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Tag: yaoi

  • Anime Terms to Know That Every Otaku Uses

    Anime Terms to Know That Every Otaku Uses

    If you’re watching anime or reading manga, you might come across words that are unfamiliar. While the list of anime terms could be almost endless and overwhelming, we’ve cherry-picked 50 core terms every fan should know to get started, covering fan culture, character types, genres, media, and common Japanese phrases.

    Fan Culture Terms

    OTP

    OTP stands for One True Pairing, or, as fans joke, “OH THE PAIN!” Really, it’s the first one, but there’s not much difference between them. Generally, you pick two characters that you like and want them to be together, or “ship” them together. They become your OTP.

    Canon

    Canon is what the author and creator of the show has actually shown or written. Fans like to come up with head-canon all day, but they haven’t been confirmed by the creator. Usually, canon determines whether someone stays alive in a series or if a couple ends up together.

    Weeaboo/Weeaboos

    Weeaboos, known back in the day as Wapanese or “wannabe Japanese,” are anime fans who aren’t just in it for the anime. They’re in it for what they’ve decided is Japanese culture. They wear kimonos incorrectly, call everything “kawaii!” or “sugoi!”, and seem to think that Japanese cuisine consists exclusively of Pocky and ramen. They definitely want to move to Japan because it’s just like real-life anime, right?

    Otaku

    Originally meaning “venerable house” in Japanese, the term now refers to someone who is extremely devoted to a hobby or interest, often anime, manga, or games.

    In Japan, calling someone an otaku can sometimes carry negative connotations, implying obsession or social awkwardness, though it’s not always insulting. Outside Japan, it’s commonly used simply to describe passionate anime or manga fans.

    AMV

    An anime music video (AMV) is typically a fan-made music video consisting of clips from one or more Japanese animated shows set to songs.

    MAD

    Similar to AMVs but originating from Japanese fan culture. MAD videos often use Japanese songs and can include fast-paced editing, parody, or tribute styles.

    Doujinshi

    Dōjinshi is the Japanese term for self-published works, usually manga or novels. They’re often the work of amateurs and can range from original stories to fan-made works featuring existing characters.

    Subs vs Dubs

    The eternal debate in anime fandom. “Subs” refers to watching anime in Japanese with subtitles, while “dubs” means watching with English voice actors. Fans have strong opinions on both sides.

    Character Personality Types (Dere Types)

    The dere family has many members, but we’ll cover the four core types that show up constantly in anime.

    The most common dere types

    Tsundere

    A tsundere is a Japanese term for a character development process that describes a person who is initially cold (and sometimes even hostile) before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side over time.

    Popular tsundere: Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!), Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi)

    Yandere

    A yandere is defined as someone who appears sweet and loving on the surface but becomes dangerously obsessive, possessive, and potentially violent when it comes to their love interest.

    Popular yandere: Yuno Gasai (Future Diary), Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia), Kotonoha Katsura (School Days)

    Kuudere

    A kuudere is a character who appears cold, emotionless, and distant on the outside but has a warm, caring side that they rarely show. Unlike tsunderes who are hostile, kuuderes are simply aloof and expressionless.

    Popular kuudere: Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Nagato Yuki (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya), Takashi “Mori” Morinozuka (Ouran High School Host Club)

    Dandere

    A dandere is a quiet, shy character who struggles with social interaction but becomes talkative and sweet around people they’re comfortable with, especially their love interest.

    Popular dandere: Hinata Hyuga (Naruto), Chiyo Sakura (Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki‑kun), Rinko Yamato (Ore Monogatari!!)

    Anime & Manga Genres

    Naruto’s Naruto Uzumaki, textbook shounen lead

    Shōnen

    A genre of Japanese comics and animated films aimed primarily at a young male audience, typically characterized by action-filled plots.

    You’ve probably heard of popular series like Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball.

    Shōjo

    A genre of Japanese comics and animated films aimed primarily at a young female audience, typically characterized by romance and relationship-focused plots.

    You’ll find this in anime like Fruits Basket, Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, and Ouran High School Host Club.

    Seinen

    A genre aimed at adult men, typically featuring more mature themes, complex plots, and realistic violence.

    Well-known examples are One Punch Man and Tokyo Ghoul.

    Josei

    A genre aimed at adult women, featuring realistic romance and slice-of-life stories with mature themes.

