Animatrix FAQ

FAQ:Frequently Asked Questions

These are some frequently asked questions about anime in general. If you have a question that isn't answered here, send it here, and I'll try to answer it (and maybe post the answer here, for all to see).

1:What is anime?
The word "Anime" is just the Japanese word for animation (of any kind), and it is pronounced "Annie-May" (both like the English names). Other commonly used words for Japanese animation are Japanimation, Japanime, and Manga (which is the Japanese word for comic books and animation in general)In Japan, although there are also animated TV series and movies made for kids, a lot of animation is created with teens and adults in mind. Japan, has been creating anime for a long time, and does a lot of it, and (at least in the opinion of most anime fans) is generally better at it than any other country. Anime encompases the whole range of animation produced in Japan--most of it has a similar, relatively realistic style (you know, with the big eyes?), but the genres are a varied as those in live action movies. There are sci-fi stories, comedies (both of the silly and more adult type), action flicks of every flavor (much anime, but by no means all of it, fits here), romance stories (from adolescent girl stuff, all the way up), dramas (some of very high quality), and even literary adaptations. You will see a lot of surprisingly deep and thoughful stories, some very interesting art, and lots of things that are interesting to adults (and some stuff that isn't suitable for younger viewers at all).

2:What is manga?
This is the japanese names for comics. Manga follows the distinctive styles that we see throughout anime series and films. Big eyes, long legs, huge breasts the stuff that makes you love anime really. Manga is usually used as the basis for an anime but is normally altered in its transition to TV or cinema.

3:Is this stuff ok for my kids to watch?
It depends. Some movies, yes, others, definitely not. Check the age rating on videos and DVD's to see and even then they still might contain the odd bit of language and nudity. In any case, always keep an eye on what your kids watch, especially when it comes to anime a lot of it is not really sutable for kids.

4:Is this series/show/movie ok for somebody who doesn't like strong language/violence/nudity/etc.?
Don't ask me about individual films you should ask in the forums someone should be able to help you there.

5:Ok, what's with all the nudity?
First of all, Japanese attitudes about nudity are far less strict than those in the UK and many other countries, and it is even legal to show some nudity on TV in Japan. And, since attitudes toward nudity are less strict in Japan, it is also not entirely uncommon to see nudity in a cartoon--even one targeted at children. Now, don't get me wrong--that's not erotic nudity by any stretch, but, for example, there have been brief spots of nudity in the Dragonball TV series and the Sailor Moon series (edited out, of course, for broadcast elsewhere). Second (as mentioned above) animation in Japan can be targeted at any age group from young children up through adults, and the themes depicted match. You wouldn't be surprised to see some nudity in a live-action R rated movie, so it shouldn't be so surprising to see nudity in a Japanese movie targeted at adults, even if it happens to be animated. Put these together, and it might not be so shocking that there is occasionally some nudity in an anime movie. Don't take this to mean that you shouldn't keep an eye on what your kids watch--just realize that, as with live action movies, you should be careful of what your kids are watching; there are some movies for kids, and some for the big guys. If you're a parent, make sure you know which is which. Also note that there is some pretty sleazy anime out there (as in pornography), but don't take that to mean that every Japanese animated movie with some adult themes is garbage--you'd be missing some very impressive cinema.

6:What's with the huge eyes?
No, it's not some kind of Asian inferiority complex, and actually, not quite all Anime has the big eye style. But, most of it does, and the fact of the matter is that no one is exactly sure why. The first person to use that style was, I think, Tezuka Osamu, the creator of the old Astro Boy TV series. At the time it was probably a sort of emulation of the Disney and Warner Brothers style (if you look, Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse have huge eyes), and it also no doubt relates to the simple fact that humans find big eyes cute (small children have proportionally bigger eyes). The animated TV series of that period were very popular, and the style stuck. It has been altered and adapted over the ages, but the eyes have remained roughly the same. I've also heard another reason for the size of the eyes summed up by the old expression "eyes are windows to the soul." The Japanese (and by extrapolation Japanese Animation) are very interested in emotion, and what better way to express emotion than through... well, really huge eyes.

7:Who created anime, and when?
The artform we now call "anime" doesn't have a specific birthdate, and it wasn't exactly created by anyone. But, partly as a result of being the first or among the first to use the big eyed style, Tezuka Osamu is generally considered the "father" of anime. He started creating comics in 1947, which were extremely popular, and at the begining of 1963 Tetsuwan Atomu (known outside Japan as Astroboy) began airing. That is generally considered the first anime-style animated production.

8:You keep using weird acronyms or words, what do they mean?
The most common question is about OAV/OVA, both of which refer to a straight to video miniseries, usually with between 4 and 6 parts. For more detailed definitions of that and a lot of other useful terms, try our glossary.

9:What does [Japanese word] mean? I keep hearing anime fans use it.
Check our glossary. Lots of good definitions are there, and if you don't find it, you can always ask us.

10:What do -Chan, -San, and all those words stuck onto Japanese names mean?
Where in English we have a basic set of prefixes (Mr., Mrs., Ms.), Japanese titles are suffixes (they come after the name), there are more of them, and they are more strictly based on the speaker's rank in society relative to the person they're talking to. They are also not usually gender specific. Ones you will hear most commonly in anime are:

-san: The basic "Mr."/"Ms." suffix; not gender specific. Used by adults (or sometimes younger people) to refer to roughly social equals, or as an all-purpose polite suffix.
-chan: The standard "cute" suffix. Generally used with the names of small children or younger girls; also occasionally used affectionately by boyfrieds/girlfriends to refer to each other.
-sama: Very honoriffic stuffix. Used when being extremely polite, or more commonly toward people far socially superior (kings, lords, gods). Not common in modern use, but frequently heard in anime.
-kun: Generally used to refer to social equals or slight inferiors, particularly younger males.
-dono: Rarely used, old fashioned honoriffic; similar to -sama.
-sempai/Sempai: Can be used as a suffix or as a stand alone "title" (not attached to a name, that is). Usually used to refer to people in the same group as you, but somewhat higher (for example, students in a higher grade).
-kohai/Kohai: The opposite of "sempai"--used to refer to social inferiors.
-sensei/Sensei: Roughly "Teacher", also used as both a suffix and term of reference. Can also be used for respected people in educated positions, such as doctors. This is the once case where there is a rough English equivalent; one can say, for example, "Professor Smith", or merely call him/her "Professor" (the word "sensei," however, includes other English titles, like "Doctor" or "Teacher" as well).

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