Ecchi
Fan service is found in many anime, in many forms. When the service has a distinctly sexual slant to it, and it appears to be a major focus of the show, then it’s safe to assume you’re watching ecchi.
The word “ecchi” is used by English-speaking anime fans to refer to refer to soft-core pornographic or sexually suggestive anime and manga. This is a western invention; in Japanese, it is a catch-all term for all things anyhow sexual in nature, not being limited to porn, but also not really considered a “milder” term, as it may also refer to sexual intercourse itself. The term “ecchi” in Japanese comes from the pronunciation of the letter “H” in English, which is rendered into Japanese syllabary as エッチ, which in turn is transliterated in the English alphabet as “ecchi” or “etchi”. It is not, as many believe, short for “hentai” — that, too, seems to be a western invention. It is, however, nearly as misunderstood and misapplied a term as “hentai”.
The line between ecchi and hentai, from the western perspective over these terms, can be hard to draw at times; one good rule of thumb is: if it was aired on Japanese public TV at all, it probably wasn’t hentai. Ecchi usually features all the specifics to human anatomy that can only be found in anime, and generally avoids full nudity, instead abusing of panty shots. Hentai, on the other hand, will usually show full frontal nudity in some explicit form, including genitalia, and full, intimate sex scenes. At its mildest, ecchi is composed of double entendres, big misunderstandings, and sexual farce; at its most explicit, it is still in the realm of softcore pornography, with full breast shots, full back nudity and similar content, but no display of genitalia. Another good way to distinguish the two is looking for animated sex scenes; if one is found, you have generally left the genre entirely, though a few borderline exceptions apply here. For AniDB’s purposes, the distinction between explicit ecchi and actual hentai is simple: if it was sold with a 18+ restriction in its country of origin, it is hentai; if it was sold without it, it is ecchi.
Source: TV Tropes
-
Completed
Najica Dengeki Sakusen
Najica Hiiragi, perfumer and secret agent, is sent out on a number of recovery missions to round up rogue humaritts, androids with combat abilities. Najica is assigned a humaritt partner,…
Read More » -
Completed
Shin Ikkitousen
The reincarnation of Himiko, the former queen of Yamatai, has decided to wage war against all magatama wielders of Kanto. In order to recover her lost kingdom, she must gather…
Read More » -
Current Season
Temple
Akemitsu Akegami was always told by his father that “no one can live alone”…but he’s sure determined. After all, his father sure wasn’t saying it with the best intentions, and…
Read More » -
Completed
Eiyuu Kyoushitsu
A long time ago, there existed a Demon Lord who terrorized throughout the world until a Hero stepped up to the stage and challenged the Demon Lord, ultimately defeating him…
Read More » -
Completed
Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
After his relationship with Eris Boreas Greyrat reaches new heights, Rudeus Greyrat is ecstatic. Unfortunately, his joy is short-lived, as Eris suddenly abandons him to embark on her own journey.…
Read More » -
Completed
Liar Liar
At Academy Island, everything is settled through “Games” waged for a certain number of stars, with the strongest student being granted the ranking of Seven Stars. Hiroto, a transfer student,…
Read More » -
Specials
Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu – Shugo Jutsushi Fitz
Episode 0 of Mushoku Tensei II: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu.
Read More » -
Completed
Maburaho
In the world of Maburaho, everyone is born with the ability to use magic and are thus labeled magicians. However, the magical ability of each person is not equal. The…
Read More » -
Manga
Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san (Digital)
Fuyuzora Kogarashi has the ability to see supernatural, and has been possessed by ghosts since he was a kid. This has caused a lot of trouble in his life, but…
Read More » -
Manga
Trinity Seven: 7-nin no Mashotsukai (Digital) Vol.28
Everyday is a normal day in the small town where Kasuga Arata lives. However, everything changed on the day of the Black Sun, and following it, a magician appears before…
Read More » -
Completed
I”s Pure
Seto Ichitaka has a crush on Yoshizuki Iori, a girl in his class who has become so popular she now has her own fan club at school. But only a…
Read More » -
Completed
Yuusha ga Shinda!
Far to the north of the world lies Hell’s Gate, a portal formerly used by the Demon Lord to invade the human realm. Thanks to the legendary hero Shion Bladearts,…
Read More » -
Completed
Kaminaki Sekai no Kamisama Katsudou
Yukito’s parents are the leaders of a cult. After he gets sacrificed, he gets reincarnated into another world where religion doesn’t exist and porn books are akin to a child’s…
Read More » -
Movie
Gantz:O
Death does not have to be the end; one can live again, but only through beating the game posed by the black ball called Gantz. On his way home to…
Read More » -
OVA
Golden Boy
Kintarou Ooe is a specialist in part-time work, riding all over the highways and byways of Japan on his trusty steed, the Mikazuki 5, and finding employment wherever he can.…
Read More » -
Completed
Madan no Ou to Vanadis
In a fantasy version of Europe, a war between enemy countries is brewing. One of these countries, Zhcted, has its seven regions ruled by War Maidens, known as Vanadis. Equipped…
Read More » -
Ongoing
Ayakashi Triangle
Matsuri Kazamaki and Suzu Kanade are childhood friends, bonded by their shared ability to see ayakashi—youkai in search of a life force to devour. However, in high school, their relationship…
Read More » -
Completed
Kiddy Grade
In the distant future, humanity has taken to the skies and colonized many planets throughout the universe. An agency known as the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs (GOTT) has…
Read More » -
OVA
Tatakae!! Iczer-1
Nagisa is a schoolgirl with schoolgirl tendencies, waking up late, rushing off to school and meeting up with friends upon the way. One morning Nagisa comes across a woman dressed…
Read More » -
OVA
Koharu Biyori
Set in a near future, a time where robots are common workers for their owners. Takaya Murase has just purchased a maid robot from a robotic doll distributor, MaidWorks. Ready…
Read More » -
Completed
Freezing Vibration
Ever since the 10th NOVA clash, the Chevalier had concluded that the NOVA have been appearing at a steadier rate and they are losing more Pandoras than they can produce.…
Read More » -
Completed
Freezing
Decades into the future, humanity is under siege by an alien race known as the Novas. These inhuman beings leave devastation in their wake whenever they appear, with the efforts…
Read More » -
Specials
Seireitsukai no Blade Dance Specials
Mini specials bundled with each Blu-ray/DVD volume of Seireitsukai no Blade Dance. Each special is tied to the new 32-page short story that original light novel author Shimizu Yuu wrote…
Read More » -
Completed
Seireitsukai no Blade Dance
On his way to Areishia Spirit Academy, Kamito Kazehaya runs into a naked Claire Rouge, a student who had been bathing as part of a purification ceremony. She had been…
Read More » -
Completed
Ladies versus Butlers!
Hino Akiharu lost his parents when he was small and was adopted into his uncle’s family. He didn’t want to be a burden on his uncle’s family and decides to…
Read More »