Anime (アニメ) is an abbreviation of the English word "animation" but in Japanese is spelled アニメーション (animēshon) written in katakana. Outside Japan, the term most popularly refers to animation originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background aesthetics that visually set it apart from other forms of animation (e.g. Walt Disney films, Warner Bros. short cartoons). Within Japan, the term anime is used to refer to all forms of animation from around the world.

While some anime is entirely hand-drawn, computer assisted animation techniques are, in recent years, quite common. Storylines are typically fictional; examples of anime representing most major genres of fiction exist. Anime is broadcast on television, distributed on media such as DVD and VHS, or included in computer and video games. Anime is often influenced by Japanese comics known as manga. Some anime storylines have been adapted into live action films and television series.

Anime features a wide variety of artistic styles which vary from artist to artist and is characterized by detailed backgrounds and stylized characters in a variety of different settings and storylines, aimed at a wide range of audiences.

Most anime includes content from several different genres, as well as a variety of thematic elements. This can make it difficult to categorize some titles. A show may have a seemingly simple surface plot, but at the same time may feature a far more complex, deeper storyline and character development. It is not uncommon for an action themed anime to also involve humor, romance, and even social commentary. The same can be applied to a romance themed anime in that it may involve an action element, or in some cases brutal violence.

Most anime can be categorized as one of three types:

Films, which are generally released in theaters, represent the highest budgets and generally the highest video quality. Anime movies that have broken profit earning records include Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Spirited Away, and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Television series anime is syndicated and broadcast on television on a regular schedule, like Dragon Ball Z.
OVA (Original Video Animation; sometimes OAV, or Original Animated Video) anime is often similar to a television miniseries.
Although it is a violation of copyright laws in many countries, some fans watch fansubs, recordings of anime series that have been subtitled by fans. Watching subtitled Japanese versions, though not necessarily downloaded fansubs, is seen by many enthusiasts as the preferred method of watching anime. The ethical implications of producing, distributing, or watching fansubs are topics of much controversy even when fansub groups do not profit from their activities and cease distribution of their work once the series has been licensed outside of Japan.