Interesting Question...

[Jupernia]

I am so tired of people refer to anime as Japananimation so heres my question. What does the word Anime really mean? I was told it ment cartoon but I dont think thats right. So can you help me please. :eek:

[thomas]

I'm far from being an anime expert, but anime is the shortened Japanese transliteration of the English word "animation".

anｷiｷmaｷtion
n.
1. The act, process, or result of imparting life, interest, spirit, motion, or activity.

2. The quality or condition of being alive, active, spirited, or vigorous.

3.

a. the art or process of preparing animated cartoons.
b. An animated cartoon.

Source (http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=animation)

I don't think there's any other meaning that that.

[samuraitora]

wow...don't think anyone could have answered the question any better than that

m(_ _)m

[Harvey]

In the states I guess it is actually more descriptive to refer to it as ”Japanimation" do distinguish animation created in Japan to stuff created here...　Like Disney.　　If I'm not mistaken, Japanese people would refer to Disney movies as Anime.　アニメ

[TomAsInfinity]

I agree with "Thomas and the gang" (potential band name) on this one. "Anime" seems to be the romaji'd version of the abbreviated word for "animation" for the Japanese.

I see that over here and in parts of Europe they also use the spelling "anim�" too, which may have originated from France since they are one of the leaders in animation too (Inspector Gadget, Ulysses 31, Mysterious Cities of Gold -- wow, natsukashi). I guess "Japanimation" is the west's way of categorising the slew of animation available over there. With HK's recent soiree into animation,"My Life As McDull." I can see the generation of further similar categories, Maybe "Asianimation?"

[thomas]

France is undoubtedly an anim� superpower. Let's not forget to mention Herg� (a Belgian) who created The Adventures of Tintin. I think generations have grown up with Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy. We have all editions in English, French, German, and now - thanks to Nahoko - in Japanese too.
;)

I'm not sure if Tintin is even known in the U.S...

"Thomas & the Gang".... wait until you hear me sing, lol!

[green]

Here is something from anime.org.au (http://www.anime.org.au/scoop/?op=special&page=anime_faq).

'Anime' is a Japanese word, a contraction of a loan word 'anime-shon' which comes from the english word 'animation'. It's as simple as that. Japanese are quite fond of contracting longer words, or combining multiple words to make a new, short, easy-to-pronounce word. An example of which might be 'pasokon', the japanese equivalent of 'PC', which also originally comes from the english 'personal computer'. Such words usually use the katakana script.

[larry_s]

Interesting page, Green! Thanks for sharing.

[Vidook]

Anime has now been incorporated (back?) into the English language.

From dictionary.com:

anｷiｷme
n.

A style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by stylized colorful art, futuristic settings, violence, and sex.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Japanese, short for animshon, animation, from English animation.]
Source: The American Heritageｮ Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

[deborah gormley]

very interesting question indeed and now even I know what anime really means,:bow:

as for "thomas and the gang" I'm sure I'm speaking for all the members WE CANT WAIT lolol(must get sound added here hahaha)

[thomas]

Oh, but Debs, advisors and mentors will have to team up as gang of course!
:happy:

[deborah gormley]

I want to sing!!!! Iwant to dance!!!! lolol I want to be in the gang lolol, rehearsals: sign here!! lolol:clap: :clap:


went right off the thread again didnt I???? lol.

[moyashi]

lolololo .... I disappear for a bit and folks go nutty on me. hehe

Yep, Far as I know the above are correct. Interesting that the Japanese take a word make it into Japanese and it goes back to being English with a slight twist.

I do believe at the same time the word OTAKU [nerd, geek] got imported too.

OTAKU, a collector who borders or has crossed the line of being a fanatic over his obession of collecting things. AKA nerd, geek.

tintin -- nah, he's not the little Greek God is he?

[thomas]

I just read somewhere that "otaku" has a negative connotation in Japanese while that's not the case when used in other languages ("geek" isn't necessarily negative, is it?).

Tintin, the hero of my childhood

=> http://www.tintin.com/uk/

[moyashi]

Bill Gates = Nerd, Geek ... so it should be negative

When I use my computer too much my wife calls me an "Otaki" ... so ... negative

@tintin
ohhh, that's what the character's name was. I've seen his comics while I was Germany

Now who's that little olypmic looking character with wings on his feet and BIG friend ???

[Fugu]

The correct translation of word "anime" to English language is "fun", I think (sorry, I'm a bit addicted)!

