Action: Anime that is usually packed with fast-paced scenes, can be extreme fighting or chasing scenes.
Example: Afro Samurai.

Adventure: The term usually refers to a series where the main character(s) go on the search or conquest of something (or someone) for a greater goor or eviil purpose/goal.
Example: Berserk.

Bishôjo: This term is Japanese for 'beautiful girl', blanket term that can be used to describe any anime that features pretty girl characters.
Example: Diamond Dreams.

Bishônen: Japanese for 'beautiful boy' blanket term that can be used to describe any anime that features "pretty" and elegant boys and men.
Example: Fruits Basket.

Comedy: Anime that is mostly funny or goofy that usually has no plot and each episode is self contained.
Example: Keroro Gunso (Sergeant Frog).

Drama: This genre primarily has a high degree of character development and emotional themes. Many center on relationship complications.
Examples: Fushigi Yūgi.

Ecchi: The word 'ecchi' is derived from a Japanese word meaning "lewd", "sexy", "lascivious", or "naughty." So anime in this genre is often splashed with some nudity or sexual behavior.
Example: He Is My Master.

Fantasy: The plot usually develops in a ficticious world full of mystical creatures with or without magical powers.
Example: InuYasha.

Gender Bender: Circumstances usually call out for a girl to disguise as a boy... or the other way around.
Example: Ouran Host Club.

Harem: Is a genre where several female characters are attracted to a single male character.
Example: Kanon

Hentai: Japanese for 'abnormal' or 'perverted', and used by Western Audiences to refer to pornographic anime or erotica. However, in Japan the term used to refer to the same material is typically Porno or Ero.
Example: La Blue Girl.

Historical: Usually epic, having to do with a specific era or time in history. Often used to tell someone's biography or story.
Example: Rurouni Kenshin.

Horror: Genre that has a wide audience, usually there is no real plot and the aim is to surprise and shock viewers. Often cliche, old stories are the topic.
Example: Kakurenbo (movie, not anime series).

Josei: Japanese for 'young woman', this is anime or manga that is aimed at young women and is one of the rarest forms.
Example: Gokusen.

Kodomo: Japanese for 'child,' this is anime or manga that is aimed at young children.
Example: Doraemon.

Martial Arts: Action anime packed with Martial Arts fights.
Example: Shura no Toki.

Mecha: Anime or manga featuring super robots.
Example: Gundam Seed.

Moe: Anime genre featuring characters that are extremely perky or cute.
Example: A Little Snow Fairy Sugar.

Mystery: Usually an unexplained event occurs, and the main protagonist attempts to find out what caused it. This genre often involves Detective work.
Example: Detective Conan (Case Closed).

Psychological: Anime genre that focus on mind games. This genre sually deals with the philosophy of a state of mind, in most cases detailing abnormal psychology.
Examples: Paranoia Agent.

Progressive: Usually fall into this genre the so called "Art films" that are known due to their extremely stylized anime.
Example: Voices of a Distant Star.

Romance: Any love related story, usually with many twists and turns and often misunderstandings. Love doesn't always succeed in the end.
Example: Honey & Clover.

School Life: Having a major setting of the story deal with any type of school. Usually all characters involved in the story attend the same school and the plot mainly develops while in school.
Examples: School Rumble.

Sci-Fi: This genre consists of futuristic elements, particularly featuring future science and technology. They can be drawn from current scientific studies and inventions or created to meet the needs of the world.
Examples: Ghost in the Shell

Seinen: Anime targeted at teenage or young male adults.
Example: Cowboy Bebop.

Sentai: This word literally means "fighting team" in Japanese, and it refers to any show that involves a superhero team.
Example: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.

Shôjo: Japanese term for 'young lady,' and it refers to anime series targeted at girls.
Examples: Marmalade Boy.

Mahô Shôjo: It's a subgenre of Shôjo known to for 'Magical Girl' stories.
Example: Sailor Moon.

Shônen: Japanese for 'boys,' and this genre refers to anime shows targeted at younger boys.
Examples: Dragon Ball Z.

Mahô Shônen: This subgenre is the male equivalent of Mahô Shôjo.
Example: DNAngel.

Shônen-Ai: Often synonymous with yaoi, this genre can be thought of as somewhat less extreme (sexual) in content. "Boy's Love", so to speak.
Example: Loveless.

Slice of Life: As the name suggests, this genre represents day-to-day tribulations of one/many character(s) to get to their goal(s). These challenges/events could technically happen in real life and are often -if not all the time- set in the present timeline in a world that mirrors our own.
Example: Beck.

Sports: As the name suggests, anything sports related. Baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, golf, and racing just to name a few.
Example: Slam Dunk.

Supernatural: This genre usually entails amazing and unexplained powers or events which defy the laws of physics. Most likely the characters are born or aquire amazing powers and the story revolts around how these powers are used.
Example: E's Otherwise.

Tragedy: This genre portrays events (natural or not) resulting in great loss and misfortune for the leading characters.
Example: Air.

Yaoi: This anime genre focus on love and romance between male characters. The content of this series is often sexual.
Example: Okane Ga Nai (No Money).

Yuri: Japanese for 'girl-love,' refers to anime that focus on love and romance between female characters.

Examples: Revolutionary Girl Utena and Kannazuki no Miko.

Some anime titles are written for a very specific audience, even narrower than those described above. For example, Initial D, Wangan Midnight and éX-Driver concern street racing and car tuning. Ashita No Joe, Hajime no Ippo are about boxing. Hanaukyo Maid Team is based on the French maid fantasy.

Hey, want to know more about Anime? How about checking out the Animation Process? Ever wondered how anime is made? Well check it out HERE!

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