    For example, Usagi Drop and Chihayafuru are quintessential josei shows.

    Isekai

    A genre where the protagonist is transported to, reborn, or trapped in a parallel universe or fantasy world. Literally means “different world” in Japanese. Popular examples include Sword Art Online and Re:Zero.

    Slice of Life

    A genre focusing on everyday experiences and mundane aspects of life, often with minimal plot. These shows emphasize character development and atmosphere over action.

    Think K-On!, Barakamon, and Laid-Back Camp for perfect representations of this genre.

    Yaoi

    Yaoi, also known as Boys’ Love (BL), is a narrative featuring a romance or relationship between two or more males, like in Given or Junjou Romantica.

    Yuri

    A narrative or visual work featuring a romance or relationship between two or more females.

    Examples include Citrus and Bloom Into You.

    Ecchi

    Ecchi is an often-used slang term in the Japanese language for playfully sexual actions. As an adjective, it’s used with the meaning of “sexy,” “dirty,” or “naughty.” Ecchi anime contains suggestive content but stops short of explicit scenes.

    Notable examples are High School DxD, Mushoku Tensei, and Prison School.

    Content & Media Types

    OVA

    Short for Original Video Animation. OVAs often contain special extra episodes marketed to fans who may have seen an entire series but are hungry for more. They’re released directly to home video rather than airing on TV.

    ONA

    Short for Original Net Animation. Similar to OVAs but released exclusively online through streaming platforms rather than physical media.

    Special / OVA Special

    Standalone or bonus episodes released outside the regular TV broadcast. These are often holiday episodes, fan-service specials, or extras bundled with Blu-rays or manga volumes.

    Omake

    A Japanese word meaning “extra” or “bonus.” It refers to short bonus scenes, comedic skits, or extra content included at the end of an anime episode, Blu-ray, or DVD.

    Many popular shows like One Piece, My Hero Academia, and Attack on Titan include omake segments for fans.

    Manga

    Japanese comic books that serve as the source material for many anime series. Fans often compare the anime to the manga to see what was changed, cut, or expanded.

    Light Novel (LN)

    A format of short, illustrated novels aimed at young adults. Many popular anime, especially isekai and fantasy series, originate as light novels.

    Famous examples include Sword Art Online, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Overlord, and Konosuba, all of which have become staples of modern anime culture.

    Visual Novel (VN)

    A story-driven game focused on reading, player choices, and branching narratives.

    Several well-known anime adaptations come from visual novels, including Steins;Gate, Fate/stay night, Clannad, Danganronpa, and Higurashi When They Cry, each with a strong fanbase and critical acclaim.

    Hentai

    A style of anime and manga that focuses on adult themes, featuring stories and characters intended for viewers over 18 years old.

    Fan Service

    Fan service is material in a work of fiction or in a fictional series that is intentionally added to please the audience. It’s about “servicing” the fan, giving fans “exactly what they want.” This often includes suggestive camera angles, beach episodes, or revealing outfits.

    Some anime known for heavy fan service include High School DxD, Fairy Tail, Free!, and Food Wars, which frequently incorporate these elements to excite their audiences.

    Seiyuu

    Japanese voice actors who bring anime characters to life. Famous seiyuu include Kana Hanazawa (Angel Beats!) and Mamoru Miyano (Death Note).

    Common Japanese Words & Phrases

    Kawaii at its finest: Anya Forger from Spy x Fam

    Kawaii

    An adjective in Japanese meaning “pretty; cute; lovely; charming; dear; darling; pet.” It’s commonly used by anime and manga fans. Horrendously overused by some fans on anything chibi. ANYTHING. Because they feel the need to repeat the three Japanese words they know OVER AND OVER.

    Sugoi

    Japanese equivalent of either “awesome” or “awful.” Most frequently used to mean the former, at least among Westerners.

    Nakama

    A Japanese word meaning “comrade” or “friend,” but in the anime context, it carries a deeper meaning of bonds between companions who fight or struggle together. Made famous by One Piece.

    Baka

    Means “idiot” or “fool.” One of the most commonly used insults in anime, often said by tsundere characters.

    Nani

    Simply means “what?” in Japanese. Often dramatically used in anime memes.

