Anime Terms for the Interested and Uninitiated
January 6, 2011
•IADT Sacramento, Video and Animation Production
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The worlds of Anime and Manga are becoming more familiar to Westerners outside of Japan now that the Internet and many cable networks are featuring these programs and characters on a daily or weekly basis in their programming. Below is a list of common commonly used animation terms:
Anime
This is the Japanese term for "animation". It normally refers to hand-painted animation, one cel at a time, which is beautiful and often meticulous in its execution. Lately, "anime" refers to computer-generated animations as well, although true anime has stylistic tendencies that will always look Japanese. Some of those stylistic traits are the large eyes that appear on human characters, sharp and pointed or very shiny hair, and exaggerated, longer legs on women characters. Martial arts also tend to be used consistently in anime films and cartoons, as well as fantastical non-human characters such as talking animals and monsters.
BGM
Short for "background music", BGM in anime films and cartoons is surprisingly dramatic and colorful, and often is composed and performed by some of Japan's best writers and musicians. As anime is viewed as high art and very professional in Japan, it's not surprising that legitimate musical artists are involved in the field.
CGI
Another acronym and abbreviation, CGI stands for "computer generated illustration" and is rapidly becoming de rigueur within the industry when it comes to the process for creating animated cartoons and films in Japan. As more and more Westerners outside Japan crave anime entertainment, providers are struggling to keep up with the demands to make new films and cartoons. Japan's anime - once known for incredible detail and beauty - faces the challenge of remaining elegant and sophisticated as it becomes more mass-produced.
Eyecatch
A visual image that comes before and after commercial breaks in anime to remind viewers of what they are watching. Comparable to a brand or logo image, eyecatches usually feature the main characters in the anime cartoon.
Face Fault
Another big stylistic trend of anime, face faults are hugely exaggerated facial gestures that normally indicate surprise, fear or shock. Most cartoons of all kinds involve comedic exaggerations only possible with animation, but anime takes this technique one step further, often intended to amuse its viewers much in the same way Slapstick entertained audiences in the 1920s and 1930s.
Manga
Black and white illustrated stories, akin to graphic novels or comic books in the West.
Seiyuu
A voice actor or actress used for animated films and cartoons, seiyuu are professionals and are valued highly within the anime industry.
Super Deformed
A stylized form of drawing used in manga and anime that features shrunken bodies and enlarged heads, often used to render an animated character cute and loveable. This is a very stylized form of illustration not found in other genres of visual art.
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