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Anime is a term used commonly to refer to animations from Japan. Anime began at the start of the 20th century, when Japanese filmmakers experimented with the animation techniques that were being explored in the West. Japan is considered, at least here in the US, the center of the anime world. In Japan, anime is a very popular form of entertainment.

Anime is different from other animations because of the characteristic look of anime. The big hair and eyes are not the only thing, Anime finds ways to make everything look fresh and new. Anime also tells stories. It is sequential and you watch as a story and the characters develop from one episode to the next. Anime is also different in that there are many different genres and are directed at different age groups. Anime is not only for kids. Anime is also special because it often has historical or cultural references tied in.

Anime is for everyone. Anime is for everybody! Anime comes in many genres for all age groups - manga for businessmen, women, boys, girls, romance, fashion, adult titles, sports and more. Anime is good for everyone, and the plot lines are more complex, which might be why adults can be interested in it. Anime handles things like death in a different way than the U.S. does. Even cartoons for children have an interesting plot line, unlike cartoons in the U.S. where the episode changes plot from episode to episode and the cartoons are about things that are not so serious.

The social impact of anime is that it influences people. When "Astro Boy" was released in Japan, the Atomic bombing had taken place only a few years before. "Astro Boy" made a huge impact on society by providing a show that everyone could watch and see how the world turned from hating "Astro Boy" to caring about him.

Anime is viewed by the rest of the world in many different ways. In Spain and France, anime is growing and the people are even producing their own anime. China and many Asian countries are also full of Anime, so it is no longer just Japanese, but from Asia in general. In the U.S. Anime is seen as a cartoon and something just for kids. Fans of Anime know this is wrong, because there are many anime directed specifically at adults. Some people in the U.S. have misconceptions about anime, that it is only about violence or sex, or that it is a cartoon for kids because that is how it is marketed here. Anime fans in the U.S. are growing and Anime is becoming something mainstream.