Anime (Japanese: アニメ?, [anime] ( listen); English Listeni/ˈænɨmeɪ/) are Japanese animated productions usually featuring hand-drawn or computer animation. The word is the abbreviated pronunciation of "animation" in Japanese, where this term references all animation.In other languages, the term is defined as animation from Japan or as a Japanese-disseminated animation style often characterized by colorful graphics, vibrant characters and fantastic themes. Arguably, the stylization approach to the meaning may open up the possibility of anime produced in countries other than Japan. For simplicity, many Westerners strictly view anime as an animation product from Japan.

 Anime is an art form, specifically animation, that includes all genres found in cinema, but it can be mistakenly classified as a genre.^:7 In Japan, the term anime refers to all forms of animation from around the world English-language dictionaries define anime as a "Japanese-style animated film or television entertainment" or as "a style of animation created in Japan".


The word anime -- pronounced "ah-knee-may" -- is an abbreviation of the word animation. In Japan, the word's used to refer to all animation. Outside of Japan, it's become the catch-all term for animation from Japan.
For decades, anime was produced by and for Japan -- a local product, with a distinct look-and-feel to not just the artwork but the storytelling, the themes, and the concepts. Over the last forty years, though, it's become an international phenomenon, attracting millions of fans and being translated into many languages. A whole generation of viewers in the West have grown up with it and are now passing it on to their own children.


 The term “anime” refers generally to any sort of cartoon television series or movie made in Japan. The word is derived from the English word “animation,” but in popular culture it tends to have a more narrow meaning and often describes a particular type or genre of show. Characters all tend to have a similar look, for instance, no matter their creators, and the story arcs that drive the action are usually complex and deep. The genre is generally considered an art form and is popular all over the world. Despite the cartoon presentation, many of these shows are actually intended for mature adult audiences and may deal with themes like death and sexuality. As the genre has become more popular, more and more artists around the world are creating programming. In order to be true Japanese anime, though, a show, character, or film must usually have been created by a Japanese artist or production team.

 The basic drawings are most often one-dimensional, and usually have the look of traditional or “old fashioned” animation. It is much more than just a "cartoon" to most of its fans, though, and a lot of the allure comes where plot is concerned. Most of the popular cartoons in North America and Europe rely on either humor or simplistic "good versus evil" story arcs that can be quickly absorbed within a short time slot. The typical anime series, by contrast, presents characters that evolve as the series moves along, and most programs deal with complex issues including the reality and acceptance of death. It is sometimes most instructive to think of these sorts of shows as no different from any other television drama or other serial program, except that it has drawn characters instead of actors. This type of series commonly offers insight into the Japanese culture and often plays upon well-known Asian myths, symbols, and the martial arts.