Anime
is the Japanese shortened word for 'animation'.
In Japan, 'anime' would be any animated production, from Disney to Legend of the Overfiend. Anything that is animated, be it Japanese, English or French. Outside Japan, though, 'anime' tends to refer, specifically, to Japanese animation.
In Japan, anime is a rather popular form of entertainment. It comes in the form of tv shows, movies at the cinema as well as direct to video releases (OVA - Original Video Animation). Unlike in the west, anime has a huge variety of genres - it is not only for children. Nor, on the other hand, is it just sex and violence for adults! Anime is for everybody!
Most of the time, anime comes from a Manga - Japanese comics. Occasionally, though, you'll get an anime first, and the manga will follow... but as a general rule, anime comes from a popular manga series. The manga are sold in anthologies, either weekly or monthly, and have a huge number of readers! Even more, if you consider that these anthologies are read once, and left on the train (often by businessmen and office ladies on their way to work - manga, you see, doesn't have the same stigma as comics tend to have in the west) for someone else to read. (They are cheap throw-away items - the Japanese version of graphic novels follow, and these are more likely to be collected.) As with anime, manga comes in many genres for all age groups - manga for businessmen, women, boys, girls, romance, fashion, adult titles, sports and more. It's a huge industry in Japan, and very, very popular. more..
The first professional Japanese animation film ever made Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki (The Story of the Concierge Mukuzo Imokawa ) was released by Tenkatsu in January 1917.
Shojo:
Anime and manga aimed at girls and young women, generally between the ages of 10 and 18. It covers many subjects, but most of time tend to have a strong focus on relationships, romantic comedy or drama. A special type is the "magical girl" anime or "maho shojo".
Examples:
Ayashi no Ceres,
Candy Candy,
Mermaid Melody.
Seinen:
Anime and manga aimed at men between 18–30 years.
It covers a wide range of subjects, like Shonen, but in a more mature, "cold" way, and while it may develop romantic and love stories, the Seinen anime is more "reallistic" and dont have the Shojo anime idealized love stories.
Examples:
3×3 Eyes,
Chobits, Elfen Lied,
Oh My Goddess!,
Trinity Blood.
