Basic Definitions/Terms
all "otaku" should know
Ani-Mayhem
Ani-Mayhem is a card game (such as Magic) that is designed around the world of Anime. Pioneer, Viz, and AnimEigo combined forces to ensure that a wide variety of titles would be available to base cards around, and the introductory set includes El Hazard, Ranma 1/2, Bubblegum Crisis, and Tenchi Muyo.
Anime
Japanese word for cartoons/animation (roughly). Used in America to describe the genre of animated films and series' which come from Japan, are drawn by Japanese studios, or in some cases are influenced by the Japanese style of animation.
Bishonen
Stories about homosexual men.
Cosplay
Short for Costume Play, which is the tradition of dressing up as a favorite character from Anime / Manga / Video Games / etc. This is a large, and very serious, part of being a fan in Japan, where fans spend a great deal of time and money on making costumes look as good, and exact, as possible.
Dual
'Dual' is one of two ways of releasing Anime on LaserDisc to include both a sub and a dub version. Dual is when the original Japanese voice recording is on one LD audio track, and the English version on the other, with close captioning providing the subtitles. When referring to DVD, Dual means that the disc contains both English and Japanese voice tracks, and subtitles are available in at least English (which is how all DVD Anime releases, hopefully, will be).
Dub / Dubbed
Dubbed. When Anime is brought over, and the original Japanese voice actors are replaced with American ones, it's a dub or dubbed.
Ecchi- Japanese pronunciation of "h"
Same definition as "hentai"
FanFic
Short for Fanfiction, they are stories written by fans of a particular series. Sort of a "What If" story most of the time..
FanSub / FanDub
This is when a particular title has been subtitled or dubbed by a fan/amateur group. This was done before Anime was widely available in the US to help give others the chance to see them, and is still done today for the titles which aren't released here in the US. Fansubs or dubs are rarely sold, instead usually being traded for other titles, or requesting just the cost of postage and the blank tape. Fansubbing or dubbing is, of course, illegal, as the copying and redistributing of the titles is against the law, and the quality is often quite poor due to recording generations. The moral side of the issue, however, is still a hot topic today, with passioned opinions on both sides.
Hentai - means "pervert"
Japanese word used to describe things of a more adult nature (in sexual and nudity terms). Hentai is used most often in America on the Internet by fans, as a way of tagging sites, images, stories, or anything else that isn't suited for all audiences.
Hybrid
Hybrid is one of two ways of releasing Anime on LaserDisc to include both a sub and a dub version. Hybrid is when the subbed version is put on one side of the disc, and the dubbed version on the other.
Japanimation
Popular term for the genre of cartoons and comics brought over from Japan, and term which is commonly used in stores or catalogs to describe the genre.
Kawaii
"Cute" ^_^
"Lemon"
A Hentai/Ecchi fanfic
Manga - "involuntary picture" or "accidental"
Japanese word for comics (roughly). Used in America to describe comics and graphic novels which come from Japan, are drawn by Japanese artists, or in some cases are influenced by the Japanese style of artwork (an example of this is Ninja High School). Manga has four main groups to it; Shonen (boy's comics), Shojo (girl's comics), Seinen (children's comics), and Seijin (adult comics).
OAV / OVA
Original Animation Video, or Original Video Animation (either is correct). This is when a piece of animation goes straight to home video, without ever being run in a theater. Most Japanese animation is done this way these days. An American example of this would be the second and third movies in Disney's Aladdin series.
Otaku - literally means "obsessive geek" or "house"--which is not what most people refer to when saying otaku. The more frequently used term for house is "Uchi"
Japanese term used to describe an obsessed fan (roughly). Quite a few fans in the US wear the word Otaku (in it's American form) with pride and honor.
P.C.M.
Pre-constructed models. (Gundam models are scaled 1/144, 200, 100, 50 of the actual size of the mech)
SD-"super-deformed"
Used to describe smaller, cuter versions of characters from anime or games. Characters will have shorter arms/legs and an oversized head with big, huge eyes.
Seiyuu - "soul voice"
Japanese word used to refer to a voice actor/actress.
Shojo- "virgin"
Used to describe subject matter aimed at young girls. (i.e. Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth)
Sub / Subbed
Subtitled. When Anime is brought over, and subtitles are used instead of dubbing over the original voice actors, it's a sub or subbed.
Definitions to add or revise?
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