A brief guide to Anime

Anime has been around for a good number of years now, but has only been recently accepted in the West as an entertainment medium, and not just for kids. The misconception of this is the fact that cartoons are usually children's entertainment. Anime has also been referred to as "Japanimation", but one thing that is correct, is that anime is made in Japan. Some say that the word 'anime' had its origins from the French language, but purists argue that it is more likely a shortened form of the word 'animation'.

Anime should not be considered as a genre, as it covers a broad range of genres just like any other entertainment media. Anime productions can be as diverse as Hollywood films: from science fiction to fantasy, romantic love comedies, horror and thrillers, to war and drama. In fact, the subject matter is literally boundless, and can feature an even wider range of topics than films.

Cultural differences between Japan and the West would inevitably lead to offensive elements in anime, such as the casual depiction of violence and sex. It is worthy of note that just because anime is an animated medium, does not mean that is it suitable for children. For example, South Park had been given a '15' certificate in England for its graphic violence and swearing. The same applies to anime. Sexual overtones are very common in anime productions, and the Japanese studios do not see the fact that the overuse of sex and violence could be a bad influence on its audience. They merely see it as an extension of the storyline, used mainly to advance plot, and create exciting situations. Therefore, hardcore pornography is often used in anime, as well as the violent depictions of rape, perversion, sexual harassment, and sadomasochism.

Since there is a huge variety of anime on offer, it is difficult to pick out a few titles that represent the crème de la crème of Japanese anime. The following is a guide to what is popular with audiences across the globe.

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