In Japanese, hentai derives from characters meaning "to change from one state to another," and came to mean "strange state" or "abnormality" in modern usage, particularly in psychology and physiology. In sexual contexts it carries the meaning of "perversion" or "abnormal sexual desire," shortened from the phrase hentai seiyoku. In English, the Oxford Dictionary Online defines it as a subgenre of manga and anime characterized by overtly sexualized characters and sexually explicit images and plots.
What is the oldest known hentai anime?
The oldest known pornographic anime is Suzumi-bune, created in 1932. Police seized the film while it was only half complete, and the remnants were donated to the National Film Center in the early 21st century. The film has never been viewed by the public.
Why does hentai so often feature tentacle sex?
Tentacle sex in hentai is a direct result of Japanese censorship law. Article 175 of the Criminal Code of Japan, in force since 1907, prohibits depictions of human sexual intercourse, so in 1986 artist Toshio Maeda devised a workaround by depicting intercourse with creatures whose anatomy falls outside the legal definition. This produced a large body of works featuring sex with monsters, demons, robots, and aliens.
What was the first erotic anime released commercially?
The Lolita Anime series, released in 1984 by Wonder Kids, is typically identified as the first erotic anime and original video animation. It contained six episodes. A second Lolita Anime series was subsequently released by Nikkatsu.
How did hentai become popular in the United States?
Central Park Media's 1993 release of Urotsukidoji brought the first hentai film to American viewers. Following that release, companies including A.D. Vision, Central Park Media, and Media Blasters began releasing licensed titles; A.D. Vision's SoftCel Pictures label alone released 19 titles in 1995. By the year 2000, "hentai" had become the 41st most-popular search term on the internet.
What is the difference between hentai and ecchi?
Hentai typically involves explicit sexual intercourse and graphic nudity, while ecchi is related to fanservice with no sexual intercourse depicted. The Anime Movie Guide, published in 1997, noted that ecchi was "milder than hentai." The distinction between hardcore hentai and softcore ecchi is described by researchers as entirely artificial outside of Japanese contexts.