We see so many trends on Tik Tok and Instagram, where anime is a word commonly used to display fan-art of anime characters. The term anime originated from the word animation. The television animations made in Japan, whether they're in Japanese or in another language, are called anime.
Preferably known as otaku (おたく) or weebs in general, these people are anime fans. While otaku is a more serious term used for someone who incorporates anime or manga (Japanese comics) into their everyday life, a weeb is a commonly used term for non-Japanese people who watch anime and really love the culture.
Anime, just like movies, comes in different genres. However, it is also divided into 5 different types. We will look at what these 5 types of anime are and what makes them different from others. Before starting with that, let’s get a better understanding of anime in general.
What Makes It So Special?
Unlike other animations like Aeni (Korean) or Donghua (Chinese), anime has had a much greater impact worldwide. Let's look into why:
1) Plots
Anime is very well known for its complex plots with unexpected twists, turns, and much more. These stories are significantly more complicated than those seen in traditional animated cartoons.
An anime plot, for example, often develops over many episodes and a single tale can take more than 50 episodes to fully develop. In addition to complicated plots, anime characters are often seen as very complicated too.
2) Adult Focused
People of all ages can appreciate anime, and there are anime projects specifically created for children, as with any type of animation. However, due to the nature of anime plots, adults are more likely to understand and enjoy this kind of animation than youngsters.
Lengthy plots need viewers' long-term interest in the storyline and complex characters need viewers' ability to both understand and engage with that complexity.
3) Facial features
Exaggerated facial features with various expressions are something very normal for viewers and artists, despite their unnatural appearance.
The characters' eyes are usually the most prominent physical exaggeration. These eyes are enormous, occupying over half of the character's face.These huge eyes are an efficient channel for the animator to express the emotions of the characters.
Aside from the huge eyes, anime has a number of additional physical characteristics that set it apart from other forms of animation. The characters' hair is frequently thick, wild, and excessively dyed with different colors. Furthermore, anime characters' heads are frequently exceedingly enormous. Other bodily parts (such as arms or legs) may be depicted as larger than normal human proportions, depending on what the animator is trying to portray about the figure of the character.
4) Limited animation
Anime is different from other kinds of animation as it uses a technique known as limited animation. This animation approach involves reusing elements from previous scenes in subsequent scenes. Rather than producing an entirely new scene each time one is required, this method allows the animator to draw only the new elements in the scene.
Limited animation is said to be pretty cost-effective and easy to work with. So, it takes relatively less time to finish the animation. As a result, this helps animators create the anime faster and in a less expensive way.
Types of Anime
Did you know that there are different types of anime? Each type of anime is focused on a specific group of viewers (usually age-specific). These kinds of anime are not genres. The five main types of anime are:
1) Shounen
Shounen anime is made mainly to meet the interests of the younger male audience and mostly shows young male protagonists. Shounen is really popular as it has a bit of everything in it. There are many genres in shouten; action, fighting, comedy, adventure, drama, and coming-of-age.
Some of the most popular shounen anime include:
- Naruto
- One Piece
- Attack on Titan
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Bleach
- Hunter x Hunter
2) Shoujo
Shoujo anime is really quite the opposite of shounen anime. Shoujo focuses more on relationships and romance rather than action and fighting. These series are relatively more dramatic but include adventure, comedy, and a bit of action if necessary. The protagonists are mostly females.
Some of the most popular shoujo anime include:
- Ouran High School Host Club
- Fruits Basket
- Maid Sama!
- My Little Monster
3) Seinen
Seinen anime is made mainly to meet the interests of the young adult or adult male audience. Seinen usually has similar plots as shounen anime, but are a bit more serious and sophisticated. They are more violent, sexual, and psychologically intense and are directed towards mature audiences. It is popular with high school teens all the way up to working adults.
Some of the most popular seinen anime include:
- One-Punch Man
- Tokyo Ghoul
- Berserk
- Ghost in the Shell
4) Josei
Josei anime is the opposite of seinen anime. Josei is targeted towards adult female viewers and focuses more on romance than anything. It has a more realistic feel than shoujo anime and the protagonists are mainly young adult women.
The genres are more [censored] and intense. Josei is based on everyday normal life and includes a lot of drama too.
Some of the most popular josei anime include:
- Usagi Drop
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
- Chihayafaru
- Paradise Kiss
5) Kodomomuke
Lastly, we have another genre type of anime, Kodomomuke, of which many must have at least seen one show. Kodomomuke is the only genre suitable for young viewers. Kodomomuke is super cute, creative, imaginative, and also has a simple moral message. Kodomomuke anime usually shows children how to be considerate, and follow the right path in life, while still having fun and being optimistic.
Some of the most popular kodomomuke anime include:
- Pokémon
- Doraemon
- Shinchan
- Beyblade
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! With this information, you will be able to recognize and differentiate between different types of anime easily.
There are many things about anime which may still remain confusing if you are not an active follower, but it is all good if you take time to learn more about it.
Now, if you are someone who wants to start watching anime or resume watching it, I'll make it easier for you. The article given below covers commonly used anime streaming websites.
https://www.studytonight.com/post/21-free-anime-websites-to-watch-online
