Anime is a style of animation that originated in Japan and has grown into a global phenomenon. The word itself is simply the Japanese abbreviation of "animation," but outside Japan it refers specifically to hand-drawn and computer-generated cartoons produced in Japan.

Modern anime covers virtually every genre — from high-school romance to dystopian science fiction, samurai epics to surreal psychological thrillers. Studios such as Studio Ghibli, Mappa, Ufotable, and Wit Studio have pushed animation artistry to stunning levels that rival any Hollywood production.

The medium traces its roots to the early 20th century, but the golden age most fans recognise began in the 1980s with works like Akira and Dragon Ball, accelerated through the 1990s with Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop, and has since exploded into a multi-billion dollar international industry with dedicated streaming platforms worldwide.

What sets anime apart is its willingness to take narrative risks. Long-form series allow characters to grow over hundreds of episodes; films like Spirited Away and Your Name rank among the highest-grossing animated movies of all time.