アニメ Anime

Anime (アニメ^?, [anime] ( listen); ⁱ/ˈænɨmeɪ/ or /ˈɑːnɨmeɪ/) is a style of animation originating in Japan, characterized by colorful graphics and often featuring themes intended for an adult audience.^[1] The word is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation." The intended meaning of the term sometimes varies depending on the context.^[2]

While the earliest known Japanese animation dates to 1917, and many original Japanese animations were produced in the ensuing decades, the characteristic anime style developed in the 1960s—notably with the work of Osamu Tezuka—and became known outside Japan in the 1980s.

Hentai is the pornographic spin-off of anime.

Anime, like manga, has a large audience in Japan and recognition throughout the world. Distributors can release anime via television broadcasts, directly to video, or theatrically, as well as online.

Both hand-drawn and computer-animated anime exist. It is used in television series, films, video, video games, commercials, and internet-based releases, and represents most, if not all, genres of fiction. As the market for anime increased in Japan, it also gained popularity inEast and Southeast Asia. Anime is currently popular in many different regions around the world.

Influence on world culture

Anime has become commercially profitable in Western countries, as early commercially successful western adaptations of anime, such as Astro Boy, have revealed.^[52] The phenomenal success of Nintendo's multi-billion dollar Pokémon franchise^[53] was helped greatly by the spin-off anime series that, first broadcast in the late 1990s, is still running worldwide to this day. In doing so, anime has made significant impacts upon Western culture. Since the 19th century, many Westerners have expressed a particular interest towards Japan. Anime dramatically exposed more Westerners to the culture of Japan. Aside from anime, other facets of Japanese culture increased in popularity.^[54] Worldwide, the number of people studying Japanese increased. In 1984, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test was devised to meet increasing demand.^[55]

Viewers may also pick up on Japanese terms either within or related to anime, though at times those words may take on different connotations. For instance, the Japanese termotaku is used as a term for anime fans beyond Japan, more particularly the obsessive ones. The negative connotations associated with the word in Japan have lessened in foreign context, where it instead connotes the pride of the fans.