CaptainSlow

Abstract works are generally intellectual in nature and rooted in imagination or philosophy, portraying a unique message or theme. As such, they don't necessarily focus on traditional narration, characterization, or development, presenting unique, unconventional or vivid visual styles instead.

BL (short for Boys' Love) is a genre that depicts homosexual relationships between men. BL is the predominant term in Japan. In the West, the term Shounen-ai categorizes romantic stories that focus on emotional aspects of relationships, while Yaoi categorizes more of the sexual aspects such as Smut or explicit content.

A comic essay (コミックエッセイ or エッセイ漫画) is a manga genre that draws on the author's life experiences, much like an Autobiography, to discuss lifestyle topics such as travel, cuisine, child-raising or pet care, or mental health.

Crime fiction is a genre that focuses on the planning, execution or solving of a crime. These anime typically focus on the investigation of a crime, and often include a cat-and-mouse chase between the perpetrator and the ones trying to catch them. The crime at the center of the story is traditionally a murder, though fraud, theft, money laundering, and complex criminal schemes can also be involved.

Cyberpunk is a type of science fiction where rapid advancement of technology comes at the cost of neglecting social issues. Common themes include powerful or intelligent computers, vast cyberspace networks that can be jacked into or explored virtually, or human augmentation. Many Cyberpunk anime showcase a society that's evolved into a hyper-efficient Dystopia where human needs are secondary to a smoothly functioning corporate machine.

Dark comedy anime make humorous and comedic light of situations that people would normally find sad, frightening or mentally disturbing. Also known as Black Comedy or Dark Humor.

Characters in these anime have a need and there's only one person who can fulfill it, for a price. The "devil" might be a merchant in a Mysterious Shop, a demon or evil being from the underworld, or any number of other individuals who offer a Faustian bargain.

These anime feature main characters with disabilities. They may be deaf, blind, mute, unable to walk, or have other debilitating conditions that impact their life. Some are disabled from birth, while others acquire their disability due to an Illness or injury.

Espionage is the main focus of these anime. Common themes include surveillance and reconnaissance, infiltrating past enemy lines, or Spies that act as secret agents who go undercover, steal technology for their home country, or sabotage the enemy.

GL (short for Girls' Love) is a genre that depicts homosexual relationships between women. On Anime-Planet, Shoujo-ai categorizes romantic stories that focus on emotional aspects of relationships, while Yuri categorizes more of the sexual aspects such as Borderline H or explicit content.

The setting of a historical anime takes place at some point in Earth's past. The level of dedication to portraying the lifestyles, societies, and technologies of past periods and peoples accurately or believably can vary greatly between different works.

Horror anime create an atmosphere of unease. Like Mystery anime, they encourage viewers to learn more about their world... but there may be secrets that are better left unexplored. Through eerie music and sounds, visceral or disturbing imagery, or startling moments, works of Horror make you worry about what gruesome thing is coming next.

Japanese mythology refers to any number of stories involving kami (deities or spirits), oni (ogres), and/or youkai (fey-like creatures). Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring Amaterasu, Susano-o, Izanagi and Izanami; tales of incredible beasts such as the serpentine Orochimaru; or stories of mortal deities or folk heroes like Momotarou.

These anime feature koalas: Australian marsupials known for clinging to tree branches and snacking on eucalyptus leaves. They are sometimes referred to as koala bears, although they are not members of the bear family.

These anime have an LGBT theme as a strong focus. Examples include gender or gender identity themes; an LGBT relationship as a primary focus; or an LGBT character as a protagonist, especially if their gender or sexual orientation is showcased as a back story or plot point. Read more about how we tag LBGT-related content on Anime-Planet.

These anime feature characters who live with a mental health condition that impacts their way of life, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or a personality disorder. For physical ailments, see Illness.

In these Psychological anime, characters use words and actions to manipulate others psychologically. Whether it be for their own amusement, to gain an advantage or for darker purposes, the characters in these anime use manipulation to get others to do their bidding.

Mystery anime focus on unresolved questions, and the efforts of characters to discover the answers to them. Whether curious and deadly events are afoot, or some part of the world itself is strange or inexplicable, or someone's past or identity seems strangely shrouded, these characters are set on learning the truth.

Noir is a genre from the 40s and 50s that features hardboiled cynical heroes, femme fatale, and bleak, sleazy settings. These anime either take place in 40s and 50s, or are considered Neo-Noir: titles that combine elements of Noir in a modern or futuristic setting.

Otome games are typically story-based visual novels aimed at women. The goal is to pursue one of a number of love interests, aiming for the best case "Good End" with their chosen love. However, there are usually many branching paths and other endings, including "Bad Ends" where they may even meet their demise. These manga feature characters that find themselves in an otome game setting. They often have been Isekai'd or Reincarnated into the otome game, sometimes as the villainess.

Psychological anime delve into mental or emotional states of a character in the midst of a difficult situation, letting you observe them change as tension increases. Internal monologues are a key feature, allowing narration to delve into a character's mind, revealing their innermost ideas and motivations - even as they may be driven to the brink of sanity.

These food-themed anime showcase step-by-step instructions on how to create a dish, typically including a full recipe with images. The recipes may be for baked goods, savory dishes, or beverages.

Unlike typical Isekai titles where a person from Earth is transported to, reborn, or trapped in a parallel universe or fantasy world, in these anime characters from another world find themselves on Earth through similar means.

Sci-fi, or science fiction, is a speculative genre which builds on imagination. Sci-fi anime ask, "what if things were different?" They explore a new world, whether it's the world of the future or past, a present Earth with a changed history, a land that was previously unknown, or another planet entirely. The genre commonly features humanity's inquisitiveness and innovation, as they grapple with new technologies, new societies, or new frontiers in Outer Space.

These anime feature characters who have had their fill of excitement, adventures, and drama, and seek a more peaceful life. They may be Isekai'd heroes, villains, high-ranking adventurers, or a typical salaryman, but they all share something in common: they've had enough and want to retire to a slow and peaceful life.