This one's alphabetized so enjoy!
A
Anime (アニメ) – Any animation produced in or originating from Japan. Shorthand for Japanese Animation.
Anime music video – Often abbreviated AMV, video clips from at least one anime series arranged to fit a musical piece playing in the background. AMVs usually cut out the audio and subtitles from the actual anime episodes, but sometimes sound clips or subtitles may be left in at certain parts to help enhance the video.
Ahoge - A singal strand of hair that sticks out of a character's head. It literally means "stupid hair" and the character is usually stupid in some way. However, there are exceptions to this, so it is not a rule. It's different from antenna hair, which is when there are two or more locks of hair sticking up as opposed to one. Some characters that have an ahoge are Himeko Katagiri from Pani Poni, Konata Izumi from Lucky Star, Megumi Momono from Mahoraba, Kenji Harima from School Rumble, and Italy from Hetalia: Axis Powers.
B
Baka (バカ, ばか, 馬鹿) - Literally means "idiot" or "fool."
Bara (薔薇) - Literally, "rose." "Bara" refers to a masculine gay men's culture and in manga circles a genre of manga aboutbeefcakey gay men usually by gay men. Compare with the female-created Boys' Love.
Bishōnen (美少年) – Beautiful boy – Japanese aesthetic concept of the ideally beautiful young man. Androgynous, effeminate or gender ambiguous. In Japan it refers to youth with such characteristics, but in the west has become a generic term for attractively androgynous males of all ages.
Bishōjo (美少女) – Literally, "pretty girl." Often used to describe any young attractive woman, but also used to imply sexual availability (as in "bishōjo games").
Boys' Love (ボーイズラブ Bōizu Rabu) – male homosexual content aimed at women, current, generally used in Japan to coveryaoi and shonen-ai.
C
Catgirl (猫娘 Nekomusume) – Character with cat ears and a cat tail, but an otherwise human body. These characters often have feline habits, claw-like nails, and occasionally show fangs. Emotional expressions are also feline in nature, such as an exaggerated fur-standing-on-end when startled. These characteristics are also sometimes used on guys as well as in the case of the characters of Loveless, Kyo Sohma of Fruits Basket and Ikuto Tsukiyomi of Shugo Chara!
Chibi (チビ) – Japanese word meaning "shorty" or "little one". Due to Sailor Moon and mistranslation, in America it is sometimes used to mean super deformed.
CM (シーエム Shīemu) – Commercial Message – An advert (usually on television).
Comiket (コミケット Comiketto) – Comics Market (コミックマーケット Komikku Māketto) – World's largest comic convention held biannually in Tokyo, Japan for producers and fans of Dōjinshi. (see Comic Party)
Cosplay (コスプレ, kosupure) - short for "costume play", - type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan. Favorite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies.
D
Dōjinshi (同人誌) – Amateur manga/fanzine.
Dōseiaisha (同性愛者) – Same-sex-loving person. – (Terminology)
Dub - When the voices in an anime are changed into another language from its native language.
E
Ecchi (エッチ) – Perverted, although milder than Hentai, usually referring to softcore porn.
Enjo kōsai (援助交際) – "Compensated dating" which may at times border on quasi-legal prostitution. High school girls are paid by older men to take them out for a night on the town, possibly with sex included.
Eyecatch (アイキャッチ Aikyachi) – A scene or illustration used to begin and end a commercial break in a Japanese TV program, similar to how "bumpers" into/out of commercial breaks are used in the United States.
F
Fan fiction (ファン フィクション Fan Fikushion) – A general story written by fans of media, including anime. Story or piece of fiction written by fans of a production.
Fan service (ファンサービス Fan Sābisu ) – Elements specifically included to amuse or sexually provoke the audience that are unnecessary to plot development.
Fansub – fan-subtitled – A version of anime in which fans have translated and subtitled the dialogue into another language, most commonly into English.
Fujoshi (腐女子) – A female yaoi (やおい) fan.
G
Gakkyū Iinchō (学級委員長) - the class representative in a Japanese school.
Gakuran (学ラン) – Uniform for middle school and high school boys in Japan. The Gakuran is derived from Prussian army uniforms.
