What's Your Definition of "Anime"

[cholinms]

In English speaking countries, the word Anime means Animation made in Japan, and in the definite style of it's visual genre. it's that simple.

You cann't realy simplify like that becuase the Japanese "anime art style" was copied from an American style of art.

I also know that the ORG has a set definition of what anime is and generaly it seem to be based on art style or origanal source material. But if you look around in some stores and websites they will have any film that is origanaly from Japan grouped in with anime. I also know that over in Korea Popeye is considered anime becasue it's animated. I heard this from a KATUSA that I worked with when I was stationed over there.

[Garylisk]

Anime is the French word for Animation. The Japanese did not mangle our word, they used the French word.

If you listen to a Japanese speaking person pronounces "animation" (ah-nee-ma-shee-on-ooh) and their fondness of word contraction (Pokemon=Pocketu Monstah) you'll understand why they call it "anime". I'm sure those that actually study Japanese can give a more informed explaination.

Gary Littlejohn - "Garylisk"

2 years college Japanese, 6 years independent study.
Has worked with various translation and interperetation projects, including fansubs and audio translation. Projects have included:
Tenchi Muyo GXP
Love Hina Comics Image Album
Kodomo no Omocha ("Kodocha")
Mahou Yuugi (Magical Play)
Tenchi Muyo OVA 3
Ojamajo Doremi
Various other small projects involving music translation, plus phrase interperetation.

I would also quote some literature backing up the statement I made about "anime" being derived from French, but that would involve me looking for where it was quoted in several books here.

I will say this: You make an excellent point about the Japanese pronunciation of "animation" and their love of shortening words. However, way back when (ANd I mean WAAAAAY long ago), they got their word for animation from the French - This I promise you is true.

Did they have a word for it before? Yes, but it was one of those cases where the word they had, which escapes me now, was too "literal" - if you know what I mean... Here, I'll explain the situation of it from a book I recently read.

This is not a quote, it's just the dialogue as I remember it, from a recent publication. "Wrong About Japan" is the name of the book, it's by Peter Carey. (I highly reccomend it!)

"You drink Miruku?" asked Takashi, adding that "ku" sound to the end, which I've noticed often indicates foreign words which have recently been adopted into mainstream language.
"Miruku?" I asked. "Doesn't Japanese have it's own word for Milk?"
"Oh yes, but we don't use it."
"Why not?"
"It's too... medical." he scrunched up his nose.
"What is it?"
"Gyuunuu. It literally means "Liquid from Udder"" he explained, with that scrunched look on his face. "Miruku is more modern."


Like I said, I'd quote the exact text if I felt like finding where this happened in the book. Again, I highly reccomend it. It's a true story about the author and his son taking a trip to Japan.

[O-Kagachi]

According to the Encarta Dictionary, anime is Japanese animation that involves violence and sexual situations. Both my parents know what anime is without having to look it up in a dictionary, but they believe that some anime is for little kids, i.e. Dragonball Z, Pokemon, Digimon, etc. They also know that there are anime that would be inappropriate for children to watch, such as Cowboy Bebop, Lupin III, etc. My dad says that it's okay if I watch it, but he still thinks that it is childish that a twenty-year old college student is watching cartoons, even if the cartoons have stuff that you would find in movies ranging from PG to R. To put it in simplier terms, anime is divided into two groups: anime for children and anime suited for teenagers and adults.

Well, then whoever wrote the Encarta dictionary is a totally brainless retard. havent they ever heard of pokemon and astro boy? Thats not very sexual or violent.

[Super Shanko]

if you go to Answers.com they have a pretty good explanation on it which is this.....
"A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex" i think this is more accurate than what Encarta says. but the way they "sex" i think it means the panty shots and busty girls.

[Malificus]

if you go to Answers.com they have a pretty good explanation on it which is this.....
"A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex" i think this is more accurate than what Encarta says. but the way they "sex" i think it means the panty shots and busty girls.

Then Hentai is it's own style?

[Super Shanko]

if you go to Answers.com they have a pretty good explanation on it which is this.....
"A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex" i think this is more accurate than what Encarta says. but the way they "sex" i think it means the panty shots and busty girls.

Then Hentai is it's own style?

i see it more as a genre or a type.

[Malificus]

if you go to Answers.com they have a pretty good explanation on it which is this.....
"A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex" i think this is more accurate than what Encarta says. but the way they "sex" i think it means the panty shots and busty girls.

Then Hentai is it's own style?

i see it more as a genre or a type.

What about Ecchi (H)?

Oh, and my Idea of anime is a cartoon, usually containing a high level of animation that american kiddie cartoons, yet doesn't have to be. may be directed at adults or children, have either a deep plot, or none at all, be cute or gruesome, and contains variations in realism from perfectly normal (real/human as in eyes are actual human size, mouths don't become huge, etc..)) proportions, to Super deformed two head tall characters with giants eyes. Is usually stereotyped as having spikey haired characters, poor animation (famous for all of the tricks), and beleived by many ill informed to consist of only shows like DBZ, Pokemon, YuGiOh, Teen Titans, Megas XLR, etc..

That ended up vague...

[Harlock7876]

Gary Littlejohn - "Garylisk"

2 years college Japanese, 6 years independent study.
Has worked with various translation and interperetation projects, including fansubs and audio translation. Projects have included:
Tenchi Muyo GXP
Love Hina Comics Image Album
Kodomo no Omocha ("Kodocha")
Mahou Yuugi (Magical Play)
Tenchi Muyo OVA 3
Ojamajo Doremi
Various other small projects involving music translation, plus phrase interperetation.

I would also quote some literature backing up the statement I made about "anime" being derived from French, but that would involve me looking for where it was quoted in several books here.

I will say this: You make an excellent point about the Japanese pronunciation of "animation" and their love of shortening words. However, way back when (ANd I mean WAAAAAY long ago), they got their word for animation from the French - This I promise you is true.

Well then, you certainly have the final word in this!

[Bulghod]

Japanese animation.
pretty simple as that to me.

if you want to be all technical and cut hairs, then most anything involving either the now famous pointy chin animation technique or the OG Tezuka style junks made in Japan, with possible exceptions like maybe Miyazaki. that guy's stuff really doesn't come off as anime to me, except for when he did he Lupin stuff
but it's Japanese animation.

[Garylisk]

Gary Littlejohn - "Garylisk"

2 years college Japanese, 6 years independent study.
Has worked with various translation and interperetation projects, including fansubs and audio translation. Projects have included:
Tenchi Muyo GXP
Love Hina Comics Image Album
Kodomo no Omocha ("Kodocha")
Mahou Yuugi (Magical Play)
Tenchi Muyo OVA 3
Ojamajo Doremi
Various other small projects involving music translation, plus phrase interperetation.

I would also quote some literature backing up the statement I made about "anime" being derived from French, but that would involve me looking for where it was quoted in several books here.

I will say this: You make an excellent point about the Japanese pronunciation of "animation" and their love of shortening words. However, way back when (ANd I mean WAAAAAY long ago), they got their word for animation from the French - This I promise you is true.

Well then, you certainly have the final word in this!

Not really, I was just noting that I have training in Japanese, much like someone earlier suggested that we ask someoen who has such training.