime/manga revolves around a hobby, workplace or sport making it seem more natural and realistic. They are targeted to all age groups, mostly depending on the topic. Also, they are usually less violent or sexual than shoujo or shounen.

Seiyuu

This is the Japanese term for the voice actors that voice the characters in anime. Unlike US cartoon actors, many become famous. And for women especially, is a good way to launch a singing carrer.

Sempai

A term applied to someone in the same social group as you but outranks you. For example it is most often used by underclassmen to upperclassmen in school (especially girls to older male classmates). It can be used as an honorific or as a suffix like calling an upperclassman named Micheal "Sempai" or "Micheal-sempai".

Sensei

A Japanese term of respect one gives to a teacher or mentor.

Shonen

Anime or manga aimed towards young men. (Though not limited to that group) The stories in this group usually focus on a young male hero facing legions of "Bad guys". Lots of fighting is usually involved.

Shoujo

Anime or manga aimed towards young women. (Though often enjoyed by both sexes of a wide range of ages) The stories usually focus on romanace, and usually have a young heroine experiencing her first love. Though the stories usually focus on day-to-day life and romance, the characters can be anything from space aliens to super-powered schoolgirls.

Sub (subtitled)

Subtitled anime has the original Japanese voices, sound effects and music with an English (or any other language really) translation running across the bottom. The pros to this is that you can have a more natural translation than one that has to be fit to the speaking mouth. The con is trying to read your film while watching the lovely animation.

Sugoi!

A Japanese word meaning "Wow!"

Super-Deformed (SD)

A drawing style where the characters become very cartoony and simple. While a series can be drawn/animated in this style its not uncommon for a character to suddenly become super-deformed to show extreme emotion or humor.

Sweat-Drop

A large drop of water will sometimes appear on an anime character's head. This is a Japanese cultural reference, exaggerated to the extreme. The sweat-drop implied extreme embarassement, embarrased amazement, or embarrased anger.

Wah!

A noise often made as an impressed noise (similar to an ooooo! aaaaaahhhh!)