Ganguro (顔黒, ガングロ) - Literally "black face". A fashion trend among Japanese girls. The look consists of bleached hair, a deep tan, both black and white eyeliners, false eyelashes, platform shoes, and brightly colored outfits.
Gei (ゲイ) – Transliteration of gay. Etymology.
Gei comi (ゲイコミ) – manga with male homosexual themes, by men for men. Compare with yaoi, shonen-ai, June and BL.
Glomp – A hug in the manner of a small child, similar to a bearhug but often including one or both legs as well as arms. Also a hug in which the hugger jumps and catches the victim by surprise or off-guard. Occasionally referred to as a cross between a running tackle and a bearhug.
Glompnessa - A mega glomp involving more than one person glomping another person.
Gothicana – A serenade, with Gothic traits, such as black rose petals/ all attending wearing predominately black.
Gothloli (ゴスロリ Gosurori) – Gothic Lolita – A fashion trend where girls and young women dress in the style of elaborate porcelain dolls.
H
Harem (Turkish, from Arabic حرم ḥaram 'forbidden place; sacrosanct, sanctum', related to حريم ḥarīm 'a sacred inviolable place; female members of the family' and حرام ḥarām, 'forbidden; sacred') – A loose subgenre of anime and manga characterized by a protagonist surrounded, usually amorously, by three or more members of the opposite sex. The most common and practically tantamount scenario is a male surrounded by a group of females; when this is reversed it is informally referred to as a reverse harem. More recent variants include removing the protagonist's opposing sex to allow for yuri harems and yaoi harems (as with Gakuen Heaven). The term is derived from the Arabic"harem", modernly defined outside its original meaning as "a group of women associated in any way with one man or household".
Hentai (変態, ヘンタイ) – "Abnormal" or "perverted". – Used by Western Audiences to refer to pornographic anime or erotica. However, in Japan the term used to refer to the same material is typically Poruno or Ero.
Huggle – A very affectionate hug used to show joy and/or thanks. It is also somewhat like a 'glomp' but not as surprising. Also a cross between the words "hug" and "cuddle" or "snuggle".
Hikikomori (引き籠もり, ひきこもり, 引きこもり) – Similar to an otaku, but more severe. A Hikikomori is someone who secludes themselves within their home, sometimes refusing to leave their home at all in an effort to isolate themselves from society. It can be viewed as a social phobia similar to Agoraphobia. In Welcome to the N.H.K. and The Wallflower, the main characters, Tatsuhiro Satō and Nakahara Sunako, are Hikikomori.
I
Iinchō (委員長) – Short for Gakkyū Iinchō (学級委員長), the class representative in a Japanese school.
J
Josei (女性) - Intended for an older audience than shōjo. Content intended for women ages 18 or older.
Juné, also written as June – a manga or text story with male homosexual themes for women written in an aesthetic (耽美 tanbi) style, named for the Juné magazine.
K
Kawaii (カワイイ, かわいい, 可愛い) – cute.
Kemono (獣, けもの, ケモノ) – "Beast" – A genre of Japanese art and character design that prominently features animal-like fictional characters in human-like settings (Anthropomorphism) and situations. (see The Cat Returns, c.f. Furry)
Kemonomimi (獣耳, けものミミ, ケモノミミ) – Characters with animal features such as ears and a tails, but have a human body. Catgirl also falls under this concept. Examples include many of the characters of Loveless, the Sohma family of Fruits Basket and Ikuto Tsukiyomi and Yoru of Shugo Chara!.
Kogal (コギャル kogyaru) – A subculture of girls and young women, the kogal "look" roughly approximates a sun-tanned California Valley girl.
Komiketto (コミケット) – Genericised form of Comiket (Comics Market).
L
Lemon (レモン Remon) – derived from the hentai series Cream Lemon (クリームレモン Kurīmu Remon) – Material with explicit sexual content (not to be confused with the slang term for Lesbian in some English speaking cultures).
Loli-Goth – Gothloli (ゴスロリ Gosurori) – Gothic Lolita (ゴシック・ロリータ Goshikku Rorīta).
