Friday, December 8, 2006

Anime

Anime (IPA pronunciation: [ɑnime] in Japanese, but typically [ˈænɪˌme(ɪ)] or [ˈænəˌme(ɪ)] in English) is an abbreviation of the word "animation". Outside Japan, the term most popularly refers to animation originating in Japan.

While some anime is entirely hand-drawn, computer assisted animation techniques are, in recent years, quite common. Like any entertainment medium, the storylines represent most major genres of fiction. Anime is broadcast on television, distributed on media such as DVD and VHS, and included in computer and video games. Additionally, some are produced as full length motion pictures. Anime is often influenced by Japanese comics known as manga. Some anime storylines have been adapted into live action films and television series.

The Anime Definition

An example of the anime drawing style
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An example of the anime drawing style

Linguistically, the anime definition is subject to interpretation. In Japan, the term does not specify an animation's nation of origin or style; it is used as a blanket term to refer to all forms of animation from around the world. In English, main dictionary sources define anime as "a Japanese style of motion-picture animation" or "a style of animation developed in Japan". Thus, non-Japanese works are sometimes called anime if they borrow stylistically from Japanese animation.

In western countries the word is used usually only to refer to animated programming of Japanese origin, with the term "cartoon" or "animated series" used for most other visual styles. The online anime database AniDB generally defines anime (in the singular form) as "an animated, professionally produced, feature film created by a Japanese company for the Japanese market"; conversely, any non-Japanese animation resembling anime (such as the French series Totally Spies) is categorized as anime-influenced animation.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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