anime vocab
Anime: Japanese for animation. Japan has a huge and thriving
industry for animation of all types, including movies with
complex plots and adult themes. While there are some drawing
styles -- such as the famous big-eyes look -- that are seen
as indicative of anime, there is such enormous variety in
drawing styles that anime cannot be restricted to just one
of its stylistic offshoots.
Bushi: Originally applied to soldiers in service to a
shogun, it has evolved into a term that applies to all professional
warriors. It's similar to the term samurai.
Bushido: The code of the warrior.
Chibi: Japanese word used to describe characters as small,
little, or young.
Edo: Ancient name of the city that became Tokyo.
Gaijin Foreigner: someone who is not of Japanese descent.
Kaiju: A large and threatening monster. Think Godzilla.
Kappa: Monster spirit that lives in rivers. They like
to drink sake and eat cucumbers. Also, they are dangerous
to humans.
Katana: Curved sword that is sort of a symbol for Japan.
Kawaii: Cute is an obsession in Japan. The characters in
a child's anime series such as "Sailor Moon" could safely
be referred to as kawaii.
Ki: Literally meaning air, this term also has a figurative
meaning as life-force energy, what many Americans would
be familiar with in the Chinese word chi.
Manga: Manga refers to comic books, not the animation you
see on TV or in movies. Lots of manga, however, end up in
anime form.
Mecha: Also referred to as mech, this means cool technology
or mechanical items. You'll see this term most often used
to refer to giant humanoid tanks that battle it out -- usually
in the heart of a ruined city.
Otaku: This is pretty much the Japanese equivalent of
"fan boy." It's got a slightly derogatory meaning as someone
without much of a life who's obsessed with this or that
anime series, but it's also been reclaimed as a badge of
honor for those who love anime.
Ronin: Soldiers who are free of a master or leader. Think
of them as freelance fighters.
Sempai: Refers to someone who is a master or senior within
any type of organization.
Tezuka Osamu: Hugely popular creator of manga and anime.
He created AstroBoy, Kimba the White Lion, and countless
other characters and creations.
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