Stephanie M.'s definitions
Literally means "pretty boy," as in an attractive member of the male gender. Also spelled "bishonen," and sometimes shortened to "bish" and "bishie/bishy." It is a Japanese word, adopted by female anime fans in the rest of the world to denote any male anime, manga, or video game character they happen to find good looking. Strictly speaking, "bishounen" should only refer to boys under age 20, since a "pretty man" would be "biseinen." However, most people prefer to use bishounen for men and boys of all ages, as it is so widely used.
Opinions on which males are bishounen and which are not vary according to personal tastes. The stereotypical bishounen generally has long hair, a slender, graceful figure, and lacks facial hair. Bishounen tend to appear androgynous or feminine. They are also likely to have certain personality traits, like sensitivity, secretiveness, moodiness, refinement, and a dark, tormented past.
This word is a noun, but is sometimes used as an adjective, as in the sentence "That guy is so bishounen." As an adjective, the word means "having or displaying the traits of a bishounen."
Opinions on which males are bishounen and which are not vary according to personal tastes. The stereotypical bishounen generally has long hair, a slender, graceful figure, and lacks facial hair. Bishounen tend to appear androgynous or feminine. They are also likely to have certain personality traits, like sensitivity, secretiveness, moodiness, refinement, and a dark, tormented past.
This word is a noun, but is sometimes used as an adjective, as in the sentence "That guy is so bishounen." As an adjective, the word means "having or displaying the traits of a bishounen."
by Stephanie M. July 1, 2003
Get the bishounen mug."Anime" is a derivative form of "animation," coined in Japan to refer to all kinds of animation, both domestic and foreign. The word has a more specific meaning in Europe and North America, specifying Japanese animation. American fans of anime usually make a clear distinction between cartoons, such as Looney Tunes and Disney, and anime, which has certain different characteristics.
Anime, as defined in North America, has a distinct art style, often featuring large eyes, small noses, and bright colors. Animation from Japan is geared towards a Japanese audience, which has looser censorship standards, allowing nudity, violence, and mature themes in programming for children and teens; this is perfectly acceptable in Japan. Only a relatively small percentage of anime is pornographic (see hentai).
Unlike Disney animated movies and Saturday morning cartoons in America, Japanese anime is not always made for and marketed to children. Some anime have complex storylines and characters, exploring mature themes. Every genre is represented in anime, from drama to comedy to romance, fantasy to horror.
"Japanimation" is a synonym for anime, but is not used as much.
See also manga and otaku.
Anime, as defined in North America, has a distinct art style, often featuring large eyes, small noses, and bright colors. Animation from Japan is geared towards a Japanese audience, which has looser censorship standards, allowing nudity, violence, and mature themes in programming for children and teens; this is perfectly acceptable in Japan. Only a relatively small percentage of anime is pornographic (see hentai).
Unlike Disney animated movies and Saturday morning cartoons in America, Japanese anime is not always made for and marketed to children. Some anime have complex storylines and characters, exploring mature themes. Every genre is represented in anime, from drama to comedy to romance, fantasy to horror.
"Japanimation" is a synonym for anime, but is not used as much.
See also manga and otaku.
by Stephanie M. July 2, 2003
Get the Anime mug."Manga" are Japanese comic books/graphic novels. The word literally means "whimsical pictures" in Japanese.
Manga is different from American comic books in many ways, which is why it is sometimes translated as graphic novels. Comic books in America tend to be colored, sold in thin booklets, and written for a teenage male audience. Manga is almost always black and white, serialized in manga collections before being sold in bound books, and has many different genres appealing to many different audiences. There are romantic manga for adult women, mob dramas for older men, cute fantasy comedies for young girls, and much, much more. Just about everyone in Japan reads manga, and there is something to suit every taste.
Manga series are often animated into television shows and movies. See anime.
Manga is different from American comic books in many ways, which is why it is sometimes translated as graphic novels. Comic books in America tend to be colored, sold in thin booklets, and written for a teenage male audience. Manga is almost always black and white, serialized in manga collections before being sold in bound books, and has many different genres appealing to many different audiences. There are romantic manga for adult women, mob dramas for older men, cute fantasy comedies for young girls, and much, much more. Just about everyone in Japan reads manga, and there is something to suit every taste.
Manga series are often animated into television shows and movies. See anime.
by Stephanie M. July 2, 2003
Get the manga mug.Author of the classic fantasy novels Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. His full name is "John Ronald Reuel Tolkien." He was born in South Africa in 1892, but grew up in England, and died there in 1973. Aside from writing, he was a linguist and a professor of Old English at Oxford University.
by Stephanie M. October 14, 2003
Get the J.R.R. Tolkien mug.by Stephanie M. October 14, 2003
Get the ferior mug.A word coined by fans of the Dynasty Warriors video games with two usages. Derived from Lu Bu, a character in these video games.
"Lu Bu'd" is sometimes used as an adjective by fans to describe a character whose attack power has been substantially increased, making him or her as powerful as Lu Bu and as difficult to defeat.
"Lu Bu'd" can also mean the act of being defeated by Lu Bu, or a Lu Bu'd character. With this usage, it means the same thing as owned.
"Lu Bu'd" is sometimes used as an adjective by fans to describe a character whose attack power has been substantially increased, making him or her as powerful as Lu Bu and as difficult to defeat.
"Lu Bu'd" can also mean the act of being defeated by Lu Bu, or a Lu Bu'd character. With this usage, it means the same thing as owned.
"OMFG, Lu Bu'd Zhao Yun in the Nanman Campaign is almost impossible to defeat."
"Dude, you've been Lu Bu'd."
"Dude, you've been Lu Bu'd."
by Stephanie M. October 16, 2003
Get the Lu Bu'd mug.Shortened form of "Ohayou gozaimasu," the Japanese salutation equivalent to "Good morning." It is a cute way of saying hello.
"Oha" was made popular by a Japanese celebrity, Shingo Katori, on the TV show "Saturday SMAP." He uses it as his catchphrase, and used it in his song "Shingo Mama no Oha Rock."
A hand gesture usually accompanies an "Oha!" greeting. On the first syllable "oh", hold up your hands, palms out, with your index fingers touching your thumbs (like the American "O.K." gesture). On the second syllable "ha," straighten out your index fingers and thumbs, and push your hands forward.
"Oha" was made popular by a Japanese celebrity, Shingo Katori, on the TV show "Saturday SMAP." He uses it as his catchphrase, and used it in his song "Shingo Mama no Oha Rock."
A hand gesture usually accompanies an "Oha!" greeting. On the first syllable "oh", hold up your hands, palms out, with your index fingers touching your thumbs (like the American "O.K." gesture). On the second syllable "ha," straighten out your index fingers and thumbs, and push your hands forward.
Oha! How are you doing this morning?
by Stephanie M. October 21, 2003
Get the oha mug.