M
Magical girls (魔法少女 mahō shōjo) – stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic and a transformation (such as Full Moon o Sagashite and Sailor Moon).
Manga (漫画, マンガ) – Japanese style comics. Or conforming to "Manga style" usually marked by features such as large eyes, long limbs, speed lines and exclamatory typography
Mangaka (漫画家, マンガ家) – Creator of the manga. The mangaka is often the writer and the illustrator of the work.
Mahō Shōjo (魔法少女, also known as mahou shoujo or majokko) – belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga that means Magical Girl(See Magical Girl).
Mecha anime - cover all series that revolve around the use of piloted robotic armors in battle, which is broken down into two subcategories of Super Robot and Real Robot. Mecha series cover a wide variety of genres from comedy to drama, though are always fantastical and larger-than-life in nature and feature large-scale battles and/or action sequences. Mecha anime has contributed to a greater popularity of mecha and has expanded into other media, with manga and video game adaptations, and has also contributed to the popularity of scale model robots.
Minna (みんな) – Japanese word for everybody
Moe (萌え) – is a Japanese slang word originally referring to fetish or love for characters (e.g. meganekko-moe, "glasses-girl moe)
N
Nanshoku (男色) – Male love. – A deprecated, archaic term for male homosexuality. Etymology
Neko Girl/Boy (猫娘 / 猫男 Neko Musume/Neko Otoko) – Character with cat ears and a cat tail, but an otherwise human body. These characters often have feline habits, claw-like nails, and occasionally show fangs. Emotional expressions are also feline in nature, such as an exaggerated fur-standing-on-end when startled. [See CatGirl] Examples include many of the characters of Loveless, Kyo Sohma of Fruits Basket and Ikuto Tsukiyomi and Yoru of Shugo Chara!.
Neko (猫) – Japanese word for Cat, or Feline, often used when referring to a character with cat ears and/or tail.
O
Otenba (おてんば, お転婆) - tomboy
Okama ( オカマ) – (Pejorative) male homosexual. – (Literally cooking pot.) Etymology
Omake (おまけ, オマケ) – Some kind of add-on bonus on an anime DVD, like a regular 'extra' on western DVDs.
Original Character (OC) – a character not from the story. an stand alone character.
Orijinaru (オリジナル) – Original
Otaku (おたく, オタク, ヲタク) - is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga, and video games. Female otaku are occasionally referred to as fujoshi. The literal translation of the word is “your house”, but in Japanese slang the word is used to describe somebody who is so obsessed with something they never leave their house. Basically it means "geek", but is occasionally associated with lolicons and pedophiles, like in the anime series Hand Maid May.
OVA – Original Video Animation, or OVA is a type of anime, which is intended to be distributed on VHS tapes or DVDs, and not to show in movies, or television. It can also less frequently be referred to as OAV, or Original Animated Video.
Owari (おわり, オワリ, 終わり, 終) – "End" in Japanese, used by some fanfiction authors at the end of their works. Also used at the end of many anime series.
Oyaji (親父, おやじ, オヤジ) – Daddy – Older male such as a teacher or other role model. Often slightly perverted, but usually portrayed affectionately. Can also be used as 'pops' or 'old man' (as in father).
P
Peiji - page
Q
R
Raw – Anime episode or manga scans in its original language without editing or subtitles.
S
Sake (酒) – Commonly called "rice wine" in North America, sake is an alcoholic beverage made from brewing rice.
Seinen (青年) – Intended for an older audience than shōnen. Content intended for men ages 18 to 40 or older.
Seiyū (声優) – Japanese voice actor. Note anime voice actor as seiyū also perform for radio shows and video games as well as do dubs for foreign TV shows and movies.
Sentai (戦隊) - in Japanese language is a word for a military unit and may be literally translated as "squadron", "task force", "group" or "wing". The terms "regiment" and "flotilla", while sometimes used as translations of Sentai, are also used to refer to larger formations.
Shōjo (少女) – "Young woman" is, in western usage, a style of anime and manga intended for girls ages 5 to 10 or 10 to 18 depending on the content.
