ANIME – Japanese animation. In academic terms, animation made in Japan.
MANGA – Japanese comics. In academic terms, comics that is of Japanese style or origin.
MANHUA – Like manga, but originates from a Chinese based community. Style will differ.
MANHWA – Like manga, but originates in Korea. Unlike manga, Manhwa is read from left to right, like American comics.
SHOUJO – Manga and anime titles that are specifically created for young girls. Usually contains complex storylines, romantic elements, and character development. The “chick-flick” of manga.
SHOUNEN – Manga and anime titles specifically created for young boys. Usually filled with lots of action, fantasy adventure, and giant robots.
MECHA – Manga that contains anything mechanical such as weapons, body armor, vehicles, and giant robots.
SEINEN – Means “Young Man.” Specifically targets young adult dealing with issues of adulthood. A more mature genre to shounen.
JOSEI – Means “Lady Comics.” Created specifically for older women, these comics are filled with stories about dating, romance, and the occasional sexual fling. A more mature genre to shoujo.
HENTAI – Manga that contain explicit sexual content.
ECCHI – Like Hentai, but milder.
YAOI – Manga featuring romantic flings between male characters. Sometimes these titles are explicit and are mainly enjoyed by women in Japan.
YURI – The opposite of Yaoi. Instead of male characters, they are female. The target audience is males.
In Japan, these are used when referring to a person by name. Sort of like using Mr., Mrs., or Ms. The terms go after the name though.
-CHAN – used when addressing or referring to children, girls and young women (though mainly females). Normally not used between adults since it holds “cute” connotations, unless the two parties are very familiar with the other.
-KUN – Used for addressing children and teenagers, mainly males. In an adult setting, it is used as an insult to make the other sound inferior. Can be used to address females, though usually not.
-SAMA – Used when addressing someone who is much older and wiser, usually towards someone of great respect. The honorific is gender neutral and informal.
-SAN –Used when addressing someone of equal social status. The honorific is gender neutral and formal. Mainly used towards people you don’t know very well.
SENPAI –Used by a young person when referring to a senior in a social class. Can be seen used in a school setting, like a freshman referring to a sophomore or a senior.
SENSEI – Used when addressing someone who is a professional. These can range from doctors, teachers, scientists, and other specialists. Sort of like the Dr. in honorifics.
FAN SERVICE – An element in an anime or manga that please the fans, but doesn’t add to the storyline. Now has come to most commonly be interpreted as nudity, shots of a women’s figure or undergarments.
KAWAII – The Japanese word for cute.
MANGAKA – The Japanese word for manga artist or a person who creates manga. It is gender neutral.
OTAKU – Has multiple meanings. In Japan, it means someone who is an anti-social obsessive fanatic (negative). But outside of Japan, the word has become somewhat less negative. It has come to mean obsessed fan (less negative).
COSPLAY – Short for “costume play”. These are people who dress up as their favorite anime or manga characters. Like Star Wars Troopers at conventions (there is always a trooper at conventions).
SCANLATION – A digital copy of a manga from its native origin (Japan or else where) and translated into different languages, usually without the Mangaka or publishers consent. A combination on the words “Scan” and “Translation.”
