Terms starting with S

作画

Sakuga

Sakuga is the Japanese word for animation drawing, and among fans it also refers to moments of unusually fluid, detailed or skilful animation that stand out within a series.

桜

Sakura

Sakura is the Japanese word for the cherry tree and its blossoms, which flower briefly each spring and are one of the most recognisable symbols of Japan and a seasonal image in anime.

侍

Samurai

Samurai were the warrior class of feudal Japan, serving lords with swords and a code of honour, and they are a favourite subject of anime, manga and historical dramas.

青年

Seinen

Seinen is manga and anime aimed mainly at adult men, typically featuring more complex themes, realistic settings and mature storytelling than series made for younger readers.

声優

Seiyu

Seiyu is the Japanese word for a voice actor, a performer who gives voice to characters in anime, video games, dubbed films and commercials, and who often has a following of their own.

先輩

Senpai

Senpai is a Japanese word for someone who is senior to the speaker in a school, club or workplace, and in anime it often suggests respect, admiration or sometimes a crush.

先生

Sensei

Sensei is a Japanese title of respect for teachers, doctors, artists and other skilled professionals, and in anime it is most often used for school teachers and martial arts masters.

死神

Shinigami

Shinigami are death gods or spirits in Japanese belief and fiction, linked to the end of life, and in anime they often appear as guides or collectors of souls, like the Western grim reaper.

神道

Shinto

Shinto is the native religion of Japan, centred on respect for kami, the gods and spirits found in nature and ancestors, and expressed through shrines, festivals and everyday customs.

Shipping

Shipping is fan slang for supporting and imagining a romantic relationship between two characters in a story, often through discussion, art, stories and lively online debate.

少女

Shojo

Shojo is manga and anime aimed mainly at teenage girls, often focusing on emotions, relationships and personal growth, though stories can include fantasy, comedy, mystery and adventure.

少年

Shonen

Shonen is manga and anime aimed mainly at teenage boys, usually built around action, adventure, friendship and a determined hero who trains hard to become stronger.

神社

Shrine

A shrine, or jinja in Japanese, is a Shinto place of worship dedicated to one or more kami, where people pray, make offerings and buy charms, and it is a very common anime setting.

日常系

Slice of life

Slice of life is a genre of anime and manga that focuses on the ordinary events of everyday life, such as school, work, friendship and family, rather than dramatic plots or battles.

字幕

Sub

A sub is a version of an anime shown with its original Japanese audio and translated text, called subtitles, displayed at the bottom of the screen.

相撲

Sumo

Sumo is traditional Japanese wrestling in which two large competitors try to push each other out of a circular ring or make the other touch the ground with anything but the feet.