anime

[ an-uh-mey ]

/ ˈæn əˌmeɪ /

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noun Graphic Arts.

a genre of film and television animation created in or influenced by the traditional style of Japanese 2D animation and characterized by highly stylized, colorful art, fantastic settings, and mature themes.

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Compare animated cartoon.

Origin of anime

First recorded in 1985–90; from Japanese, borrowing of English animation

Words nearby anime

animatism, animato, animator, animatronic, animatronics, anime, animism, animis opibusque parati, animistic, animosity, animus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use anime in a sentence

It has also broken another record previously set by Spirited Away—Mugen Train is now the highest-grossing anime movie in the world.
Everything to Know About Demon Slayer: The Manga, TV Series and Record-Breaking Film|Kat Moon|February 24, 2021|Time
Their friendship began as rookies in 2017, when Butler wore apparel with a design from another anime series, “Naruto.”
A love for ‘Dragon Ball Z’ has infiltrated NFL locker rooms|Kyle Melnick|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
Players said anime is often brought up in conversations with new teammates.
A love for ‘Dragon Ball Z’ has infiltrated NFL locker rooms|Kyle Melnick|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
In September, more than 100 million households streamed an anime program on Netflix.
‘We get nothing’: Media companies want more detailed audience, revenue breakdowns from free, ad-supported streaming TV platforms|Tim Peterson|November 18, 2020|Digiday

Its aesthetic is pure anime, but its heart is all western philosophy.
The Best Single-Player Video Games to Play Right Now|Matthew Gault|March 9, 2020|Time
The popularity of anime tales featuring man-on-man passion is burgeoning among Japanese women.
The Japanese Women Who Love Gay Anime|Brandon Presser|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is a distinct style Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is known for: his bubbly anime-like characters.
Takashi Murakami’s Art From Disaster|Justin Jones|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The original Japanese anime ran for five years, from 1992 to 1997.
‘Sailor Moon’ Is an Oasis for Superheroes Who Can Save the Universe in Heels|Rich Goldstein|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An anime fanatic in middle school, Jackson thought to herself one day: “Hey, maybe I should try watching real people.”
Black K-Pop Fans Come Out of the Closet|Sterling Wong|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The reason: opposition from the publishing and anime industries and even from the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
Japan's Kiddie Porn Empire: Bye-Bye?|Jake Adelstein, Angela Erika Kubo|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anime, an′im, n. the resin of the West Indian locust-tree—used also for other gums and resins.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
Abbiate compassione a tante anime, quante mettete nelle mani delle dimonia.
A Decade of Italian Women, vol. I (of 2)|T. Adolphus Trollope
The view from Richmond Park she called "calme et anime, ce qu'on doit tre, et que je ne suis pas."
Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale) (2nd ed.) (2 vols.)|Mrs. Hester Lynch Piozzi
They use for candles or torches the gum of a tree which is named anime, wrapped up in leaves of palms or fig trees.
The Story of Magellan and The Discovery of the Philippines|Hezekiah Butterworth
La contradiction anime la conversation; voilà pourquoi les cours sont si ennuyeuses.
The Wit of Women|Kate Sanborn

British Dictionary definitions for anime (1 of 3)

anime

/ (ˈænɪˌmeɪ) /

noun

a type of Japanese animated film with themes and styles similar to manga comics

Word Origin for anime

C20: from Japanese

British Dictionary definitions for anime (2 of 3)

animé¹

/ (ˈænɪˌmeɪ, -mɪ) /

noun

any of various resins, esp that obtained from the tropical American leguminous tree Hymenaea courbaril

Word Origin for animé

French: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for anime (3 of 3)

animé²

/ (ˈænɪˌmeɪ) /

adjective, adverb

music the French word for animato

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012