Glossary of Terms
After watching so much anime, how can one *not* come up with terms and phrases for the more common elements of this unique genre? Of such things were the terms 'sweat-drop' and 'face fault' born, and here are some more that are used by the Argonauts. (Okay, so we didn't come up with *all* of them...)
Cute Factor: The requisite cute animal, object or person found in most anime. A series’ cute factor often serves as its unofficial mascot. Some examples of cute factors include P-chan from Ranma 1/2, Ryo-ohki from Tenchi Muyo! and the lesser-known Pen-Pen from Neon Genesis Evangelion. The cute factor for the Argonauts is Kuni-chan.
Dream Bubbles: Those misty bubbles that appear during a sequence when a character is having a sentimental, dreamy or happy moment. See also Dream Bubble Sequence.
Dream Bubble Sequence: A moment when the character and background become suddenly misty and pastel, and filled with bubbles and stripes of color. Usually happens when the character becomes sentimental, dreamy, or delighted. It is seen in many anime including Sailor Moon, Fushigi Yuugi and Pokemon. See also Dream Bubbles.
Face Fault: A sudden and instantaneous loss of composure from one frame to the next, resulting in the character(s) ending up in weird and wacky positions sprawled around the floor. Found most especially in comedic anime.
Fourth Wall: A literary term for the imaginary, ‘invisible’ wall that separates the characters from the audience (try imagining a stage, and you’ll see where the term ‘Fourth Wall’ comes from). A character breaks the fourth wall when they talk directly to the audience or allude to something ‘outside’ the story in the 'real' world. An aside in a play is an example of this. Another example is when Team Rocket from Pokemon mention "this episode" and having to "fill a half hour".
Ikari Move, The (also, the ‘Ikari Motion’): To push one’s glasses up higher on one’s nose, while betraying no expression or emotion; preferably while sitting with one’s elbows on the table/desk, hands folded together in front of the mouth. Performed often by Gendou Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Mallet Space (also, 'Hammer space', 'Furniture space'): The ‘pocket universe’ often utilized by anime characters to pull objects from apparently thin air. Seen especially in comedic anime, a good example would be Ranma 1/2, where most characters utilize it frequently. Mousse accesses it in his sleeves (from which he pulls all sorts of weapons), Ryoga has it around his forehead (a new headband is instantaneously pulled from mallet space whenever the current one is removed), and almost anyone can pull out kettles of hot water. In Sailor Moon, Sailor Moon uses it for her Moon Scepter and Crescent Wand. Certain designated characters from other animes can pull out a single rose. It is named for the fact that, in both Japanese and Western animation, the object most pulled from it is a mallet.
Mihoshi Effect, The: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Named after Mihoshi from Tenchi Muyo!, whose constant incompetence, dumb mistakes or pure clumsiness hijacked what would have been many easy successes for the main characters.
Parn Attack: When a character makes a hasty, all-or-nothing rush attack against a superior enemy who is just standing calmly and confidently, apparently doing nothing. A Parn attack requires that the attacker make no thought to tactics or strategy, and normally results in the attacker being thrown back by a magical spell, shield or other unexpected defense. Named after the character Parn from Record of Lodoss War, who frequently made such attacks.
Pulling a Tylor (Also, the ‘Tylor Effect’, ‘Tylor Luck’): Whatever can go wrong, will go right. Simply put, a character ‘pulls a Tylor’ if they, through incompetence, morality, stupidity, or some other reason, do the absolutely wrong thing to do in a given situation and, through pure comedic dumb luck, the situation turns out perfectly to his or her advantage anyway. A perfect example would be when Captain Tylor (for whom it is named), being a kind pacifist, surrenders to the enemy and gives their leader a present, unaware that the ‘present’ was really a bomb meant for him. In the resulting explosion, the entire enemy fleet is destroyed. Named after Captain Tylor from The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, whose successes and, often, survival, resulted from such lucky escapes.