What Is The Meaning Of Ecchi In Anime?

With the rising popularity of Japanese culture, many people have been influenced to watch anime or read the manga. Especially after the quarantine began, everyone started familiarising themselves with the culture. Due to the rise of it, we have come across many unknown terms. Today we will be discussing the meaning of the word “ecchi” in detail. I’m assuming if you are here, you want to know the meaning too! If you wish to know an on-point definition of the term, you are in the right place. While “ecchi” is a word itself, it is also a famous genre. Let us get into the meaning and origin of the term right away!

Meaning Of The Term Ecchi

Ecchi means sexually related behavior. It refers to playful perverted activities or embarrassing moments like the accidental flashing of one’s underwear. However, it does not contain full nude scenes. Such scenes are very rare or minimal in the genre. Such scenes are pretty famous in fan service.

In the western world, light erotic scenes in manga or anime are also referred to as ecchi. It often includes sexual misunderstandings, which lead to awkward situations. It does have lewd content, but it is censored and contains light or softcore nude scenes, unlike hentai. After reading this, it is self-evident that the genre is made for the mature or older teen audience.

Even though the meaning is pretty simple, many viewers get confused. In Japan, the term means any anime which contains sexual content, including hardcore scenes. However, in the west, it refers explicitly to anime series that have softcore scenes. The term used for hardcore is known as hentai. Although the literal meaning of hentai is pervert, in the west, hentai is referred to as anime that contains hardcore sex scenes and is usually uncensored.

Difference Between Hentai, Harem, And Ecchi

Many people get confused about the difference between harem, hentai, and ecchi. Well, I don’t blame them. Harem refers to anime series where multiple female leads have a love interest in the male lead. A few examples are Quintessential Quintuplets, Nisekoi, and Rent A Girlfriend. Similarly, a reverse harem means numerous males leads having a love interest in the female lead. A few examples are Ouran Host Club, Diabolik Lovers, and Amnesia.

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Image: Gojinshi

On the other hand, ecchi means anime series where there are some perverted or nude scenes. Almost all harem anime have ecchi scenes or loads of fan service in them. However, not all ecchi anime necessarily have to be a harem. As you can see, harem and ecchi are not opposites; in fact, they go hand in hand. I mean, honestly, who doesn’t enjoy an excellent ecchi harem anime?

Now let us come to the difference between hentai and ecchi. It’s pretty simple. The main point of difference is the explicitness of the content. Hentai is highly explicit. It shows nudity or sex scenes and is not at all censored. However, as I have mentioned before, ecchi contains minimal sexual content and is censored.

Best Ecchi Anime

Did you think that I would finish the article without mentioning our favorite anime series from the genre? Ofcourse not! Here are a few of the best ecchi anime shows enjoyed by all viewers:

  • Kill La Kill
  • No Game No Life
  • Highschool Of The Dead
  • Kanokon
  • High school DxD
  • Prison School
  • Food Wars
  • Kuzu No Honkai
  • Mayo Chiki!
  • The Testament Of Sister New Devil
  • Trinity Seven
  • Monster Musume No Iru Nichijou
  • Nisemonogatari
  • Eromanga- Sensei
  • Strike The Blood
  • Isekai Maou To Shoukan Shoujo No Dorei Majutsu
  • Sankarea
  • Hajimete No Gal

Famous Manga From The Genre:

Now for all the manga fans, here are the best few manga series of the genre which is capable of capturing the interest of all readers:

  • Sex And Dungeon
  • Lust Geass
  • My Wife Is Niizuma-Chan
  • Please Go Home, Akutsu San!
  • Boku No Kanojo Ga Majime Sugiru Shojo Bitch Na Ken
  • My Girlfriend Is A Zombie
  • Against the gods
  • Aida Ni Hatachi
  • Shiboritoranaide, Onna Shounin-San
  • Jigokuren – Death Life
  • Nejimaki Kagyu
  • I Have a Mansion In The Post-Apocalyptic World
  • Amaenaideyo!!
  • Time Stop Brave
  • Ore Wa Lolicon Ja Nai!
  • The Only “r” In The World
  • Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyo
  • Inu Ni Nattara Suki Na Hito Ni Hirowareta

Conclusion

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Image: Spoiler Guy

The ecchi genre is appreciated worldwide. However, few fans believe that it is unnecessary and lewd. I’m afraid I have to disagree. I mean, if the whole anime is filled with ecchi scenes without any plot, it would be terrible that it is pretty obvious. However, if the series contains no ecchi scenes of fan service, it will be too bland for my taste. Ecchi is also pretty famous on social media. Many accounts on such platforms suggest ecchi anime series and rate them. Even cosplayers from around the world dress up as characters from ecchi anime. The genre is truly a delight, and the anime world would be incomplete without it.