Shōjo-ai (少女愛) – coined following the form of shōnen-ai, denoting lesbian content, typically for material without explicit sex. In Japan the term shōjo-ai is not used with this meaning, and instead tends to denote ephebophilia.
Shōnen (少年) – "Young boy" is, in western usage, a style of anime and manga intended for boys. These works are characterized by high-action, often humorous plots featuring male protagonists, and unrealistically endowed female characters providing fanservice. Aimed for boys ages 5 to 10 or 10 to 18 depending on the content.
Shōnen-ai (少年愛) – A term denoting male homosexual content in women's media, although this usage is obsolete in Japan. English-speakers frequently use it for material without explicit sex, in anime, manga, and related fan fiction. In Japan, it denotes ephebophilia; see Shotacon.
Shudo (衆道) – Abbreviation for wakashudo. – The Way of Young Men age structured male homosexuality in Samurai society.
Sōsaku June (創作JUNE) – dōjinshi with male homosexual themes for women that are original stories and non-parodic of existing series.
Super deformed – Also referred to as simply "SD". Miniaturized versions of the characters integrated into the storyline to add comedy, or to display exaggerated emotion in a way that might be out of character. They are usually used when the character is supposed to be angry, sad, confused, or startled. More commonly known as a chibi. Chichiri from the anime Fushigi Yuugi is often found to be in a super deformed shape.
Sub - When an anime is kept in its original language, but has subtitles.
T
Tsuzuku (つづく) - literally "to be continued". Occasionally used at the end of a chapter of manga or an episode of anime when a continuation is to follow.
Tsundere (ツンデレ) - a character type whose personality is initially combative but eventually becomes loving and emotionally vulnerable.
See Yandere for the inverse of this trait.
U
Ulzzang (uljjang) - Korean word means best face. Most uljjangs share similar features. They usually have big eyes "the main focus", a high nose bridge, fair skin, etc. Even though in South Korea the term "Uljjang" means best face, you do not have to have all of these standards. However, people who are inspired by this term tend to create a more exaggerated look, making themselves look like dolls or anime characters while using makeup, false lashes, much eyeliner, mascara and etc.
V
Visual kei (ビジュアル系, ヴィジュアル系 Bijuaru Kei ) – An art movement characterized by eccentric looks, involving elaborate costumes and make-up.
W
Wota (ヲタ) - (pronounced 'ota', previously referred to as "idol otaku") otakus with obsessive fans of Japanese and/or some Asian idol specially singers and internet idols.
X
Y
Yamato Nadeshiko (大和撫子) – the Japanese ideal for a woman, being humble and skilled in domestic matters.
Yandere (ヤンデレ) - is a Japanese term for a person who is initially very loving and gentle to someone before their devotion becomes destructive in nature, often through violence. The term is derived from the words Yan (ヤン) meaning a mental or emotional illness and Dere (デレ) meaning to show affection. Yandere characters are mentally unstable, often using extreme violence as an outlet for their emotions. The usage of the character type has led to criticism over the amount of violence in works such as School Days and When They Cry. Although the character type has been used in anime and manga since Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam in 1985, conscious use of the term only began to be around the turn of the millennium. A variant of the term, Yangire (ヤンギレ) originated in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS and is used to describe a character who is mentally ill and snaps instantly without showing affection for the victim of their outbursts.
Yaoi (やおい) – Japanese acronym from '‘No climax, no point, no meaning’' (Yama nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi) – Male-on-male sexual content for women, particularly dōjinshi. Compare PWP. Sometimes (and incorrectly) used for all male/male romantic and sexual content, especially by US publishers.
Yuri (百合) – jargon term for lesbian content, typically used to denote only the most sexually explicit end of the spectrum in media outside of Japan. Inside Japan, the term denotes a broader spectrum of attraction between women. (Used like the term 'Yaoi' for women)
Z
Zettai Ryouiki (絶対領域) - Meaning 'Absolute Territory' (a term from the anime Evangelion), this phrase refers to the area of exposed thigh when a girl is wearing a miniskirt and thigh high socks.
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