ANIME

The term coined for Japanese Animation. That is 
the basic definition. But what, essentially, is anime? Do 
you know Speed Racer? Have you heard of Pokemon? How about 
Sailor Moon? Are these familiar names? Well, they're all 
imported from Japan. Japanese animation uses a style taken 
from early American animation -- primarily, Betty Boop. 
That is where the large eyes come from, at least.  All 
Japanese animation is considered anime, and all types, 
catagories, and subheadings therein fall under the broad 
term.   Anime has its pluses and minuses -- it was created 
in Japan, and therefore with different social codes of 
acceptance. Reviewers and commenters vary in opinion from 
treating light anime as Satanism to condemning all those 
who don't understand and accept the beautiful Japanese 
culture. I will trust to visitors to find the happy medium.


HENTAI

It is Japanese for "perverted." In the anime fandom, it 
pertains to what would be the American equivalent of 
pornography. If something is only "slightly hentai," then it 
is very sexual, but not explicit.   Anime has gotten a bad 
rap for its brazen sexuality. Even the most innocent 
shows -- such as Sailor Moon -- has girls in short skirts, 
showing lots of leg. But while some shows, such as Gestalt, 
are popular for their cute-girl-in-skimpy-clothes factor, 
in others, such as Evangelion, the sexual factor underlays 
deeper themes, and in Fushigi Yuugi, the sexuality is not 
there to titilate the watcher, but rather to move plot and 
further character development. The point: if you are going to 
watch anime, there is going to be more sexuality than most 
Americans are used to in animated shows -- but if you know 
that it's coming, it doesn't have to detract from the plot 
as much as it otherwise might have. 


SHOUJO-AI

Indicates a romantic lesbian relationship. 


YAOI

For most fans online, it represents boy-boy physical 
relationships, and often involves explicit sexual material. 


YURI

For most fans online, it represents girl-girl physical 
relationships, and often involves explicit sexual material.