    Arigatou / Arigatou Gozaimasu

    “Thank you.” Arigatou is casual, while arigatou gozaimasu is the polite, formal version.

    Gomenasai / Gomen

    “I’m sorry” or “excuse me.” Gomen is the casual version, while gomenasai is more formal.

    Daijoubu

    Means “it’s okay” or “are you okay?” Used constantly in anime to reassure someone or check if they are hurt.

    Ganbatte / Ganbare

    Means “do your best” or “good luck.” Often shouted during emotional or motivational moments.

    Yatta

    An excited exclamation meaning “I did it!” or “yes!” Used after a win or success.

    Itadakimasu

    A phrase said before eating, roughly meaning “I humbly receive.” You’ll hear this constantly in anime featuring food or meal scenes.

    Senpai

    A senpai is an upperclassman who mentors an underclassman. This term is used most often in English in reference to anime and manga, though it’s used more broadly to mean a respected senior.

    Sensei

    A Japanese word meaning “teacher” or “master.” It’s used to show respect to someone with expertise or authority, and you’ll see it everywhere in school anime, martial arts series, or any story with a mentor figure.

    Kohai

    A junior or underclassman, the counterpart to senpai. Refers to someone with less experience or lower status.

    Onii-chan / Onee-chan

    Affectionate terms for “big brother” and “big sister.” Common in slice-of-life and romance anime to show closeness.

    Character & Design Terms

    The Apothecary Diaries’ Jinshi, a classic bishounen

    Bishie/Bishounen

    Short for bishounen, translated roughly as “pretty boy.” Used for attractive male anime characters, and sometimes for real-life. Generally, they’re sort of girlish-looking with delicate features.

    Jinshi from The Apothecary Diaries and Howl Jenkins Pendragon from Howl’s Moving Castle are classic examples.

    Loli

    Loli refers to Japanese media pertaining to the attraction of young-looking, cute girls that blend slightly erotic characteristics. The term comes from “Lolita complex.”

    Anya Forger from Spy x Family wins hearts with her expressions and antics, and Victorique de Blous from Gosick is another tiny but incredibly clever loli.

    Shota

    The male equivalent of loli, referring to young-looking, cute boys in anime and manga. Derived from “Shotaro complex”, characters like Nishikata from Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san and Aki Shiina from Sunohara-Sō no Kanrinin-san are good examples.

    Moe

    A term used to describe characters who are cute, endearing, or evoke a protective feeling from the audience.

    For example, the adorable students in K-On! or Lucky Star are considered moe.

    Chibi

    Chibi is a Japanese slang word describing something short (a thing, an animal, or a person). In anime, it refers to cute, small, simplified character designs used for comedic effect.

    For instance, the tiny, exaggerated versions of the characters in Attack on Titan: Junior High are chibi.

    Kemonomimi

    Characters with animal-like features, usually ears or tails, such as catgirls or foxboys.

    Popular examples include Koneko from High School DxD and Holo from Spice and Wolf.

    What did you think? Did you already know some or most of these words? Let us know your favorite words to use as an anime fan!

    As always,

    Keep Smiling!

  • Top 10 Underrated Yaoi Anime

    Top 10 Underrated Yaoi Anime

    Yaoi, or boys’ love (BL) anime, have come a long way from being niche genres to mainstream favorites, but some incredible shows still don’t get the recognition they deserve. Following my previous post on underrated yuri anime, here’s a look at 10 underrated yaoi series that deserve more attention.

    1. Mignon

    This South Korean original yaoi anime from ABJ Company premiered on Vimeo in August 2023, and most people missed it because it got pulled down temporarily due to content concerns before being restored.

    The show follows Mignon, a lovable mechanic who moonlights as a boxer in an illegal underground arena, completely devoted to Oh Young-One, the arena’s doctor, who’s hiding his own dark secrets.

    What makes the anime criminally underrated is the mature storytelling that doesn’t hold back on the gritty crime elements while developing a genuinely touching romance. Director Bboong Bbang Kkyu, known for works like Hyperventilation and Unbelievable Space Love, has been creating groundbreaking yaoi works since 2017, and this one combines atmospheric animation with a noir-ish vibe that feels nothing like typical fluffy yaoi.

