what does the word "anime" really mean?

[CR33P]

this has been disputed a lot. some people think that an anime is a style of animation, while others think it is just a japanese cartoon. i could see them as both, but i don't really think that all of the animations in japan follow the same style.

i personally think it means a japanese cartoon/animation.

what do you guys think?

 

[Alice]

It's not really THAT subjective. The term is quite fervently used to refer to Japanese animated cartoons and the like. People just think it is and like to argue that it's special. "IT'S NOT A CARTOON, IT'S ANIME".

Those people don't know what a cartoon is, I'm afraid. Then there are the people that take Japanese inspired animation and call it "anime". Those people are hilarious. Animation from Japan =/= Japanese-like Animation. It's like calling Scott Pilgrim a manga.

 

[Chibiusa]

It literally is the way they refer to cartoons in Japan. Cartoons made by the Japanese. There isn't much more to be said.

 

[Darumy]

square cant be a rectangle, rectangle can be a square


It`s just japanese cartoon animation. Goes from Serial Experiments Lain to Lucky Star to Psycho Pass to 5 Centimeters Per Second to Spirited Away. My analogy earlier is a bit off because technically anime is cartoons but it`s just a specific term that has the potential to change the entire subject at hand in a conversation. The style between animes are extremely different but there is a cultural approach to animated media that is highly different from american cartoons (imo). Not better, just different.

 

[Titi]

There's confusion about this?
I thought it was just used to describe japanese animated series or movies.
As oposed to cartoon being used for western animated series and movies.

 

[shananza]

The actual word "anime" means "animation" in Japanese, however it's used by the West in order to describe Japanese/East Asian animation.

Like the word "otaku" is associated with someone who collects, however, we use it to describe someone who collects Japanese/anime related things.

 

[Alice]

There's confusion about this?
I thought it was just used to describe japanese animated series or movies.
As oposed to cartoon being used for western animated series and movies.

It's not so much confusion as it is general ignorance. Some fans are just so smug and obsessed that they'll do anything to prop it up.

- - - Post Merge - - -

The actual word "anime" means "animation" in Japanese, however it's used by the West in order to describe Japanese/East Asian animation.

Like the word "otaku" is associated with someone who collects, however, we use it to describe someone who collects Japanese/anime related things.

Anime doesn't mean animation in Japanese. The etymology of the word is a bit confusing due to different claims, but the most accepted consensus is that it's a shortened form of アニメーション, or "animēshon". アニメ is anime.

 

[Lauren]

I thought it was short for animation

 

[Flop]

square cant be a rectangle, rectangle can be a square

Sorry to intrude with this off-topic post, but all squares are actually rectangles XD

A rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral with 4 right angles and parallel sides.

Tbh, I think it's ridiculous when people have the audacity to call someone out for calling anime a cartoon.

 

[Alice]

I thought it was short for animation

Technically, it is.

 

[Darumy]

Sorry to intrude with this off-topic post, but all squares are actually rectangles XD

A rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral with 4 right angles and parallel sides.

Tbh, I think it's ridiculous when people have the audacity to call someone out for calling anime a cartoon.

Oh whoops, I totally got that reversed. No wonder something looked wrong about it.

Thanks for the correction!