Anime (Japanese: アニメ^?, [a.ni.me] ( listen); ⁱ/ˈænɨmeɪ/ or /ˈɑːnɨmeɪ/) are Japanese animated productions, and come in all formats, such as television series (such as Dragon Ball and Inuyasha, animated short films, and full-length feature films such as Grave of the Fireflies, and include computer animation creations.^[1] The word is the abbreviated pronunciation of "animation" in Japanese. In English, the term is defined as a Japanese-disseminated animation style often characterized by colorful graphics, vibrant characters and fantastic themes.^[2] The intended meaning of the term sometimes varies depending on the context.^[3]
While the earliest known Japanese animation dates to 1917, and many original Japanese animations were produced in the ensuing decades, the characteristic anime style developed in the 1960s—notably with the work of Osamu Tezuka—and became known outside Japan in the 1980s.
Anime, like manga, has a large audience in Japan and recognition throughout the world. Distributors can release anime via television broadcasts, directly to video, or theatrically, as well as online.