Glossary of Anime Terms
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Glossary Of Anime Terms -
Anime - short term for Animation. Usually refers to animation originating in Japan
Bishonen - effeminate male characters usually seen in shojo Manga and Animes
Cel - painted image on acetate that is filmed to create animation
Chibi - Japanese word referring to a person or thing's diminutive size...usually associated with cute things
Chroma Cel - A limited production, mechanically printed cel
Cos-play - short for costume play. refers to fans that dress up as characters at Anime conventions they may or may not put on a presentation in character
Doujinshi - A fan created Manga featuring popular characters
Dubbed - on an Anime, when the original Japanese soundtrack is replaced with American actors
Ecchi - (comes from the letter "H") milder form of Hentai
Fanfic - Story about popular characters written by fans
Fansub - An Anime from Japan that usually hasn't been released commercially in the US yet that is subtitled using computers by fans
Genga - reference image used to help the camera operator line up the cel layers and backgrounds
Hentai - (literally - strange forms) Anime with a pornographic edge to it
Kawaii - Japanese word for cute and attractive
Key Cel - Cel whose pencil is drawn by and cel is painted by one of the head animators. usually used as reference for other cels. these are considered more valuable cels
Kirei - Japanese word for cool
Manga - (literally -corrupt pictures) - Japanese comic books
Mecha - Short for "mechanized" - term referring to a Manga or Anime that features powered suits or robots
Otaku - a crazed fan of anything usually associated with Manga and Anime fans. It's a derogatory term in Japanese, but is a term of endearment amongst some US fans
OVA or (OAV) - stands for Original Video Animation or Original Animation Video. A higher quality straight to video release...never was broadcast on TV
Pencil Board - a small light plastic board placed underneath a paper to give a smooth writing surface some desks are pretty scratched up
P.P cards - Japanese trading cards also known as Pull Pack cards. A bunch of envelopes containing a single card tied together with a string. In Japan these cards are typically sold one at a time.
Seiyuu - Japanese word for Voice Actor
Shojo (shoujo)- Japanese word for girl, associated with Manga and Anime aimed towards girls
Shonen (shounen) - Japanese word for Boy, associated with Manga and Anime aimed towards boys
Subtitled - A video in the original language with the translation of the dialogue typed out along the bottom
Super Deformed - An unusual caricature of an Anime character usually with a huge head and a small body. Used mostly in merchandising but sometimes in series (Lodoss Island, Tiny Goddess)
VA - short for Voice Actor
Yaoi - male homosexually themed Anime/Manga
Yurie -female homosexually themed Anime/Manga
Anime - short term for Animation. Usually refers to animation originating in Japan
Bishonen - effeminate male characters usually seen in shojo Manga and Animes
Cel - painted image on acetate that is filmed to create animation
Chibi - Japanese word referring to a person or thing's diminutive size...usually associated with cute things
Chroma Cel - A limited production, mechanically printed cel
Cos-play - short for costume play. refers to fans that dress up as characters at Anime conventions they may or may not put on a presentation in character
Doujinshi - A fan created Manga featuring popular characters
Dubbed - on an Anime, when the original Japanese soundtrack is replaced with American actors
Ecchi - (comes from the letter "H") milder form of Hentai
Fanfic - Story about popular characters written by fans
Fansub - An Anime from Japan that usually hasn't been released commercially in the US yet that is subtitled using computers by fans
Genga - reference image used to help the camera operator line up the cel layers and backgrounds
Hentai - (literally - strange forms) Anime with a pornographic edge to it
Kawaii - Japanese word for cute and attractive
Key Cel - Cel whose pencil is drawn by and cel is painted by one of the head animators. usually used as reference for other cels. these are considered more valuable cels
Kirei - Japanese word for cool
Manga - (literally -corrupt pictures) - Japanese comic books
Mecha - Short for "mechanized" - term referring to a Manga or Anime that features powered suits or robots
Otaku - a crazed fan of anything usually associated with Manga and Anime fans. It's a derogatory term in Japanese, but is a term of endearment amongst some US fans
OVA or (OAV) - stands for Original Video Animation or Original Animation Video. A higher quality straight to video release...never was broadcast on TV
Pencil Board - a small light plastic board placed underneath a paper to give a smooth writing surface some desks are pretty scratched up
P.P cards - Japanese trading cards also known as Pull Pack cards. A bunch of envelopes containing a single card tied together with a string. In Japan these cards are typically sold one at a time.
Seiyuu - Japanese word for Voice Actor
Shojo (shoujo)- Japanese word for girl, associated with Manga and Anime aimed towards girls
Shonen (shounen) - Japanese word for Boy, associated with Manga and Anime aimed towards boys
Subtitled - A video in the original language with the translation of the dialogue typed out along the bottom
Super Deformed - An unusual caricature of an Anime character usually with a huge head and a small body. Used mostly in merchandising but sometimes in series (Lodoss Island, Tiny Goddess)
VA - short for Voice Actor
Yaoi - male homosexually themed Anime/Manga
Yurie -female homosexually themed Anime/Manga
