Introduction to the Different Anime Genres

Posted by Editor in Entertainment on Jan 28th, 2020 | Comments Off on Introduction to the Different Anime Genres

Anime is not just cartoons for kids. In fact, most of its dedicated fanbase are made up of adults, not small children. Sure, there are titles made for a younger audience, but anime in general too big and complicated to be summed up as just moving pictures for the young at heart.

Below is an overview of the genres of anime. Some subgenres are also listed here because they have been redefined over the years.

Slice of Life – This depicts what goes on in everyday life without magic or any superhero ability. One example is Hyouka.

Romance – Perhaps the most popular general category in anime, including its subgenres. This is all about love and friendship. Examples are Fruits Basket and Special A.

Horror – There are several subgenres under this but anything that involves ghosts, gods, monsters, and the supernatural are categorized under horror. Examples are Shiki, Mononoke, and Ghost Hunt.

Action – Series that fall under this category have intense battles scenes and a fast-paced story. Example is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Adventure – This lead character/s usually has a task that involves traveling to certain places to reach a specific goal. One example is One Piece.

Game – The series is based on a video game. The best example is one of the longest-running series, Pokemon.

Harem and Reverse Harem – Harem means that a lead male character is supported primarily by female characters vying for his affection. An example is High School DxD. Reverse harem is the opposite. One example is Kamigami no Asobi.

Josei – This genre’s target audience are adult females with more grounded themes. Examples are Chihayafuru, Sakamichi no Apollon, and No.6.

Seinen – The target audience for this genre are adult males with more mature themes. Examples are Monster and Berserk.

Historical – Historical anime might be based on one historical event, figure, or period. Examples are Kingdom, Samurai Champloo, and Golden Kamuy.

Mecha – It is the term for robots or mechanical units. They sometimes explore themes of the effects of technology on society. Examples are Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Gurren Lagann.

Music – The series focuses either on singing, playing musical instruments, or dancing. Examples are Nodame Cantabile and Uta no Prince Sama.

Shoujo – The target audience for this genre are young adult females, with stories focusing mostly on growth, friendship, and romance. One example is Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon.

Shounen – The series under this category are mostly for young adult males, but the genre has tons of fans from all age groups. Examples are Naruto, One Piece, and My Hero Academia.

Shoujo-ai and Shounen-ai – Some series feature same-sex couples, but the scenes are not as explicit as hentai, yuri, and yaoi. Examples are Citrus and Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.

Sports – Almost all types of sports have been covered by anime and manga. Best examples are Prince of Tennis, Haikyuu!!, Kuroko no Basket, and Ace of Diamond.

Science Fiction – Anything that showcases technology, space, aliens, and the use of scientific principles can be categorized under this. Examples are Psycho-Pass, Parasyte: The Maxim, and Planetes.

Hentai, Yuri, and Yaoi – These are materials for more mature audience. Hentai depicts nudity and explicit content.