    2. Tadaima, Okaeri

    Tadaima, Okaeri became the first ever omegaverse yaoi anime to air on television when it premiered in April 2024, yet somehow it still flew under most people’s radar. Studio Deen adapted Ichi Ichikawa’s manga about a married couple, Masaki and Hiromu, raising their baby Hikari in a cozy domestic setting.

    Unlike typical yaoi, the focus is on the established relationship dynamics and family life rather than the chase and confession drama that most yaoi relies on. The 12-episode series concluded in June 2024 on Crunchyroll. While most associate the genre with something more explicit or dramatic, this anime delivers a heartwarming slice of life instead of the usual toxic relationship portrayals.

    3. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!

    Studio Satelight produced this 2024 adaptation of Yuu Toyota’s manga, and despite having a hit live-action drama before it, the anime version got way less buzz than it deserved. The premise is wild: 30-year-old virgin Adachi suddenly gains the ability to read minds through touch and discovers his handsome coworker Kurosawa has been crushing on him this whole time.

    Surprisingly, Cherry Magic! avoids typical yaoi melodrama by focusing on workplace romance between two awkward adults who genuinely respect each other. The series aired from January to March 2024, bringing humor and heart to the mind-reading gimmick without making it creepy or invasive.

    4. Hirano and Kagiura

    Another Studio Deen yaoi gem, Hirano and Kagiura is a short film that screened alongside the Sasaki and Miyano movie in February 2023, which is exactly why it barely got noticed since most people only paid attention to the main feature. Kagiura is a first-year student who moves into the dorms with what seems like a bad-boy upperclassman Hirano, only to discover his roommate is actually a caring mother hen type.

    The spinoff from Sho Harusono’s manga focuses on unrequited feelings handled with such gentle patience that it hurts in the best way. After half a year of living together, Kagiura has fallen completely for Hirano, who looks after him with protective sweetness.

    5. Hybrid Child

    Based on the manga by Shungiku Nakamura, the creator of Junjou Romantica and Sekaichi Hatsukoi, this four-episode OVA series explores three relationships between Hybrid Children, androids that grow depending on the love given to them, and their human owners.

    What destroys viewers emotionally is the melancholic awareness that these dolls have limited lifespans despite their capacity for deep feelings and growth. Unlike Nakamura’s other works, this features a more reflective tone blending emotional storytelling with soft science fiction elements. The anthology format lets each couple’s tragedy unfold differently, building to gut-wrenching conclusions that’ll have you ugly crying while questioning the nature of consciousness and devotion.

    6. Tasogare Out Focus

    A summer 2024 yaoi series, Tasogare Out Focus also got buried under the flood of other seasonal releases. Film club member Mao Tsuchiya and his roommate Hisashi Otomo make three promises: Mao won’t tell anyone Hisashi is gay and has a boyfriend, Hisashi won’t make any moves on Mao, and they’ll respect each other’s personal space.

    The meta brilliance here is watching Mao film a yaoi story for his club while accidentally developing feelings for his off-limits roommate. As the principal photographer composing every intimate scene between the male leads, Mao ends up directing all these romantic moments while struggling with his own emerging attraction.

    7. Beryl and Sapphire

    Beryl and Sapphire is a Chinese donghua that started airing in 2018 and follows protagonists with hilariously random names, the mild-mannered Beryl (Green) and the easily embarrassed Sapphire (Blue), through various alternate universes and scenarios. Each episode is a sketch comedy that takes place in a completely new universe where the dynamic between the duo takes on different forms, sometimes as childhood friends, other times as lovers, and occasionally as rivals.

    Based on artist Ocarina’s popular manhua, each episode shows different kinds of relationships between the characters, so viewers get to see all sorts of dynamics without sticking to just one story. Sadly, the show is massively underrated in English-speaking yaoi communities because most fans don’t venture into Chinese yaoi animation, maybe assuming language barriers or different storytelling styles won’t appeal to them.

    8. Embracing Love: A Cicada in Winter

    Historical yaoi hits different when it’s done right, and this three-episode OVA proves exactly why period pieces can elevate romance into genuine tragedy. Studio Venet adapted Youka Nitta’s spinoff from the main Embracing Love series, creating one of the most emotionally devastating yaoi anime that barely anyone talks about anymore.

    Set during the late Tokugawa period, Touma Kusaka secretly learns English, hoping for positive foreign relations, while political tensions between the Bakufu and Choshu clan explode around him. His forbidden relationship with Akizuki Keiichirou becomes as fragile as the cicada shells they find together, doomed by the country’s violent transformation.

