Theme's in Anime and Manga

There are many underlying subjects or themes that can be playing in a anime besides the main one.An example is that a anime may be fantasy but there could also be sub themes about romance or comedy in it.Here are the various themes that can play in a anime or be written in a manga comic.

  • Shoujo-Anime written for an audience of young girls.These tend toward Romantic themes and can be in a variety of different subjects from fantasy to the macabre.
  • Shounen-Written for an audience of young boys,these tend toward action themes.
  • Kids-Intended for young audience-simple themes and easy to follow storylines.
  • Comedy-while it can be subtle and elegent,its more often absurd comedy that plays in Anime
  • Drama-May include epic tales or the poignant
  • Parody-from titles which use common themes to one which use cameos from other anime and manga characters.
  • Episodic-episode series in which each story is self contained and builds from episode to episode
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Romance
  • Romantic triangle- Not often seen in an anime, most often would be complicated romantic struggles involving a dozen or more hapless lovers.
  • Mystery
  • Intrigue
  • Horror
  • Slice of life-This theme is used most often in manga but never in North American cartoons. Its focus is Everyday people and events which may seem common place but are signifigant to those involved.
  • Coming of age
  • War-commonly used for action or drama.
  • Ecchi-Ecchi is the Japanese pronunciation of H,the first letter in the Japanese word Henti which mens pervert.Ecchi anime contain very light sexual themes,but NEVER any actual sex.Lots of potty humor,but nothing that would be inappropriate for younger viewers by Japanese standards.
  • Shounen-Ai-Common in anime,though not dominant.Young boys in love with each other.
  • Lesbians-Many anime have faint lesbian over tones,they appear strongly and positively in many of the most popular titles.
  • Gender-Gender confusion. Eg.A woman dies and is reincarnated as a young boy.
  • Martial Arts
  • Girls with Guns
  • Heroes-Not as prevalent as a theme as it is in North America.
  • Team
  • Secret Identities
  • Transformations
  • Samurai
  • Ninja
  • Aliens
  • Royalty
  • School kids
  • Masterminds
  • Superconglomerates
  • Tomboys
  • Strange Body Chemistry-Popular plot device. Genetic mutations,family trait, or scientific experiment.
  • Family
  • Housing
  • Extreme Violence-Blood Gushing every where, bullets flying or swords hacking of peoples heads.
  • singing Idols
  • Video Game inspired
  • Magical girl
  • Historical Settings
  • Holocaust-Disturbingly common theme in anime.Holocaust though plague, bomb, earthquake.
  • Mascots-Providing sage advice or comic relief, they take many forms like talking computers or floating cats.
  • Theatre
  • Dance
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Flowers
  • Medicine
  • Mecha
  • Computers and cybespace
  • Sports
  • Cops and Robbers
  • Bounty Hunter
  • Militia
  • SEX-Sexual content.Parental discretion advised.
  • Myths and Folklore
  • Music
  • Anthrpomorphic-Catgirls, Bunnygirls, Dragonboys.Very popular theme.
  • Creatures of the Night-Vampires, Werewolves,Witches.Some seek to turn the world to evil.
  • Ghosts
  • Vampires
  • Other Worlds-Any anime deal with people from our world transported to another world.
  • Quest
  • ESP
  • Business World
  • Swordplay
  • Flying Machines
  • Cars
  • Motorcycles
  • Gunplay
  • Science-Fiction
  • Time slip-Travel to the far distant future or the distant past.Not restricted only to Science-Fiction.
  • Spaceships
  • American Manga or Pseudo Manga,these were American made comics inspired by Japanese Manga.
  • Online Manga-Published on the Web.
  • Yaoi-It focuses on homosexual relationships between male characters and is generally sexually explicit.
  • Shônen-ai-less sexually explicit than yaoi, and the characters involved in shônen-ai were generally of a much younger age.
  • Bishônen-a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful boy." It describes an aesthetic widely shared in Asia—a young man whose beauty (and sexual appeal) transcends the boundary of sex.
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