What is Hentai?

Answer 1

Hentai (変態 or へんたい, Hentai?) is a Japanese word that means "strange appearance" or "abnormality". However, in colloquial situations it often means "perverted" and is subsequently used in many other countries to refer to anime, manga, and computer games with explicit sexual or pornographic content (see Japanese pornography). The word is never used this way in Japanese; commonly used terms include "jū hachi kin" (18禁; prohibited for sale to persons under 18), "ecchi/H anime" (sexual/pornographic anime) "eroanime" (エロアニメ; derived from erotic anime), or "seinen" (成年; adult, not to be confused with 青年 young adult).

The term "hentai" is commonly used (outside of Japan) to refer to pornographic animation in general that is not necessarily anime or manga. This is most often the case if the said animation is an imitation of a pre-existing cartoon or character (e.g. Princess Jasmine hentai).

Answer 2

I find this topic to be ambiguous, as there's no sure definition what it is. The closes source I can get is what cranura cited.

Also, to quote parts of the article:

"...an artistic expression of pornography in Japan. As opposed to photographic pornography, they allow full use of the imagination as well as scenes that run counter to accepted society and culture. Elements of sexual fantasy are represented in ways that would be impossible to film."

"...Each culture will have a different understanding about the line between pornographic content and mainstream works. It's important to understand ways that the Japanese line might be different from that in other cultures."

With that in mind, classifying "hentai" as "animated porn" would be too condescending. It would be wise to reconsider your bias. :)

Hope that helped.

Answer 3

Hentai is normally referred to as animated pornograpy (or manga and/or computer games). Though translated it can mean either "abnormal" or "strange appearance". Ironically, the term "hentai" isn't used in Japan when it refers to anime, manga, and computer games with explicit sexual or pornographic content .

Answer 4

Hentai is cartoon pornography.

23 DEC 06, 0250 hrs, GMT.

Answer 5

Hentai is kind of japanese animation. hentai is always used in anime porn

Answer 6

NSFW content that usually has anime styled faces,or comes from an anime itself.
Hentai itself is mostly humans/nekos,but there are other things like yiff,which is anthropomorphic animal pron,and clop,which is pron based off of my little pony.

Answer 7

Cranura hit on the nose. Its straight up XXX Japanese animated porn.

Answer 8

Means Pervert in japanese. Or cartoon/anime porn.

Answer 9

To break it down

it's just plain anime porn >_<

Answer 10

it can mean pervert. It is used to qualify porn be it in animation, manga, pictures