    9. Quiet Please!

    Quiet Please’s premise sounds like a sitcom setup: a guy moves into his first apartment dreaming of freedom, immediately gets driven insane by his loud neighbor, and accidentally punches him when they finally meet face to face. QMENG’s 2025 series runs just five episodes at six minutes each, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s forgettable. Yi-hyuk tries everything to stop the noise, from childish pranks to literally begging on his knees, and watching his dignity crumble is hilarious.

    The escalating war between neighbors somehow turns into attraction, because of course it does, but the Korean production nails the comedic timing so well that the enemies-to-lovers development feels earned rather than forced. Most people scroll past anything under ten minutes per episode, assuming there’s no substance, which is exactly why this gem with more personality than entire 12-episode seasons gets ignored completely.

    10. Twittering Birds Never Fly

    Kou Yoneda’s manga about yakuza boss Yashiro and his bodyguard Doumeki finally got the anime treatment it deserved, but tragically, Studio GRIZZLY dissolved in 2025, meaning the planned trilogy may never be completed. The first film, The Clouds Gather, premiered in Japan in February 2020, delivering one of the most psychologically complex relationships in yaoi with brutal honesty about trauma, sexuality, and self-destruction.

    Yashiro is a masochistic high-ranking yakuza in the hyper-masculine criminal underworld who becomes increasingly drawn to his newly-assigned bodyguard. Director Kaori Makita, who worked on Yuri!! On Ice and Banana Fish doesn’t sanitize anything, showing how damaged people connect in messy, uncomfortable ways. Despite critical acclaim, the incomplete trilogy status means investing emotionally might feel pointless when closure might never come. That said, it’s worth keeping tabs on whether another studio picks up the torch to complete this masterpiece.

  • My opinion on Yaoi and Yuri

    My opinion on Yaoi and Yuri

    If you mention Yaoi and Yuri in the real world today, you might get some questionable glances and unfavorable looks. Even among hardcore anime fans, people still with turn up their nose at the very mention of them.

    But what are they? Why do people not like them so much?

    Yaoi is a manga or anime where the emotional or sexual relationship between two or more male characters accounts for most of the plot. Yuri is the same thing except between females. In today’s culture, you can see where this might raise a few red flags for people. While more and more people are becoming open and accepting of people who are more than just the Hetero male and female, it’s still considered taboo.

    I realize that I might get a lot of flak for this article. But that’s one of the reasons I’m writing it. But in part, that’s WHY I’m writing this. So I can spread awareness in the anime community. Also, it’s my blog. If you don’t like it, go read something else.

    The problem with Yaoi and Yuri is the same as with any other kind of mature content: It doesn’t portray real people in a real relationship but oversexed caricatures and stereotypes. If you can deal with that, there’s really no other problem. The real issues only come when people start to believe that this is really how gay relationships work.

    You can say the same thing for TV and movies showing a hetero-sexual relationship. People start to wonder and think on why their life isn’t like that.

    There’s nothing wrong with Yaoi or Yuri. But the writing tends to be at the same level as the Twilight books. Terrible, in other words.

    There is nothing wrong with two men or women being in love. There is something wrong with bad storytelling being the norm.

    There have been only a few Yaoi and Yuri anime shows that I actually liked. Bloom into You was recommended by a friend of mine and the storytelling was well done. Some anime fans joke about how the fact that an anime is more gay by how many exclamation points the anime title has to it. Though I can say that Yuri on Ice!!! is EXTREMELY well done and still one of my top favorite anime shows. The creator even said it was up to the viewer to say if Yuri and Victor were a couple. She made a world where love is love.

    And that’s how it should be.


    Having been part of the anime community, I’ve known all sorts of people with a wide varying field of interests between them when it comes to their own particular vices and pleasures.
    If people enjoy it and they’re not insistent on ramming it down your throat then leave them to it.

    I think the only thing I have a problem with is the age difference. A few years, heck even 5 or 6 years is fine. But a 20 year old dating a 50 year old? That’s something I won’t ever understand. But as for male and male or female and female? Leave them alone and heck, maybe even try to get to know them. You might just gain a new friend.

    What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

    As always,

    Keep Smiling!