noun
Common
anime
AN-ih-may
Anime (noun) means Animation that originates from Japan, or animated work drawn in the visual style associated with it. Example: “My little brother draws his own characters in the style of anime.”
noun
1
Animation that originates from Japan, or animated work drawn in the visual style associated with it.
"Usually the manga comes first, though it may be an offshoot of a novel, and an anime may be inspired by a video game."
— Joan D. Vinge, The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Eighteenth Annual Collection (2005)
"My little brother draws his own characters in the style of anime."
"She got into anime after watching a friend's favorite series."
"The convention draws thousands of anime fans every year."
"After three months of successful sales in manga form, it was made into an anime for television."
— Peter J. Katzenstein, A World of Regions (2005)
"These anime prepared the way for Otaku no video, a two-part Original Video Animation (OVA)."
— Thomas LaMarre, edited by Tomiko Yoda and Harry D. Harootunian (2006)
How to use anime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishJapanese-style animated shows and films, or animation drawn in that style.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
anime series
anime convention
anime fan
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Word forms
- Plural
- animes
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My little brother draws his own characters in the style of _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese anime, itself a shortened form of animēshon, which Japanese borrowed from the English word "animation."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for anime
See all rhymes for anime →Frequently asked questions
What does “anime” mean?
The word “anime” means animation that originates from Japan, or animated work drawn in the visual style associated with it. In plain terms, japanese-style animated shows and films, or animation drawn in that style.
How do you pronounce “anime”?
“Anime” is pronounced AN-ih-may (/ˈæn.ɪ.meɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “anime” in a sentence?
Here is “anime” used in a sentence: “She got into anime after watching a friend's favorite series.”
What is another word for “anime”?
Words with a similar meaning to “anime” include Japanimation and Japanime.
What part of speech is “anime”?
“Anime” is a noun.
Where does the word “anime” come from?
The word “anime” comes from Japanese. Borrowed from Japanese anime, itself a shortened form of animēshon, which Japanese borrowed from the English word "animation.".
Is “anime” a common word?
“Anime” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "anime" and a "cartoon"?
"Anime" refers specifically to animation that originates from Japan or is drawn in that visual style, while "cartoon" is a general English word for any animated work. All anime is animation, but in common use not every cartoon is called anime.
What is the difference between "anime" and "manga"?
Anime is animated — moving film or television — while manga refers to Japanese comics and printed graphic novels. Many anime series are adapted from manga source material.
Is "anime" singular or plural?
"Anime" works as both singular and plural, so you can watch "an anime" or several "anime." It usually does not take an "-s" ending, much like other borrowed words treated as uncountable.
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