I've read an English version of one of Tintin adventures and I've liked it, because the story is very well developed, but the drawings is a bit stillness (the drawings is quite good and detailed also) compared to manga.

[Olivia]

@ otaku
means maniac, fanatic about something done indoors (hmmm... how can I explain this?) - such as PCs, videos, books and stuff. it had a negative connotation, but nowadays i think it has changed, not sure.

@ that little olypmic looking character with wings on his feet and BIG friend
i believe you're talking about Asterix et Obelix, fantastic cartoon!!! i think there's even a movie of them - starring Gerard Depardieu

[thomas]

"Asterix and Obelix", another pillar of my childhood, hehe. Sorry moyashi, I missed your post.

=> http://www.asterix-obelix.nl

[moyashi]

Yes, Yes Asterix. That's him :clap: Thanks Olivia.

I saw him once while I was like 5 and his image has always stayed with me. haha, it wasn't his feet but his helmet. Oh well?!?

lolo, why?

[Olivia]

hmmm... don't know why...
but take a look:
(the official site is www.asterix.tm.fr)

[Olivia]

:p
oops, forgot the pic!

[moyashi]

lol ... neither do I but that's ok. I've always liked the duo.

[perfectchichi]

In japan all cartoons are called anime. We just use it in the us to describe japanese animation.

[deborah gormley]

lol I remember that guy Asterix, and like you moyashi I think I seen it once maybe twice, and the duo where great, pity they dont have him on T.V here, the kids would love it, and the helmet is what I remember too,lol:bow:

[moyashi]

:relief:

[Mari]

Ohayo Minna-san!!!!
This is my very first post :clap:
About the word OTAKU, it is actually bad, really bad in Japanese, though it was used by occidental people as way of saying "anime fan". After some time people understood it had a negative meaning and *sota* discontinued its use (something similar happens to HENTAI, as non-english use it as "anime porn" when it's real meaning is "perverted").
Tin-Tin --> Yep! they know it in the US (and here in Argentina too!) as well as Asterix & Obelix (don't forget Id馭ix!!!-whom I know as Fidexis :confused: )
http://www.asterix.tm.fr/france/personnages/img_pers/img_idefix.jpg
Besides the live movie with Gerard Depardieu there are several animated movies "Asterix and Cleopatra", "Asterix and Caesar" (I think there're some more, but I don't remember any other titles).
Well, I think that's it (for now)

[thomas]

Hi Mari, welcome to the board! :wave:

Good to know that there are other Tintin and Asterix fans around, lol!

[moyashi]

tintin = tantan over here. One of my students is a big fan of him.

@ Otaku
yes, Otaku is a deragotory usage. Anime fans got the term over here because well, hmmm, if you met a few you'd find that the word fits to them pretty well. Otaku also includes the meaning of "mania" so even stamp collectors can techinically be Otaku.

@ Hentai
hehe, yep Hentai is that "perverted". It's assocation with Anime Porn is correct too. If you've seen any Japanese anime porn the word "perverted" is pretty light for some of the scenese that go on. "The bleu Girl" or something like that is a famous series along with "Rape Man". It's hard to not find a perverted anime porn in Japan.

[thomas]

I never quite understood the attraction of hentai.

[...] Wanted to post some more, hehe, but I guess we need an adult only board for such topics.

[moyashi]

Maybe it's like going to Baskin Robins 31 Flavors to get your ice cream instead of the supermarket?

[thomas]

Overexposure, blunt senses, you know.... mmmh, Baskin Robins.

If we accepted hentai pages to our Topsites we'd have even more visitors. Have to turn down such pages every day.

[moyashi]

Really!

Don't worry about the denials. Apparently Google is doing something similar in Germany and France but more along the nazi lines.

[thomas]

Right, Yahoo! France was forced to remove Nazi memorabilia from their auctions.

I have to delete about 75% of all pages submitted to our directory, and more than 95% of those added to the Topsites, otherwise, as Mike Cash once pointed out to me, we might descend into sleazedom.

I've already lost a few members of our banner exchange (mostly Christian and missionary sites) because other participating members of the exchange displayed "inappropriate content", so they claimed. Other J-related sites are less scrupulous and offer Japanese bikini galleries, hentai, free J-Pop mp3s, ripped videos etc. I don't want to sound overbearing, but that's not the audience japanreference.com intends to reach.
:angel:

[moyashi]

You've definitely made the right decision!

[Ancella]

I agree with Thomas and all of the people who have said that anime is from english words: animation. Well I also had read about it on anime magazine here, so I don't think it will be wrong.