a\| b\| c\| d \| e\| f \| g \| h\| i \| j \| k \| l \| m \| n \| o \| p \| q \| r \| s \| t \| u \| v \| w \| x \| y \| z
Anime	Japanese cartoons. The main difference between American cartoons and Japanese cartoons are the diversity of subject matter. Most (not all) American cartoons are aimed primarily towards children. Most Japanese cartoons are higher in animiation quality and many are aimed towards teen-agers and adults.
Blood Types	On many fanpages you'll find references to a characters's blood type. Several books were written in Japan at the turn of the century claiming that your blood type ruled the kind of person you are. (A's being nervous, introverted, honest, loyal, B's being outgoing, optimistic, adventurous; AB's being proud, diplomatic, discriminating and O's being workaholic, insecure, emotional) The closest cultural equivelent to Ketsuekis (the japanese word for these blood type meanings) is a person's zodiac sign.
-chan	A cute suffix on a name. A term of enderment. Used most often on the names of the very young. Often girl characters have this attatched to their name to imply cuteness and a familiarity with the subject. I.E. Calling a girl named Mina, Mina-chan is like calling a girl named Susan, Sue, Susie or Susan-sweetie. Sometimes girls will add this to a boys name to imply a close intimateness.
Dojinshi	Fan-made comic, usually based around an established Anime or Manga. These can be quite well made and sometimes come very close to professional quality. Unfortunately quite a few are also pornographic.
Dub (dubbed)	Dubbed anime strips the Japansese voices off (and sometimes the sound effects and music too) and replaces them with English (or any other language). The pros to this is it tends to be more palatable to a wider audience and its a little easier to appreciate the animation. The con is that unless the voice actors are good (and sometimes even if they are), a lot can be lost in the translation. And often dubbed voices are performed very woodenly or over the top.
Ecchi	A Japanese word meaning perverted or perverse. Though not actually any different in meaning from Hentai, fans usually use it to refer to "soft-core" anime porn. (i.e. if someone tells you to buy this wonderful video, but warns you its a little ecchi, that means its not suitable for family viewing.)
Fandub	Very similar to a Fansub, but instead of being subitled, these fans actually dub their own voices (or that of voice actors) over the original Japanese voices. Fandubs are much rarer. The same pros and cons apply to this as Fansubs with the additonal con (or pro) of being in English (often spoken by amature actors).
Fan Fiction	Unofficial Short stories and fiction written by fans about their favorite anime or manga.
Fan Service	This usually refers to segments of animation (pans, close-ups, special camera angles) that focus in on attractive bits of (usually feminine) anime stars. These are usually gratuitious T&A shots. The most famous Fan Service trick is the "panty shot" where a comely young girl's will flip up just for a moment to allow a glimpse of her panties.
Fansub	This is anime where the fans have taken it upon themselves to translate, subtitle and distribute an anime title. On the one hand this is illegal and if they make any money its essentially stealing it out of the creator's pockets. On the other hand, these dedicated fans usually don't charge money and often make available titles that aren't available otherwise.
Hentai	A Japanese word meaning perveted or perverse, but much harsher than ecchi. Though not actually any different in meaning from ecchi, fans usually use it refers to "hard-core" anime porn. (i.e. if someone tells you to buy this wonderful video, but warns you its a little hentai, that means it is defintely not suitable for family viewing.)
Japanimation	-Japanese cartoons, see anime.
Kawaii	A Japanese word meaning impossibly cute and adorable.
-kun	A suffix used by a socially superior male to a socially inferior male. It is a term of familiarity and often boys who grew up together use it. It might be most similar to a guy called "Robert" being called "Bob" or "Bobby" by his friends.
Manga	Japanese Comic books. Like anime these comics cover a wide range of subjects aimed at all ages.
Mecha	A term used in anime for science fiction type robots and mechanized armor. Giant robots and power suits are a staple in anime.
Otaku	Obsessed fan/geek in Japanese. While very derogative in Japanese many anime fans wear the title with pride, refering to themselves that way to prove how dedicated they are to they're hobby/obsession.
OVA (OAV)	Respectively Original Video Animation and Orignal Animation Video. These are animation features (from episode to movie length) that have not been shown on TV or in the theaters but are usually higher in animation quality than TV animation.
-san	A suffix that has a very similar meaning to sir or ma'am. Often a fan will tack it onto the end of a creator or other fans name to imply deep respect and awe of a person. It is a generic term that can be applied to males or females. It is also used when adults are talking to a younger woman of about High School or College age, where as "-kun" is with young men.
Seinen	This another classification of anime/manga, but it can also be either shoujo or shounen as well as being Seinen. Seinen anime/manga revolves around a hobby, workplace or sport making it seem more natural and realistic. They are targeted to all age groups, mostly depending on the topic. Also, they are usually less violent or sexual than shoujo or shounen.
Seiyuu	This is the Japanese term for the voice actors that voice the characters in anime. Unlike US cartoon actors, many become famous. And for women especially, is a good way to launch a singing carrer.
Sempai	A term applied to someone in the same social group as you but outranks you. For example it is most often used by underclassmen to upperclassmen in school (especially girls to older male classmates). It can be used as an honorific or as a suffix like calling an upperclassman named Micheal "Sempai" or "Micheal-sempai".
Sensei	A Japanese term of respect one gives to a teacher or mentor.
Shonen	Anime or manga aimed towards young men. (Though not limited to that group) The stories in this group usually focus on a young male hero facing legions of "Bad guys". Lots of fighting is usually involved.
Shoujo	Anime or manga aimed towards young women. (Though often enjoyed by both sexes of a wide range of ages) The stories usually focus on romanace, and usually have a young heroine experiencing her first love. Though the stories usually focus on day-to-day life and romance, the characters can be anything from space aliens to super-powered schoolgirls.
Sub (subtitled)	Subtitled anime has the original Japanese voices, sound effects and music with an English (or any other language really) translation running across the bottom. The pros to this is that you can have a more natural translation than one that has to be fit to the speaking mouth. The con is trying to read your film while watching the lovely animation.
Sugoi!	A Japanese word meaning "Wow!"
Super-Deformed (SD)	A drawing style where the characters become very cartoony and simple. While a series can be drawn/animated in this style its not uncommon for a character to suddenly become super-deformed to show extreme emotion or humor.
Sweat-Drop	A large drop of water will sometimes appear on an anime character's head. This is a Japanese cultural reference, exaggerated to the extreme. The sweat-drop implied extreme embarassement, embarrased amazement, or embarrased anger.
Wah!	A noise often made as an impressed noise (similar to an ooooo! aaaaaahhhh!)

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