Anime genres and tags

These anime are told from the perspective of criminals, whether they're lone wolves or a part of an organized group like the Yakuza or Mafia. The protagonists commit crimes that are punishable by law, with motives such as blackmail, profit, personal amusement, or sociopathy. Offenses committed might be thievery, drug dealing, kidnapping, serial killing, terrorism, or other forms of organized or petty crime.

Unlike Gender Bender titles where a character undergoes a complete physical sex change, these anime showcase characters who crossdress for a secretive reason, whether it's to attend a single-sex school or to acquire a job targeted at a specific gender. The secretive, crossdressing element must be the focus of these anime to receive the tag.

Crossover titles showcase characters from two or more different franchises. They are often short specials for anime or extra chapters for manga.

These anime use lowbrow humor to make you laugh, most commonly by sex jokes, toilet humor, bodily functions or crass racial stereotypes. If these anime ask you to pull their finger you should politely decline.

Characters in these anime attend a culinary school to learn how to cook or bake, with an emphasis on cooking techniques and proper plating.

Cultivation (修真) is a Taoist concept that describes extending one's lifespan through practicing martial and mystical arts, with the goal of cultivating Qi: the spiritual life force. Cultivation is a common theme in both Wuxia and Xianxia stories, with one key difference: Xianxia stories typically focus on cultivation for the purpose of achieving immortality.

In these anime, people, objects, or even entire worlds have been cursed. Or, characters are trying to curse, or uncurse, someone or something. Curses are generally caused by malevolent magical or supernatural forces, and can have a wide range of undesirable effects. Common curses include unnatural illnesses, disasters, or being transformed against one's will into a monster or animal.

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.

Harder, better, faster, stronger. Cyborgs are organic beings enhanced by mechanical prosthetics, granting them abilities beyond those of mere mortals. Where does the man end and the machine begin?

Whether they're riding casually or racing competitively, the characters in these anime adore their bikes and the feeling of the wind rushing by as they ride. For motorized enthusiasts, see Motorcycles.

These anime feature dancers and the art of dancing, whether it's hip hop, ballroom, ballet or other styles.

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.

Dark fantasy is a subgenre of Fantasy that incorporates grittier and more mature themes. These anime often contain elements of Horror, Graphic Sex, or Explicit Violence.

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.

In these anime, characters deal with the death of a loved one. The protagonists may be actively working through their grief, are inspired to make a new life change, or are driven to seek revenge for the fallen.

Characters in these anime are dealing with debt, be it their own issue through Gambling or other activities, or are saddled with someone else's debt and must work to pay it off through financial or other means.

A delinquent is a young person, generally of school age, who has a problem with following social rules or the word of authority figures. These anime typically focus on the group dynamics of a delinquent's gang of friends, or the misadventures they get into thanks to their attitudes and actions.

A Demon King is the main character of these anime. Typically from Hell, this Demon Lord may still live in his fiery realm, or may have travelled to the human world to live and work. Typically male, Demon Kings can sometimes be female.

Demons are non-human entities generally believed to be dark or evil in nature. If demons are a core aspect of the work, their actions - often harmful to humans - will generally be the focus. Characters may engage in fighting demons physically; may attempt exorcisms or other rituals or spells to deal with them; or may be the demons or their servants or allies, carrying out their own agendas.

These anime fully or mostly take place in a desert.

Detectives are people who investigate crimes. These anime feature characters who work the streets, analyze evidence from crime scenes, or research past records, using logic and reasoning to discover who did what, and how. Detectives may be members of a police force, employed by some other organization, or private citizens with a desire to learn the truth.

Dinosaurs are a broad range of reptilian or bird-like creatures which generally went extinct before the rise of mankind. These anime center on the impact of dinosaurs - whether reimagined, extinct, or living and breathing alongside humans, and may feature dinosaurs as major characters.

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.

These anime feature Disney characters or franchises.

These anime feature characters who are currently going through a divorce, or have recently gotten divorced. Typical themes include facing the emotional ramifications of ending a marriage, dealing with child custody issues, and finding new love.

These anime feature doctors: Medical professionals who treat the sick and injured. They frequently work alongside Nurses.

Dodgeball is the focus of these anime. Training and competing in tournaments or championships are common themes in Sports titles, as well as team spirit, or being an underdog who goes against the odds to succeed.

Dogs are the focus of these anime. Common themes in these anime include pet care, or the daily life of a dog from the dog's perspective.

These anime contain scenes of domestic abuse where characters commit acts of violence against their family members, spouse, romantic partner, or other people they live with.

Doujin are a popular type of independently produced and distributed magazine, generally made in small print runs and often written by fans of manga and/or anime, including fan-fiction based on pre-existing characters from other authors. Common themes in these anime include production and distribution, attending doujinshi conventions, or the culture of doujin readers.

These anime are related to the Dragon Quest video game franchise. 

Dragons are huge and mighty serpentine mythological creatures, often seen as being magical in nature. These anime center on the impact of dragons - whether reimagined, extinct, or living and breathing alongside humans, and may feature dragons as major characters.

Drama anime heavily emphasize their characters' emotional development. Whether by experiencing the protagonist’s emotional turmoil, viewing heated character interactions, or exploring a passionate romance, any anime that humanizes its characters through emphasizing their flaws qualifies as a Drama.

Characters in these anime explore a person's subconscious mind, whether they're aware of their own dream world, or traverse someone else's thoughts and dreams through fantastical or technological means.

Drug Use occurs in these anime. The substances of choice are narcotics prevalent in the real world, or fictional cocktails that enhance moods or physical abilities. While usually portrayed in a negative light, some anime showcase Drug Use as an accepted part of the culture.